by Ken Clark

Created on: January 01, 2008

Everyone who has ever thought about working from home has imagined it. It's the Holy Grail of entrepreneurship. It's the idea of getting to ditch the suit, and work in your pajamas...

There's no doubt, that one of the attractions of working from home, is the lack of pressure. There's no boss breathing down you neck, no morning commute to battle, and no caddy co-workers that you have to pretend to like.

But, one of the primary mistakes home business owners make, is thinking that image no longer matters. In fact, it's just the opposite. Because you're working out of your home, there's an immediate credibility crisis versus your competitors who run brick and mortar businesses.

That's where an image consultant might be the best friend your business has. For a reasonable consulting fee, an image consultant will help you evaluate and adjust the verbal and nonverbal signals your business sends to its customers. They'll help you fine-tune your client interactions, and thus turbo-charge the process of building client trust and credibility.

While not every home business needs an image consultant, here are few situations that would make you a prime candidate:

-You Work With People's Money-
If you handle people's finances, a professional, trustworthy image is crucial. Having clients hear screaming kids in the background, showing up for appointments under-dressed, and using too casual of a tone in your emails or written communications, can unnerve clients.

-You Sell Products Through Relational Marketing-
Whether it is Mary Kay, Southern Home Living, or something similar, relational marketing requires you to be at your best. If your life doesn't reflect the benefits of the products you sell, people won't be too enthusiastic about making a purchase.

-You Sell Products In A Highly Competitive Industry-
If you're opening a home business in an industry that has a lot of businesses fighting over a small pool of customers, you'll need every edge you can get. An image consultant will help you evaluate your competition and decide how to set yourself apart.

-You Sell Expensive Products or Services-
The more expensive the product or service you sell, the more selective people will become. Often times, you'll be required to make a bid for your services, and go through multiple rounds of interviews. More face time, means more chances to turn off a prospective customer.

-You Make or Sell Food Products-
Most of us have walked out of a dirty restaurant at some point in our lives. When it comes to what people put in their mouths, a reputable image is everything. Whether you make gift baskets, or bake gourmet dog treats, an outside consultant can help you protect your blind spots.

If you do decide that you need to hire an image consultant, consider visiting the website for the Association of Image Consultants International (www.AICI.org). With thousands of members around the world, you should be able to find someone in your area and price range.

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