The perceived size of a business can instill a certain degree of confidence to potential clients. And there are lots of ways that you can make your small business appear bigger. The key lies in creating a very professional image for your company.
Here are seven ways to make your small business appear larger on the web:
#1 Look into alternatives to the sole proprietorship. 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. Consider the beneifits, for example of an LLC (Limited Liability Corporation). You’ll need to talk to your accountant before you make any such changes.
#2 Hire a professional to design a logo for your business. Branding and company identity are vital to the success of any business.
#3 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. Make sure your online presence is clean, easy to navigate and brimming with valuable content and resources.
#4 Don’t underestimate the power of quality content. The more good, original content you have on your site, the better. Use article marketing to increase your brand awareness and boost your credibility. Network with other complementary websites to provide content for them. Provide value-added comments on notable industry blogs. When your company name is all over the internet, and you are making a true contribution to your industry, your business will automatically look bigger – and more valuable.
#5 Outsource when it makes sense to do so. This is particularly useful if you outsource your virtual help and/or your bookkeeping and accounting help. Give them names such as “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. Try AskSunday.
#6 Don’t use free email addresses. Most hosting package come with email addresses. Use them. Yourname@yourcompany.com looks much better than yourname@hotmail.com. 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 a perceived image of a larger size – 1-800-call-now!
#7 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 such as OneBox – which screens, answers, and forwards calls automatically based on your preferences and settings. Autoresponder services (we recommend GetResponse), live chat and other automated assistance help customers and prospects get their questions answered quickly, and it provides an image of size and responsibility.
When using the tactics above, remember to always keep your customer in mind. You aren’t trying to be deliberately deceptive in any way. You are just projecting a professional image. The user experience of your customers is what it’s all about.
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