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Look and Feel Like a Big Business in Your Home-Based Web Company

Small business that looks bigThere are more than 22 million small businesses operating in the U.S. with no employees, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. When customers do business with a Web-based business, they really have no idea how how big that business is. If you’re running a one-man operation but want to look like an ecommerce big shot, follow the tips below.

People Do Judge a Book by Its Cover

The appearance of your brand is the first impression people have of your company. Make sure your website, logo and business cards look consistent and polished. Don’t skimp when developing these public-facing items—hire a professional, high-quality Web designer, graphic designer and business card printer. Nothing says “amateur” more than a DIY site or business card.

While you’re at it, get a business domain for your site. It’s tempting to cut costs and go with a free hosting service, but www.mybusiness.wordpress.com doesn’t have the same impact as www.mybusiness.com.

When you get your own domain, create specific email addresses for your company. Create an email address for yourself, such as frank@mybusiness.com, but also create a couple of generic email accounts, such as info@mybusiness.com or support@mybusiness.com. Use these accounts when registering on other sites or when replying to customers. Directing people to your info or support email accounts when they are on your website makes it appear you have staff to take care of those requests, even if it’s just you reading the emails. Don’t use Hotmail, Gmail, Yahoo or AOL mail accounts—they are a dead giveaway. Your email may even get flagged as spam, so your customers won’t even see them.

Make Your Business Accessible

In a 2012 survey, the digital media and commerce analysts SMB DigitalScape found that 60 percent of small businesses did not have a contact phone number listed on their website. Make your business accessible by providing several points of contact. Phone and email are preferred, but contact forms and a comment system are other options. Don’t make people search through your site for this information. Make it easy to find on a contact page.

Answer or return calls and emails promptly. You are creating a connection with the customer when you respond to them. They will remember how promptly you responded and what kind of help you gave them.

Act Like a Big Business

Part of looking like a big business to a customer is your attitude and the confidence you display. Start with how you dress for your workday. Even if you work out of a home office, dress up. Wearing the same T-shirt and blue jeans you lounge around the house in doesn’t create the mindset of a professional business person.

If you don’t meet customers face-to-face, consider a virtual office or mail forwarding service. This gives your business a “respectable” address that doesn’t look like a residential street address or a P.O. Box. This is an inexpensive way to give your company that big-business image.

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