Make Your Small Company Look Bigger

Date: 18 August 2004

Creating the impression that your small business is larger is an age-old dilemma.

You are competing for business against companies with more money, staff and name recognition. But, according to Joyce Duncan, director of operations at Enterprise (North East Trust) with the right technology, attitude and image, your clients need never know your office is the size of your spare bedroom.

“By following a few simple guidelines you can create the impression your business is bigger and in turn help push your small business to greater heights,” says Joyce. “The Enterprise business advisors work with many fledgling businesses which want to project a bigger image and have come up with some cost effective ways to achieve this.”

1          Use a Virtual Office

By using a virtual office you will appear to be operating from a larger office. So even if you don’t have the cash readily available at present to invest in premises, your clients will never know the difference. A virtual office gives you call answering in the name of your company, a professional business centre address, secretarial support and access to meeting rooms for client meetings.

2          Get a Good Phone System

Your business needs more than one telephone line. There is nothing more amateur than having to tell clients ‘call me before you send a fax’. Enterprise staff also suggest installing separate lines for home and business. A residential line may be slightly cheaper but a business phone has the benefit of getting you into the business listings in the phone book.

3          Telephone Answering

If you are working from home make sure you answer the phone in a professional manner. Don’t allow crying babies or barking dogs within earshot of the phone. Always answer the phone with the company name instead of just ‘hello’- you never know when that big client with a great contract will call.

4          Use the royal ‘we’

Always use we when you are referring to yourself in meetings with clients. It will give the impression you have a team of staff. Also avoid making big decisions on the spot. If you are backed into a corner say you have to consult with your senior executives on the matter.

5          Meet on their Turf

Avoid meeting clients or potential clients in your office if it is either at home or is very tight for space. Instead, you should either go to their offices or rent a meeting room. Enterprise has professional meetings rooms for hire at their business centres across the north east from only £10 for one hour.

6          Get the right address

Adding a suite number to your address usually has a good impact on clients. If you have an address, which sounds impressive use it but if not you may consider using a Virtual Mailboxes. This gives you a professional business centre postal address which sounds as if you mean business.  Enterprise can provide Virtual mailbox services across Aberdeenshire and in Aberdeen.

7          Think about your Presentation

You company message should be consistent, polished and professional whether it’s on your website or business cards. One of the most common mistakes small companies make is using cheap template programmes to create their printed materials. Remember this is a job for the professionals. You are not an expert at designing so hand the job over to someone who is. It will be an investment which will pay off time after time.

8          Accept Credit Cards

Clients would not expect a one-man business to accept credit cards. By being flexible in this way your clients will have no reason to question the size of your business.  Talk to your bank about merchant services.

9          Reliability

If you tell a client you can get back to them on something within an hour make sure you do so. Do not make false promises to the people who are relying on you. In many minds, reliable implies reputable and well established.

10        Exceed Expectations

Be ahead of the game and answer your client’s questions before they have even asked. Make customer service your key message.

Enterprise business advisors provide business support and advice for more than 800 companies in north east Scotland each year. Contact  Enterprise by calling 01467 672500 or visit www.enetrust.com.

Ends

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Beverley Tricker
Tricker PR
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