How to Bring Your Small Business Into the 21st Century

Innovation is ripe in the business industry and there are always new products, processes, and technologies to use. Businesses use technology in a variety of different ways and over time, it has helped businesses become more efficient, and save money at the same time. Unfortunately, many businesses are stuck in the past.

It’s likely that new businesses that became established recently are accustomed to the new technologies available on the market today, the same can’t be said for some older companies. They are often stuck using inefficient processes, clunky machines and haven’t kept up with the times. Here are just some of the many solutions available today to help modernize your small business.  

Utilize Apps

One of the simplest, yet most effective, ways to bring your company into the modern era is to utilize the many apps available today. There are hundreds of different business-related apps that can help companies manage everything from finances, communication, document storage, and more. 

Better yet, there are some apps that are specifically aimed at replacing or optimizing traditional technology or processes. For example, many companies still utilize fax services on a daily basis, using a traditional fax machine. While fax machines were once a very important technology in most offices, technology has innovated enough that there are more efficient solutions available than a bulky physical machine.

For example, there is a free fax app for Android that works incredibly quickly, easily, and removes your need for a physical machine at all. Many of these apps that are available to companies are either completely free or very affordable.

Be Active on Social Media and the Internet

Checking social media has become a ritual for the billions of active users on various different platforms. If your business is not active on social media, this is a simple and effective way to modernize your company. There is a good chance a large number of your customers are on social media already, so it is a great place to reach out to those users. No matter your product, service or brand, you should have a social media page and try to be active online regularly.

Be sure to treat social media as a conversation. Always engage with your audience, answer their questions, and post content that they are likely going to enjoy. Don’t be afraid to toss in a few deals, discount codes, and giveaways as well. Be sure to remain consistent and on-brand during your posting on social media and respond to criticisms openly. 

In addition to social media, you should also harness the power of the internet in other ways. You should have a website that is full of helpful information and content, as well as a Google My Business page so prospective customers can learn about your company quickly and easily.

Upgrade Your Marketing

Marketing is one of the most important aspects of extending your reach and growing your customer base. However, the methods of marketing have changed dramatically in recent years. In the past, radio ads, TV ads, direct-mail advertising, and print advertising were among the most common ways to reach your customers. 

While these methods still exist, they have been surpassed in terms of ROI and efficiency by the likes of email marketing, social media marketing, digital advertising, and other digital approaches. If you are stuck using only traditional types of marketing, it’s time to try something new. Not only does it produce better results, it often costs much less than traditional marketing strategies. To get started, you could run a few ads on Facebook, create an email list for your clients, and work with influencers to promote your product. The name of the game in modern marketing is targeting. You want your ads and messages to target those most likely to become customers.

For example, if you sell women’s athletic gear, you want to make sure your marketing reaches women who are interested in working out or exercising. If you market this gear to men, or to women that don’t enjoy exercising, you are simply wasting your money as you won’t likely get much interest from those groups.

Consider some of these helpful tips when it comes to modernizing your business and bringing it into the 21st century.