You hear a lot about technology, but maybe don’t see how it’s going to help you run your company better. While it’s still good to have face-to-face interactions, there are many ways technology is helping businesses get ahead, so it’s worth looking into.
Launching a new business is exciting and scary all at once. Take it from me who has done it several times now. You have a lot of weight on your shoulders and many decisions to contemplate as you enter your industry and let everyone know you’ve come to compete. Even if you’re not a technology expert, embrace the learning curve and educate yourself on all the ways it can support you stabilize and grow. See how technology will help your start-up achieve results.
Website Technology
Consumers love to search and view a company website. This is where they find the latest products and learn more about what businesses are up to. Use technology to build a website and get your company out on the Internet. Be there when customers are looking for solutions to fit their needs. Create a website that’s attractive, informative and easy to use. Work with a third party like ‘corePHP’ to help you come up with a site that’s going to be a magnet for new customers. The Internet is the place to be, and you need a website that’s going to help customers find answers to their burning questions. Make sure yours has all of the important information they need to find out more about you and valuable tidbits that add significance, like a blog or e-commerce.
Search
Another marketing aspect that’s important for you to pay attention to has to do with search. Research and implement Google keywords and phrases to make it possible for people to find your site via search engines. People are looking for answers online, and you want to appear when it makes sense for your product or service. Use technology to your advantage and connect with potential customers and current clients quickly and efficiently. Find out what words and phrases customers are searching and make it easy for them to find you. This is how customers are discovering what they want these days, and you’d be silly not to adapt and embrace this aspect of marketing and technology.
Mobile
It’s a good idea…wait it is a crucial idea to have mobile to be a part of your overall marketing strategy. Customers are using their phones to research topics, locate products and make purchases. You’re missing out a big opportunity if you ignore this part of your strategy. Your website should be mobile-friendly and ready to serve consumers no matter what device they find you on. Keep this in mind when you’re developing new applications and making updates to your current site. The faster the pages load, the better. You risk users clicking out of your website if it’s clunky and difficult to maneuver. Achieve better results by making it easy for consumers to locate and purchase what they want from their phones.
Customer Service
Always make customer service the main focus of your business; it’s what’s going to set you apart from the competition and help you get better reviews online. Technology is an excellent tool for improving your customer service strategy. Not all consumers have time to sit on the phone waiting to be helped. Offer a chat function, online help desk and use social media as a medium for answering customer inquiries. Technology allows you to offer your customers options and get problems solved in a more efficient manner. Be sure to focus on feedback and offer online surveys and questionnaires where customers can provide comments and opinions. This way you have valuable responses for improving on your end and your customers feel heard.
Communication
Technology has done wonders for improving communication in businesses. Your start-up should take advantage of this fact and configure an email system, a chat function, software and platforms that help your teams communicate with each other better. Being able to get in touch with team members quickly, no matter where they are in the world, helps you work smarter and solve issues quicker. We use Slack for our internal communication. Be mindful that the more options there are for communicating, the more complicated it gets when multiple people and platforms are involved. Slow down, be clear in your delivery and practice active listening skills.
Productivity
Work faster and more efficiently when using technology solutions. Improve processes, share feedback and increase speed through technology implementation. Productivity will increase, and your teams will be able to get their work done in record time with fewer mistakes. Attract top-notch employees by offering impressive technology solutions. Use software like igniteCAST to build plans train employees and provide solid strategies that everyone who needs to can access from wherever they are. Use online budget tracking to see exactly where your money is going and where you can cut back on expenses. Also, use time tracking software to view where you’re spending most of your hours and project management tools to complete and track daily tasks for large projects.
Collaboration
Nowadays, working together through collaboration has never been so easy. Technology allows you to connect with anyone around the globe and work through important business obligations. It gets you in touch quicker to locate the answers you need, as to avoid any hold-ups. Conduct conference calls whenever and wherever you want and hold webinars to train new employees or deliver content to customers. Send and share files and communicate seamlessly when taking advantage of all technology has to offer. Expand your knowledge by enrolling in a class online or finding answers based on research and input from colleagues.
Conclusion
Understand that you’re going to experience ups and downs as you try to get your start-up off the ground and into full operational mode. Turn to technology to assist you in the process and be open to exploring all it can do for you as you learn and grow. There are many possibilities if you’re open to testing new ideas and exploring various opportunities. This is how technology will help your start-up achieve results. Do your research and feel free to comment below for additional feedback as I love to help other companies.
