5 Ways to Act Like a Big Company... Even if You're Not!
http://www.ducttapemarketing.com/article/articles/736/1/5-Ways-to-Act-Like-a-Big-Company-Even-if-Youre-Not/Page1.html
David Tillinger
David Tillinger is the Corporate Counsel for Digital Room, Inc.. In addition to his legal duties, Mr. Tillinger took over the company's primary blog and management of the company's website content. He currently splits his time between legal work and internet authorship Mr. Tillinger has blogs at http://blog.uprinting.com and http://blog.mesrianilaw.com By David Tillinger
Published on 07/22/2008
Just about every business would like to be a big league, multi-national, conglomorate. Who wouldn't like to own Apple or Microsoft or Dell? The money, the prestige, and fame of those companies all stem from the reputations each company has for success and being among the biggest and the best. In business, bigger usually comes accross as being better. We're a brand name culture and we would prefer to purchase from the big names than from the local store.
Obviously, unless Steve Jobs, Bill Gates or John Dell is reading this article, none of us owns Apple, Microsoft or Dell. So the question becomes how can we as small business owners make our companies look like one of the big guys and compete with them. Here's a few suggestions as to how to get it done:
Obviously, unless Steve Jobs, Bill Gates or John Dell is reading this article, none of us owns Apple, Microsoft or Dell. So the question becomes how can we as small business owners make our companies look like one of the big guys and compete with them. Here's a few suggestions as to how to get it done:
Just about every business would like to be a big league, multi-national, conglomorate. Who wouldn't like to own Apple or Microsoft or Dell? The money, the prestige, and fame of those companies all stem from the reputations each company has for success and being among the biggest and the best. In business, bigger usually comes accross as being better. We're a brand name culture and we would prefer to purchase from the big names than from the local store.
Obviously, unless Steve Jobs, Bill Gates or John Dell is reading this article, none of us owns Apple, Microsoft or Dell. So the question becomes how can we as small business owners make our companies look like one of the big guys and compete with them. Here's a few suggestions as to how to get it done:
1. Act like a Big Company. Just because you're a single person running a business doesn't mean you have to act that way. With effective advertising, you can create the illusion of having a larger company, even if its just you running the show. One common example of this often occurs with sole practitionerlaw firms. Many times, a solo practitioner will use a name like Jones and Associates for the firm in lieu of using just his name. This creates the illusion of a group of people, a true firm, as opposed to just a single lawyer working alone.
2. Think like a Big Company. The goal is not just to get by and be a little business, The goal is to grow and be a huge success. You should be thinking about and working towards this goal from the very beginning of your business. You should always be working towards growth, either taking the steps you need to get there or putting in place the things you need to have in place for when you do grow. You should always be striving for the big time.
3. Advertise like a Big Company. Most of us aren't going to be purchasing full page ads in the LA Time or Wall Street Journal. But that's no reason to not make the effort to advertise your company in those venues you can afford and advertise properly, with professional looking advertising and bold claims.
4. Correspond like a Big Company. Just because you know that you're a small business does not mean everyone else needs to know. Everything that comes out of your company should look like a professional piece of work. Even your business cards and letterhead should look professional and high class. A strong corporate identity package with personalized logo and content can go a long way towards giving your company the professional look that customers will associate with a big company.
5. Dream like a Big Company. As I said above, the goal is to get to the place the big companies are. That means working hard, working smart and sometimes just doing a little dreaming. Don't be afraid to make outlandish plans for the future. Dream a little and take a chance on those dreams. If you do, then some of those dreams may come true. But if you don't ever dream, they never will.
At the end of the day, the choice is yours. You can become the big company you want to become or at least act like one. If you can act like a big company, you've taken the first steps towards being one.
Obviously, unless Steve Jobs, Bill Gates or John Dell is reading this article, none of us owns Apple, Microsoft or Dell. So the question becomes how can we as small business owners make our companies look like one of the big guys and compete with them. Here's a few suggestions as to how to get it done:
1. Act like a Big Company. Just because you're a single person running a business doesn't mean you have to act that way. With effective advertising, you can create the illusion of having a larger company, even if its just you running the show. One common example of this often occurs with sole practitionerlaw firms. Many times, a solo practitioner will use a name like Jones and Associates for the firm in lieu of using just his name. This creates the illusion of a group of people, a true firm, as opposed to just a single lawyer working alone.
2. Think like a Big Company. The goal is not just to get by and be a little business, The goal is to grow and be a huge success. You should be thinking about and working towards this goal from the very beginning of your business. You should always be working towards growth, either taking the steps you need to get there or putting in place the things you need to have in place for when you do grow. You should always be striving for the big time.
3. Advertise like a Big Company. Most of us aren't going to be purchasing full page ads in the LA Time or Wall Street Journal. But that's no reason to not make the effort to advertise your company in those venues you can afford and advertise properly, with professional looking advertising and bold claims.
4. Correspond like a Big Company. Just because you know that you're a small business does not mean everyone else needs to know. Everything that comes out of your company should look like a professional piece of work. Even your business cards and letterhead should look professional and high class. A strong corporate identity package with personalized logo and content can go a long way towards giving your company the professional look that customers will associate with a big company.
5. Dream like a Big Company. As I said above, the goal is to get to the place the big companies are. That means working hard, working smart and sometimes just doing a little dreaming. Don't be afraid to make outlandish plans for the future. Dream a little and take a chance on those dreams. If you do, then some of those dreams may come true. But if you don't ever dream, they never will.
At the end of the day, the choice is yours. You can become the big company you want to become or at least act like one. If you can act like a big company, you've taken the first steps towards being one.