Today, given the often-high costs of renting office space, buying furniture and hiring staff, many business owners opt to work out of their homes or enlist the services of a virtual office.

And while working cost-effectively is key, it’s even more important to consider what kind of image your business is portraying to the outside world. Do you have your own Website? Your own dedicated domain name? How is your business phone answered? And where can customers send correspondence?

It’s easy to build a strong business image – even if you don’t have a big, fancy office – with just few virtual tools. Here are five ways how.

1. Get your own domain name. This allows you to brand your business with your own unique domain name. Some companies choose to use their actual names “SmithCPAs.com;” others use a descriptive tag, “urCPA.com;” and others purchase several domain names that are both literal and descriptive. Whatever name you choose, make sure it’s easy to spell and that it is memorable.

2. Create your company’s Website. There’s no excuse for any company today not to have a Website. Depending on your time, skills and resources, you can develop one yourself or outsource it to a reliable service provider. These service providers can provide domain name registration, search engine optimization, Web hosting, design and content to help you maximize your online presence.

3. Customize your email address. Along with your unique domain name, a professional business image means upgrading your email address. While using an email service such as Gmail or Yahoo! is perfectly acceptable for your personal correspondence, as a business it lacks a sense of permanence and professionalism. Often when you purchase your own domain name and Website package, you receive several personalized email addresses for you to use right away. High-quality spam filters and virus blockers ensure you receive only the email you want to receive.

4. Don’t overlook your mailing address. Sure, we all live in a mostly virtual world, but your business still needs a physical address to include on business cards, letterhead and to receive mail. Understandably, for security and privacy reasons many people are uncomfortable using their home address to receive business correspondence. And a P.O. Box just doesn’t instill confidence if you’re in certain types of professions. A “virtual” office solution that includes a dedicated physical address can safely sign for and receive packages whether you’re working from home, on the road or on vacation.

5. Consider your phone presence. Who’s answering your phone when you’re conducting business? Your spouse, your kids or the family voice mail? A separate line dedicated to your company is a must, as is a system that can quickly and consistently answer your phone so that it reflects positively your company’s brand and responsive image. Virtual and live receptionist services cost a fraction of hiring an employee to answer phones and take messages, yet they offer the professional image and efficiency businesses need to manage day-to-day operations and stay competitive.

Taking your business from being viewed a small, home-based operation to a major presence is as easy as implementing a few virtual tools.

Eos Solutions, LLC is a small office-, home office- and mobile office-focused business service provider. Eos has particular interest in helping entrepreneurial operations in their start-up and growth phases. Eos is focusing its resources on developing cost effective solutions to help new businesses during this critical, challenging and difficult phase of their birth. Solutions may include outsourcing and bundling of services. These types of services can be delivered cost effectively via the virtual world. Technology is critical in creating the necessary environment to do this successfully. At this time Eos has invested efforts in several areas which bundled together and customized for each client will provide cost effective solutions. Clients can easily manage the resources they need from period to period as their company grows and their needs change.

Peter
Exclusive blogs on www.ellospur.com

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