There are many ways in which the old saying that you never get a second chance to make a first impression holds true in business. People form first impressions in an instant and once they are formed, they are difficult to change. In fact, internet users form first impressions of websites in as little as 50 milliseconds. When meeting new people, it takes just seven seconds to form a first impression. The first thing people see is the first thing they will base their impressions of your business on. This is why your storefront is every bit as important as the interior of your store.

Your Storefront Is to Your Business What Your Personal Appearance Is to You

Anyone who has ever used a dating app knows the importance of a great profile picture. It just does not matter how sparkling your personality is or how great your sense of humor is, if you have a terrible profile picture, you won’t be going on any dates. Unless you can make a great initial impression, you won’t get the chance to show someone who you really are. The same is true in business. No matter how great your product or service may be, no matter how beautiful the interior of your store is, if the exterior does not make a great impression, you are unlikely to get customers or clients into your store to see what you have to offer.

Your Storefront Says a Lot about Your Business

The human brain can process visual information in as little as 13 milliseconds. This means that in the 7 seconds that it takes us to form a first impression we are absorbing and evaluating thousands of individual details. Every detail about you tells others something about you. From the style of your dress to the way you hold and carry yourself, everything provides important clues as to the type of person you are. The same is true of your business. When your sidewalks are cracked and in poor repair, that says something about your business. If the paint on your building is peeling or if your stairs are rickety, this doesn’t inspire confidence in what your business has to offer. If you do want to inspire confidence, get your concrete repaired and keep your entire exterior neat and tidy.

Appearances matter. If you want to inspire confidence in potential customers or clientele, you have to make a great first impression. That impression is generally made before your customers ever step inside your store, so make sure your storefront tell potential customers who you really are.