When you start a new business, you need to make sure that you have all of the right tools in place. The technology tools you choose can have a significant impact on how well your company performs and what type of success it achieves. It’s important to take the time to research these tools and find the ones that best meet your particular needs. Here are some essential technologies for new businesses:
A Good Web Host and Web Design Services
Good web host and web design services are two of the most important tools in your arsenal. A good hosting company will help you maintain a website, provide security and back up your site, and make it easy for visitors to stay on your page. A good web designer will create a site that reflects the look and feel of your brand. “They can also help with SEO (search engine optimization), which is an important part of marketing this day and age, as well as other aspects of digital advertising like paid ads on social media or search engines like Google AdWords,” says Brian Hayes, a Technical Director at ConfidentWriters.
Accounting Software
It’s important to have accounting software in your toolbox, because it can help you keep track of your finances and pay your taxes. Accounting software will also help you manage cash flow, make financial projections and more.
Credit Card Processors
As a new business owner, you will want to accept credit cards as a form of payment. Credit card processing is an important part of running your business and will help you grow faster. You will need to choose a processor (you can use PayPal as one), not just any processor but one that works with your web host and meets all the requirements for PCI compliance. Choose a processor that has a good reputation and make sure it fits in with your budget.
Document Sharing and Cloud Storage
As a small business owner, you need to be able to share documents with your employees. The easiest way to do this is through cloud storage. Cloud storage allows you to access files from anywhere and it’s easy for users of the system to share information without worrying about how they should get their hands on each other’s files. Most importantly, it will save time and money since there are no software or hardware setups involved in creating a shared folder in the cloud.
The best thing about using cloud storage is that there are many providers out there offering services at different price points, so if one provider doesn’t meet all your needs, there is likely another one that will suit them better.
Communication Tools (VoIP, etc.)
If you have employees in different locations and frequently need to speak with them, VoIP is a great way to reduce the cost of long-distance calls. A VoIP service will allow you to connect with your team members from anywhere, using their own phone or mobile device. You can also use video conferencing technology for more effective collaboration and communication.
If you want to keep your business phone number private, then consider getting a Google Voice account. This will give you one number that people can call when they’re looking for your business, but it won’t be tied directly to any one physical location (so no caller ID).
Choosing the right technology tools for your business is a must. According to Jill Parker, a tech writer at BeeStudent, “it’s not just about having the latest, greatest and most expensive tech—it’s about using the right tools for your business.” For instance, you don’t need to spend thousands of dollars on an enterprise resource planning (ERP) system if you’re selling t-shirts from home on Etsy. However, if you’re a growing company with multiple employees who are working in different locations, then having an ERP system can be a great investment that saves time and money down the road by streamlining processes and improving efficiency.
A new business is like a baby. It needs a lot of care and attention to grow up and be successful. You can’t just slap some lipstick on this thing and hope it turns into an overnight success. Instead, you need to make sure that your company has all of the right tools so it can thrive in today’s world. Technology is one of those tools that will help your brand grow faster than ever before.
