In some respects, smaller businesses can find it difficult to compete with bigger, more established brands. This is for a variety of reasons —lower operating costs, large advertising budgets and media attention.
But in today’s competitive business landscape, size doesn’t always determine success. Small businesses can thrive by leveraging strategies that create the perception of a larger, more established company. Building this perception can help attract more customers, boost credibility, and compete effectively. Here are six effective ways to make your small business seem bigger:
Virtual Office Solutions
If your business operates from a home office or a small workspace, consider using a virtual office or business address service. This allows you to have a prestigious address that’s separate from your personal one. A prime business address, such as one in a prestigious business district, can instantly enhance your company’s image. It also provides a level of privacy and security by keeping your personal address confidential.
Virtual office solutions provide small businesses with an address and professional services without the need for a physical office space — just remember not to invite clients in for meetings! If you’re running a one-person operation, handling incoming phone calls yourself is an extra hassle, and requires more organisation, which you could do without — and a virtual receptionist will answer your calls promptly and professionally and notify you about each one via email or another channel.
Strong branding
More often than not, when a customer makes a purchase, they purchase the brand as much as the product or service. So one of the most powerful ways to make your small business appear larger is to forge an identity that is strong, consistent, and memorable. A striking and professionally designed logo, great-looking website, and perhaps most importantly, a strong brand message will give your company an air of confidence and experience. One aspect of branding that many companies overlook is that of colour psychology — different hues and tones provoke different responses, and behaviour that can result in higher brand engagement among existing and potential customers.
Consistency across all marketing channels will help create a sense of professionalism and reliability. This includes printed media, which is still a potent force when it comes to marketing strategy — and printed items are now more affordable than ever, and should be used as part of any campaign. Consistency in your brand’s visual and written elements will lend credibility and reinforce the perception of a larger organisation.
Responsive Customer Service
Many small businesses use customer relationship management (CRM) software to track customer interactions, preferences, and feedback. This enables you to offer personalised service, creating a perception of a customer-centric organisation. Encourage customer reviews and testimonials on your website and social media to showcase the positive experiences of past clients — small businesses thrive on customer loyalty, so this is obviously at a premium, so good reviews and data are paramount to success.
Exceptional customer service can set your small business apart from larger competitors. Your ability to provide personalised, prompt, and helpful support can leave a lasting impression on customers. If you have staff they will need training to be responsive to inquiries, address customer concerns professionally, and provide detailed information about your products or services.
Professional Email Communication
Professionalism extends to your email communications. Using a generic email address like [email protected] can diminish your credibility. Instead, invest in email hosting services that provide custom email addresses ([email protected]). This not only looks more professional but also helps with brand recognition.
Professional email services often come with additional features such as spam filters, encryption, and calendar integration, and many also have heightened security. These features can enhance your business operations and make your small business appear more technologically advanced and established.
Social Media Presence
Social media platforms offer powerful tools for small businesses to reach a broader audience and create a larger-than-life presence. Maintain active and engaging profiles on platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn.
Regularly post relevant content, such as industry insights, helpful tips, and customer success stories. Interact with your followers by responding to comments and messages promptly. A strong social media presence can give the impression that your business is well-connected, well-informed, and larger than it actually is.
Bigger isn’t always better, but fostering an image of a larger, more established company can make a big difference to small businesses. Using some of these methods will result in actual growth, meaning greater profitability.
