Although you may not realise it, many people will judge your business on its looks. A scruffy or out-of-date image is likely to make people think the same about your products or services. Simple changes to your image could make a significant improvement to your profitability
- Work out what you want to achieve from an image makeover, such as attracting specific customers, standing out from your competitors or being able to increase your prices .
- Evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of your existing image. Look at your premises, your logo, your website, your social media accounts, printed materials, your Google business profile , product packaging, signage and vehicles. Are you giving a good impression or is there room for improvement?
- Talk to your employees (getting their buy-in is vital) and customers to find out what they think about your firm’s image. Listen to the feedback and address any concerns.
- Consider your business name. Does it give the right impression? If it sounds dated or no longer reflects everything your business offers, weigh up the pros and cons of renaming your business .
- Think about how your logo, your stationery, and your packaging look. Is the design professional and contemporary? Would creating a new logo help to reposition your brand? ?
- Consider your website . It's the first place that potential customers will go when they want to find out more about your business. Does it need updating or redesigning? Is it easy to navigate and does it answer your customers' questions? If it needs some serious attention, it could be time to hire a professional website designer .
- Monitor your communications on social media . Are you and your team presenting the right kind of image for your brand online? Social media guidelines can help you project the right image consistently across all sites.
- Focus on your premises. Would having it repainted, for example, give visitors a better impression? By refreshing your premises, customers will see a business that is thriving. Your employees are likely to be happier and more productive, too.
- How you and your people interact with customers is an important part of your image . Maybe it’s time to look at such things as how customer complaints or enquiries are dealt with.
- Think about how your business communicates. Make sure everyone knows how to answer telephone calls clearly, efficiently and in a friendly manner. You should also consider training staff in how to write emails and how to write and respond to social media posts.