In the world we live in, it’s no secret that both small and large businesses alike have to invest in technology in order to stay ahead in the marketplace and attract new customers. That being said, it can still be difficult to know which specific tech areas you need to invest in as a small business owner.
If you’ve recognized the need to invest in technology for your small business, give yourself a pat on the back. You’re already on the right track. To help you understand where exactly you need to focus your efforts and money on in regards to technology, here are the top tech tips for small business owners to follow:
1. Build An App
Does your business have an app that your customers will be able to access via their smart phones and tablets while they’re on the go? If not you need to get on that as soon as possible.
Apps play a huge role in both attracting new customers and in bringing your past customers back. Remember, no business can be successful without having repeat customers. Your app is an excellent place to set up a customer loyalty program where you can offer special discounts and coupons to those who have downloaded it.
Make sure that your app is user friendly, visually appealing, and provides value to the customer so they won’t get rid of it.
2. Invest In A Security Scanner
Something you should be very concerned about as a small business owner is the protection of your network from malfunctions and illicit access. This is why you should invest in a security scanner that you can use to conduct regular scans not only of your network, but also of your computers, routers, and IP addresses.
By not having a security scanner, your network will be extremely vulnerable to hacking and other technological problems, which you must avoid at all costs.
3. Optimize Your Website
To spread word about your business online, you must have a durable web presence, and this is only accomplishable if you have a fully optimized website. This doesn’t just mean that your website is attractive looking. It also means that it’s easy to navigate, provides plenty of information and value, is linked to your social media pages, and is filled with popular keywords that will help it rank higher on search engines.
Also be sure you post content regularly, link to other popular websites and blogs (and ask them to link to you), and include high quality images in each of your posts. Make use of a site monitoring tool (such as Google Analytics) that will keep track of how much traffic your website is receiving each day.
Keeping Your Business Ahead Of The Game
While many small business owners understand the importance of investing in technology for their respective businesses, far fewer know how to actually do so. If you take what you have learned in this article and apply it, you’ll already be ahead of some of your competitors.