We are lucky to live in a world where the Internet is at our fingertips at all times. As a small business owner this means that you can keep on top of work emails, Tweets from clients and important messages wherever you are. Of course, this isn’t always a blessing as a lot of us struggle to not look at emails when on holiday or in the evenings. However, if you treat your technology right then it can really make a difference to how your business operates.
Get everything synced
If you rely on your phone, then it would do you well to have all your emails and calendars synced to it. This means that even when you are out and about you can keep on top of your appointments and any messages that come in.
You can also sync up things like Google Chrome. This is handy if you need access to your bookmarks. All you need to do is log into a Google account through the web browser and it’ll sync everything. This means that when you use the browser on your tablet or another computer your bookmarks and extensions are all there waiting.
The Cloud
Cloud backup is important for any business in this day and age. Even using something like Dropbox for important documents can be a lifesaver if anything does go wrong with your main computer.
If you have larger files to back up then there are a number of other services that can help. Talk to a professional cloud back up company to discuss your needs.
Online Project Management
An online project management system can really change the way in which you work and keep on top of tasks. These are good if you work with a number of freelancers or employees on one project. You can assign tasks, upload documents for everyone to see and can discuss to-do lists. It’s a great way of keeping everyone up-to-date on the status of a project and what needs to be done next. If you don’t need something this big then perhaps look into list management services. These are apps and websites that help you to keep on top of your to-do lists.
Freelance Bidding Sites
Instead of spending money on advertising space in local papers, take look at sites such as People Per Hour, Guru.com, elance.com, etc. when you need an extra hand. On these sites you will find everything from administration help to PR professionals looking to help you grow your business. Everything can be monitored through the site and the payment system is safe and secure. Similarly, if you are looking for a little extra work then these websites are fantastic for picking up little jobs. It could be something as simple as writing a blog post to a larger job such as building a website.
Start an Online Business
One of the fastest growing sectors of business these days is online commerce. If you already have a bricks and mortar business, you can begin by marketing your products online through Social Media like Facebook or Etsy, or direct selling through Ebay or Amazon.
On the other hand if you are wondering how to start an online business… you can begin by registering your own URL and building an electronic shopping cart and don’t worry the process is easier than you’d think. All you need is an idea for a unique site that will cater to a niche audience. And unlike the old days where you needed to rent a storefront with the proper type of foot-traffic and then stock loads of inventory; these days you can easily be online and available to a small niche of unique buyers in very little time. The key of course is connecting with your potential customers and letting them know that you have exactly what they are looking for. If it is a hard to find product you will have customer beating down your [virtual] doors. If it is more readily available you will have to have some other reason to draw them in, whether it is price, service or just the unique environment of your virtual store. One major advantage is that you don’t need to have a high density of customers in one physical place. If your ideal customer is a left-handed red-head who loves video games you probably won’t find many in any particular city but you might find enough of them online to make a viable business.
See Also:
- Financial Jargon – Investment Terminology for Beginners
- Mortgage Jargon
- 5 Good Reasons To Get Title Insurance
- Rebuilding and Fixing Your Credit in 5 Steps
- 8 Ways to Stick to Your Financial Resolutions
Recommended by Amazon:
- Alone Together: Why We Expect More from Technology and Less from Each Other
- Harvard Business Review on Aligning Technology with Strategy
- The Transformational CIO: Leadership and Innovation Strategies for IT Executives in a Rapidly Changing World
- IT Savvy: What Top Executives Must Know to Go from Pain to Gain
- IT Governance: How Top Performers Manage IT Decision Rights for Superior Results
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