How to Compete in the Information Era
In the digital age, small and medium enterprises are not just competing with larger businesses in their area. They’re also competing with ventures from around the world, including those from countries where overhead costs are much lower and regulations are far more lax. The digital age also allows virtually anyone to start a business, so you may be competing against company owners with huge resources, vast knowledge, or other impressive credentials.
Staying competitive in this environment requires a whole new set of skills. If you want to outlast and outwit the other companies in your industry, you will need to:
- Make Good Use of Cloud-Based TechnologyGetting your documents, projects, and data in the cloud is important because it allows you to collaborate with team members from around the world. This lets you work with the best talent, no matter where you are based.Cloud-based technology also allows you to build a business that never sleeps by creating teams in different time zones so you’re always moving the needle on major initiatives.
- Make Social Media Work for You Social media lets you develop your brand and enables you to connect with your audience in a meaningful way. If you don’t have a social media strategy yet, now is the time to build one. Research who your audience is and what platforms they use. Join those platforms and get to know social media best practices through training. Use these platforms to keep track of your company’s reputation and to share information about your products, services, and behind-the-scenes sneak peeks.
- Use SEO to Your AdvantageHave a Search Engine Optimization (SEO) plan to ensure your business website and social media pages rank highly in search engine results so potential customers can find you.Your SEO strategy may include plans to create SEO content, blog posts, and advertisements that tap into the organic way potential leads search for information related to your topic or industry.
- Make Use of Big DataYou don’t have to be a big business to be inundated with big data. Small and medium-sized companies also deal with a huge influx of information about sales, revenues, industry figures, and more.Having a system for handling all this incoming information so you can analyze it for patterns and actionable items ensures you don’t miss any important facts. Having a plan for big data also makes sure you notice and act on opportunities faster when they arise, allowing you to keep one step ahead of the competition.
- Streamline Your Work With Digital Accounting ToolsWave Accounting, Zoho Books, and other digital accounting tools save you time and improves efficiency, allowing you to focus on money-making and growth tasks instead of on inputting accounting data.Digital accounting tools also make your financial information accessible in new ways. Instead of having charts of numbers, these programs allow you to use the information you gather to make adjustments to inventory, pricing, and other aspects of your business by giving you the financial information you need in a format you can understand.
- Take Your Phone on the Go If your phone rings in an empty office and no one picks it up, you could lose a sale. Today, customers expect companies to be immediately responsive to their needs, and cloud-based phone solutions from AccessDirect ensure you don’t miss calls.Our virtual phone systems are designed for the needs of small businesses today. Our systems don’t require special hardware or IT knowledge, and they allow you to access your calls from anywhere and at any time, so you never miss an important call. AccessDirect can help you set up a program with as many extensions as you like, a professional auto attendant that will greet your customers professionally, and a virtual phone system that can handle higher call volumes.If you want to stand out in a sea of businesses, sign up for an AccessDirect virtual phone system today to keep your communication, the lifeblood of your business, heads above the rest.
