Is there any room for the small property management company any more? Let’s hope so! Small businesses are the lifeblood of the economy, and while powerhouse companies tend to dominate markets, there should always be room for the little guy.

But how do you compete? It’s easy to become disheartened when you start your company on a shoestring and you’re constantly reminded of the vast resources your competitors have at their disposal, but there are things you can do to improve your odds when you go toe-to-toe with the property management big guys.

Invest in your website. Let’s face it, in this day and age, the first thing potential clients are going to see is your web presence, so make sure you give a great first impression. If you can create an attractive, clean, easy-to-navigate design yourself, go for it. Otherwise, pay an expert.

Optimize. This goes hand-in-hand with the good-looking website. Research keywords and find out what people are looking for in your niche. Make sure your title tags and meta descriptions are formatted properly. Make the copy easy to skim and scan. Again, if this is outside your purview, hire a pro.

Socialize. Nothing’s worse than a website that just sits there and has nothing to link to. Set up a Facebook page, a Google+ page, and a LinkedIn profile. This will have the added benefit of giving you lots of top spots in search engine results. And don’t just beg people for likes or connections. Talk to them, engage them, let them know you’re human and the real deal.

Advertise. There is a world beyond the Internet, as hard as it is to believe, and some people still prefer the offline world. So take out ads in the local paper or set up a booth at a local small business trade show. Get the buzz going about yourself.

Size matters. If you’re just one person in a small office somewhere, there’s no reason the world needs to know that. Think big. Talk big. Act big. Use “we” and “our” instead of “I” and “my.” If the world wants to think you’re a vast multinational conglomerate, let them. So much of life is illusion.

Don’t be daunted by the massive property management companies out there. They all started somewhere too, and your spot is yours for the taking!