There are few things in this world that are both as exciting and as scary as starting your own business. One of the biggest challenges that a lot of people find themselves running up against is the fact that they often end up trying to compete with businesses that are both far larger and far more well established than they are. It’s enough to make a lot of small business owners feel like they’re taking up space that they shouldn’t However, that’s just not the case. The truth is that you’re a professional and you need to be willing to see yourself that way. Of course, then you have the problem of trying to make the rest of the world see yourself that way. It’s lucky then that in the modern world, it’s never been easier to find ways to present your business in the most professional way possible. With that in mind, here are just a few ways that you can make sure that your small business is always treated as the real deal.

Web design

There’s no doubt that you can’t run any kind of business in the modern era without a website. If your business isn’t online, it might as well not exist in the first place. However, one of the most common mistakes that a lot of people make is that they tend to think that it’s enough just to have a presence on the web. The truth is that your customers don’t just need you to have a website, they need you to have an appealing website. You could have the best product or service in the world but the truth is that if your website looks amateurish then potential customers are going to make the same assumptions about every other aspect of your business as well. Look at the things that many of the most successful businesses in the world do and figure out what works and what doesn’t. And remember, it’s not just a matter of having a website that looks great, functionality is every bit, if not even more important.

Dedicated email accounts

There’s nothing strictly wrong with using a personal email account or something like your a Gmail account, but it will send a certain message to your customers. It’s the kind of thing that can lead your customers to think that your business isn’t really something that’s that worth taking seriously. It’s often a far better idea to have a dedicated email account with your business’s name. It’s a simple and subtle change but one that makes a huge difference. Companies like Google actually offer services that allow you to create domain names and email accounts that can help your business make a far more professional first impression to both potential customers and potential investors.

Branding

This might sound a little bit shallow but the truth is that most customers will decide whether or not your business is worth spending their time and money on in a few seconds. This isn’t a knock against customers but rather a sign that the modern world is so busy and fast-paced that the vast majority of people simply don’t have the time to spend much longer than that choosing a business. This means that your branding has to be on point every single time. Not only does your brand need to reflect your business in the best possible way but it also needs to be attractive enough to draw people to your business. You also need to be sure that it’s consistent enough that your business is recognisable at a moment’s notice.

A virtual mailbox

One of the best things about running a business in the modern era is that it’s something you can do from just about anywhere. There’s nothing to say that a business run from home is going to be any worse than something run out of any office. However, that’s not always how customers will feel. People will often assume that a home business is more like a hobby and is less likely to offer the kind of service or products that they really want. Something like a virtual mailbox can make a big difference there as they allow you to create a dedicated mailbox that will then forward any correspondence to your home base.

Employees

One of the biggest difference between a small startup and a business that’s better established is that of employees. You might not have the ability to hire any employees at all but it can make a huge difference in how customers perceive you. Services like Virtual Reception allow you to avoid the fears that some customers might have when dealing with a one-person business. It’s a subtle change but one that can have a surprisingly large impact on the psychology of how potential customers perceive your business as a whole.

The reality of starting your own business is that you’re always going to be going up against those with far more experience and far greater resources than you. There are so many huge businesses that it’s easy to feel dwarfed and getting noticed can be a serious challenge. However, it’s essential that you remember the truth that bigger isn’t always better. The truth is that, for all of the advantages that they might have, there is one thing that big businesses simply don’t have: the ability to really connect with their customers. People simply don’t trust massive, faceless corporations. This is something that your business can very much take advantage of. After all, your size makes it a whole lot easier to connect with your customers in a far more direct and personal way. In this way, your size is actually something that you can leverage for your own success. You can give your business the personal touch that bigger businesses simply can’t manage. No matter how big or small your business might be, the most important thing is to work with what you’ve got and make the most of your current circumstances.