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Technology advances every day, meaning it can be hard to stay up to date with the latest improvements and make running a small business that much more difficult. While large corporations have the means to pay experts to incorporate technology into their business, small businesses do not.
Due to its importance in society, technology is, fortunately, made widely available to everyone. This means that even without the means to pay experts to manage every aspect of your business, you can still benefit from and use technology.
When it comes to using technology in your small business, there are several different ways to go about it. You can choose to focus on certain aspects of your business or sprinkle it in throughout. Whatever you choose, here are some simple ways to incorporate technology.
Marketing
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#1. Campaign Creation
When it comes to a marketing campaign, it’s vital that you have a thoroughly drafted campaign plan. This plan needs to be clear and precise, but it’s also important that every member of your team can access it.
With marketing software in place, your business can create a thorough marketing campaign plan that is easy to update, edit, and share across the office. Instead of downloading the same document dozens of times after each update, using marketing software technology allows for everyone to have access to the updated plan at all times.
#2. Social Media
There’s no question about the importance of social media in marketing. These days, everyone has some form of social media presence and if you want your business to attract new customers, it’s going to need one too.
Establishing your small business on popular social media platforms such as Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter, TikTok, and Facebook increases the likelihood of your target audience finding your business. With social media marketing, you can create free content for potential customers to access and make it easy for them to access your business from a platform they already know.
#3. Build a Website
Perhaps your business is small enough that it’s still housed on Etsy or some other site. However, building a website can do wonders to extend your reach and improve the recognition of your brand.
For the first website you build, it’s okay to use a template and subscribe to a basic plan. You don’t need to spend thousands of dollars right away. A basic website will be a good stepping stone towards your business’s future on the internet, though, and can easily be maintained with the help of a trusted IT service provider.
Finances
#4. Contactless Payments
These days, almost everyone uses a credit or debit card when making a purchase. Opening up the possibility to pay online through contactless portals leads to increased customer satisfaction and streamlined processes.
There are several different contactless payment methods that are easy to set up and great for small businesses. With a contactless payment system in place, your small business is better equipped to take on the growing demand for alternative payment options without sacrificing security or increasing fraud risks.
#5. Open-Source Software
Many small businesses turn to technology in hopes of saving money, only to discover that most name-brand software is expensive. Fortunately, you aren’t limited to the paid software programs that everyone expects these days. There are many open-source software resources that can provide your business with the service you need at a much lower rate.
Here you can find open-source software for video editing, data recovery, accounting, time tracking, and so much more. Instead of subscribing to Adobe, Microsoft, or any other high-cost software, consider looking into open-source alternatives and save money.
Customer Service
#6. Online Help Desk & Scheduling
For problems that don’t need to be resolved in person, you can set up an online help desk for customers and save your business time and money. Your available employees can focus on larger problems while small problems are taken care of automatically.
You can also arrange for online scheduling if your customers need to make appointments for any reason.
Remote Work
#7. Mobile Offices
If your business can function remotely, setting up a mobile office can save your small business the hassle of renting a physical location and arranging for everyone to come to the office. Although a relatively new technological advancement, mobile offices are growing quickly in popularity and make it easy for teams to stay in contact and work remotely.
Setting up a mobile office is simple and can be done to suit any of your business needs. If you lack the technical knowledge to do so, though, you can pass on the work to an IT service provider you trust.
IT Strategy
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When using technology in your small business, it’s important that you don’t forget to set up an IT strategy. Using different software programs may simplify the process, but without a thought-out IT plan and a strategy for expanding, improving, and maintaining your small business technologically, it’s only a matter of time before you start to encounter problems.
Setting up an IT strategy with a trusted IT service provider guarantees that your business can take on the daily technological demands of the current market. Whether you run your business alone or you have a small team that helps you, there will come a time when the IT work is overwhelming.
Even if your small business provides technology services, it shouldn’t be your job to worry about the functionality of your business’s software and technology. Fortunately, with a well-planned IT strategy, you can focus on what matters most: your business.
Finding an IT service provider you can trust will help ease many common fears that business owners have when they switch to a new software system or technology. Instead of spending hours trying to fix a minor concern or inconvenience, you’ll have a way to take care of the problem that doesn’t interfere with your daily business.
Make Your Business Modern
There are many reasons why adding technology to the daily ins and outs of your business can be beneficial. Whether you need a way to track working hours and productivity or you want a new payment option to be made available, incorporating technology into your business will ensure that you stay relevant and modern.
