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It's a simple fact that many customers want to feel as though their doing business with a huge company rather than a mom-and-pop organization. Size implies importance and power. It gives a feeling of security and prestige. Size sells.

Small companies needn't fret, though. Often times all it takes to enjoy the advantages of size is the appearance of it. And there are many ways to seem bigger than you are.

For instance, customers will assume you are a larger company if you have a toll-free 800-number rather than a number with a location-specific area code. Anyone can get an 800-number from their phone company. A slightly more complicated but equally effective way to use your phones to look big and important is to get local numbers in multiple cities even if you only have one office. You can have all the numbers connect to your one office, or you can connect some of them to voice mail. And when you answer the phone, make sure there are no kids or household pets in the background, and always answer in a professional manner to maintain your appearance. "Hello" is a dead giveaway that you're small-time.

Another way to give the appearance of size is to get your name out there as much as possible. Run ads as frequently as you can afford to. Put your logo and phone number on pens and give them away free. Slap stickers on your friends' cars or on lampposts. Use bright colors or crazy designs on your delivery vehicles. If people recognize your name, they will assume you're a big shot.

Besides getting your name out, distributing free pens and other promotional merchandise will make you seem successful. Though these items are actually fairly cheap in bulk and well worth their cost, people will assume you're rolling in dough if you give things away. And you'll be fostering customer appreciation and loyalty.

A prestigious business address will also make you look more important. You can often share an office or simply rent a desk in a large, fancy office building. Or if you're web-based, then exert a little more effort on the quality and style of your site. A snazzy website can make a one-man firm look like a multinational corporation.

Size does matter, no doubt about it. But you don't need oodles of employees, a fleet of trucks or an office complex to be big in the minds of customers. In the end, it's the size of your image that really counts.