First impressions count for a lot in the business world, just as they did in every other aspect of life. And that can work to your advantage or your disadvantage. If you’re a one-person, at-home business, then you may experience some slight bias against your business all because people don’t take you as seriously as they would a larger operation. Though it’s not always valid, people tend to perceive larger businesses as inherently more successful and just broadly “better” than one-person bands.
So what should you do if you find yourself in this situation? The answer is to make your business look and feel bigger than it really is. In this post, we’ll run through some tried and tested tips for doing just that.
Get the Digital Look
The first place a potential customer will come across your business is likely online. So what is it that they see when they punch your name into Google? If you’ve got a website that you clearly designed yourself, an @gmail email address, and other staples of a primitive online presence, then they’ll get the sense that you’re just starting out. So make sure that your digital presence is watertight. Claim your Google Business page and make sure it is full of contact information and photos. Invest in good web design. Basically, make yourself look like a real business.
Put on an Impressive Show
There’ll be times when you have to meet customers or potential business partners face to face. If you can only offer your home office as the meeting spot, then it’s unlikely that they’ll be all that impressed. On the other hand, with a meeting room hire, smart and professional outfit, and all-around professional demeanour, you’ll be able to put on a show that’s worthy of a larger operation. Just because you’re a one-person, at-home business, that doesn’t mean that you can’t send the same signals as larger businesses.
Outsource Some Tasks
You may not have a budget that allows you to hire employees. But that doesn’t mean that you have to do all of your business tasks yourself. In fact, you shouldn’t do this. A business looks small if one person is answering calls, responding to emails, managing social media, making sales pitches, and completing the work. While there are some tasks that you’ll want or need to do yourself, there are others that you can hand over to a third-party company. Outsourcing is an effective way to get expert work at budget-friendly prices, and in the process, you’ll be adding the infrastructure that looks like you’re being than you really are.
Have a Big Business Mentality
Finally, let’s think about attitude. You might not be a big business right now, but that doesn’t mean that you won’t be in the future. Act like the company that you want to be, not the one that you are. If you can adopt the mentality of a big business, then you’ll naturally communicate that message to people that interact with your business. It’s all about perception.