Create a Professional Image for your Home Business

Another aspect of organizing your home based business is creating a professional image. You want your potential customers and business associates to take your business serious. You don't want your home business to be looked at as just some hobby so creating a professional image is important.

Here are some things to do and obtain to create a professional image for your home business:

1. Choose your business name carefully and have a professional logo designed. No need to break the bank on this one. You can google "professional logo design" and you will have a whole host of companies competing for your business. Take your time and visit several sites to find the price that is right for you. Look at some of their sample work and contact some of the businesses that had the work completed for them. Never pay until you have a finished product you are satisfied with unless you receive an agreement detailing unlimited revisions....until you are satisfied. Your business logo can be compared to the headshot of an actor trying to get a crucial role. You want a good quality logo, of course at a reasonable price.
   
   
2. Invest in some good quality business cards, letterhead and envelopes. Again, you don't have to break the bank on this one. Once you have the logo designed for your home business, you can upload it to VistaPrint. They have great quality business cards and stationary at affordable prices.
   
   
3. Ensure you have a business email address (pookie@yahoo.com won't cut it) that reflects what your home business is all about, or even tie it to your website (see below). For example, if your home business is entitled Jessica's Floral Arrangements, try an email address such as info@floralarrangements.com. You may need to switch the name around depending on availability. Two of my husband and my websites are www.deadseastorebyrv.com and www.premiumcoffeebyrv.com. Our email addresses are tied to the website addresses respectively: info@deadseastorebyrv.com and support@premiumcoffeebyrv.com. There's an online solution, Avail 247, that offers a very inexpensive all in one communication solution for small business owners. You can obtain a fax #, toll free phone # and several business email addresses at unbelievably inexpensive prices.
   
   
4. Get a website. I can not stress this one enough. A website really makes your home business look legit. Of course, when you design or have your website designed, you need to take into account the style, layout, fonts and colors. (Tip: always use a white background. Studies have shown that website visitors stick around longer, increasing your chances of converting a visitor to a customer. Perhaps it's because the color white gives the impression of a crisp, clean and professional look). Make sure your contact information (email and phone) is clearly posted on your website and viewable on all pages. Webs offers an inexpensive and even free website that can get you started. You can even purchase and apply your own domain name to it (remember, think business professional that describes what your home business is all about). If you have a network marketing home business, your network marketing company will probably have a website option available. In addition to our regular home based business, my husband and I are network marketers for Vitamark, an alternative health company. Our US affiliate # is 140789 should you be interested in joining our business.
   

In a few days, we'll discuss the next item on our list to organizing your home business: Assigning Workspace and Creating Boundaries.

I wish all mother's a Happy Mother's Day!