Simple ways to make your business look more professional

Your business is just as professional and reputable as the next one. It might just not feel that way if you’ve recently opened your doors, theoretically or literally. And when you’re up against long established companies, it can start to give you some imposter syndrome, which is fine, you’ll get there, just don’t let your audience see it. 

We’ve all heard the phrase: fake it ‘til you make it. And when it comes to opening your own business, that’s essential. All businesses start small. But there are some things you can do to make your business look more professional to your potential customers or clients - and most importantly, show them you know what you’re talking about and that they can trust you. 

Why looking professional matters for your business

People don’t know how new you are. They don’t know how confident you feel. They only see what you put in front of them.

A professional business image creates reassurance. It tells potential clients that you’re organised, credible, and safe to work with, even if you’re still figuring things out internally.

For small businesses especially, this matters. When your business looks considered and intentional, it levels the playing field. You’re no longer being compared to someone’s mate who “also does that”. You’re being compared to other professionals.

And that changes everything.

How to make your business look more professional

Create a professional sales deck

One of the quickest ways to stop feeling like you’re winging it is to create a proper sales deck.

Not necessarily because clients demand one, but because you’ll benefit from it yourself. 

A professional sales deck forces you to articulate what you do, who it’s for, and why it’s valuable. It gives structure to conversations that might otherwise feel awkward or rambling. And it means you’re not relying on confidence alone to carry a sales call.

For solo entrepreneurs especially, a sales deck acts like a quiet business partner. It does some of the talking for you. It sets expectations. It helps clients understand what they’re buying, without you having to over-explain or over-justify.

Even if your business is small, a sales deck signals that you take it seriously, which makes other people do the same.

And when potential clients reach out, it means you have something to send them before you set up that all important introductory call. 

What a sales deck should include:

• What your business is and what you do

• The people behind the business aka meet the team

• Why people need your product or service

• A breakdown of what you offer

• Pricing page 

• Contact details 

• Any supporting testimonials or social proof 

Need help putting together a sales deck? At BlackCat Content, we know sales decks like the back of our hand (or paw if you like), and we’re on hand to help with any questions you might have, or to make the whole thing for you? Drop us a message, and we’ll be in touch. 

Improve your business branding consistency

When you’re running a business on your own, branding often gets built in pieces. A logo here. A colour you liked at the time. A website that’s been tweaked ten times.

That’s normal. But inconsistency can make a business feel less established than it actually is.

Consistency doesn’t mean perfection. It means deciding what your business looks and sounds like, then sticking to it across your website, social media, and documents. When everything feels connected, your business feels more real, both to your audience and to you. And that sense of cohesion goes a long way in making a small operation feel professional.

A great way to make sure your brand stays consistent is to build a brand pack, which is just a fancy way of saying a document where you note down which font, colours, types of images etc. that you use. That way it always stays consistent. 

A lot of tools these days, like Canva, let you build your brand pack into their platform as well. So, you’ll always have the right fonts, colours, logos, even your brand voice, ready to go.

Upgrade your website to look more professional

Your website is often the first place people go to sense-check you, to make sure you’re trustworthy, and well, real. 

What your potential clients or customers aren’t looking for is perfection, or anything super stylised. They’re just looking for reassurance. They want to understand what you do, who it’s for, and whether you seem legitimate.

A professional website prioritises clarity over buzzwords. It explains your offer in plain

language, works properly on mobile, and doesn’t make people hunt for basic information. 

Communicate professionally

If you want to feel more like a “real business”, it’s time to start talking like a business. And we don’t mean using lots of jargon and “corporate speak” (please don’t do that). What we mean is making yourself look like a business person. 

A custom email address, clear email signatures, and well-structured proposals make you look professional. They tell clients that you’ve thought about how your business operates, and how it looks, not just the work itself.

For solo entrepreneurs especially, this kind of professional communication helps bridge the gap between how established you feel and how established you appear. And often, that’s all that’s needed.

Just getting started? You can build an email signature straight into your email account, or use a tool like Canva (we’re big Canva advocates) to make your own. 

Here’s an example of what they can look like:

Showcase social proof to build trust

When you’re early in your business, it’s easy to downplay your experience. But if you’ve helped people, any people, that counts, and it’s worth showing.

Social proof helps your business look more professional because it removes uncertainty. It reassures potential clients that others have trusted you before them, and that working with you isn’t a gamble.

This doesn’t have to be flashy. A thoughtful testimonial or short case study can be enough to make your business feel grounded and credible, rather than theoretical. 

Want to learn more about what a case study can look like? Get in touch, and we can help you with everything from reaching out to clients suitable for a case study to writing and publishing it on your site.

Make your business look professional using BlackCat Content 

Feeling like a “real business” doesn’t usually come first. Looking like one often does.

For small businesses and solo entrepreneurs, professionalism isn’t about pretending to be bigger or more confident than you are. It’s about putting simple structures in place that support you while you grow.

A sales deck. Clear messaging. Consistent branding. Professional communication.

These things don’t just change how others see your business , they change how you experience it too. And that shift is often what helps everything else click into place.