If you are starting any new type of business and you are dealing with customers or other businesses sometimes it can be hard for them to take you seriously, especially if you are starting an online business. This happened to me when I first started ThinkComputers. I was about 16-17 when I started the site and when I would ask for something to review most companies would see how old I was and say no. I wouldn’t let this discourage me though. Over the years I would get these companies to take me seriously. Here are some tips on doing that for any type of business.
Make Business Cards
This is a very inexpensive and easy way for you to show someone that you care about your business and it is not just some website. Anytime you are talking about your site you can give someone a business card. It is a great way to promote your website as well as let them know you are serious about it. I definitely take someone more seriously if they have a business card. VistaPrint has a great deal, giving away 250 free business cards. If money is tight you should definitely check it out.
Get a Business Address
This does cost some money, but really not that much. Places like your post office and UPS store have mailboxes that you can put in a business name. So if anyone is sending you products they send it to your business name rather than you yourself. Even though the mail is going to the post office or UPS store the sender thinks that it is going to a business, not your house. If they think you have a business office they will take your more seriously.
Prove it to them
When I started ThinkComputers we didn’t have any sponsors or anyone sending us products to review. For a long time we wrote articles, guides, and bought hardware to review. By doing this companies saw that we were serious about it and after a while they started to send us products. Even at the beginning some companies would only lend us products, we did not care because that helped us build a good relationship with that company. This also goes hand in hand with blogging, if you want people to take you seriously you need to keep your blog updated on a steady basis.
Go to Trade Shows
This is the most expensive thing on the list. ThinkComputers growth really started to happen after my first CES in 2006. Every time I’ve gone to CES it has really been worth it. You get to meet the companies you deal with face to face and by being there they know you are serious about your business. I mean you’re not going to spend around $1000 on a hotel for the week just to hang out. I’ve always made great contacts at CES and it is the one show that I always have to go to every year.