I take a four-mile walk each morning through Waveny Park, a beautiful spot just a few minutes from my house. Yesterday, right there in the middle of the path, I came upon an unusual sight:

Four vines were laid out neatly in a two-foot square frame on the ground. But, that’s not all. Right there in the middle, all by itself, was a single car key.

Wow, I thought, that’s both thoughtful and brilliant. So much so that I took a picture! There’s no way somebody could miss this.

It was so cool I kept thinking about it all day. Finally, it occurred to me that in many ways this is the exact opposite of how many professionals develop their web sites and other communications: There is no simple and obvious way for others to contact them!

That’s a problem, of course. If you want to get hired, you need to make it easy to get in touch. Here are some suggestions:

1. Include your phone number in your email signature. When someone wants to contact you this is probably the first place they’ll look. Make it easy to find.
2. Use scheduling software. If you meet with a lot of people, use a scheduling tool like Acuity on your website to let people put themselves on your calendar. You’ll still have complete control over when you’re available and for how long, but it takes the back and forth emailing to schedule meetings out of your work day.
3. Include your physical address and phone number on the Contact page of your website. Or even better, at the bottom of every page.
4. Include a recent, professional head shot on your website and LinkedIn profile. When people meet you for the first time in a public place, this will make it easier for them to spot you!

These four suggestions are simple to do and very powerful. If you’ve been hiding in plain sight, now is the time to stand out and be noticed!

When you work for someone else, your employer provides you with a computer, a phone, an email address and business cards. The company has a logo, a website and procedures established for how to get the work done.

But … when you work for yourself, you start with none of that. It’s up to you to provide these things for yourself. And even though many solo professionals have come from a corporate past, they don’t bring many of these things into their own businesses. I think that’s a mistake.

Many solo professionals assume that because they are small, they’re under the radar and they can get by without pulling together all the essential components of their business. But, whether you’re just starting out or already established and sitting pretty, here are five things that let the world know that you’re a professional, and that you mean business!

1. 1. Get a real email address. I don’t mean using Gmail, AOL, Yahoo! or Hotmail. If you have a registered domain (www.YourCompany.com), it’s just a few more steps to use it for email (jane@yourcompany.com). It’s worth the little bit of extra effort to demonstrate that you’re serious. Please leave nameofmycompany@gmail.com behind!
   2. Get a professional business card. Don’t get a free card from Vista Print; I mean have one designed by a professional, with up-to-date information and nice card stock. (I still receive cards where I can feel the perforations along the edge, which is a clear sign they printed it from home on their own printer!). Your card makes an impression every time you hand it to someone – a small investment in a professional looking card will make a good one.
   3. Get a professional head shot. This should be retaken every couple of years and used on your website, your LinkedIn profile, your bio, etc. It doesn’t have to be expensive, but it should be done by a pro in a professional setting.
   4. Get a consistent look. Presentations, brochures, online materials, etc. Anything you show to clients, prospects and others should feel consistent, instead of reflecting a new expression in creativity in each piece. Use consistent fonts and colors, as well as consistent wording in the way you describe who you are and what you do.
   5. Don’t skimp on your tools. Make sure you have what you need to run your business well, including a good computer, a reliable printer, and a dedicated place to work without background/home noises. Invest in the software you need not only to do your work, but to maintain your business on the back-end too.

All five of these things are easy to implement and relatively inexpensive. By doing them, not only will you give the world a better impression, you’ll feel like a million bucks!