As an entrepreneur you certainly have your work cut out for you. Firstly, there’s the fact you’re independently running your own business venture; then there’s finding clients and having to consistently do your best to reward the fruits of your labours with profits. Yet while a solid business plan, and indeed desirable service or product offering, are essential in securing customers, another great way to help realise success is to simply look the part.
Your entrepreneurial spirit can be perceived as eccentric or professionally polished based on your personal style and appearance which then can pass as first judgement and could ultimately affect your success in business.
As the title of this post suggests, appearance is everything in the competitive markets and you need to look professional to impress potential customers. So to help point you in the right direction here’s how you can look the part, covering everything from clothes to logos.
Choose your attire carefully
Having smart business attire can do wonders for your image. Whether you’re male or female a quality suit or dress not only makes you look much better it creates an air of professionalism and expertise. If you’re working with others, they should also wear similar clothing, especially if you’re meeting with clients. After all if you put yourself in their shoes, would you be impressed by someone turning up to meet you wearing informal clothes? Your dress dictates your experience.
Mark Zuckerberg is still a relatively young (and young-looking) billionaire with undeniable success. He notoriously schleps around in hoodies and T-shirts. He’s the exception to the rule. He’s Mark Zuckerberg. Therefore, as an entrepreneur, you can’t get by with jeans and hoodies most of the time.
Your brand
If you have a branding or logo associated with your new business, it’s worth getting this professionally designed. Don’t choose something brightly coloured or cartoonish as it might give your customers the wrong impression. Do a little research into the brand colours and styles of your competitors and design something similar to the successful ones.
Your documents
You should hallmark all your business documents with this branding too. Everything from business cards, to brochures, pitch presentations, websites and letters should all bear this professional logo or style. This can help establish this positive image more in the markets.
The vehicle to match
In a similar vein to the right clothing, it’s worth investing in a vehicle which also looks good and represents your business. A saloon car from an established brand like BMW or Mercedes, in black, that’s been cleaned and polished to perfection. Certainly sounds better than an old banger? Remember you don’t need to break the bank either, as you can find some great deals in the used markets. If you are aways on the road meeting clients, invest in a great vehicle that can save cost in the end.
What’s great about all the above points is they’re relatively easy to sort out yourself. So be sure to make the most of these, or the aspects that apply to your needs, and give your new business the right image.
Also, remember that sometimes when you look your best, you feel your best–and confidence is a key to becoming successful.
