How to give the impression that your startup is a big, long-established company

If you have only recently set up a business, it is at a major disadvantage compared to larger and longer-established companies in the same industry. Unfortunately, and often unfairly, many consumers assume that the big boys offer the best products and services on the market.

However, you can help yourself to level the playing field — by leading your target customers to think that your business has been in the game for much longer than it actually has. Here are some of the things you could do…

Create a high-quality website for your business 

Entrepreneur contributor Lucinda Honeycutt, a freelance writer and web designer, explains: “With free platforms like WordPress, you can invest a few hundred dollars into your domain, hosting and a premium theme and be up and running in a couple of hours.”

She also notes that, if your company sells physical products, its website could benefit from the inclusion of an online store. However, you should make sure you will be able to ship orders as swiftly as you pledge on the website.

Give your firm a professional-looking logo 

As TechRound points out, humans process images 60,000 times faster than written content. Furthermore, upon seeing your company’s brand and website, consumers will take just 50 milliseconds to judge them.

All of this underlines the importance of ensuring that your business has a logo capable of connecting with and engaging viewers. Fortunately, you don’t necessarily have to spend too big on logo maker software with which you would be able to create a graphic befitting your company.

Pick a high invoice starting number 

You could turn to an invoicing solution — like PayPal or QuickBooks — that would let you send your first invoice with a high number attached to it.

The numbers for subsequent invoices sent using the same solution will then be even higher. This will give the invoice recipients the impression that your business has been in the habit of sending invoices — and to various clients — for quite a while.

Avoid references that make your business sound like a one-man band 

For example, on your website, it would be a good idea for you to use plural language, such as “we” rather than “I”. That way, visitors to the website will assume that you are at the head of a team of employees rather than simply handling all aspects of the business yourself.

Similarly, you should omit your formal job title from your business cards — as potential clients might not expect the firm’s CEO to personally hand them these cards at networking events.

Get a ‘proper’ business address 

As major businesses are not expected to be run from the owner’s home, you should seriously consider renting office space for your company to occupy.

For example, if you are based in Northern Ireland, you could rent one of the serviced offices in Belfast’s recently refurbished Custom House. Just imagine how easily clients could gasp in awe as they clap eyes on this historical building when visiting it to attend a face-to-face meeting with you.