Businesses only have one chance to make a first impression. It’s also easy to forget that potential customers start forming their idea of a company before even talking to an employee. A facility’s physical appearance will tell people a lot about the establishment before they ever step inside.
A stunning 99% of Realtors agree that curb appeal is vital for attracting customers. Thankfully, improving this factor is often fairly straightforward. Here are 10 simple ways businesses can boost their curb appeal.
1. Take Care of Landscaping
One of the easiest and most impactful steps is to keep the surrounding landscape in good condition. That means mowing the grass, trimming bushes, removing weeds and watering plants regularly, as well as cleaning walkways and parking lots of clutter. When potential customers see a business cares for its landscaping, they’ll assume the same care goes into service.
A few broader changes can make this ongoing work easier. Various grass types respond differently to weather patterns, so businesses should research and plant the right kind for their climate. Similarly, finding out which bushes and other plants grow best in the area can make maintenance easier.
2. Paint the Exterior
Another simple but effective way to boost curb appeal is to apply a fresh coat of paint. First, businesses should choose the right color. Bright colors catch the eye sooner, but different hues also communicate different feelings. Neon pink may not be the best choice for a contracting firm trying to appear serious and professional.
Match exterior paint to the business’s logo colors to create a cohesive look. Painting accents like windowsills and doorways with contrasting shades can help catch people’s eyes, too. Companies should clean their walls and repaint them now and then to keep the paint job looking fresh.
3. Have an Eye-Catching Sign
Signage also makes a significant difference in a business’s curb appeal. Signs communicate more than just a company’s name and location. Their size, colors, design and condition work together to give customers an impression of the company’s atmosphere, values, professionalism and quality.
Making sure the sign is large and colorful will help people see it, but that’s only half the battle. The font and color choice should also make it easy to read and reflect the atmosphere businesses want to give off. Muted, cool colors communicate high professionalism, while louder, warmer ones create an air of excitement and friendliness.
4. Upgrade the Parking Lot
Companies should also pay attention to their parking lots. Having dedicated spaces alone will help. Considering how Americans spend 17 hours a year looking for parking, customers will appreciate this.
However, it’s important to do more than just provide parking. Businesses must also keep lots clean, ensure lines are easy to see, maintain flat, even spaces where possible, and provide protections like security cameras and fences. These upgrades will make the company seem more thoughtful about consumer safety, impressing customers.
5. Use Artificial Rocks
One less obvious way to improve curb appeal is to capitalize on artificial landscaping. Trees and rocks can make a business’s exterior feel natural and comfortable, and synthetic versions of these decorations present some unique opportunities.
Artificial rocks can conceal water pumps and other equipment. That way, businesses can cover up any unsightly infrastructure while adding to their landscaping’s natural aesthetic. This step is straightforward and simple, but it can have a considerable impact on potential customers’ first impressions.
6. Put up Seasonal Decorations
Another easy, effective way to boost curb appeal is to decorate according to the season. Making subtle changes to a building’s appearance now and then helps keep things fresh and catches the eyes of people who pass it every day. Shifting seasons provide the perfect opportunity to do that.
Businesses should be sure to redecorate for major holidays like Christmas and Thanksgiving. If a city has local celebrations or traditions, companies should also celebrate these in their decor. This will help create a sense of community and care, which customers will appreciate.
7. Plant Flowers and Other Plantlife
Businesses can also attract passing potential customers by adding some natural color to their buildings. Flowers and other plants have a calming effect that can improve people’s moods as they walk toward the entrance. Studies show that it takes less than 20 minutes to feel the positive impact of plants, so this can be surprisingly effective.
Of course, plants also require care. After planting, be sure to water and weed gardens regularly to keep the greenery around the building looking as pristine as possible.
8. Advertise Deals and Specials
Improving curb appeal is a subtle way to advertise a business, and in some cases, advertising itself can do the trick. Posting signs about what makes a company different or limited-time specials will catch customers’ attention as much, if not more, than a well-kept garden in some cases.
Rotating window displays are an excellent way to advertise services or products without feeling too much like a commercial. Posting about sales around times people expect them, like Black Friday, is a good idea, too.
9. Improve Accessibility
Curb appeal is largely aesthetic, but parts of it are more practical. Making a storefront more accessible, especially when many other businesses don’t make similar accommodations, is a great way to stand out to conscientious customers.
There are 3.3 million wheelchair users in the U.S., but not every building has a ramp or automatic doors. Installing infrastructure like this makes businesses more accessible to a broader audience and can create a more welcoming, inclusive environment.
10. Keep Everything Well-Lit
It’s important to provide sufficient lighting. Poor lighting will limit all the other changes a business makes, as it’ll be harder to see them as it gets darker outside. Lights also improve safety by boosting visibility, and customers will subconsciously notice that.
It’s particularly important to light signs, entrances and parking spaces. These areas will see the most foot traffic and are the most important for people to notice, so they should receive the best lighting.
Improve Curb Appeal to Generate Business
A lot goes into curb appeal, but boosting it doesn’t have to be complicated. Businesses that follow these 10 steps can attract customers without much disruption.
These strategies aren’t the only ways to improve curb appeal, but they represent some of the most effective and least complicated paths forward. Any company, regardless of its size, should be able to implement a few of them. They’ll then appeal to more people and foster success.
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