Your online public image

 A day or so ago I spoke about your company vehicles and how they are mobile business cards. Today I want to speak to you about your place of business. What do your clients see when they visit your business? What do the passers by see? Would your business facade draw people in, or would the tatty, weed infested carpark and peeling paint ensure no-one wandered through your door?

But what about those organisations who have an online presence (a website) - what does that say about you and your work?

If you are still into the flashing whizz bangs and whirring wot nots on the landing page of your website, a word of advice - people aren't interested in that anymore. They want information and they want it quickly. There are many issues with regards to web design which we don't have the time or space to cover here, but if you are interested in what makes a website work then please visit (IMHO) one of the best - http://www.treble7.com - I used that advice to build my site, and now I know more, will be able to do more with the site. But what I wanted to add to the debate on website landing pages - if a client was searching for your business and didn't have a clue as to what your business was called - would they find you? Yes I know there is yellow pages, but humour me for a moment.

What would they be typing in to yellow pages to search for your business. Now translate that to a search engine query.

For example - mortgage broker and like yellow pages - limit the search by location. Do you get close to the top of the search engine rankings?

You see, your image - your personal look, the look of your business, the way you do business, the way you treat your clients isn't just limited to those face-to-face meetings you have. But to everything they see and hear about you.

So, a question - is it time you smartened up your public image? Or Can you sit back and go, yep - done that one Elle, bring on the next set of suggestions. In which case I'll speak to you all tomorrow.