May
14
2010
Does your business have curb appeal?
Author: Inside Stuart's head...Curb appeal, what does this mean? It used to mean at one time when I drove up to your office or store that your business looked appealing, it was professional and it was clean. Your business created a powerful first impression and perhaps even sold me before I walked through the front door. What does curb appeal mean today? Do you still need to have your bushes trimmed and the trash picked up in the areas that your clients or customers will walk through? Absolutely…however, curb appeal goes much deeper, long before someone gets in their car and drives to your business.
Your business online. Great curb appeal online will position you well ahead of your competitors before I even pick up the phone. Curb appeal has now extended to the online world. Stop reading this and have a look at your website, blog or social media sites, do they portray the professionalism that you want your business to show the world? Does your great curb appeal lower your Google bounce rate?
I am very picky about the look and the feel of a blog, social media site and even your business’ main marketing website. The smallest of things get my attention in a positive way. Alignment, font size, images and ease of use are critical success factors in creating a web presence that draws people in to do business with you.
Have a look at your site again. Is it professionally done or are you using some $75 theme that you pulled off some template site? Sorry folks, but I care about your image enough to sometimes point out how great your site is or where it may need a complete redo. Does your online activities mirror your physical activities? Are you telling the world that you wear a suit online but show up at the office with track pants?
There is a lot to be said about you and your business by the way it is presented. Remember the saying “How you do anything is how you do everything”.
When your business has curb appeal you open yourself up to going after those larger clients and bigger opportunities. Doors have opened because of the way your business is presented and the professionalism you want to portray. Your website, blog, Facebook Page and Twitter wallpaper are your new business cards, how are they looking? Is your brand consistent through. Sorry folks the free blogger and WordPress sites with the free templates no longer cut it.
In my travels as a Calgary Search Engine Optimization professional I see lots of great examples of what businesses are doing today to attract new opportunity out in the market today. There are tonnes of opportunity if you know how to present yourself and can position yourself well amongst the red ocean out there.
Are you ready to take that first step?
