Technology Can Add To Your Bottom Line If Deployed Wisely
Small business owners know technology is
critical to their bottom line, but 63 percent report feeling overwhelmed by
technological options, according to Brother International Corp. and SCORE.
Conducting an annual assessment and planning around a few key questions can
simplify technology choices and help your business get ahead. Several media
outlets recently examined the use of technology, and reported the following
advice for small business owners.
Is Technology Meeting My Company’s Goals
And Budget?
Before choosing
to adopt a new technology, consider prioritizing what is best aligned with the
company’s goals and budget, say experts. If compatibility is a goal, consider
technology acquisitions that will work well with the products you already
utilize. If mobility is a priority, check to see what apps can be utilized
across devices. On the other hand, if you consider building an app for
customers, make sure that investment will be appreciated and used by your
target client base.
How Important Is Online Media?
Your website
allows you to tell your customers what your business does and how you can help
them. Web design tools can help you create the site, but crafting the message
is key. Make sure to clearly list basic facts about your company and how you
can help solve a customer’s problem. Social media allows businesses to craft
specific messages to target customer groups. Ninety percent of text messages
are opened, providing a great medium to send deals or coupons to motivate
customers who may be nearby your store.
How Can I Protect Customer Data?
Tyler Cohen
Wood, cyber branch chief for the Defense Intelligence Agency, suggests
employers monitor what applications their employees download, especially on
devices that are utilized for both personal and work needs. Wood notes that
exposing a non-secure client list on a phone “could sink a business.”
Further Reading:
For more tips
on technology planning for small business owners, see the following recent
advice from experts: Newsday, “Small Business: Making the right
technology choices”; the Washington
Post, “The
small business guide to success”; the Washington
Post, “How
to collect, analyze and protect your company’s data”; the Washington
Post, “How
to invest your digital advertising dollars”; the Washington
Post,”How
your company can carve out space on your customers’ phones”; and the Houston
Chronicle,
“Small-business Q&A: Websites are key to online marketing.”
Meanwhile, NFIB
recently provided advice to small business owners on
dealing with the “Heartbleed” bug, and the site has other information on technology solutions, including
computers, data security, and mobile technology.
