How to present a professional image

Do you judge people by how they look?

Of course you do. We all do. So stop and take a critical look at how you look when you set out to win new customers.

Your clothes make a huge difference, and the trick here is to make them present an impression without even being noticed. First, dress appropriately for your line of work. A Realtor, for instance, should not dress like a night club hostess or a golf pro. Neither should a dentist or a mortgage lender or an airline pilot!

By the same token, a building contractor should probably not show up in a suit and tie, unless the company is so huge that everyone knows he (or she) will never set foot on the construction site.

Your hair and makeup should follow suit - create an impression without anyone noticing any detail about either. No bright blue eyeliner, please. Ditto with jewelry - subdued is the rule. And perfume! Please, don't overwhelm anyone. The last thing you want to be remembered for is the scent that lingers long after you've left the room.

Criticize your own look before customers do it for you - and then adjust!

Now, here's one little tip that people seldom mention: If you want to look seriously professional, carry a clipboard. I don't know why, but you'll be viewed as knowledgeable and reliable if you're seen carrying a clipboard and making notes.

Get yourself a clipboard, then put a legal pad on it because if you carry an empty clipboard you'll look silly instead of professional.



Yours for prosperity,
Marte