Starting a business can be a scary and rocky road, especially in the beginning. With new technology being developed every day and the internet introducing new platforms regularly, it can be hard to keep up with these innovations, meaning you can miss out on how you can use them to drive your business forward.
There are disadvantages to technology and the internet, of course, but it may be best to research and find out what the advantages are too and how you can utilize it for your business. With that in mind, here are a few ways technology and the internet can help boost your business, especially if you are just starting out.
Easy to build websites
Although a website is a must-have in today’s technology-driven society, some may not have the funds to pay a web developer to create one. Fear not, however; you don’t need a web developer or designer to create a functioning and quality website at all!
Websites such as WordPress or Wix offer website-building platforms that allow beginners to build their own personalized website at no cost. Once designed, they may also have an option to buy an official .com site. However, you need to make sure that the domain you use is short, memorable and relevant as this can easily turn a potential customer away. Short domains can also help your business be shared easily and look good on printed material if it remains consistent with your other social media platforms.
Social media marketing
These days you may not even need an expert to market your products or service. Research is key, of course, and there are many resources available online to learn more about different social media marketing strategies.
Start building online profiles for your business, but don’t go overboard. It can be exhausting and unsustainable to sign up for every social media platform in existence and attempt to juggle each one in the quest for activity. Instead, research where your target audience is likely to be and focus your energy on those platforms. Likewise, if you wish to reach a different audience, research where you are likely to find them. Social media can also be a good way to increase brand awareness. Make sure that your business logo is on any graphics you may publish as well as a link back to your website to increase click-throughs and sales.
Improved payment processes
Advancements in technology now allow for easier payment processes, and the convenience of these developments may be one of the factors that drive potential customers to make that decision between buying or leaving.
Having efficient payment processing systems can help customers quickly pay for their purchases and inform them of this process for their records. It may also help you manage your business finances and keep track of transactions, especially when you are a new business trying to find your feet.
Increased communication
With the many available platforms to communicate with businesses and customers alike, and more platforms being developed and released every day, keeping this line open is proving to be essential for the growth of a business. Not only will doing so increase your business’s customer-friendly reputation and help your business appear more human, but this is also a great way to gather customer feedback. Communication can happen in different ways such as through the website or social media platforms. Either way, customers can easily contact you via email or more casually through social media.
Once this has been gathered, you can then review this feedback and start implementing changes accordingly.
Use advertisements effectively
Advertisements can be those annoying pop-ups that lead to your laptop freezing, but if done correctly, it doesn’t have to be.
You can opt for sponsored posts on Facebook or Instagram that only appears to a relevant audience because this way you are only paying to advertise to your chosen audience specifically. These may not even be sponsored or paid, but just a clever use of social media marketing. One way is by connecting with similar companies or others who you feel align well with your business and see how you can work together. This collaboration can be as simple as trading social media assets and advertising some of their services in exchange for them advertising your business.
Creating these partnerships may prove useful in the long run as well and can even reach new audiences from the associated company. Working with other organizations may also push you to think creatively about how you can market your business and how to create new and original content for your platforms.
In today’s fast-moving society, with new and improving technological innovations launching daily, keeping an open mind and embracing change is key for the success and continued growth of your business.
