Small Business | Technology Network

Technologies That Can Help Your Business

Image via CrunchBase

Technology in the workplace has made it easier to run almost any kind of business. Although many think of computers as the reason there is a decrease in jobs for humans, that is not true. Technology was designed to help humans, not replace them.

Small Businesses Run More Efficiently

Even the lawn mower repair shop can run more efficiently with technology. Invoices can be created and stored on computers. Motor diagrams can be easily accessed via the Internet. As the business thrives and grows, a small repair shop can branch out and do on-site repairs. That would mean an increase in jobs for humans. With a smart phone, a repair person can actually bill and receive payment from anywhere.

Programs, like PayPal, can be used from anywhere with their mobile applications. There are other credit card services designed for mobile phones, too. Payment is immediate and the customer can opt to have a receipt emailed to him. As the business is growing, the prepaid blackberry curve could be used to start mobile billing. That way, there are no long-term contracts to worry about during slow months.

Digital Cameras

Since every business needs a website, it’s a good idea to have plenty of graphics and videos to help sell the products. With a digital camera the business owner can take pictures and videos and upload them instantly. A smart phone would be a good all-in-one solution. In fact, the Ustream app is compatible with many phone operating systems. It’s a live video stream.

Just think what real-time customer service, via a cell phone, could do to give a small business the marketing edge.

Starting Your Own Business

Starting your business is a great way to set your own hours, schedule, and finally dictate what you will do for a living. However, there are many pitfalls for new business owners, especially those that work from a home office. These people do not have the luxury of person-to-person contact for their services, so it is important to make a home-based business appealing for potential customers to want or need particular businesses services. Some of the things to consider before starting a business are the following:

Will this business be incorporated?
Will this business need more technology in order to support a proposed market?
Will there be a need for payroll, or inventory?
Is there a solid business model for success already being considered?

These are important questions, and they can all be answered through online investigation. The Internet is filled with a plethora of information that can benefit any new business owner; you can even advance your education through the Internet by using sites like earnmydegree.com.

Getting Prepared

Getting prepared for a new business is key. Making sure that the proper education is in place is vital for success. Sites like earnmydegree.com can help find programs to help suit your needs. Preparation, evaluation, and trial runs are a great way to see if the plan you have set out will be beneficial. The great part about the Internet is that there is usually no large overhead cost in putting together a website, and seeing if it will take off. This is one strategy in figuring out if the home-based or new business that you have chosen will be able to succeed.

Filed Under: General Tagged With: Business, Home Office, Small business

Giving Your Small Business a Competitive Advantage

In this tough economy, small businesses are looking for any kind of edge to help them stand out in a crowded marketplace. Some are attempting to differentiate themselves by offering superior customer service. Certainly, clients are eager to work with someone who responds to their demands at the drop of a hat and is known to remember clients’ birthdays. These are all well and good, but most customers are only looking at the bottom line; they mainly want to know how a particular company is going to save them the most money over the long haul.

To tap into a market where consumers are asking this type of question, companies need to implement technologies to help streamline their processes and make them competitive with the bigger companies that have established procedures in place and long relationships with their suppliers. Automation is an excellent way to edge into a crowded marketplace for companies in the manufacturing field. By streamlining all their processes, small companies can get their products on the market faster and at a fraction of the cost. When their timing and pricing are comparable to bigger companies, then that excellent customer service stands to have a real competitive advantage over a large corporation that is often viewed as faceless and impersonal. This difference between small and large firms is especially evident to clients who don’t have tons of money to spend.

Technology can help companies that aren’t in manufacturing. Most companies rely on shipping as a means of getting whatever their product is to the customer. Using GPS systems and software that’s designed to plan routes, smaller companies can cut the costs and time necessary to get their goods in the hands of their customers. When a small company can beat the big guys in terms of shipping, they stand an excellent chance of stealing a customer. A small discount doesn’t mean as much if the client is waiting around for the product.

Filed Under: Robotics, Technology Tagged With: Business, Customer service, Small business

The Excel Advantage

Numbers and statistics, comparisons and potential profits: the small business is defined by mathematics. All figures must be carefully examined, with all calculations precise. Every dollar matters when they existed in limited quantities — and no independent company has the budgets of their larger siblings. They must instead make each penny stretch, able to cover all expenses.

This is, of course, not an easy task. Finding the time, and energy, to master money is the struggle of all entrepreneurs. It’s understood as essential but is still despised; and few can summon the strength to plan out the months, detailing every cost of every day.

This process is necessary, however, and must be accomplished. The only way to succeed against competitors is to be able to organize all of these efforts. Doing this does not have to be the burden most have made it to be. Instead, it instead merely requires spreadsheets — and Excel.

Introduced in 1985, Microsoft Excel is among the most popular and recognized programs in the world. Its sparkline capabilities, data analyzing tools, slicer functions and pivot charts allow it to offer a comprehensive view of all information. Through it, users can project estimates, discover trends and create the necessary cells with ease. Time can be saved and energy can be spared. It provides the most current functions and accompanying benefits.

And this is essential, because there are too few hours in the day to waste with finance. The activity must instead be quick. Excel allows users to simply place their data within the program and receive all of the vital answers — an in-depth look at all financial elements of a particular business. Inventories can be tracked; client information can be stored; and every single sale can be logged. It’s the taming of fiscal madness.

Defeating the competition requires understanding dollars. Excel enables this — with the software tailored for success. Use it well.

Filed Under: General, Industry Technology Tagged With: Microsoft Excel, Small business, Sparkline

Facebook Tips for Small Business Owners

: Image via Wikipedia

Small business owners are already at a disadvantage when it comes to attracting customers. You may not have the flashy signs or advertisements of the big chains. You don’t have the commercials or nationwide promotions. You don’t even have the name recognition that big chains have. What you do have is a closer connection to your community and your clientele. Here’s how to connect with your community through Facebook.

Step One: Set Up a Facebook Page

Setting up a Facebook page for your small business is quick and easy. Keep in mind that you don’t want to set up a personal “profile”; those are geared towards individuals. Instead, you want to create a “page” for your small business. Direct your attention to the right side of the Facebook “Create a Page” site. You’ll want to click the option for “local business.” Type your small business name within your page name. If your business name is a little obscure, you may want to add a keyword after your business name. For example, if you own a local sports bar named “Touchdown,” you’d want to type in “Touchdown Sports Bar & Grill” so customers will know exactly which kind of business you run.

Step Two: Stock Your Page

Update your personal information (don’t forget street addresses, email addresses, and phone numbers). Do you have a menu or price list? Upload it. Post pictures of your staff or recent events. Aim to make your page professional, yet friendly and inviting. You want potential customers to explore your page and feel welcomed.

Step Three: Open for Business

Make your page public and publicize your Facebook page at your small business. Send out the link to your mailing list. Remember to keep your page frequently updated so customers will keep checking back. Consider posting upcoming events, weekly specials, coupons, or trivia contests with prizes. This will keep your Facebook page–and your business–active.

Filed Under: Computers, Technology Tagged With: Business, Facebook, Small business