Is your head in the Cloud?
Many small business owners and operators are looking for freedom and flexibility in how they interact with their customer base and even their own business for that matter. So how can you achieve it?
Keeping your finger on the pulse of your business without having to be physically tied to it is now a possibility. With a few simple applications you really can access your business information from anywhere in the world via your Smartphone / Laptop / iPad or even an internet cafe.
However, it requires discipline to use these tools and solutions effectively, you need to be vigilant to ensure you avoid being addicted to the latest device and all the constant distractions it opens up.
Just as the internet and email in the early days threatened the work / life balance equation, this new technology has brought its own challenges and needs to be managed. Ask yourself – Are you currently the Master or the Servant to the technology in your business?
If you feel swamped by the need to keep up with it all then gain some perspective by sitting back and take stock of how technology can be used to enhance both your and your customers experience with your business. Be wary of adopting every new piece of technology just because it’s the next “must have for every business”, assess the tool for your business and make sure it’s not just going to increase your busyness….
Business advisors talk up the need to build your social networking profile otherwise you will be left behind (Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and the like). Whilst there is a need to develop a working knowledge of these new applications, it’s important to understand the opportunities and threats they pose to your business. You need to assess the benefits of investing in a social media strategy for your business, in many cases it should be in the mix – just as advertising and promotion are. Some things to consider when looking at your Social Media strategy are;
- Why are you implementing the strategy – Is it just because everyone else is?
- What benefits does it bring to your existing and prospective customers?
- What resources are you going to commit to establishing, maintaining and monitoring your social media platforms?
- How will you deal with negative (and potentially destructive) feedback posted on your sites?
Social media and networking is a phenomenon that has leveraged off the connected devices that inhabit the world that we now live in. Like all technological change it is important to consider how you can apply this tool to further the purpose of your business, which after all is to find and attract new customers which is usually done via innovation and marketing. On the face of it new technologies and social media seem ready (when you are) to assist in this process.
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Author:
Clayton Oates
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