Tips to Create the a Bigger Feel to Your Business
With so many businesses using the internet as their primary interaction with clients and customers, many contemplate how they appear and come across to their audience. Do they look small? Or do they come across as a medium or large company? And what appeals to the majority of their clients? If it is looking bigger, how do they do that in an effective manner?
If a big company appearance is important for your business, there are ways to take your small business and give it more of a big company image. Your website is a great start. The internet is a great tool for smaller businesses as it allows them to level the playing field so to speak with larger businesses. Here are some tips:
� Use terms such as "we" versus "I" in the content of the site.
� Include a phone number and have a live person available at the other end of line. This can be accomplished by providing a number such as a cell phone that will always be staffed. Or there are many companies that can act answering your calls, which can range from messages to taking orders. Many are available on an "as needed" basis.
� You can also make yourself look big by showcasing your ability to deal with large customers. Ask some of your larger clients, which have name recognition, to provide testimonials to place on your website.
Outsource or add staff to expand the skill levels that your company is able to offer. This will bring depth to your company. Build a team, with an attorney, accountant, bookkeeper, and administrative help. This could also be expanded to a web designer to keep your website current, updated and fresh.
Provide a business type environment to meet with current and potential customers. Many small, home-based businesses find themselves meeting for lunch or coffee at a restaurant, but what if a customer asks to meet at your office. If you have a home office, this may be challenging.
� Find a local business center that will rent conference rooms by the hour.
� Another alternative to rent an office on a month-to-month basis in a small business center. There are companies that rent out office space and even provide administrative and reception services. Not only does this provide you a professional environment to conduct your business, but it also provides a staff on a per use basis.
It is important to be careful of the fine line between looking big and being too big for your britches. If you set too high of expectations for your customers, it could break your company while adding unnecessary stress on you to keep up the appearance. By putting together a structure and resources, you can look big and build a strong company while meeting your customer's needs. Take time to weigh the pros and cons of each and make your decision accordingly.
Lesley Spencer Pyle is the founder and president of the HBWM.com, Inc. Network which includes Home-Based Working Moms,
http://www.HBWM.com and [
http://www.HireMyMom.com]http://www.HireMyMom.com. Pyle has been featured in numerous publications including Forbes, Entrepreneur, Wall Street Journal, USA Today, Parenting, Dr. Laura's Perspectives, Family PC and many others. She has 4 children ages 2 to 14 years and has been working from home since the first baby was born!
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