Successful online business owners know that the bigger and more professional you come across to clients, the more impressed and likely to recommend you to others they will be. Word of mouth is the most powerful method of advertising in existence, and maintaining the illusion is the key to generating powerful buzz that will elevate your corporation to success.

Why you must look bigger than you are

The power of professionalism cannot be overstated. When consumers visit your web site, it is as vital to impress them with appearances as it would be for a brick-and-mortar establishment to maintain a clean, professional atmosphere. Because of the ease and accessibility associated with setting up web sites, anyone can put one up—and as a result, there are millions of sites that appear sloppy and amateurish, and therefore do not succeed.

With many low-quality web sites, it’s easy to tell at a glance that the business or company behind it is a small operation with limited capabilities. There are also quite a few prosperous companies run by only one or two people whose web sites convey a grand-scale impression. These businesses are successful in large part because of that image. Consumers will be far more comfortable dealing with a slick, well-organized web site for Essential Auto Parts, Inc., than with a clunky, poorly laid out site rife with pop-ups and banner ads entitled Uncle Bubba’s Parts-R-Us. In an online business, appearances really are everything.

You don’t have to rush out and hire a web designer or lease a warehouse and hire fifty employees to give your corporation a virtual facelift. Some simple adjustments and knowledge are all you need to make your small business look like a million bucks online.

Creating the illusion: How to give your small business a big presence

Like magicians, virtual corporations require certain tricks to present themselves as prosperous, thriving businesses. Most of these are easy to implement; and though they are small, the changes they will bring to your company are enormous.

There is no “I” in “team”

It’s only natural to use the word “I” when referring to yourself. But in your business material, it’s a mistake that can cost you sales and clients. Including statements such as “I am available for telephone consultations on such-and-such days…” is a sure sign that you’re a small-time operation.

If it sounds natural, a simple solution is to substitute the word “we” in each instance for “I.” You could also refer to “the company” instead. However, using the same phrase over and over in your web copy and promotional materials not only sounds awkward and stilted, it can effect your web site’s search engine rankings (a topic that will be covered in greater detail further in this book) by making it seems as though you’re using a practice known as keyword stuffing to draw traffic.

Here’s an example of

Why you must look bigger than you are

The power of professionalism cannot be overstated. When consumers visit your web site, it is as vital to impress them with appearances as it would be for a brick-and-mortar establishment to maintain a clean, professional atmosphere. Because of the ease and accessibility associated with setting up web sites, anyone can put one up—and as a result, there are millions of sites that appear sloppy and amateurish, and therefore do not succeed.

With many low-quality web sites, it’s easy to tell at a glance that the business or company behind it is a small operation with limited capabilities. There are also quite a few prosperous companies run by only one or two people whose web sites convey a grand-scale impression. These businesses are successful in large part because of that image. Consumers will be far more comfortable dealing with a slick, well-organized web site for Essential Auto Parts, Inc., than with a clunky, poorly laid out site rife with pop-ups and banner ads entitled Uncle Bubba’s Parts-R-Us. In an online business, appearances really are everything.

You don’t have to rush out and hire a web designer or lease a warehouse and hire fifty employees to give your corporation a virtual facelift. Some simple adjustments and knowledge are all you need to make your small business look like a million bucks online.

Creating the illusion: How to give your small business a big presence

Like magicians, virtual corporations require certain tricks to present themselves as prosperous, thriving businesses. Most of these are easy to implement; and though they are small, the changes they will bring to your company are enormous.

There is no “I” in “team”

It’s only natural to use the word “I” when referring to yourself. But in your business material, it’s a mistake that can cost you sales and clients. Including statements such as “I am available for telephone consultations on such-and-such days…” is a sure sign that you’re a small-time operation.

If it sounds natural, a simple solution is to substitute the word “we” in each instance for “I.” You could also refer to “the company” instead. However, using the same phrase over and over in your web copy and promotional materials not only sounds awkward and stilted, it can effect your web site’s search engine rankings (a topic that will be covered in greater detail further in this book) by making it seems as though you’re using a practice known as keyword stuffing to draw traffic.

Here’s an example o