smallbusiness.co.uk: Helping your business think big

All great brands are based upon the three pillars of success: professionalism, an expert service, and productive after-sales care. By harnessing the power of the web, small companies can combine a ‘big business’ professional image with the trusted reliability of a local brand.

SmallBusiness.co.uk speaks to Microsoft about the online tools that can help you build a thriving customer base:

Create a professional website
The right web identity can make all the difference in a competitive marketplace – 92 per cent of consumers will check a company’s website before choosing to do business with them. A well-designed website can give your company a ‘big business’ feel and takes just a couple of hours to produce.

Free online tools, such as Microsoft Office Live Small Business, allow you to build an identity using a variety of templates, and remove the previously expensive barriers of web hosting, web design, domain name, and even search engine optimisation.

Retain your sense of identity
By spending a small amount of time designing your company’s website you can accurately reflect the service you offer. You might want to highlight the fact that you are a local business. Consumers tend to be more attracted to a local supplier due to the sense of community they represent, as opposed to a ‘faceless’ international giant.

If you have the means to design your logo yourself, all the better, or you can pay a professional to do it for you. Some charge more than others but there are companies that specialise in budget logo design for business.

Bin your amateur email
Potential customers are often scared off by businesses that trade through personal email addresses such as Hotmail and Gmail. Rather than risk looking like a cowboy trader, small businesses can boost their image by using a more suitable email address. This will give your future customer a sense of security and increase your chances of making a sale.

Click here to register for a free custom domain name and e-mail.

Make the most of the tools at your disposal
Project management analysis and email marketing packages are no longer the reserve of established, big-budget enterprises. By tackling projects in an organised way, you can work more efficiently and set your business up for success.

There are a number of business tools available free of charge on the internet, including Office Live, which can highlight what your organisation has to offer to a wider spread of future clients.

Remember: Customer satisfaction is still king
While a professional image and effective marketing can generate a number of business leads, no promotion speaks as loudly as a happy customer. Also, by using a web-based contact management tool you can stay in touch with clients and, in time, turn one-off purchases into a long-term relationships.

For further information on how to build your customer base using the power of the web please visit http://smallbusiness.officelive.com