Customers are more demanding than ever. As a small business owner, you need to be able to provide them with an exceedingly satisfying experience in every transaction. Add that to the fact that while they engage with you more frequently, they do so using multiple channels, which makes every single interaction as important as the last one. Every phone call, email, or any message becomes, in marketing jargon, a moment of truth, and this why you need to be reached easily regardless of time and location. If someone is performing a Google search and wants to find a specific product or service they can utilize the power of search engines to find exactly what they need (get found with Simple Tree).
Several advances in technology have allowed businesses to deliver consistent and seamless experiences to customers. Find out how you can supercharge your business through proven strategies involving both emerging and matured technological solutions by reading further.
1. Incorporate Social Media into Your Business Process
There’s no denying that social media has come a long way. Average users can now make or break businesses by giving positive or scathing reviews, depending on their experience, wherever they may be around the globe. This is why including social media into your organizational processes can give you an edge. By knowing how to interact with your customers and target audience online, you can manage your reputation and avoid social media fiascos.
You can start by using social media listening tools like Hootsuite to get ideas about your audience and their pain points. Once you have a holistic understanding of your market and what their needs are, you can then start engaging with them more proactively.
2. Be Willing to Adopt the Cloud to Save Money
The world has seen an increase in cloud computing adoption over the past few years. The technology has brought tremendous benefits especially for small businesses that are extremely particular about how they allocate their monetary resources in their operations due to limited funds. With the cloud, businesses can now store, manage, and process data in provider-maintained warehouses rather than invest in expensive premises-based IT infrastructure.
Growing companies and enterprises alike have taken advantage of cloud products and services from providers such as Salesforce, RingCentral, Lanair, and Dropbox for CRM, communications, and storage, respectively, in their business processes. The cloud computing boom has helped reduce costs and improve operational scalability and flexibility.
Even security is no longer a major concern these days because the more known cloud companies have improved upon their technology to reduce security incidents even further.
3. Take Advantage of the Increasingly Mobile Environment
The mobile phone has brought perhaps the greatest cultural and economic impact among all technological advancements in the last few decades. Mobile phones have enabled individuals to connect to their contacts almost 24/7, and the same goes for businesses. For example, a barbershop in New Jersey can get found and reach their customers with ease through the use of business directories. Thanks to mobile phones and the power of search engines, apps and communication tools, business owners are able to reach out to their target market and existing customers with ease.
As such, small businesses should use the mobile revolution to their advantage. Incorporating mobility into one’s business can be done even with limited resources. One way is to communicate directly to customers using business SMS solutions or a general messaging platform that customers can have easy access to. Another way is to offer personalized mobile content such as apps to improve engagement. For example, if you are a Riverside garage door repair service you can provide local services with a business SMS solution and reach customers more quickly.
Moreover, even employees can benefit from this increasingly mobile environment. With mobile devices, they no longer have to confine themselves to the office cubicle nor the eight-hour work shift. They can work anytime from any location (most likely subject to internal arrangements) and even choose the device they want to use for work. The employees at the Dental Oasis are a great example. When they have these freedoms, they are empowered to work and become more productive.
Happy customers and happy employees can be good indicators that you’re on the right track.
Have anything to add to the discussion? Share your thoughts about supercharging your business via social media, the cloud, and mobile below.
Klaris Chua is a digital content marketer who has written many pieces on startups and small business communications. She used to be a reporter for a business newspaper but the conventional path of a writer didn’t appeal to her. You can connect with her on Twitter.
