*This is a collaborative post*
When you work from home and choose to build a business online, you are on your own and starting from scratch. You don't have an IT department setting up your emails and you don't have a graphic design team to make your logo. Sure, you can outsource all of this to those who know how to work with you, but you need to remember that you have to use your own resources to pay for all of it.
For some people, it can feel fraudulent to work from home. You don't feel like you have a business at all half the time, and the rest of the time you are worrying that your brand doesn't look like a brand to the outside world. You have to do what’s possible to clean up your look and that involves working to make your business look fantastic. Here are some suggestions to make your business professional on the outside.
A Business Address. When you work from your house, you don't want to give your personal address on your letterheads and email signatures. Instead, you can use services like physicaladdress to help you. You can keep working from home but have your mail go to your online address. A virtual address gives your business clout; it makes customers feel comfortable and safe if they know that you have a real address to work from.
A Phone Number. Your mobile phone may be the one which you prefer people to reach you on, but you need to think about having one purely for your business. This way, you don't clog up your mobile number or your home phone lines and people can still reach you.
A Domain Name. When you pay for your own domain name, you are putting a better spin on your business. It’s a quick way for people to find you and it looks good to have your own website address for your business rather than a generic one created by an outside company. Your own website is going to help you to be a success in your business and it makes you look good. You may not be in your own office or store premises, but it sure looks that way to other people.
An Email Account. Gmail is great, as is Yahoo!, but that doesn't mean that you should use them for professional emails. You need to create a business email with your company name in it if you want to be a success and people need to know that they are dealing with your business. Usually, your own email address doesn't cost much and you don't need very many, especially if you are working alone.
Your home business doesn't have to look like a home business with the tips above. You can make it look good to the customers that you are trying to impress and you can make your business successful by protecting its image. Try these options today and see how your business can flourish.
