A professional image is more crucial than ever to small businesses, with 92% of people saying they check a company’s website before they make a purchase, new research has found.
A good design is essential for a business’ website, with 81% of the respondents saying it is more important than ever that a local business appears professional, said the survey by Microsoft.
Almost half of potential customers said they would rather not use firms that don’t use business email addresses, with 84% believing that a professional image conveys a good quality service, and 63% saying it gives a sense of honesty and trustworthiness.
The study also found that customer service is essential for keeping customers, with 46% saying that for them, good service is the ‘number one factor’ in using a business again.
Nearly 65% added that they wouldn’t use the same company again if the after-sales care wasn’t up to standard.
Tim Kimber, Office Live product manager for Microsoft UK, said a professional image is crucial to consumers when choosing a local supplier.
“A local firm’s online presence – be that through its website or email contact – is a vital factor in conveying professionalism.
“If local businesses are to grow and compete with larger companies, they need to understand just how important it is to appear professional,” he said.
“They should think about their online presence carefully and understand how the design of their website and email address affects how their business is perceived.
“It’s particularly important that we look to rid the small business world of personal email, which doesn’t communicate the level of professionalism small firms need,” he added.
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