Running a business these days looks much different than it did 20 – or even 10 – years ago. For most industries, you can no longer get by with just a landline and computer for the occasional email. Technology is steadily becoming more advanced, and you would be doing yourself and your small business a disservice if you chose not to take advantage of the benefits this advanced technology can provide. If you truly want to build a company that flourishes in the modern age, there are certain kinds of technology you will need to invest in and learn your way around. Depending on the type of business you run, you may not need every tech upgrade out there, but some can significantly improve your operations and pay for themselves in no time. Let’s take a look at some of the best tech upgrades available for small businesses today.
An Upgraded Smartphone
If you’ve had the same smartphone for a few years, it may be time for a newer model. An upgraded model can feature high-powered performance and extended battery life, which is essential if you’re out of the office and need to read and send emails, run business apps, take product photos, or communicate with your employees and prospective customers. With your contacts just a touch away from you, you have the amazing ability to discuss your business anywhere, with anyone and at any time through FaceTime, email, Skype, and many other applications. Anything that allows for better internal communication as well as communication with your clients will help your business flourish. If you’re in the market for a new smartphone, the iPhone 11 Pro Max comes with Super Retina XDR display, up to 18 hours of battery life, and machine-learning abilities. If you’re looking for an Android option, the OnePlus 7 Pro has an ultra-wide camera and all-day battery life.
A Strong Website Platform Such as Word Press
One of the most essential parts of running a business is having a good website. Your website is commonly the first impression you give potential customers, and you want that first impression to be great. It is extremely important to position yourself online with a strong and professional source of information that will motivate prospective customers to engage with your business. Fortunately, it’s not all that difficult to have an attractive and well-functioning website these days, as there are a variety of free website platforms available. Consider hiring a professional developer who can get the most out of the platform’s custom coding options, which can give your site and your business a boost. A good website will be easy to navigate, responsive to mobile devices, and cohesively branded. If you need help with website development, AngelytiX would be happy to help! Check out our services page here.
Project Management Software
Most small business owners multitask on a daily basis; in many ways, multi-tasking is the nature of the game. When beginning a project, every ambitious entrepreneur has high hopes, but it is a real struggle to see the project growing from start to finish product. Having a lot of things going on at once can not only get overwhelming, but it’s also difficult to do any one task well when your attention is divided among different things. The need for successful project management is a necessity. To that end, project management software helps you to make your project delivery more efficient. From automating interdependent assignments to setting more practical deadlines and goals, these applications can transform your everyday business operations.
Social Media and Email Marketing
For all types of businesses, marketing now plays as critical a role as ever. These days, social media and email offer loads of opportunities to get the word out about your company. Social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram can be used in countless ways to grow your business! Take advantage of the power of social media by posting promotional videos, engaging with customers (existing and potential), and getting the story of your brand out to the masses. An upcoming trend many businesses have been using to reach high volumes of customers is hiring social media influencers, who can market your product to thousands of followers. Also, using email to offer special deals and share stories behind your products/services is a great way to gain customers and retain the ones you have. Use the pull that social media and email marketing have to build your online presence, and the results will speak for themselves!
Analytics
Analytics tools can help your company monitor the results of your marketing efforts. For instance, some tools on the market allow you to keep up with things like:
● How many visitors your site is getting
● What elements are being used the most
● The time spent by visitors on each page
● What brought visitors to your site
Information like this can show you what you’re doing right in terms of increasing website traffic, as well as highlight any adjustments that need to be made. Take this feedback in stride, expanding on the things that are working for you and cutting back on the things that are not.
Cloud-Based Programs
Running your operations on the cloud can save you time and money, as well as allow you to work from anywhere you can establish an internet connection. It limits the amount of expensive hardware and applications you need to purchase, and it makes it easier to keep the whole team on the same page, especially if you have remote workers. Cloud computing is flexible, it can save your business money, and it’s really easy to get used to. Look into cloud-based systems like Google Docs and Microsoft Office 365 to facilitate your operations and ultimately save money. In a technology driven world, any smart entrepreneur knows to focus on how they can use this technology to their advantage. There are many tech upgrades available today that can greatly improve your business processes and end up paying for themselves. So, be sure to look into the options discussed in this article, as well as other tech that could possibly help your company specifically. The most important thing is to stay open-minded as technology develops — always looking for ways to learn and evolve so that your business can thrive.