There are many people who run scams and take advantage of the trusting culture the internet has ushered in. In order to put the best foot forward, there is a certain amount of keeping up appearances that many business owners implement. This happens in a variety of ways.
Keeping Up Appearances in the Digital World
The internet has truly transformed and revolutionized the ways businesses operate. There are so many ways the digital space has created space for people to run businesses and operate from the comfort of their own homes. At the same time, if you’re running a business from your home, you still need to maintain a high level of professionalism. You will find below 5 ways to keeping up appearances in the digital world.
Business Name
Your business name tends to be your first introduction to the world. Therefore, your business name should reflect what your business is about. There are so many people who are intentionally random with their business name because they think it makes things fun. However, the only thing it does is make their business more confusing to understand. If you’d like to start a wedding photography business and you name it ‘pickles, chips and dip photography’, don’t be surprised if people assume you’re a food photographer.
Take time out to be thoughtful and intentional as you assign a name to your business. This name will be on all of your business cards, social media handles and more. Choose wisely. If you don’t know where to start, consider using online tools and resources. Use a business name generator to spark creativity and steer you in the right direction.
Visual Branding
When you’re managing a website, business cards and more, the visual aspect is really essential. Everything from your colours to the fonts needs to be consistent. This is why it’s always helpful to consider the expertise of a graphic designer. If you have a close friend who is great with graphics and branding, you can always use their services and compensate them accordingly. However, there’s also a huge array of options to consider on various freelance sites.
You can take a look at their past work projects to gain a better understanding of their specialties and areas of expertise. When you can find a graphic designer who understands the vision and visual impact you’d like to have, they can make that desire come to life. Furthermore, it’s a wise idea to use the services of a web designer. This is especially true if you don’t have any level of expertise in the area of website development and design.
Social Media Impact
Think about how you want your products or services to look. When you’re aware of your desire in this area, you can begin crafting a social media aesthetic. If you’ve started a reselling business and sell gently used clothing, you might decide that you’d like to become great at flat lay photography. There are others who like to photograph clothes on a mannequin or on a live model.
Components like photography logo, lighting, angles and editing are important to think about before you post the photos online. Most people love to follow accounts that have a level of consistency. If you start posting on a consistent basis and remain within your niche, you’ll have an easier time building momentum. This is because you have people who are actively following your content and know what to expect from you.
Online Reviews
Online reviews are so important to consider because you always want to maintain clarity regarding what people really think about your business. You can set your Google alerts to receive notifications whenever someone mentions your company on the internet. Whether it’s a positive review or a negative comment, you’ll want to be aware of it.
There are some who might try to say that it’s best to simply ignore the haters. However, this isn’t the approach you’ll want to take with a business on the internet. One bad piece of press can really make your job an uphill battle. It’s a lot about reputation management. If you can stay ahead of the bad press, you’ll be able to maintain a positive appearance as a growing enterprise.
Transparency
Because there are so many fraudulent scams on the internet, it’s important to recognize that you’re building a brand in a space where you have very little room for error. The Competition Bureau Canada and the Canadian Code of Advertising Standards continues to crack down on what’s acceptable regarding online advertising, marketing and growing a business within the digital space. Many people don’t like to see a perfectly polished brand. Instead, they want transparency, authenticity and honesty.
At the end of the day, the most important way to communicate with the public is in a way that makes you comfortable. If you’d prefer to look like a clean, sterile brand with a simple aesthetic, that’s fine as well. Get clear regarding how transparent you’d like to be and honour your feelings.
Visual branding is what I’m having the most difficulty with.
Being wise and choosing good tactics is a good start. Don’t expect to be looking great in just a day
The internet has changed the way business is being done. Has been really good for some businesses.
I find it harder and harder for new business to break out.