If you are considering setting up your own small business, it can often be quite a daunting task. There are a myriad of tasks that need to be undertaken to get your business up and running and it is likely that you will be doing most of this by yourself or in a small team. In the beginning it can seem that you are putting in exceptionally long hours for little financial reward.
Getting Your Business Off to a Good Start
In 2021 approximately 20% of small businesses failed in the US alone and the overall picture is a challenging one. However, by utilizing some key pieces of business tech you can ensure that your small business functions effectively from its inception and that some tasks are automated, saving you time and effort.
Here are just 5 of the key tech considerations to think about when setting up a small business.
Incorporate HR Software
A small business may not have the financial means to employ its own HR department, especially in the early days of its operations. Even when a business only has a small dedicated team running it there will still need to be a multitude of HR tasks undertaken such as monitoring employee attendance and offering development packages for workers.
Thankfully, there are numerous all in one HR software solution packages available for small businesses that can streamline a lot of HR related functions in the firm and reduce the need for a large team of HR professionals as your business grows. Functions such as payroll and employee benefits packages can be automated with this software technology which frees up time and resources to focus on other business activities.
A reliable internet connection
In the advanced age of the internet and eCommerce it is imperative that your small business has a strong internet presence. Your customers must be able to find you easily and your company website must be full of SEO enriched content to enable you to climb the Google search rankings. It is likely that in the early days of your company’s existence you will be designing and building this infrastructure in a small team at best. It is therefore imperative that you have a good commercial internet supplier who provides you with fast and reliable internet access. As you grow your business the need for reliable internet services grows too as you may investigate operating from a business address with dedicated office hardware. Customers should be able to contact you by email and via webchat applications and will expect rapid responses to their queries.
The use of chatbots
One key feature in a lot of modern small businesses that have a strong web presence is the use of chatbots. Chatbots are a form of artificial intelligence that are used to converse with customers and guide them to solutions to their problems or answer commonly raised questions. Today chatbots are able to understand and intelligently reply to complex language and can effectively reduce the need for dedicated customer care staff by directing the customer to resources or information automatically.
Ensure your website is mobile friendly
Today’s customers are far more likely to do their shopping from their phone or tablet and as such your company website must be easy to navigate by this method. Statistics from 2022 indicate that more than half of internet shopping is done from a mobile device. Customers are likely to be put off by web pages that are difficult to navigate by mobile devices or those that have typefaces and font sizes that make it difficult to read.
In addition, the speed at which your webpages load can be of vital importance in both determining Google rankings and keeping potential customers engaged with your site. Long loading times can cause frustration and give the consumer the impression that your site may be poorly designed. Exceptionally long loading times on web pages may cause the potential customer to leave the site completely and when they do this you are unlikely to get repeat visits from them.
Do not underestimate email for promotion
Whilst it makes sense to have a presence on social media applications such as Twitter, Facebook and Instagram for the power to raise awareness of your company’s products and services, don’t underestimate the power of email in promotional activities. Emails can often appear to be an outdated method of communications for promotions in this modern age, but they should not be underestimated.
A well targeted email campaign can both grow your customer base and keep existing customers informed, engaged and willing to offer repeat purchases of your products and services. In addition, email marketing activities tend to be some of the most cost-effective ways to reach out to your target audiences in a well-structured and coherent manner.
