Growing a small business is no easy task, especially when most consumers trust names that have been around for a while. Luckily there are easy ways to make any business seem like a large corporation that has been around for years. If you’re looking to grow your small business right away but are unsure of how to do that, check out our 8 ways to Fake It Till You Make It.
Get a P.O. Box
If you’re working from home or a shared space, it is a good idea to use a P.O. Box for your business. It can be dangerous to give out your home address, so this separates your business life from your personal life. You will know that packages will always be safe when using a P.O. Box. There are other options than the USPS, too. UPS offers a street address, that way you can receive mail from anywhere – not just from the USPS.
Amp Up Your Website
Your website should look professional and always be up to date. If you want your business to be taken seriously then a quality website should be at the top of your to-do list. Luckily there are several platforms out there like WordPress, Squarespace and GoDaddy that can offer you your own domain name, hosting, and a premade theme for your site for just a few hundred dollars. If you’re on a budget, which you probably are if you are a small business, then using one of these sites is a great way to have an excellent website to showcase your products and stay in the green.
Get a Toll-Free Number With Extensions
Consider setting up a toll-free number that your consumers can easily reach you at. With a toll-free number from providers like Global Call Forwarding, you can add unlimited extensions. For example, “Press 1 for sales” and so on. The more extensions that you have set up, the bigger your business looks. Even if there is only one person working in each of these departments, and that person is you, it still gives off the perception that the consumer is dealing with a large business.
Add LLC To Your Business Name
This will take a bit of an investment on your part, but in the end will be worth it. With an LLC you can keep your business separated from your personal life. If your business goes into debt it won’t affect your personal assets. An LLC turns your small business into a corporation and it requires a separate tax return from your personal taxes. Plus, it is a lot easier to register as an LLC than an S-Corporation or C-Corporation.
Buy Virtual Phone Numbers in Multiple Locations
Consumers are more likely to trust local businesses. If a potential customer finds that they will be able to reach your business from their local area code, they will be more likely to want to do business with you. If you do not have the means to expand your business to other states or countries you can always claim a virtual presence by using VoIP. This is especially helpful if you already have several customers in a different country or state. Businesses make their money from loyal customers and if you are easily able to stay in contact with them by providing them with a no-fee telephone number they are more likely to stay loyal.
Focus On Social Media
Growing your social media presence is a great way to find new customers and market for free. Small businesses should stay focused on social media since it is a great way to stay in contact with consumers, too. Figure out which social media site will be the best for your particular business and invest time into your page. Restaurants benefit from using Instagram because they can show off pictures of their beautiful food or their lively scene to about 2.3 billion active users. Many businesses also benefit from paying influencers to advertise their products to their thousands or millions of followers. If you are not sure how to go about managing your social media, hire someone to do it for you. There are many marketing companies that specialize in social media, or you can find a freelancer if you want something more personal. If you are trying to grow your social media on your own, then there are several websites that make it simple to follow up on social media statistics, like followers and growth. These sites will usually have the ability to post content for you on a continuous basis, too. That way you can load up on content at one time and the site will post it each day or at different intervals in the day.
Set Up A Separate Business Email
No one is going to take you seriously if your email address ends in @yahoo.com or @gmail.com. Creating an email address with your business’ name looks more professional and will be better for your brand since your business’ name will be constantly displayed in your customers’ inboxes. There are plenty of email providers to choose from and they all have very great features for a low price.
Invest Time and Money Into Good Marketing
If you want your small business to become a big business then you should model your company after them. Large corporations spend a huge amount of their budget on good marketing. You probably won’t be able to spend millions or billions on marketing when you’re just starting out, but investing a chunk of your profits into consistent marketing is a great avenue for creating more revenue. Not only will your products or services get seen by more people, your products and services will be advertised in a professional manner. Plan out your budget and choose marketing strategies that are right for your particular business. If you’re not selling Doritos then you don’t need a 60-second commercial spot during the Super Bowl. However, you may benefit from a direct mail campaign.
Remember that winning in business means being able to compete with the competition. Making it appear that your business is bigger than it actually is is not unethical if you know that your product or service is good. In order to compete sometimes, you gotta fake it till you make it.
