Editor’s Note: Here at Dispatches, we are always looking for ways to help our readers do things. For some of our readers, that means helping navigate the working world, for others, it means assisting in the ever challenging question, “what’s for dinner?” For still others, it means figuring out how to balance family life with everything else. In an effort to aid in all of these endeavors, we have collaborated on this article written specifically for our readers.
It can be tricky to keep up with the ever-changing world of technology. A piece of tech seems to get twice as fast, twice as powerful or half the size every six months, on in the case of the iPhone bigger every release. This can be especially challenging when you’re running a small business. As the business world shifts more and more into digital territory, it can feel as though you’re getting left behind. But technology is not your enemy! New technologies can provide your business with just the boost it needs to compete in today’s market. Here are some ways in which you can use technology to keep your company on the cutting edge.
Smartphones and tablets
Chances are you already have at least one of these. You might even be reading this on one of them. Smartphones and tablets are the perfect piece of tech for any business owner who’s constantly on the go. It’s pretty rare that you’ll have time to regularly sit down at a desk to check your emails or schedule. That’s where your phone or tablet come to the rescue. You can check any information, respond to emails and arrange meetings all without interrupting your workday for even a moment.
The cloud
For any small business owner, storage can be a nightmare. The last thing you want is to find yourself buried under mountains of storage data. This can slow down your networks and make accessing vital information for more hassle than it needs to be. That’s where the cloud comes in. The cloud is a server farm that provides massive amounts of space to store files and data. It keeps them safe and secure and ensures that you can always find the information you need. When thinking about storage solutions, make sure you find a cloud provider that works with your business. Working with companies like Ntiva IT services and support is a great idea. That way not only are you in a better position to start using cloud services, but you’re also going to be able to embrace the IT side of your business much more confidently.
Digital Advertising
Gone are the days of paper ads and billboards. Why bother when there’s a superior and more cost effective method of advertising at your fingertips. For small businesses, the ability to focus advertising to be location specific is a gift. You can provide advertising that targets people in a small radius around the location of your business. This lets you avoid pointlessly advertising to people who will never be in a position to use your services. The best thing is you don’t need to be an expert in marketing to utilize digital advertising. You just need to do a little research into where to best direct it. Facebook is a great place to start. The algorithms on the site determine where users are located and address certain pieces of marketing towards them. This way you can make sure you’re targeting the right customers in the right places.
The truth is that running any kind of business in the modern world is something that relies on your ability to connect with the pace of the modern world and if that’s something that you’re not able to do then that’s going to be a serious problem. You need to be sure that you’re staying as up-to-date as possible when it comes to the digital side of your business. Otherwise, you’re just going to end up getting left behind by the competition.