Bigger isn’t always better, but unfortunately, many customers perceive it that way, even if you provide top-notch service. Whether you’re a one-person operation or a small company of 10 team members, consumers may rule out your company as a viable option because of the common perception that “bigger is better.”

At the beginning of 2018, there were 5.6 million small businesses in the U.K. Many of these are losing out on some great growth opportunities because the “big guys” tend to get the lion’s share of the market. Whilst you can’t directly change the inaccurate perception of “bigger” being “better,” what you can do is boost your image and prestige to try to create the illusion of your carrying the same status as the larger companies. Here are seven tricks that can help you to make your small business seem bigger.

1.  Don’t name the company after yourself

Your business is your baby, and it’s perfectly understandable that you might want to name your company after yourself. However, aim for a more prestigious presence. A name like “James A. Jones’ Design Company” screams “small.” Try dubbing your company “J.A. Jones and Associates Design” instead; sounding like a firm will help you level the playing field, enabling you to better compete.

2. There is no ‘I’ in ‘team’

To pull off the illusion of being a larger company, you’ve got to put yourself in the “big” mindset. This means when talking with clients or promoting yourself at public events, you refer to your staff as “we,” never “I” (even if it’s just you on your own) This way, the public will get the idea you’ve got several people working behind the scenes.

3. Upgrade your website

If you want to swim in a big pond (even if you’re a little fish!), you need to position yourself with prominence. This includes your web presence: Invest in a good website upgrade. If you’re using a basic WordPress or Blogger site, it’ll come off as unprofessional. Instead, give your site a total makeover.

• Ensure that your website is mobile-friendly and interactive on all devices.
• Update content frequently to refresh your pages.
• Test to make certain your site loads quickly and properly.
• Start a blog and post regularly with helpful information, tips, or interesting articles.

Utilising these tips will help increase web traffic and decrease bounce rates. A modernised website will remove the notion that you’re a small business while simultaneously amplifying your online impression, bringing in more clients and customers.

4. Selectively choose your social media presence

Be sure to carefully cultivate and build your social media presence. To start, be selective in the social networks you join. As a small company, your time is limited — so only join networks you actually have the time to be consistently active upon. It’s better to have one active profile than three inactive ones. Put effort into gaining followers because the more you have, the bigger you look. Lastly, place prominent buttons on your website where people can easily follow you or share your content.

5. Tweak your email address

Bottom line: How you structure your email address matters when it comes to perceptions. Your email address should also reflect a “large” presence. If you’re using Gmail, Hotmail, Yahoo!, or AOL, ditch these addresses ASAP and invest in your own domain. 

Even if you’ve already done this but are currently using an email address like “Sarah@business.com,” it’s time to make another change: Create an email address that includes a surname, like “Sarah.Jacobs@business.com” instead. Doing so will A) give you more of a commanding presence and B) imply you could have multiple people with the same name at your company; a last name differentiates its user amongst multiple staff members. 

6. Invest in cloud technology

Have you moved to the cloud? If not, now is the time to do so. Clean out those paper files, scan them, and upload them to the cloud. Cloud computing is easy and comes with many benefits.

• Flexibility – Access your applications and data instantly from anywhere.
• Efficiency – Simultaneous access enables solid collaboration among team members and saves time.
• Security – Your trusted cloud partner will ensure that you’re working off the latest technology and receiving patches and boosted security measures as they’re released.
• Cost-effective – No more worries about needing to buy the latest tech. All updates are included with your subscription.
• Scalable – As your small business needs grow, you can easily increase your cloud capacity and options.

Cloud storage technology is so much more than just the latest tech fad; it’s a true game-changer for organisations of all sizes. As a small business, it’ll make an incredible difference, helping your small company operate smoothly and appear as large as any corporation.

7. Make yourself visible

Once you get yourself a strong web presence, strive to get yourself out there and spread the word about what you offer. You can do this in a variety of ways.

• Attend trade shows and conferences to mingle with potential customers and partners.
• Join local business networks and network with other companies. (Some of the best partnerships happen this way – if you find the right partner, you can significantly expand your company.)
• Develop a memorable logo to help gain exposure.
• Invest in high-quality promotional materials to distribute.

The more brand exposure you get, the more notable your company will be. Just remember: You usually get what you pay for when it comes to design and printing, so invest wisely in such materials.

Just because your business is small doesn’t mean you can’t offer the same quality of service as the corporations do; the dilemma you face is trying to prove it. Employing tricks to make your small business seem bigger is a good start in helping to climb over this hurdle.