The 4 Hour Work Week is just crammed with great practical info-more so than any other book I have read. What I like most about Tim Ferriss’s style is that you can literally read a chapter and then walk away and implement the advice.

One problem every small business faces just by its nature is its size. And though size doesn’t matter so much when dealing with even smaller businesses than our own of those of similar size, it can pose a problem when you’re going after business from bigger companies.

Instead of waiting to grow your business larger, Tim offers some sound, practical advice about how to look larger with 4 simple steps:

Don’t give yourself the title of CEO or founder

Ferriss says these titles scream small business. Instead, go for Director of xyz.

Publish multiple email addresses on your contact us page

In the beginning all of these email addresses will probably forward to you. But as you grow your business, they’ll eventually forward to the people responsible for handling each of the duties. I think that this is a great subconscious way to train yourself to think bigger as well.

Set up an interactive voice response (IVR) system

An IVR system gives callers the option to press a number to reach different people in the company. I personally use Got VMail and couldn’t be happier. I pay 10 bucks a month and a few cents per minute for an 800 number and the ability to assign multiple departments. Their service is amazingly feature rich and gives you many of the benefits of an expensive PBX system for a fraction of the price.

Never use your home address

Many people have offered the advice of getting a PO Box, but Ferriss takes it a step further. Instead of using the PO Box in your address, use the street name of the post office and label the box number as the suite.

Share Your Opinion

Do you think that being perceived as a small business has ever kept you from getting a contract or a customer? What strategies do you use to give your small business the appearance of a larger business? What are some definite things to avoid that make a small business look unprofessional?

Try not to become a man of success, but rather try to become a man of value.  Albert Einstein