Many small business owners dream of finding simple and effective opportunities for growth. If that sounds like something that you would enjoy, don’t overlook investing in technology. There are certain options out there that are not only simple and effective, they ultimately can play a key role in taking your small business to the next level.
Elevate Your Website
What is your website like? Is it smooth and user-friendly, or clunky and outdated? These days, experts feel a poorly designed website can actually drive away customers, making your company appear to be irrelevant, untrustworthy, and out of touch. Investing in improvements can help you retain your customer base and help attract new clientele.
If it’s time for an upgrade, consider hiring a WordPress developer. If you’re unfamiliar, WordPress is an extremely popular platform used for designing blogs and websites. As Digital Trends explains, there are several key reasons why WordPress is so popular: versatile, reliable, powerful, time-tested, and up-to-date. In the hands of a knowledgeable WordPress Developer, you can see the website you dream of brought to life.
Branch Out
Is e-commerce part of your business model? If not, it should be. According to some recent studies, e-commerce businesses can expect a 265% growth rate by 2021. You don’t even need to crunch the numbers to know that’s a substantial chunk.
If e-commerce is new and different for you, consider drop shipping products that complement what you already offer. For example, someone who does home staging could add furniture, bedding, and home decor items to their repertoire. Or if you run an outdoor store, there are T-shirts, drones, and backpacks available for drop shipping.
Sort through the many options, as there is something to suit every niche. Even if at first glance your current role doesn’t seem to lend itself well to internet sales, by choosing wisely, you can not only supplement your current business, but enhance your customer base without reducing your focus or lowering validity.
Better Customer Service
No business can survive without customers, and these days, your customers’ expectations are changing. Not only are more people shopping on the internet all the time, they expect customer support via the web. Even if a problem occurs in your brick-and-mortar store, customers are disinclined to pen letters to complain these days. Instead, they’ll often reach out to you through your website or other online means. Because customers are connecting from anywhere and everywhere, TechVibes points out you need to establish customer service solutions that are flexible and accessible around the clock and on all sorts of devices.
With all that in mind, think about what sort of tech tools could benefit your small business. There are customizable email and call routing systems that improve communication such as tracking systems to let you know what’s getting the most attention, unlimited data plans with businesses in mind, social media tools that increase engagement and live chat softwares that adds a personal touch.
Simple and effective answers make the most exciting differences in the world of small businesses. Improve your website, dip into e-commerce, and ensure that you offer terrific and accessible customer service. Whether you have a budding small business or a well-established brick-and-mortar, technology can help you reach the next level - and help you avoid being left behind by your competition.
Guest Post by: Gloria Martinez
Gloria loves sharing her business expertise and hopes to inspire other women to start their own businesses and seek promotions in the workplace. She started WomenLed.org to celebrate the advancements women have made and inspire women to become entrepreneurs and seek promotions in the workplace.
