Are You A Home Business Professional
Why You Should Maintain A Professional Image For Your Home-Based Business
Hi Folks
I reckon quite a few of us could list a couple of professional, and consequently unprofessional, business experiences we’ve had recently. Our interaction with these businesses may have been in the form of an email, a retail shopping experience, or a phone call. In most cases, the deciding factor between a professional and an unprofessional experience may have been something so small, yet so significant.
I have always been a stickler for presenting a professional image, I believe its very important. I constantly make myself aware of how people online and offline are viewing my business practices. As the sole owner of my Home Business, I have to, simply because nobody else is going to do it for me!
The five points below might seem cliché, and ever so simple, but it’s surprising how often home business owners forget to take notice of them.
- Spelling & Grammar - Whether you are writing an email, creating a brochure of your services, adding text to your website, or writing a thank-you card, double check your work! Just about every program you work in will have a spell check and grammar function - use them!
- Phone Calls - Have you ever called a retail store and hear them answer, “Hello?” No? Neither have I. Businesses answer their phone stating their business name, as should you! Unfair or not, some potential customers have a negative preconceived notion about home based businesses, so let them know from the moment they call that you are a professional.
- Documentation - Business cards, emails, website content, faxes, written quotes. Always give out typed, clean-looking, professional documentation with your business contact information. There are easy-to-use software programs with template designs, which you can customize with your own information and flair.
- Manners - Please and thank you goes a long way. Treat every phone call and email with this kind of care, and you will surely see repeat customers and referrals. Let customers know you appreciate their patronage. Dealing with a home based business is often a new experience for customers. Show them your level of professionalism by keeping your manners in check.
- Know Your Business - Its most unprofessional when the owner of a business doesn't know the answer to a question about their business.
When someone asks for a quote, they are expecting an answer of how much your business will charge to provide them with a service. Potential customers don’t want to hear you’ve never done this before but think $20 per hour seems fair. They don’t want to hear that now you have people sign a contract because once upon a time you didn’t sign one and you were never paid for that job.
To finish - Operating a new or established home-based business of any kind is certainly a lot of work. Its also a continuous battle to gain confidence from customers who may well be used to dealing with larger, more established businesses.
Always remember -
You Only Get One Chance To Make A First Impression.
There you go folks, my take on running a business the proper way. Anyone with other tips and advice can of course leave them via a comment below.
Have a great day and be successful.
Robert Allan
Recent Comments
65
Hi Robert
Thank you for posting this!
And never mind how cliché your five points may sound - they are worth repeating - probably more so now than ever before.
The longer I work in the public sector the more I see how these elements have become eroded over time. Furthermore, these points are timeless.
They are as relevant when working for another person or corporation as for yourself!
Hi Susan and thank you for reading and your comment.
I worked a fair number of years in the public sector as well and always gave my best.
When I wasn't there people would actually say I'll come back when Roberts here.
Onwards and Upwards Susan.
Robert
My wife is a great example to me. She is very professional in dealing with possible clients in her pet sitting business. Her business contacts are initially on the phone then she does a meet and greet a couple days prior to her sitting with the pets. She meets them so they know her when she shows up on the first pet sitting visit.
Her business is starting to grow very quickly and I believe it isn’t following the 5 principles you mention here. Thanks for posting Robert.
Bob
Hello Bob and thank you for reading the blog and for your input.
Your wife seems like she's the kind of person I would do business with.
Its also no surprise if her business is growing because she treats it like a business and not something to do in her spare time.
Going the extra mile can and in my experience almost guarantees success.
Have a great Thursday Bob.
Robert
First impressions really do matter. It's so hard to change someone's perception of you if their initial impression left a bad taste in their mouth. Double-checking work is especially important to do if you're in a rush since that's often when mistakes occur!
Erica
Indeed they do Erica.
Think back to your first job interview and what impression did you give the interviewer.
Its the same in business and as you say the persons perception of you.
It will stick with them not matter how hard you try to change it.
Onwards and Upwards Erica and hope you are having an awesome Thursday so far.
Robert
Hello Michael, thank you for your visit and comment.
You should always use Best Practice for a business whether its online or off.
You must always terat it as a business as well and adopt the Best Practices for running it.
If you don't or can't then you will fail.
Hope your day is turning out well Michael.
Robert
These principles are part of the foundation. They need to always be practiced and be reminded. Thank you.
Hi Judson and thank you for reading and commenting.
lay a strong foundation and the building gets easier.
No doubt about it, the points I've listed will strengthen that foundation.
Have a good one Judson.
Robert
So true. We all need to take the time to check on the "little" things...it's quite amazing how powerful they are!
Hello Colleen, your first visit to one of my blogs I'm thinking so thank you for taking time out to do so.
As the song says - 'Little Things Mean A Lot'
Get those little things right and the rest should fall into place.
Enjoy your Thursday Colleen.
Robert
Absolutely and I couldn't agree more Robert
When I speak to people about their sites, I always mention that I am a WordPress Certified Website Developer, which always adds meat to the bone, as opposed to I build WordPress websites
Thanks for sharing
Hi Dave
Thank you for your visit and comment.
Yes indeed it pays to advertise and to elaborate wont do your business any harm.
Hope your Thursday is going well down there in Bognor Regis.
Robert
Yes it is so far, I'm currently evolving my WA blog into a conversion focused theme, which looks really nice and yummy
I trust Edinburgh is good too, I do like it up there
Edinburgh is dull, damp, and getting worse by the hour.
Oh well, what can you expect at this time of year.
Onwards and Upwards Dave.
Robert
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Great stuff Robert, and thanks for sharing it. And so true. Often the simplest things can have a positive or negative effect. ;-}
Hi Sue, thank you for your visit.
Get the little things right and you're halfway there.
Hope you're are doing well and keeping well too.
Have a good one.
Robert