When you own a small business, you have to think of new ways to move your company forward on a daily basis. At some point, you have probably thought about how technology could improve your business operations. It’s true that more and more companies are using tech to advance their goals and that it can help businesses of all types.
However, some business owners are hesitant to use tech because of the upfront investment that is often required. Rest assured, there are many kinds of tech on the market today that can take your business to the next level. Some of them are free, and some of them cost a little money upfront, but they quickly pay themselves off.
If you’re a small business owner wondering what kinds of tech can help your company reach new heights, check out these essential tech upgrades.
Web Development
According to AllBusiness.com, a good place to start is making sure you have a website that appeals to and works for your audience. A lot of potential customers will judge the legitimacy of your company on the quality of your website alone. Rather than stress about designing a site yourself, consider hiring a web developer. When you’re looking for a developer, be sure that any candidate you’re considering is qualified to build an engaging and user-friendly site.
Mobile Payment
Mobile payment technology is becoming increasingly popular for companies of all shapes and sizes these days. In short, mobile payment refers to a transaction that occurs directly from a customer’s mobile device, thereby eliminating the need for a physical credit card. Customers want convenience, and if they can’t get it from your company, they know they can get it somewhere else. Plus, mobile transactions are very secure. Square, Dharma, and Shopify are among the most popular mobile payment services.
Search Engine Optimization
Search Engine Optimization refers to a practice that aims to increase the frequency of your company’s website showing up in web searches. You can learn some things yourself to improve your results, such as taking a training course specifically for small business owners and learning about some of the foundational terms. For example, learning how to utilize and improve meta tags, anchor text, search algorithms, SERP, and PageRank can go a long way in giving your company a boost and expanding your customer base.
Another option is to hire a Search Engine Optimization (SEO) consultant who is an expert in the field. SEO professionals should be skilled in keyword research and on- and off-site optimization.
Document Sharing
Using services to share documents and other data among your team is a great way to add efficiency to your operations. Programs like Google Drive, Evernote, and OneDrive allow you to safely and quickly share information with your employees, whether it’s an article you are writing, something you found on the internet, or a company-wide spreadsheet. All the information is stored in the cloud, and you choose who you share each document with.
Telecommuting
Lastly, having the right telecommuting tools will free up your employees to do certain tasks away from the office. This not only increases flexibility for you and your employees, but it can also lead to happier and more productive workers. For example, video conferencing software like Zoom and Skype makes it easy to conduct virtual meetings and collaborate on projects. Collaboration apps like Slack allow your team to work together on projects and tasks, as well as chat one-on-one or in groups.
The right kinds of technology can propel your company forward. Be sure to hire a qualified web developer who can build your company a great website, consider mobile payment options, and learn as much as you can about SEO. Also, explore your options with document sharing and collaboration tools so that you can streamline work and facilitate communication among team members. When you see how tech like this can boost your business, chances are you won’t think twice to invest in other forms of tech down the road.
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