Every business owner wants his product to get directly to his potential customers, and in turn, buy from him. Today, Technology makes that fairly easy. Technology in small businesses is hence a major requirement for business growth. In this blog post, I will discuss a few steps you can take to develop your business using the technology available today. These are very easy steps and you don’t have to be a computer geek or Tech guru.
To start with, let’s mention a few benefits and useful technological tools in small scale businesses.
Useful Technology Tools to Grow Small Business
Effective Customer Communication
Every successful business needs to communicate effectively with its clients and customers. Technology has enhanced the faster delivery of goods and services upon requests from clients. Besides that, business information is more readily available to any client, anywhere and at any time with the help of internet technology.
Tools
Business Website
One of the most important tools for reaching out to new and existing customers is a business website. Technology has made it easy and cheap to have a business website for everyone. You can try these free simple options to build a very simple web page for your start-up business:
shopify.com and a whole lot more
Note that most of these services also have a premium option where you have to pay. This usually comes with more options and customization
Blog
Writing articles about the product and services you provide is another great way of reaching out to your customers. As a result, you will be able to convince your clients that you have a mastery of the business. Bloggers.com and WordPress.com are great tools you can use yourself
Emails
Use a professional-looking email (e.g Yourname@yourbusinessname.com instead of yourname@gmail.com). This will certainly have more impact on the mind of clients.
Social Media
Have a business social media account with the business name and reach out to your customers from there. Hootsuite is a very great tool that can help you manage all your social media accounts in one place.
Business Contact Phone Number
Always make sure that your business phone number is always included in any ads or replies to your customers. Always maintain separateness between personal and business activities. Be professional.
Marketing
Technology has helped small businesses in reaching new and existing customers in geographic areas further than imagined. In addition, Internet marketing, (like a simple informational website, ads on search engines, online product sales and email marketing ) makes it possible for businesses to reach a large number of people.
Tools
Email marketing
Collect emails of potential and existing customers and utilize the power of email marketing. Send mails about offers, new deals, new arrivals and other promotions that will interest your buyers.
Social Media Pages
Advertise your business using the social media pages that have been created for it.
Website
Promote your business on your website and also, promote the website.
Google Digital Skills
Google Digital Skills provides you with the opportunity to learn more on internet marketing for free and get to know more useful tools. You even get a certification for it.
Productivity
Many business operations can be run concurrently, with the right technological tools, hence, ensuring larger productivity. Additionally, technology allows for efficient multitasking and faster and more accurate delivery of goods and services.
Tool
Simple Cloud Storage
Examples of these are Google Drive and Microsoft One Drive. These tools allow for easy collaboration and provide security for your files against theft and misplacement. In addition, it ensures that you can work anywhere.
Mobility
Technology Reduces Travel costs as it allows for virtual meetings and data distribution without the need to be in the same room. As a result, a lot of business operations can be carried out anywhere and without a physical office.
Tool
Video conference
Video conference: a good tool for this is skype. It allows two or more individuals to carry out business operations and hold meetings without being physically present in the same place.
Operation Efficiency
Furthermore, Technology can help businesses understand better, its operations. Examples are, analyzing the business cash flows and inventories. Also, Businesses can save money and time by holding meetings over the internet.
Security
Technology helps businesses protect their business ideas and executive decisions from business competitors. These novel business ideas are usually digitized and kept on a secure computer.
Research Capacity
The Technological capacity to research new opportunities will help the business stay ahead of its competition. In effect, Internet Technology allows a business to travel in and out of a wide market without an extra cost.
Scalability
With the Research Capacity that technology provides, it is possible to scale or measure the business capacity. Hence, scaling the business makes it easy to expand and grow it.
Opportunity for quick Growth
As mentioned above the use of technology allows for easy marketing, research and scalability. This, therefore, affords the business a big opportunity for quick growth and expansion.
Have something to say? Please comment below and share!
Found this really interesting, thanks for sharing!