ANTenna Blog -- Business & E-Business

Smaller companies aren't going to get a bailout, leaving them to their own devices to build business. Here are six ways to cast a larger shadow so that you can stay competitive in your quest to gain customers.

Now that the economic stimulus bill has been signed, it's time to see what is left for smaller companies -- and it doesn't look too good. A few months ago, when bMighty predicted that small and midsize businesses wouldn't get a bailout, we weren't hoping to be right.

Now, as organizations tighten their purse strings, they're a lot more selective than in the past about whom they'll do business with, leaving the Davids struggling to get noticed among the Goliaths.

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"The issue centers on sustainability -- will the small business exist during and after the assignment, or will a bump in the road send it crashing into the abyss?" asked Neile King, vice president of software developer Smart Online.

King recommended that smaller companies follow these six tips in order to appear more viable for the long term and thus more attractive to potential clients:

1. Pay your bills on time, every time. Aside from building goodwill with suppliers, it helps send a message of solvency.
2. Present your business professionally in all possible forms, including invoices, business cards, Web site design and content, and even how phone calls are answered.
3. Take on bigger jobs that you can manage through smart subcontracting.
4. Get visible in the community through simple yet effective publicity efforts, involvement with business or civic organizations, or easily accomplished e-mail campaigns.
5. Make certain all references are solid, from your customers to your credit rating.
6. Do pro bono work. It always pays dividends and speaks volumes about commitment.

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