At Watt Media, we often consult small business owners on the best ways to convey a professional image. Many start-up business owners don\u2019t realize the signals they give off that make it obvious that they are a small one-person business. Here are 5 things NOT to do that just scream, \u201cI am a one-person business\u201d:<\/p>\n
1. Don\u2019t have kids screaming in the background during a phone conversation.<\/strong> 2. Don\u2019t use a cell phone.<\/strong> 3. Don\u2019t answer your phone, \u201cHello?\u201d<\/strong> 4. Don\u2019t have a personal voice-mail outgoing message.<\/strong> 5. Don\u2019t have business cards with no address.<\/strong> At Watt Media, we often consult small business owners on the best ways to convey a professional image. Many start-up business owners don\u2019t realize the signals they give off that make it obvious that they are a small one-person business. Here are 5 things NOT to do that just scream, \u201cI am a one-person business\u201d: […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[12],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-150","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-small-business-tips"],"yoast_head":"\n
\nHave a home-based business? Many of the most successful businesses started that way, but nothing will make you look more \u201csmall time\u201d than making it so obvious. (same goes for barking dogs!)<\/p>\n
\nDoes your business phone number ring to a cell phone? Calls breaking up, echo \u2013 it\u2019s obvious to people you\u2019re on a cell phone. If being a one-person business is not something you want to promote, use a land line.<\/p>\n
\nNothing screams \u201csmall time\u201d more than answering your phone with a mere, \u201cHello.\u201d You\u2019re running a business \u2013 answer with your business name!<\/p>\n
\nWhat do customers hear when you\u2019re not there? If you use your home phone line for business, they will hear your home answering machine \u2013 talk about small time! Same with your cell phone – \u201cHi, this is John, leave me a message\u2026\u201d \u2013 small time!! Invest in a separate phone line and leave an outgoing message with your company name. Better yet, get someone else to record it for you!<\/p>\n
\nYou know what I think to myself when I go to a networking event and am handed a business card with no address listed? I think, \u201cSmall time!\u201d Don\u2019t want to use your home address? Get a P.O. Box \u2013 for a little extra, you can get one that looks like a real address, such as the ones at The Ups Store.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"