When it comes to competition, there are definitely a few tricks and tactics a small business can employ to look big. Why would you want to do that? Size tends to instill confidence in consumers; if you’re big then you must be successful, right? Well we won’t delve into that argument but what we can show you is how to make a small business look big online.
Change your sole proprietorship to an LLC
This is a minor change that can make a big difference. Your company name shows up in your online signature, your communications, and on your website and people notice. LLC stands for Limited Liability Corporation.
Get a good logo designed for your business
Branding and company identity are important to the success of any business and this singularly simple tool will help you create an image.
Make sure your website is clean and polished
A well designed website radiates professionalism. There are a lot of messy and unprofessional websites out there and then there are amazing websites that are clean, easy to navigate and jam packed with valuable content and resources.
Content!
Create a presence online with content. Be an active participant in content marketing. Make sure you have a wealth of up to date and valuable content on your website and network with other complimentary websites to provide content for them. Comment on notable industry blogs and offer value. When your company is all over the web, contributing to your industry, you look successful.
Outsource
This is particularly useful if you outsource your virtual help and/or your bookkeeping and accounting help. You can give them names like “project manager” “customer service manager” “accounting department” and sound like you have a warehouse filled with cubicles and happy employees when in fact you have a few wonderful contractors who make you look good.
Upgrade your contact information
Yourname@hotmail.com doesn’t make you look like you’re from a big company. Most hosting package come with email addresses, use them. yourname@yourcompany.com looks much better. And the same goes for your telephone number. You can get a toll free number for a small fee each month – vanity numbers cost a little more but they can provide an image of size – 1-800-call-now!
Automate
Automate your phone service and your customer service with easy tools. Phones can be automated with a virtual assistant or by using a system like OneBox which screens, answers, and forwards calls automatically based on your preferences and settings. Autoresponder services, live chat and other automated assistance help customers and prospects get their questions answered quickly and it provides an image of size and responsibility.
There are many tactics you can use to make your small business appear like a fortune 500 company. However, remember to always take your customer in mind when making these decisions and taking these steps. If it enhances the user experience then great, if not, perhaps reconsider. It is, after all, all about your customer.
