Building your own business is a lot of work, but thanks to the tech investments tools available today, the path of an entrepreneur is incredibly accessible. Anyone can launch a business! As long as you take advantage of budget-friendly, time-saving technology, nothing will hold you back from getting your business up and running — and growing it into the brand of your dreams. There are just so many resources online, including Craft Multimedia, that can help you pursue your business goals. Below, we’ve listed nine more tech solutions that are well worth the investment!
Reliable Hardware
First and foremost, make sure your hardware is up to speed. Nothing is more frustrating than waiting for a slow computer to load up an app when you’re trying to work quickly! Do your business a favor by investing in a new laptop or desktop computer. You don’t need to spend a lot to get a fast and reliable device! Shop around and check out popular brands like Lenovo to find discounts on the tools you need.
As a small business owner, you will also need access to a reliable smartphone so you can stay connected to your business when you’re on the go! Certain smartphone apps can save you hours every day, so consider investing in a new device that’s robust enough to run all the apps you need.
Mobile-First Web Design
Did you know that mobile devices account for over half of all web traffic? If your website is not mobile-friendly, you could be missing out on a shocking number of sales! Mobile-first web design is all about building websites for mobile devices to create a user experience that is fluid, intuitive, and engaging for people on smartphones and tablets.
Fortunately, there are tons of website building tools that can help you do this without hiring a developer, so you can launch a mobile-friendly website quickly and affordably! You can always hire the services of a developer later down the line when you want to customize your website further or upgrade for greater functionality.
Digital Marketing
Another way to optimize your business for the online world is to focus on digital marketing. Compared to traditional marketing strategies like print advertising, digital marketing boasts a much higher return on investment. In fact, it costs very little to launch a digital advertising campaign. What’s more, you can even advertise your business for free using social media and email marketing! Whether your business exists entirely online or you’re running out of a physical storefront, investing in online marketing is essential for success in this day and age.
Content Marketing
Content marketing is a form of digital marketing that involves creating and sharing valuable content online. Typically, businesses engage in content marketing by producing videos, blogs, and social media posts, but you can also produce podcasts and e-books! If you create all of the content yourself, this marketing strategy will cost next to nothing. Of course, you can also hire freelancers to help you produce content for your brand, which may be a better approach if you’re strapped for time or if you lack the skills to create the high-quality content you’re after.
POS Systems
Point of sale (POS) systems can help or hinder your business. If you’re using a simple cash drawer and a card reader to take customer payments in-store, you’re missing out on all the valuable features that come with a fully-integrated POS system. POS software can serve as a powerful tool for collecting payments, tracking inventory, and measuring profits. A great POS system can even help you track employee performance or drive repeat business by storing customer spending data!
CRM Software
If you are struggling to stay on top of your customer interactions, customer relationship management (CRM) software can help. CRM software organizes all customer-related processes, from marketing to customer service, in one simple system so you can optimize the customer experience and measure the efficacy of your marketing campaigns. The best part? Your CRM system will expand with your business, so your customer base will never grow too big for your team.
Project Management Tools
Project management software is another key tool to keep in your arsenal. As CareerAddict explains, project management tools will streamline collaboration between your team members and help your business run more efficiently. Good project management tools like Monday, Asana, and Trello make it easier to delegate tasks, share documents, standardize business processes, offer remote work opportunities to employees, and onboard new team members. Take advantage of these tools and your productivity will explode.
Cloud Storage Solutions
Are you spending a lot of money on IT? Shifting your business to the cloud is a fantastic way to save money while at the same time boosting the flexibility and security of your business. Cloud computing will eliminate the need to house and maintain servers, so you can avoid the many expenses that come with operating an in-house data center. Cloud-based programs and applications also enable employees to work from anywhere, so you could even downsize your office space to cut your costs further.
Cybersecurity Upgrades
Cybersecurity upgrades are always a worthwhile investment, no matter the size of your business. According to Security Magazine, cyberattacks on small businesses are surprisingly common. Hackers like to target small businesses because they tend to overlook key security features, leaving them vulnerable to attacks. Cybercriminals can easily generate profit from a ransomware attack through something as simple as a phishing email. A solid cybersecurity plan can help you avoid disasters like these!
As a small business owner today, you just can’t afford to ignore all of the emerging technology that can boost your business. An investment in the right technology is always worth it. Over time, these technologies will pay for themselves by saving you time, cutting overhead costs, and overall increasing your bottom line.
Looking for more? Check out the resources on Advice Mine for countless tips on launching, running, and managing a small business while juggling the rest of your hectic life!
