According to a recent study, 62% of consumers trust small, locally-owned businesses over larger companies. This is great news for those who run companies, as it makes it easier to stand up to key industry competitors and build a loyal customer base.
However, in order to win over customers from more recognised brands, you must first give them a reason to trust you. One way in which you can achieve this goal is by making your home-ran business appear as professional as industry giants!
With that in mind, here are some simple yet effective ways to bring professionalism to your home business.
Take yourself seriously. If you do not take your business seriously, how can you expect anyone else to do so? This means that you need to stop describing your business as a hobby or side hustle and act like you’re actually going to work each day when you sit behind your desk. This will encourage you to work more efficiently and productively, which, in turn, will help take your business to new heights.
Taking on a more professional approach to running your small businesses will show potential customers that they can trust you from the outset, as they can see the level of care and attention you are putting into your brand.
Personalise your product packaging. Whether you are selling clothing or baked goods, using generic packaging could be damaging your customer’s perception of your brand. After all, it lacks that personal touch that makes shopping with a particular brand fun. It also means that you are not taking the necessary steps to promote brand awareness (remember, customers need to see a logo 7-10 times before they begin to recognise it).
Fortunately, there are many ways in which you can personalise your packaging! For example, you could collaborate with a company that offers customised sticker printing services. This way, you can add your logo, branding or a quick thank-you message to your packaging!
Cultivate a strong online presence. Another way in which you can ensure that your business appears as professional as possible, even when you are first starting out, is by cultivating a strong online presence. For example, while you may carry out the majority of your transactions on Facebook or other social media platforms, this does not mean that you can go without setting up a website. After all, a website is considered by many to be a more “official” reflection of your brand, which means they are much more likely to trust you when you have a high-quality website up and running.
Furthermore, considering that 81% of consumers search for a brand online before making a purchase, failing to establish yourself online could mean that you are missing out on hundreds – if not thousands – of customers. As a result, you could be directly standing in the way of your long-term success, no matter how good the products or services you have on offer may be! After all, in order for your business to grow, you will need to be bringing in more customers.
