Small Businesses Need to Look Big

In many industries, small businesses have been gaining market share in fields dominated by large corporations. Despite their small size, many of these companies have a great deal to offer and are staffed by experienced individuals. And thanks to modern technologies such as web-enabled PDAs, virtual offices, and answering services; these companies can enjoy the same professional image once reserved for larger companies. A company might only have a few people working for it, but when a prospective customer calls in, they are greeted by a professional sounding and courteous operator. This is very similar to having a receptionist or front desk secretary answering your calls.

One of the best things about technology is that it allows people to connect and do business over great distances. No longer are consumers and other businesses limited to shopping for goods and services from nine to five. No longer are companies limited to marketing their goods and services to those within a relatively short geographic distance away. Local economies have given way to national economies and national economies have become increasingly globalized. While this may seem frightening to the small business owner, the best part about it is they now have a place at the table as well. Because consumers and producers have become more connected in the marketplace, small companies are afforded the same advantages as larger ones.

Despite the fact technology in the workplace has grown in importance, human interaction and personal attention has remained important. A voicemail or automated message taking system is not comparable to a real live operator answering your phone calls. Just ask yourself, if you reach an answering machine, would you leave a message? The answer of course is maybe. Consumers have more choice in the marketplace these days and more options. When calling a list of companies that offer the same services for more information, those who answer have a definite advantage to those who don't or are unable to. One advantage small businesses have to offer consumers is personalized attention not always offered by larger organizations. These companies, however, ought to offer that same service when it comes to phone communication.

Imagine an individual at three or four in the morning deciding they might like to get a new deck or patio installed at their home. Although most people are asleep at that time and most businesses are closed, some builders have 24-hour information lines. If the prospective customer knows someone is available and will answer, they feel comfortable asking to get a quote even if it's at an odd time. The company might get the inquiry in the form of an email the next morning, call the customer up, and schedule an appointment to come out to their residence to offer a quote. It is service like this that makes for a successful company. The "nine to five" has given way to around the clock attention.

Building a big company image doesn't mean you have to rent out pricey office space and spend an extreme amount on advertising. A handful of inexpensive elements such as updating a logo or getting a professional answering service can do wonders. These are the sorts of things that don't appear flashy or gimmicky, but helpful and refreshingly simple for your customers. For small businesses, one of the main things to remember when developing a big image is that no matter what you do, the customer has to come first. Improvements are a major way to achieve success, but they must be customer oriented.