5 Tools to Make Your Creative Business More Professional

Perception is everything when it comes to business and networking, and it is no different in the creative world. Perception can be the difference between landing 2 clients or 20. Getting 50 orders or 500. It doesn’t matter if you are an independent freelancer or a business owner, If you want to attract better connections and generate more business; “legitimate”, “trustworthy”, and “professional” need to cross their mind when they think about you or your brand. The bigger the clients and goals that you hope to achieve are, the more important these tools become. 

These 5 tools, when used correctly, are crucial to getting others to take your brand serious.

Tip #1 - Build a website

A website is one of the most powerful tools for establishing your credibility. It’s not just a digital portfolio; it’s your storefront, your business card, and your elevator pitch—all rolled into one, and not having one is a dealbreaker for many potential clients and customers, especially when it comes to working with other business and brands.

Creating and maintaining a website doesn’t need to be costly or time consuming. There are many inexpensive website hosting services that offer hundreds of simple, modern, and attractive templates available that you can edit and publish in a matter of minutes with prices as low as $4 per month, and domains for as low as $2 per year. Your website could be one page that only includes information about your brand, the services you offer, your past work and how to get in contact with you, and that is already leaps and bounds better than not having a website at all. Be careful however, don’t get sucked in to trying to make “the perfect site,” from the beginning, you can always improve it in the future, for now, just get something up and running!

As long as your website includes the following, you should be in great shape:

• Your name or business name

• Services you provide

• Your location (if relevant)

• Portfolio examples

• Clear form of contact

• Pricing or rates (optional but helpful)

PRO TIP: make sure your website looks good on mobile. More than 50% of website traffic is through tablets and cell phones so ensuring your website is mobile friendly is crucial. Luckily, the vast majority of templates are responsive, meaning they will automatically optimize the layout of your website based on the user’s device.

Tip #2 - Use a business email address

An email address tied to your domain (e.g., yourname@yourbusiness.com) sets you apart from someone using a generic Gmail or Yahoo email. It’s a subtle but powerful way to show that you’re operating as a business, not just an individual. It doesn't matter if you are a company of 1 or 1,000. You do have to purchase a domain separately (unless you already have one for your website) but as mentioned, you can purchase a domain for just a couple of dollars per year. 

PRO TIP: Utilize email aliases to create multiple email addresses (at no extra cost). An alias allows you to use alternate email addresses that all go to your direct inbox. For example, you can create an alias for customer support (help@yourcompany.com) and contact (contact@yourcompany.com), but all emails would go to you (yourname@yourcompany.com)

Tip #3 - create a portfolio

This should be a no brainer. A portfolio is essential for showing what you’re capable of and why someone should work with you. While social media can serve as an informal portfolio, having a dedicated space for your work adds professionalism. Having this accessible on your website opposed to social media also reduces the risk of your audience getting distracted (we all know how dangerous scrolling through instagram or tiktok can be).

But don’t overthink it! Upload quality content (If you post on social media, you can probably reuse that, and add information, such as background on the project and the service being showcased. It's also helpful to organize your portfolio by categories, projects, or services, making relevant content easier for people to find.

Pro Tip: Share testimonials from previous clients and customers alongside your portfolio. This is especially helpful if you are just starting out and don't have a large online presence

Tip #4 - Create a business social media

Social media is a fantastic tool for promoting your creative business, but mixing too much personal content with professional posts can dilute your brand. While friends and family will cheer you on, potential clients or collaborators might not want to scroll past selfies and vacation photos to find your work (unfortunately). Thankfully, expectations are not as high as people think when it comes to a businesses social media. You dont need to have millions of followers, you just need to show that your business is still operating!

Additionally, when reaching out for business related purposes, even in creative industries, other brands and individuals are more likely to open and respond to messages from other businesses as opposed to an individual. What is one of the first actions people take after opening a message from a stranger? They stalk your profile. Make sure when they get there, the content should be related to your work and not family photos and pet videos.

If you don’t have a website, having a business or professional social media account is the next best thing.

Tip #5 - Use secure payment methods

Getting paid is the goal, but the method matters. Using apps like Venmo or personal PayPal accounts can come across as unprofessional and make clients hesitant. Secure payment options like Stripe or a business-integrated PayPal account offer more legitimacy and security. Legitimacy and security become more of a concern the more expensive the product. Its time to face it: Cashapp won’t cut it.

Thankfully, many website providers are integrated with ecommerce tools such as Stripe, allowing you to start accepting payments for a nominal fee per transaction.

SMALL Changes generate big impact

Legitimizing your creative business doesn’t have to be overwhelming or expensive. It’s about taking small, meaningful steps to show the world that you’re serious about your craft. Whether it’s setting up a simple website, creating a dedicated portfolio, or upgrading to secure payment methods, each change you make tells potential clients and collaborators: I’m ready to do business.

Remember, no one starts perfect. You don’t need the fanciest website or a massive social media following to get started. Just start. The key is to keep it simple, stay consistent, and show up for your business every day. These steps aren’t just about looking professional— they’re about being professional and making it easy for people to say “yes” to working with you.