Make Small Appear Big

As small business owners, we know that we can do what we do just as well (or better) as our bigger competition.  Unfortunately, there are a lot of people (potential customers) that don’t know or believe that.  That is until we show them.  So in order to get that opportunity to show our customers how well we can serve them, we sometimes have to appear bigger than we are to get our foot in the door.  Here are 4 ways to help you make small appear big.

• A professional website.  Many times your website is going to be your first chance to impress potential customers with your professional image and for you to give them the impression that you are bigger than you appear.  Key components of a professional website include clean, uncluttered layout, easy navigation, and informative content.  For more on this read my article 8 Ways To Develop Trust Online.
• Be an active networker.  Online and off, make sure that you get out there and make yourself known.  Participate in forums, community programs, comment on blogs, start a blog yourself, and establish yourself as an expert in your area.  When your potential customer asks around, they’ll hear, “Oh yeah, I’ve heard of them.”
• Turn to technology.  Along with your website, your phone system is going to give your potential customers one of their first impressions of your company.  To make yourself look bigger use a virtual PBX style phone system.  With these you can have an automated attendant that will answer and direct all of your calls, you can give callers multiple options (Ex: Sales, Technical Support, Billing) even if all the calls are going to you, integrate your fax and phone number into one and have the option of a local or toll free number.  For an extra bump up the big meter have your main menu greetings and outgoing voicemail professionally recorded.  (Full disclosure: Our company sells virtual pbx systems.)
• Think BIG.  Never doubt that you can provide your customers with a better product and more superior service than your bigger competition.  Don’t think of yourself as a small business, think of yourself as a big business with a small office.  Your attitude will permeate everything you do and project a powerful image.

And here are a couple ideas from the New York Times.

Do you have any tricks that you use to make your small business look bigger?

(Thanks goes out to Brian for another headline challenge and helping us stretch our minds.)

Reader Comments

Ty Brown says...February 12th, 2008

I find it is helpful to target local media outlets to get coverage for what you are doing. You almost always seem larger than you are if you appear on the radio or TV.

Brandi Cummings says...February 12th, 2008

Excellent point Ty. I don’t think enough small businesses take advantage of their local press. It can never hurt to send them your press releases or alert them when you have an event or promotion coming up.

Andy MacDonald - Blogging & Marketing Tips says...February 15th, 2008

I think another good way to make yourself look bigger is to have professional stationary. Instead of using just dull and boring copy paper, use some real good quality paper with a bit of texture to it. Whilst it may be expensive, only use it for presenting quotes or related documents to companies your trying to win the business of.

Its true that first impressions count, so whilst your website needs to give an amazing first impression, the same is true for customers walking into your office, it needs to look clean, professional, and the staff must appear in pristine uniform/suits. The doors/windows to your office must be clean. All small details like this add up to making your company look bigger than it already is.

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