6 Tips to Help Make Your Small Business Seem Bigger

How to make your small business seem bigger

To introduce these 6 tips to make your small business seem bigger, first consider the animal kingdom. In the animal kingdom, the bigger animal usually wins as a matter of natural selection. This same concept translates to the business world. Bigger companies often have more appeal to potential clients. Not only do they seem to have more experience and resources, but they also appear to be better able to provide quality products and services.

If you’re running your small business solo, or have a small team, this misconception between big and small business can be challenging. After all, to succeed, you need to consistently work to broaden your client base, increase revenue, and service your clients. So, here are 6 simple tips to help make your small business seem bigger.

1. Your business name matters

What’s in a name?

Don’t worry, we won’t make you recite Shakespeare. But the famous bard was certainly onto something. You need to think strategically when choosing a name for your company. Naming it after yourself or a family member can imply that your business is so small, it’s only able to handle orders or services locally. 

Even if you have only yourself on the payroll, give your company a catchy name that insinuates a larger production. You also want a name that’s original, but not too difficult for people to remember. 

Another good practice to make your small business look bigger is to always refer to “we” instead of “I” on behalf of your company. Using a collective name gives the impression to potential clients that your company is larger and has multiple employees.  

2. Location, location, location – Relocate HQ

A second way to make your small business look large is to consider relocating your headquarters to an office location. Even if you invest in a co-working or shared workspace, the appearance of success is a marketing plus.

If you’re thinking relocation, consider taking advantage of smaller markets where you have the potential to make a big splash. An office allows you to look like a big fish in a small pond. If you’re in the market, search for quickly developing areas that offer street views. This can really boost your company’s future potential. 

Many up-and-coming cities, like Charlotte, NC for instance, are growing quickly. These places instantly expand your market and provide a thriving economy, great climate, dining options, and a below national average living costs.

By relocating, not only will you be able to make a big impact in your own backyard, but also you’ll be able to save money from month to month in the process.

3. Update tech

Using up-to-date technology to help run your business not only makes your life easier but makes your small company seem bigger. Technology can help automate tasks that normally require additional heads. Simple daily duties such as scheduling, shipping, and even social media posting can be automated to help maintain a large corporate image with minimal labor. 

Try using cloud storage to safely store and access your documents remotely. The cloud allows authorized users world-wide access to documents with a basic internet connection. Another benefit is the platform’s many robust security measures.

Additionally, virtual assistants help make your small business looks bigger. When you expand your team, you appear to be large enough to hire help. Hiring a tech-savvy assistant can ultimately make your job easier by handling the details, follow up and breakdowns that always occur.

4. Capitalize Tax Advantages

While running a small business may seem like the cards are stacked against you sometimes, you can take advantage of the plentiful tax benefits. Working from home and owning your own business means there are several tax deductions you are eligible to claim at year’s end. 

Check with your CPA, but general tax writeoffs include any marketing materials, design, printing, distribution costs as well as the systems used to manage it all. There are several considerations so be sure to check with your tax advisor! There are great apps to help you manage and track your expenses throughout the year. Also, you can automate how you record business expenses and deductions. Apps and automation can save hundreds of hours throughout a tax year. 

5. Strategize Email

When sending email addresses on behalf of your small business, always use first and last names. Using only your first name in an email address implies that there is only one person at your company with that name. While that certainly may be true, (especially if you’re solo), adding a last name on the email address can make your small business look bigger, as it implies a bigger organization.  Remember, too, if possible, to create an email handle and domain that’s easy to communicate without wordplay, which can be confusing to first-time customers.  

6. Power Up With Social Media

Social media can make your small business look bigger. Any social platform offers the ability to reach millions of people worldwide. Not only can you share promotional information about your company, but you also have the option to connect personally with real clients and customers. Be sure to frequently post on social media to maintain your online presence. 

Social posts can be informational, but be sure to make them engaging. You want people to feel connected with your products, services, and recommendations. If you’re strapped for time, try automating social media posts. Aggregators like Buffer, Social Oomph, and Hootsuite are great ways to stay on top of posts. But be careful! There’s a tendency to spread yourself thin if you’re on too many unchecked social platforms. It’s best to limit your activity to the ones you’re likely to manage and monitor frequently. Out-of-date (or inactive) social media accounts give customers the impression that your small company doesn’t have the resources to manage a social media outlet. 

Running a business is complicated, no doubt. When you throw in the responsibilities of marketing your company to appear larger and legitimate, it gets even more complex. But by taking advantage of technological tools and these simple tips, you can create a company image that you can easily grow into — and soon. 

How will these tips help you make your small business seem bigger?

Please share with us in the comments below! If you have other tips you would like to share, please do! We love learning from our readers.

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This article was written in collaboration with guest author Laura Gayle, who believes entrepreneurship is the key to true work-life balance. She’s a full-time blogger who is passionate about e-commerce and the ways technology is helping to rejuvenate the American dream. She helps women start a business on their own terms,  Business Woman Guide