Small businesses can feel like they are in a constant uphill battle because of their size. Being locally grown or just getting started online can make you feel like a tiny, tiny tadpole trying to get some attention in the freakin’ ocean.
But no matter where you’re at in your business’ growth, there are actually some things you can do to make your small business feel bigger and more successful than it is.
In this article, we will discuss three ways that will help your small business grow by attracting new customers from a wider geographical area and making yourself seem like an established company with clout.
#1 Cultivate A Brand Instead Of A Business
When you’re growing a business, it’s easy to put your focus completely on that. But you don’t have to wait until you’re making millions to start thinking bigger.
Instead of growing your biz, think about cultivating a brand and your business is just a part of that.
Naming a company after yourself instead of the product or service they offer can help create an identity for that brand, and make them seem more established than other companies with similar products in their field. You’ll also be able to reach customers who are looking for something from “you” rather than just someone who sells a type of widget or service.
Here are a few questions to help you begin to think about your brand:
- How would you describe your company in one sentence?
- What are the core values of your brand and why does it stand out from others?
- Who is the audience for this business or product, what do they value most and how can we reach them online or in person to better serve their needs.
- What will make us different from our competition?
- Who am I competing with now that no longer exist in this space – and if they’re gone, who stepped in to take their place as a competitor.
- Am I able to see myself doing things differently if someone else had started this same business years ago, even when it might have been considered crazy at the time?
Start defining your brand and just watch what fun, interesting ideas emerge.
#2 Be Of Service
So much of business is about “getting” customers. But big companies are just as invested in serving their customers as much as they are attaining them.
You don’t have to make every decision about the business as a means of getting customers. Ask yourself “What can I do for my customer?” and then go from there.
Maybe it’s sending them an email newsletter each month with helpful tips, or conducting free webinars on relevant topics that will help advance their careers? Or maybe you want to sponsor events in your community? The possibilities are endless!
Start thinking more about how you can be a valuable service provider rather than just another company looking for new faces to fill seats at their table.
#3 Clarify Your Big Message
This isn’t just about the current product you’re selling or the service you’re providing. Go deeper. Think bigger.
What is it that you hope to accomplish with your work? How do you want to make people feel? What are the points you want to communicate?
Think about those things and start embodying them in your business.
Your big message is what will make people feel like they can trust you, that they need to buy from you because of who YOU are as a company or person—not what you sell.
Conclusion
Small businesses can struggle to stand out, but it’s not impossible to make a name for yourself and compete against larger brands.
Build out your brand, focus on service and remember your big message—these are the things that will get you noticed.
And if you need help fine-tuning those details (or just taking some tasks off of your plate), feel free to book a discovery call with me!
