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Is Our Small Business Investing in the Right Technology?

Heather Legg

September 11, 2013

Being a small business owner has its challenges, but the rewards are just waiting to be had.

One of the challenges facing a small business owner is the decision of what technology to invest in. Every penny counts for most of us, and investing in the right things is an important aspect of budgeting as well as the success and management of the company.

Here are some suggestions on technology investment to help in this decision. Remember, though, every company has different needs, so make sure you are doing the right thing for you and your business.

Tablets/iPads

Small business owners need to be able to work anywhere, and a tablet makes it much easier.

Whether you want it for taking video or photos, jotting down notes or communication, a tablet is an easy way to keep it all together. You can add apps to make the management of your business easier, including invoicing and sending quotes.

If you have employees, you may want to invest in a tablet for everyone to keep everything synced together and provide the tools for everyone to be efficient and successful.

Projector

You may be surprised at how much you will use a projector. They are useful not only in sharing presentations to customers, but reviewing or teaching material to your staff.

It doesn’t even have to stay in your office or “home” space; with the ease and portability of current projectors you can bring yours with you to help your presentations go even better.

Invoicing Software

No matter if it’s on your iPad or desktop, you should have some type of invoicing software.

No one needs to spend time writing out invoices by hand anymore. With invoicing software, you can quickly do your billing.

You can choose to hire an online invoicing company who will take care of it, depending on your time constraints and the size of your business, but  most software is pretty easy to manage.

It also tends to look more professional to your customers and you can send them virtually instead of by mail, and that will save time and money as well.

Mobile Payment Options

The convenience of mobile payments makes transactions easy and timely for any small business owner who works outside a brick and mortar building.

Whether you’re a decorator, a food truck owner, a mobile dog groomer or a landscaper – you could benefit from mobile payment.

More and more companies, like PayPal and Square, are offering mobile payment options, so take a good look around and find the one best for you and your company. You’ll see how beneficial this can be.

Last but not least…Social Media

Many businesses forget about social media, but it’s a great tool, not only for marketing but also for community interaction.

You can offer deals and discounts, special incentives and interaction through social media. Your customers can follow you and say great things about you, too!

And remember, there’s more than just Facebook, Instagram and Twitter - hook up with YouTube, Pinterest, Google + and LinkedIn, too. Keep a consistent flow of updates and posts, and your business will thank you.

Technology is a blessing, but it’s also hard to get a grasp on sometimes.

As a small business owner, you need to stay abreast of it and you’ll see how much technology will help you and your business become and stay successful.

Please share your favorites in the technology world for small business.

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