According to a government-issued Canadian wildlife guide, people who are approached by an offensive bear should shout, wave their arms and feet, look the bear in the eye and raise their jackets to make them look like larger and more threatening. What (hopefully) works in the wild may also work in the business world.

When companies have tight budgets and limited resources, it can be easy to feel outmatched by larger companies that can afford to be aggressors in the industry. But, if small businesses can find a way to make themselves appear to be bigger, they can stand out in the crowd and keep up with the big wigs according to an article on Inc.com by Scott Steinberg, CEO of consulting and product testing firm TechSavvy Global and author of "The Business Expert's Guidebook."

Think of of the internet as your business's jacket for the sake of this metaphor. While your company is small in physical size, the internet allows clientele to develop their own image of your establishment based on its online presence.

The first way to do this is by designing a visually striking and user-friendly website. This will likely be the first image potential customers will have of your business so it's important to make the first impression count. Secondly, make your products or services available through an online store. If your business isn't prepared to keep track of online sales, talk to FileMaker developer who can use custom database software that's optimized for your website design and the product or service you provide.

Steinberg said that updated communication technology is also a solid way to improve your business's presence next to your competitors.