Child, Discovery, Magnifying Glass.
In 1957 Harold Macmillan Proclaimed “The majority of our people have never had it so good” he was speaking at a Conservative rally to commemorate 25 years of Mr Lennox Boyd the Colonial Secretary, a job role which itself has it’s obvious dubious side story. Speaking about a British public post war. Macmillan was obviously right for the most part but the fact of the matter was following WW2 and the decimation of Europe.
The Marshall plan was a 4.3bn loan fund lent to Britain by America (around 27bn in today’s money), a debt which was only paid off after 61 years of payments, So Britain was heavily indebted to the USA a situation which is topical with Greece which is currently heavily indebted to the European Union with its people suffering under great financial pressure from above. So how much of debt is just how a country perceives their debt? Studies often show that the people with the least amount of money are often the most happiest, with phrases like “first world problems” often banded around. Maybe Notorious B.I.G’s song “Mo money mo problems” was right? On a large scale money can often become abstract with digits flying from one computer screen to another and the emergence of “Bit coin” and similar crypto currencies complicating the matter further still.
If Harold Macmillan had wanted to, I’m sure he could have peddled an austerity message but the fact was, Britain and in turn Europe needed positivity and forward thinking looking to rebuild the Britain and Europe. Isn’t this not what Greece and the rest of Europe need?
I work with small businesses and the perception of your business is crucial for success of a small businesses, if you can be seen as portraying a certain image, the rest will follow. A “one man Band” with the help of globalised infrastructure can now export globally from a back bedroom and be seen as a global company. I have found here four basic tips from experience for making your business look bigger than it is:
Build your brand
Good businesses realise the importance of having a world-class brand. Branding is much more than just a well-designed logo and colour scheme, it’s about how to interact and deliver your services, saying that having a brilliant brand can obviously help you to punch above your weight. Apple, Coca cola, BMW anyone obviously more established examples of a recognisable logos.
Consider your name
Quite a cheap process for a sole trader to change their name, (around £30), but don’t get carried away though, you don’t want to be too cheesy and become too gimmicky. Also consider associations with external factors, companies such as Ayds and Isis recently changing their names.
Create a better website
With an estimate of 35 million smartphones in the UK alone, you need to be online and you need to look right on a person’s smartphone. Your website is the first thing a potential customer will see so it needs to grab them and show them the best of your services, quickly and efficiently.
Use a virtual receptionist
Part of “punching above your weight” is portraying a professional image, a virtual receptionist will help you do this. There are many facilities across Lancashire offering great packages including receptionist services in their office packages.
So some basic tips on how to change how you are perceived by the world, maybe like the British public of 1957 you could change things in your business and maybe get to where you “have never had it so good”
Sources
http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/british/modern/marshall_01.shtml
http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/july/20/newsid_3728000/3728225.stm
Blog written by Adam Holden, “Everyone needs a little help somewhere in their lifes, I like to help people and give them the leg up they need, weather that be a friendly word of advice or signposting for support. I’m passionate about politics and I’m an activist by nature. I graduated with a Ba Hons last year in social sciences so like to keep my nose into things and you’ll usually see me reading the news and discussing social issues and blogging about these. I’m into cinema of all kinds, the more niche the better, I work in economic development and have done for almost ten years, I’m an advocate for Lancashire and like to keep it local!”
