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Making a good first impression and why entrance & reception cleaning matters

Over the years, many studies have been conducted into the effects of first impressions and in most cases these have found that only 12 seconds are needed for people to form lasting opinions. If your place of business presents poorly you are running the risk of turning away prospective clients, potential new employees and commercial opportunities.

Any opinions formed in regards to your company are generally determined by the presentation of your facilities and the quality of your service. Fortunately, there are a few things you can do as a business owner or office manager to improve your chances of creating a good first impression.

Establish an Enticing Entranceway

The main entrance to your office building should look inviting from the street in order to establish a positive mindset in the individuals and/or groups walking through the front door. If you have any landscaping or potted plants nearby, they should be well looked after and any fallen leaves should be addressed immediately. Entrances should be mould, dirt and mildew free.

Implement Appropriate Signage

As a client entering your office for the first time the expectation is that they will be treated as your guest. Ensure they arrive exactly where they need to be with ease following signing from the parking lot and display your company’s name clearly in any areas where it may be necessary.

Install signage throughout your building in any areas a client may need to visit such as the restroom, boardrooms and emergency exit, etc. While this has less to do with cleanliness and more to do with creating a well-organized environment, it is still an important consideration.

Create a Spacious Reception Area

Generally your clients will be spending the majority of their time at reception before making the trip to your private office or boardroom and as such you’ll need to make every effort to create an inviting waiting area.

Don’t give them the opportunity to scrutinize your place of business and if you have hired the help of a professional cleaning service, make sure this area is pristine.

Streamline Traffic Flow

The last thing any prospective client wants to be is led through a maze of workstations that have seen better days. Think of ways to efficiently organize your office floor and minimize clutter wherever possible.

Improve Presentation Overall

This relates directly to how clean your premises are and how tidy they seem at first glance. Notice that whilst the effect you should be aiming for is one of aesthetics, you should not forego making sure the office is actually hygienically clean.

Restrooms should be kept in meticulous order at all times and employee workstations and common areas should remain free of clutter. Additionally, all floor surfaces (carpeted or otherwise) should be cleaned on a regular basis.

What they say about a good first impression is true – you really only get one. Create the right impression and take the time to view our full list of services at Distinguished Cleaning Service!