So far we’ve worked on your image. And like I stated in ten ways to jump start your business, having a professional looking email is part of your image. There are two options regarding email that stand above all others. These are Windows Live Custom Domains and Google Apps.

If you don’t have a domain name, both of these offer options for acquiring one. Email is a very important service for your business. So getting the same quality of service and reliability that you’d get with a regular @hotmail.com or @gmail.com account is a great deal. This of course is done with your own domain name. After this, you just have to create emails for employees or partners.

Note: If you did not acquire your domain from one of these providers, some minimal technical changes must be made to your domain name servers.

Go here for Google Apps and here for Windows Live Custom Domains.

-Max

If you don’t feel comfortable with designing shapes and mixing colors (don’t feel bad, most of us don’t), there are a couple of options you can explore to get a high quality logo with a small budget.

These options go from DIY to professional level design.

You might want to explore each one of them, and choose the one you feel comfortable with.
LogoYes – DIY
HP Logomaker – DIY
E-Lance – Freelance Design
oDesk – Freelance Design
CrowdSpring – Crowdsourcing

With these services you’re bound to get a decent logo that matches your expectations.

If you’re starting your business now, they’re many ways that could help you get ahead or at least catch up.  A common misconception is that image isn’t so important. However, if you look into it, you’ll realize that you’ve been biased by image so many times. You’ve probably made many decisions based on image, and not on thought. There’s a reason for that. People are into aesthetics. Visual decision making is a fact. People perceive order, cleanliness, symmetry, and specially beauty.

Taking this into account, how can we provide a better image to our clients? I’m not talking about going shopping for new shoes, some jackets and ties. I’m talking about your identity as a professional, or your business.

Let’s see the list.

• Find your business a great name, this should represent you and your company
• If you already have a name, get a professionally designed logo. Do not underestimate the importance of your logo
• Get professional looking business cards
• Get your own domain name
• DO NOT use @hotmail, @gmail, @yahoo on your business card. Get your @yourbusiness.com email
• Get a website (a blog is not supposed to be your presence on the web).
• Provide a feedback channel on your site
• Secure your name on twitter
• Get your business a page on Facebook
• Customer Relationship Management (CRM) is your friend

Optionally, you could also get one of those 1-800 numbers forwards.  It will give a more solid feeling both to your business card and your website. I know that some of these are obvious to some people; however, I’ve seen my uncommon quantity of professionals fail at such “obvious” tasks.  On my next posts I will dig deeper into this list. I will provide real services that will help you accomplish these, spending little or no money at all.