Specific Ways to Boost the Curb Appeal of Your Small Business

First impressions are everything in the business world. Whether you’re an online entrepreneur or you have a physical storefront for your small business, what customers see the first time they interact with your brand often influences how they’ll feel about you for years to come.

Tips for Boosting Physical Curb Appeal

From the very moment a customer walks up to your storefront or office, what signal are you sending them? Whether they’ll admit it or not, customers judge your “book” by its “cover,” and you need to be meticulous with how you present your brand. Here are some simple suggestions for boosting physical curb appeal:

• Clean off surfaces and walkways. From the moment customers get out of their vehicles and start walking up to your place of business, what is their experience like? Something as simple as cleaning concrete pavers in front of your store, or pressure washing siding can have a big impact on the perception of your brand.

• Invest in quality signage. How recognizable is your brand from the outside looking in? Quality signage is an investment every business should make. You want something that’s sleek, professional, and visible. It should also speak to your brand’s individuality.

• Get window displays right. If you have a storefront, window displays represent prime real estate (especially in highly trafficked areas). Instead of looking at window displays as an afterthought, frequently update them so you can regularly draw in new customers.

Tips for Boosting Virtual Curb Appeal

“Your business may shine in many ways, but if it doesn’t shine online you’re likely losing potential business opportunities,” says Sue Cockburn, CEO of Growing Social Biz. “Even with existing customers who visit you online, you may inadvertently be undermining the image you’ve built up in their minds, if you’re not paying attention to your website as an important part of your online brand.”

While curb appeal is a term used in real estate, it also has a place in digital marketing and web design. Your website is your virtual slice of real estate and you need to make sure it sends the right signals. Here are three tips for boosting curb appeal in this area:

• Simplify web design. A busy homepage will leave visitors feeling overwhelmed and confused. The best thing you can do for your website is to simplify and get rid of superfluous elements that don’t directly influence conversions. Think like a minimalist.

• Use compelling images. You can have the best copywriting in the industry, but you stand very little chance of making a positive first impression if you don’t have compelling visuals on your homepage. Images are the first thing visitors notice and you need to ditch the stock photography and invest in high quality, high resolution visual content.

• Choose the right CTAs. Clear calls-to-action (CTAs) are not only important in driving higher conversion rates, but they also impact how customers feel about your brand. A clear CTA sets a precedent and gives first-time visitors a better idea of who you are and what you do. Pick one or two very specific CTAs for your homepage and strategically insert them into the homepage to maximize visibility.

Make a Solid First Impression

It’s possible to change a first impression, but it requires a lot of effort. It’s much easier to keep a customer if you win them over from the start. Whether you run a brick and mortar business, an ecommerce venture, or use a multi-channel strategy that allows you to dabble in both, the attention you give to curb appeal will have a direct influence on customers’ first impressions. Make sure you’re giving serious thought to this responsibility.