Top 7 Ways to Get Your Small Business Digital

Top 7 Ways to Get Your
Small Business Digital

By Kate Marsden

I’m not a great fan of the latest business
buzzwords, but one that you can’t escape
is the idea of going digital. Digital is about
using technology as a competitive
advantage for your business – in whatever
way works for your business But how can
you go about it – without tying yourself in
knots and spending loads of money? Here
are some ideas to get you thinking:
1. E-mails and Newsletters
It is still surprising how few small
businesses collect contact details for their
customers – and then actually use them.
Emails are free and easy – they may not be
trendy these days, but what other ways are
there to keep at the top of your current
customers minds that don’t cost you
anything?
2. Social Media
This is the other extreme – so trendy
everyone feels that they have to do it and
it will be the magic answer to all your
business problems. But it does have a part
to play for some groups of customers. You
need to work out if it’s right for you and
either drop it (and don’t feel bad about it)
or really go for it.
3. Mobile
Stop thinking about static computers and
get up to speed with mobile. Start with
texting – what can you prompt with texts
to customers? Or can you start developing
sales through texts? What about Apps –
what Apps are there in your market and can
you do better? If there aren’t any, can you
be the first to hit your market?
4. Blogs
Don’t assume that you are going to make a
fortune from a blog – those are the one in
a million cases. But a blog can be a
good,easy way of connecting to your
customers, engaging in some dialogue
and positioning yourself as an expert. click here to get one
5. Digital Integration
Don’t think of your business as lots of
different channels – for your customer it’s
all the same, whether it’s online, in-store
or over the phone/mobile. The move
between these channels needs to be
seamless and easy for your customer.
6. Sales approaches
The old style sales channels are changing
all the time. Think about how you are
doing sales and if there is a newer way of
doing it. PowerPoint is out, videos are in –
at some point everyone will have jumped
on the bandwagon, but at the moment it is
still a powerful sales message. Cold calling
is dead (thank goodness), but emailing
valuable knowledge to your customers is
in.
7. Internal technology
Spend some time with your team working
out what wastes their time and if there is a
more effective way of using technology.
You don’t have to buy expensive off the
shelf packages to make technology work
for you – there are some really good cheap
or free options out there which you can
use to work out if things are right you’re
your business.

Kate Marsden is The Profit
Mechanic and gives resources, tools and
support to Small Business Owners to
improve their profits.