How to Make Your New Business Seem Like an Old Business

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Launching a new business can be exciting, but also quite challenging. New businesses face an uphill climb, often stemming from the perceptions people have about “startups.” A company that’s brand new may come across as insufficiently experienced to meet client needs, and may not engender the trust or the seriousness needed to build long-lasting customer relations.

Of course, there’s nothing you can do to make a new business into an old one, except by simply surviving—sticking it out and gaining the necessary experience.

But there are ways you can change the perception, making your company seem much more established than it actually is.

Focus on Visual Branding

A good place to start is with a visual brand—something that far too many startups lack, but most established companies tend to have down pat. You can probably recall, just off the top of your head, the colors, logos, symbols, and even fonts associated with big brands like UPS, Coca-Cola, and Taco Bell. That’s the kind of memorable branding that your new company needs, too—a suite of images that is, above all else, consistent. Keep it simple, too—logos that are legible, unfussy, and scalable. Stick to a single font for your brand. And decide on a palette of no more than two or three colors to use on all marketing material.

Ensure a Positive First Impression

First impressions matters. The images you choose for your social media page and website, for instance, will either convey professionalism, or they won’t. Have some classy, professional headshots taken, and make sure your social media images are properly scaled and hi-res—never fuzzy or distorted.

Just as important is your physical office space. If you’re going to have clients or customers come to your company, it’s imperative to have a space that exudes class and professionalism.  Look for office space to rent in up and coming neighborhoods that have promise in the next 5 years, as opposed to the current hot spots that will be reflecting that popularity in rent prices. Consider open office space to allow for easy transitions as your company grows.

Ensure a User-Friendly Website

Consumers today admit to basing their first impression of a business largely on the company website. That’s not an area in which you need to scrimp. Make sure you own your domain name, have a website that is professionally-designed and attractive, and provide meaningful content and easy navigation for your users. Invest in professional design, not a free WordPress template.

Be Authoritative

To seem established, you have to come across like a team of people who know what they are doing and trust their own judgement. Don’t equivocate, in your personal communications but especially not in your marketing materials. When discussing your industry, don’t preface things with “I think” or “in my opinion.” Act like you deserve a place at the table—because you do.

You can come across as a company of experience—even if, in truth, you’re not. A lot of it comes down to presentation. Follow these tips, and seem established beyond your years.