{"id":4306,"date":"2017-01-30T15:25:26","date_gmt":"2017-01-30T15:25:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/live-alliance-virtual-office-blog.pantheonsite.io\/?p=4306"},"modified":"2026-05-28T10:08:35","modified_gmt":"2026-05-28T14:08:35","slug":"65-ways-to-make-your-small-business-big-business","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.alliancevirtualoffices.com\/virtual-office-blog\/65-ways-to-make-your-small-business-big-business\/","title":{"rendered":"65 Ways to Make Your \u2019Small\u2019 Business Big Business"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Sole traders and small businesses have stacks of natural advantages. They\u2019re small, agile and adaptable, \u00a0enabling them to identify fresh opportunities and adjust to new market trends.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">However in the eyes of consumers, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.alliancevirtualoffices.com\/virtual-office-blog\/the-ultimate-guide-to-virtual-offices\/#3\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">smaller businesses often lack the sense of establishment and credibility<\/a> that emanates from larger business.<\/span><\/p>\n<h4><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">So how do you fast-track your small business to make it look bigger?<\/span><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Before we go any further, we\u2019re not suggesting that you should use smoke and mirrors to fool clients and partners into thinking your business is something it\u2019s not. Rather, these tips can help prepare small firms for growth.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">How? Because if you think small, you will continue to be small. If you\u2019re a sole proprietorship with a one-page website and a @gmail email address, you are subconsciously setting the bar. The chances are you will remain that way. But if you think big, and plan for bigger, you\u2019re more likely to get there &#8212; and you stand to win some great clients along the way.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3>Here are some growth tips to get you started:<\/h3>\n<ol>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Use a recognized business address. Even if you normally work from home or <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">from the open road<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, find a business address that you can actually visit and meet professionally with clients as the need arises. The USPS and mailbox centers offer convenient commercial addresses, but lack on-site facilities where you can actually meet and do business.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Why stop at one office address? Add another 1 or 2 and <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/flagtheory.com\/digital-nomad\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">start expanding your reach<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to new markets.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Consider converting your sole proprietorship to an LLC (Limited Liability Corporation). It will take a little capital and some time, but that in itself signifies you\u2019re serious about your prospects and you\u2019re planning significant growth.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Consider your business name carefully. If it\u2019s your own name, it screams \u2018sole trader\u2019.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When discussing projects with partners and prospective clients, get into the habit of saying \u201cWe\u201d instead of \u201cI\u201d. For example, \u201cwhen we decided to tackle that project, we&#8230;\u201d<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Picking up calls from home? Know who you\u2019re talking to. Some of your clients expect consummate professionalism. If so, seal yourself into a quiet room. Background noises like dogs barking or children crying certainly don\u2019t give a professional impression to these people.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">But do remember that the virtual workstyle is now widely accepted, and many people appreciate flexible working practices (especially future employees). If that\u2019s the case, it might work in your favor to take the call from a sunny spot on the veranda &#8212; and tell your caller you\u2019re doing it. Heck, some people even choose <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">lifestyle first, then profession to match<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Choose a business phone number rather than relying on your cell or home phone. You can choose a toll-free number that doesn\u2019t give away your location, or if you\u2019re targeting a specific regional market, choose a number with a local area code.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Use a cloud-based voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) phone system, <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">like the one from <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Alliance<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. It allows you to set up multiple extensions for employees along with features like voicemail greetings and messaging. It\u2019s similar to a private branch exchange (PBX) system but since it\u2019s cloud-based, it\u2019s much cheaper to operate.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Once your phone system is up and running, set up caller menus like \u2018press 1 for sales, 2 for accounts, 3 for marketing\u2019 and so on. Even if it\u2019s just one person working from home at the end of each line, your business will sound much bigger than it is. Plus, callers get straight to the right person without going through a switchboard.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Pay attention to your out-of-hours call greetings. Don\u2019t rely on dull automated messages. Instead, record a polite, audible message &#8212; it sounds more professional and shows callers that you\u2019ve taken the time to do the job properly.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Get <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.freelancewritinggigs.com\/2014\/11\/make-freelance-writing-business-look-bigger\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">real email addresses<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> that contain your domain name. Nothing looks more sloppy than a business reply with a @yahoo, @gmail or @hotmail extension.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Have multiple emails for different purposes, such as customerservice@, sales@, returns@ and so on. Even though they may all go to you and your few partners or employees at the beginning, it sets the standard.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Invest in smart, good quality business cards. There\u2019s a huge choice of suppliers offering good quality cards at competitive prices, so there\u2019s really no excuse for low-grade paper-thin versions, Or better you use <a href=\"https:\/\/www.uniqode.com\/digital-business-card\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">free digital business card<\/a> with links to your product and service info to weed out the need of traditional business cards.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Use <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">meeting rooms<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> from a professional setting such as a business or coworking center, not a coffee shop.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Avoid using a formal title on your business card. If you\u2019re a one-person startup, it\u2019s clear you\u2019re the CEO. But recipients may question why the CEO is handling everything in the business. It may be wise to leave out your official title for now, at least until you have some employees or business partners.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Use a Live Receptionist service to handle incoming phone calls. Potentials clients and investors need the VIP treatment, and a Live Receptionist ensures all calls are received graciously and handled to your instructions. This takes the pressure off you and keeps your callers happy.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Need an extra pair of hands? Most Live Receptionist services, like the one from <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Alliance<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, provide services like managing appointments and calendar scheduling on your behalf. It saves time on admin and lets you crack on with other things.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You can also refer to your \u2018assistant\u2019 when discussing admin-related matters such as scheduling a meeting. This makes you sound like you\u2019re in charge of a team and (as per no.16 above) negates the need to ask why the CEO is dealing with admin.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you need dedicated resources but you\u2019re not ready for a full or part-time employee, hire contractors from sites like <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/golance.com\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">goLance<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> or <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.upwork.com\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Upwork<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. They might not work for you 40 hours per week, but they can still be your team. Most are open to long-term commitments and once you\u2019ve settled into a routine, you could even consider putting them on your website in the \u2018About Us\u2019 section.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Invest in a custom website design. In most cases, your online presence is the front door to your business and even technophobes can spot a standard website template from a mile off. Take time to invest in a carefully thought-out website design and structure that looks good and communicates your services clearly.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Free stuff is handy when you\u2019re just starting out. But where possible, avoid using openly free versions of software, such as marketing email templates that carry a Mailchimp logo &#8212; especially when communicating publicly.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Grow your social media presence\u2026 just one channel will do for now. Most people turn to online search engines to find out more about a business, which includes your social network.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Update your social media regularly (that\u2019s why just one channel will do). Free scheduling tools like Hootsuite or Tweetdeck are a great way to keep posts churning on a frequent basis.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you can\u2019t afford the time to do keep on top of social media, hire a freelancer to keep it updated for you. If a potential customer lands on your Twitter feed and it hasn\u2019t been updated for 12 months, they may assume you\u2019ve gone out of business.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Keep abreast of online chatter and feedback about your business. The <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Perch app<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is a great way to survey online reviews, social posts and promotions related to you (and your competitors).<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Use larger invoice numbers &#8212; don\u2019t start with 00001, or even 000100. Code your invoice numbers to signify each type of business. For instance, 1504001: the first 3 digits (150) signifies that it\u2019s a new customer, or a customer from a specific vertical. <\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Team up. Work with larger companies, ideally those that are well known in your industry, and brag about it. Post news articles and press releases, mention them on your social media pages and post their logos on your website. You may also have the opportunity to utilize their marketing resources, too.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sponsor an event or a charity. It will demonstrate that your company has positive values and a culture to match; the additional publicity won\u2019t go amiss either.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Your nominated charity will, in most cases, be happy to mention you on their social channels or website. This provides \u2018proof\u2019 of your relationship and may open up new opportunities with organizations outside your normal reach.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cAs seen in\u201d: Having a batch of news logos on your website with links to press articles about your product or services is a great way to prove your worth.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Attend or, even better, speak at industry forums, seminars and events. It will get your name \u2018out there\u2019 as a source of knowledge and authority.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For the same reason, work on growing your Linkedin presence. Fill in your profile and add as many industry connections as possible.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Focus on the quality of your promotional material. Anyone can produce a video informing people what you do &#8212; but whether your clients stick around to watch it will depend on the quality of production and its level of engagement.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Be a little hard to get to. When talking to clients or investors, never appear to be immediately available. This may inadvertently give the impression that you\u2019re sitting around, waiting for the phone to ring. Where possible, schedule meetings a little further in the future than is really necessary.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Try to avoid picking up calls yourself. Think about the size of company you\u2019re working to emulate &#8212; would you expect to get straight through to the CEO on first ring? It\u2019s unlikely. Don\u2019t be afraid to create a few hoops.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Don\u2019t launch your company with an empty site or a \u201ccoming soon\u201d message. It will give the impression that your business &#8212; and your attitude &#8212; is half-baked.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Look the part, depending on who you\u2019re meeting. If it\u2019s necessary to dress up for an important meeting, it\u2019s worth having a couple of good suits or very smart outfits on standby. A word of warning: try to gauge how the rest of the group will dress. That way you\u2019ll hit the right tone and avoid looking like a clueless outsider.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Create authority by sharing (good) knowledge. Write an ebook or offer advice through social media channels, such as Linkedin groups, and gain recognition as an expert in your field.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In your email signature, include as much <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">relevant<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> contact information as possible. Beyond your email address and phone number, include your website and professional social networks too.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Don\u2019t forget to also include a confidentiality notice in your email signature and company documents along with any required information, such as your company registration number. This will elevate the level of seriousness and shows that you\u2019re playing by the rules.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Improve your \u2018About Us\u2019 page. Even if you don\u2019t yet have any full-time employees, \u00a0include any freelance connections or virtual assistants (with their permission). That way, you can say that you\u2019re a company with a team of 5 or 10, which assures customers you\u2019re not a \u201cfly-by-night\u201d operation. It makes your page more readable too, particularly if you include funny or interesting stories about your team.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Contract a professional designer or agency to create a logo and brand it for you. Ask for a company logo plus a 1-2 page PDF brand guideline, specifying the colors and how to use them. Have the designer provide a grayscale version of the logo for black and white, too.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Once you have branding guidelines, stick rigidly to it. Use the same colors, tones and logo everywhere &#8212; on emails, documents, business cards, letterheads, the lot.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Don\u2019t allow logos or graphics to be stretched or distorted. There\u2019s no point investing in a beautiful logo only for it to be disrespected and squeezed out of proportion.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Create \u2018media usage\u2019 guidelines or a media pack for visitors. This stipulates when and how your branding can be used, and has the added bonus of showing the outside world just how serious you are about your company representation.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Collect testimonials and reviews for your website and marketing material. Now more than ever, people expect some sort of endorsement to check your credibility.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Encourage happy clients to leave positive reviews on external sites like Yelp or Google+.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Better yet, record video testimonials and put them on your website. Plain old text only goes so far; engage customers from the get-go with a professional video showing your own clients talking happily about you.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">While we\u2019re on the subject, utilize video <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">more<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. From instructional guides to employee biographies, video is a fantastic form of communication that, if produced professionally, can engage clients and provide a massive conversion boost.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/allwork.space\/2017\/01\/why-bad-spelling-means-bad-business-and-how-to-fix-it\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Spelling <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">really<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> matters<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Why spend all that time and money making your business look amazing, only to dash your chances with a third grade spelling or grammatical blunder? Take the time to proofread your work. Then have someone else look things over, too.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Part of any associations or a Chamber of Commerce? Do you have a certification or relevant qualification? Use these to your advantage. Put the badges on your website &#8212; they will provide another seal of approval.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Blog as <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">often as you can<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Ideally, aim for one good blog post per week &#8212; if that\u2019s out of the question, hire a professional writer to help (you can\u2019t be expected to spin ALL the plates). Blogging enables you to showcase your experience and knowledge, and it also helps catch valuable longtail traffic from search engines.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">While you\u2019re at it, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/smallbiztrends.com\/2016\/12\/guest-posting-steps-2.html\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">blog for others too<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Once per month or so, offer to write guest posts for industry news sources. It\u2019ll help cement your authority and get your voice out there.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A picture is worth a thousand words. Get a selection of good, up-to-date head shots for use on your \u2018About\u2019 page, social media profiles, and for media requests. Ensure the photos are clean cut and professional (not cropped from a group).<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Take things further. Have you spoken at a seminar or an event? Professional photos of you speaking to a crowd or networking show that you\u2019re respected within your market. Add these to your social profiles too.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You need the right imagery on your website. Forget cheesy stock photos &#8212; they say nothing credible about your organization.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Utilize the technology available to you. For instance, websites like Join.me allow you to give virtual presentations, Asana helps you manage projects online, Slack is a handy tool when working with remote workers\u2026 the list goes on. Backed by the right technology, <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">remote team management<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is a tried and tested strategy that really does work. Speak to other small business owners and find out what tools they recommend.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">On video calls, consider your background. If you\u2019re working from home, don\u2019t let your caller see untidy kitchen paraphernalia. Turn your back to a wall of books or artwork. Oh, and be sure your <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.theremotenomad.com\/blog\/how-to-make-sure-you-always-have-good-internet-as-a-digital-nomad\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Internet is up to the task<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">; there\u2019s nothing more disruptive than patchy audio and broken connections.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Do you accept payment online? If so, add the supplier logo &#8212; such as Paypal or the relevant credit card logos &#8212; onto your site. Yet again, it provides social proof.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Use press releases. If you have a newsworthy story, try a service like PRWeb. It costs, but it can increase visibility and raise your chances of getting featured on other news sites.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Get interviewed. Do podcasts, offer comments or advice for articles, and work on your \u2018outreach\u2019. It throws your name out there and also gives you content for your own marketing channels.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Be seen and heard. Choose relevant networking business events and go meet people, armed with your top quality business cards (see no.14 above).<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Being seen and associating yourself with other notable experts has a significant impact on the perception of yourself and\/or your company.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Lastly, be confident! This is YOUR business and your time to shine. Believe in yourself and your capabilities, and let your positive attitude do the talking.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Got more to add? Send your comments to us via <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/alliancevirtual\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Twitter<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> or <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/alliancevirtual\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Facebook<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> for inclusion in this list.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Sole traders and small businesses have stacks of natural advantages. They\u2019re small, agile and adaptable, \u00a0enabling them to identify fresh opportunities and adjust to new market trends. However in the eyes of consumers, smaller businesses often lack the sense of establishment and credibility that emanates from larger business. So how do you fast-track your small [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":4308,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"content-type":"","inline_featured_image":false,"advgb_blocks_editor_width":"","advgb_blocks_columns_visual_guide":"","jnews-multi-image_gallery":[],"jnews_single_post":{"subtitle":"","format":"standard","video":"","gallery":"","source_name":"","source_url":"","via_name":"","via_url":"","override":[{"single_blog_custom":"","sidebar":"","second_sidebar":"","share_position":"","share_float_style":"","post_date_format":"","post_date_format_custom":"","post_reading_time_wpm":"","zoom_button_out_step":"1","zoom_button_in_step":"1","number_popup_post":"1"}],"image_override":[{"single_post_thumbnail_size":"","single_post_gallery_size":""}],"trending_post_position":"","trending_post_label":"","sponsored_post_label":"","sponsored_post_name":"","sponsored_post_url":"","sponsored_post_logo":"","sponsored_post_desc":""},"jnews_primary_category":{"id":""},"jnews_social_meta":[],"jnews_override_counter":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[1890],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4306","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-small-business"],"aioseo_notices":[],"featured_image_urls_v2":{"full":["https:\/\/www.alliancevirtualoffices.com\/virtual-office-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/grow_business.jpg",2000,1000,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/www.alliancevirtualoffices.com\/virtual-office-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/grow_business-150x150.jpg",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/www.alliancevirtualoffices.com\/virtual-office-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/grow_business-300x150.jpg",300,150,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/www.alliancevirtualoffices.com\/virtual-office-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/grow_business-768x384.jpg",768,384,true],"large":["https:\/\/www.alliancevirtualoffices.com\/virtual-office-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/grow_business-1024x512.jpg",1024,512,true],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/www.alliancevirtualoffices.com\/virtual-office-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/grow_business-1536x768.jpg",1536,768,true],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/www.alliancevirtualoffices.com\/virtual-office-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/grow_business.jpg",2000,1000,false],"web-stories-poster-portrait":["https:\/\/www.alliancevirtualoffices.com\/virtual-office-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/grow_business.jpg",640,320,false],"web-stories-publisher-logo":["https:\/\/www.alliancevirtualoffices.com\/virtual-office-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/grow_business.jpg",96,48,false],"web-stories-thumbnail":["https:\/\/www.alliancevirtualoffices.com\/virtual-office-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/grow_business.jpg",150,75,false],"jnews-360x180":["https:\/\/www.alliancevirtualoffices.com\/virtual-office-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/grow_business-360x180.jpg",360,180,true],"jnews-750x375":["https:\/\/www.alliancevirtualoffices.com\/virtual-office-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/grow_business-750x375.jpg",750,375,true],"jnews-1140x570":["https:\/\/www.alliancevirtualoffices.com\/virtual-office-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/grow_business-1140x570.jpg",1140,570,true],"jnews-120x86":["https:\/\/www.alliancevirtualoffices.com\/virtual-office-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/grow_business-120x86.jpg",120,86,true],"jnews-350x250":["https:\/\/www.alliancevirtualoffices.com\/virtual-office-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/grow_business-350x250.jpg",350,250,true],"jnews-750x536":["https:\/\/www.alliancevirtualoffices.com\/virtual-office-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/grow_business-750x536.jpg",750,536,true],"jnews-1140x815":["https:\/\/www.alliancevirtualoffices.com\/virtual-office-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/grow_business-1140x815.jpg",1140,815,true],"jnews-360x504":["https:\/\/www.alliancevirtualoffices.com\/virtual-office-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/grow_business-360x504.jpg",360,504,true],"jnews-75x75":["https:\/\/www.alliancevirtualoffices.com\/virtual-office-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/grow_business-75x75.jpg",75,75,true],"jnews-350x350":["https:\/\/www.alliancevirtualoffices.com\/virtual-office-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/grow_business.jpg",350,175,false],"jnews-featured-750":["https:\/\/www.alliancevirtualoffices.com\/virtual-office-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/grow_business-750x375.jpg",750,375,true],"jnews-featured-1140":["https:\/\/www.alliancevirtualoffices.com\/virtual-office-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/grow_business-1140x570.jpg",1140,570,true]},"post_excerpt_stackable_v2":"<p>Sole traders and small businesses have stacks of natural advantages. They\u2019re small, agile and adaptable, \u00a0enabling them to identify fresh opportunities and adjust to new market trends. However in the eyes of consumers, smaller businesses often lack the sense of establishment and credibility that emanates from larger business. So how do you fast-track your small business to make it look bigger? Before we go any further, we\u2019re not suggesting that you should use smoke and mirrors to fool clients and partners into thinking your business is something it\u2019s not. Rather, these tips can help prepare small firms for growth. How?&hellip;<\/p>\n","category_list_v2":"<a href=\"https:\/\/www.alliancevirtualoffices.com\/virtual-office-blog\/category\/small-business\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Small Business<\/a>","author_info_v2":{"name":"Jo Meunier","url":"https:\/\/www.alliancevirtualoffices.com\/virtual-office-blog\/author\/joanna\/"},"comments_num_v2":"0 comments","author_meta":{"display_name":"Jo Meunier","author_link":"https:\/\/www.alliancevirtualoffices.com\/virtual-office-blog\/author\/joanna\/"},"featured_img":"https:\/\/www.alliancevirtualoffices.com\/virtual-office-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/grow_business-300x150.jpg","coauthors":[],"tax_additional":{"categories":{"linked":["<a href=\"https:\/\/www.alliancevirtualoffices.com\/virtual-office-blog\/category\/small-business\/\" class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Small Business<\/a>"],"unlinked":["<span class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Small Business<\/span>"]}},"comment_count":"0","relative_dates":{"created":"Posted 9 years ago","modified":"Updated 1 month ago"},"absolute_dates":{"created":"Posted on January 30, 2017","modified":"Updated on May 28, 2026"},"absolute_dates_time":{"created":"Posted on January 30, 2017 3:25 pm","modified":"Updated on May 28, 2026 10:08 am"},"featured_img_caption":"","series_order":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.alliancevirtualoffices.com\/virtual-office-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4306","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.alliancevirtualoffices.com\/virtual-office-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.alliancevirtualoffices.com\/virtual-office-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.alliancevirtualoffices.com\/virtual-office-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/7"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.alliancevirtualoffices.com\/virtual-office-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4306"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.alliancevirtualoffices.com\/virtual-office-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4306\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":54335,"href":"https:\/\/www.alliancevirtualoffices.com\/virtual-office-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4306\/revisions\/54335"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.alliancevirtualoffices.com\/virtual-office-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4308"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.alliancevirtualoffices.com\/virtual-office-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4306"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.alliancevirtualoffices.com\/virtual-office-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4306"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.alliancevirtualoffices.com\/virtual-office-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4306"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}