Written by: Torie Mathis, Executive Contributor
Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise.
As a small business owner, you know that it's important to present a professional image to your customers. But what many business owners don't realize is that this extends to their online presence as well.
In order to compete with larger businesses, it's crucial that you make sure your online presence is polished and up-to-date. This means being professional, organized, timely, and making sure all of your information is correct. By neglecting these details, you're putting your business at a disadvantage and could be costing yourself potential customers.
So take the time to make your online presence look its best – it will be worth it in the end!
If you're a small business owner who wants to look more professional online here are 10 tips that can help.
By following these simple tips, you'll be able to make a great impression on your customers and clients.
So what are you waiting for? Let's dive into 10 tips to look more professional online and off.
1. Get a professional email address.
If you're using a free email service like Gmail or Yahoo, it's time to upgrade to something more professional.
A custom email address with your business name will make you look more credible and trustworthy. You can easily set up a professional email address with Google Workspace or Microsoft 365.
2. Get organized.
Staying organized is crucial for any business owner. Having a system in place for managing your documents, files, and tasks will help you stay on top of things and avoid missing deadlines.
There are many great organization apps and software programs available to help you get started.
We use Asana for our product management, Dropbox for our documents and files, and Kartra synced with Google Calendar for our calendar and scheduling.
Finding software to help you get organized can be a gamechanger, and if you have a small budget, there are many free tools you can use (we use the free version of Asana, and it works amazingly for us).
3. Keep your social media profiles up to date.
If you're using social media to promote your business, make sure your profiles are up to date and include a professional headshot. Many people judge a business by its online presence, so it's important to put your best foot forward.
It's a good idea to do a social media audit every few months to ensure everything is up to date and that all your past posts are representative of the appearance you want to put out. If you have a staff or a VA posting for you and your business, this is another great reason to audit your social media channels often.
4. Use a professional voicemail greeting.
If you have a business phone number, make sure your voicemail greeting sounds professional. Introduce yourself by name and let callers know how they can reach you. If you're not great at returning phone calls, offer them other options to get a hold of you.
Hubspot suggests these items to say in your professional voicemail greeting:
A greeting (like Hello!)
Your name and Company
A simple reason for missing the call (e.g., you're away from the phone or you are on holiday)
An estimate of when you'll get back to them
Another person to reach out to (if applicable)
An alternative avenue of communication (if you prefer to text or email)
A call-to-action such as "Leave me a message" or "Send an email at me@example.com"
Using this simple structure for your voicemail greeting will get you started on a professional first impression.
5. Dress the part.
Whether you're working from home or in an office, it's important to dress like a professional. Dressing well shows that you take yourself and your work seriously. It also makes you feel more confident, which can come across in your interactions with others.
So don't just get dressed up for that Zoom meeting, but do it for yourself as well, so that you feel polished and ready to do your best.
"You cannot climb the ladder of success dressed in the costume of failure." ‒ Zig Ziglar
6. Invest in business cards.
Business cards are still a valuable marketing tool, even in the digital age. Having a professional business card shows that you're prepared and ready to do business.
And the best part is you can use your business card to drive people you meet in person to your online assets like you website, your opt-in offer, and to your social media.
Make sure your business card does double duty by inviting people to your digital world.
You can easily design and print your own business cards online from a printing service.
7. Use proper grammar and punctuation.
In today's world, written communication is often the first impression you make on someone. Make sure your emails, social media posts, and website content are free of typos and grammatical errors. This will show that you're detail-oriented and take pride in your work.
8. Be responsive.
When someone reaches out to you, whether it's by email, phone, or social media, make sure you respond in a timely manner. Quick responses show that you're organized and attentive, two qualities that are important in any business setting.
"Speed, agility, and responsiveness are the keys to future success." ‒ Anita Roddick
9. Stay up to date with industry news.
Keeping up with industry news shows that you're invested in your work and care about staying ahead of the curve. Set up Google Alerts or RSS feeds for keywords related to your industry so you can easily stay up to date on the latest news and developments.
Rieva Lesonsky, the founder and CEO of GrowBiz Media, suggests, "Regularly keep up with industry trade publications and websites; national, regional and city newspapers; influential bloggers and business thought leaders.
Get involved in your industry by joining industry associations, attending their events, taking training, and participating in online communities."
10. Have a professional website.
In today's digital age, having a professional website is essential for any business owner. Your website is often the first impression you make on potential customers, so make sure it's up to date and reflects the professionalism of your business.
If you don't have a website, there are many easy-to-use website builders that can help you get started even if you have no tech skills or are on a budget.
Some website options are:
A self-hosted WordPress website
A Squarespace Website
A Wix Website
If you want to DIY your website, there are digital marketing courses that can help you design a professional image online and shortcut your digital success.
How to look professional online
So let's review the 10 ways to look professional online:
Get a professional email address.
Get organized.
Keep your social media profiles up to date
Use a professional voicemail greeting.
Dress the part.
Invest in business cards to invite people online.
Use proper grammar and punctuation.
Be responsive.
Stay up to date with industry news.
Have a professional website.
By following these tips, you can make sure you present yourself as a professional online. This will give you a leg up in today's competitive business world and help you build trust with customers and clients.
So what are you waiting for? Start implementing these tips today!
Torie Mathis helps entrepreneurs, like you, use digital marketing to grow your business without wasting time, money, or your sanity. She is a best-selling author, Army veteran, speaker + trainer, and your digital marketing coach. You don't need crazy tech skills, buckets of cash, or dedicated staff to market your business. In fact, you don't even need a lot of time. What you need is to be SMART. Torie hosts SMART AF, a show for non-techy entrepreneurs looking to grow their small business, with her husband Sean Mathis, and is the creator of SMART AF Magazine. Learn digital marketing for your small business at toriemathis.com
Torie Mathis, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine
Torie Mathis helps entrepreneurs, like you, use digital marketing to grow their business without wasting time, money, or your sanity. She is a best-selling author, Army veteran, speaker + trainer, and digital marketing coach. She'll show you how don't need crazy tech skills, buckets of cash, or dedicated staff to market your business. In fact, you don't even need a lot of time. What you need is to be SMART. Torie hosts SMART AF, a show for non-techy entrepreneurs looking to grow their business, with her husband Sean, fellow entrepreneur and founder of the Miles Through Time Automotive Museum. She is also the creator of SMART AF Magazine and the Smart Arsenal. You can learn digital marketing for your small business with Torie at toriemathis.com
