Small Business With A Big Image
By Cynthia Renee Frazier
Many home based businesses look and feel small when they don’t have to. Today, it is quite easy to leverage technology and a host of new tools to quickly turn a small, relatively new company into a bigger more competitive business.
Sound Big on the Phone
“You have reached ABC business. We are either on the phone or helping a client. Please leave a message and someone will return your call.” This voice mail greeting sounds like a one person office. To present a bigger image, there are several phone options available. A virtual receptionist can receive, screen and forward calls giving your company a big business service at an affordable price. The virtual receptionist can make calls and schedule appointments. Another option is to combine software with a voice over to get a crisp clean professional sound that routes callers to the sales or marketing department.
Look Big Online
Even though 63% of small businesses say that having an up to date website improves their company image, few actually have an effective site that looks and feels like a professional corporate company. Gone are the days when a website is a mere electronic brochure. An effective small business site can generate leads, represent multiple streams of income, analyze visitors’ browsing habits for improving conversion rates, conduct valuable feedback surveys, and train potential clients how to purchase your products and services.
Talk Big When You Speak
Many small business entrepreneurs use out dated language when communicating with potential clients and vendors. Using titles like President and CEO rather than owner sets the tone for conducting big business. Likewise, saying my company comes across as a large enterprise whereas saying my business sounds like a one person show. Other terminology for today’s small business playing big include affiliates, virtual, International, and global.
Associate Big
There’s an old saying that still rings true in today’s economy, “Birds of a Feather Flock Together.” The birds of today’s small business are advisors, strategic partners, think tanks and joint venture partnerships. No matter how tiny your company is, it can become bigger by assembling an advisory board comprised of experts. Less formal options may be strategic partners or a think tank. These are small business entrepreneurs who work together for the good of both companies. And finally, teaming with joint venture partners on projects and events can mean big results for small businesses.
Cynthia Renee Frazier is the Author of 101+ Proven Growth Strategies for Small Business Entrepreneurs, and proud sponsor of Walk the Walk for Financial Freedom www.BusinessWomensGrowthSummit.com. Visit her blog to learn more about business growth strategies. Share your growth dilemmas at www.EnergyTourCafe.com.
