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These days, it’s not about how many people you have in your company. What really matters is productivity. Working smart is the way forward and with today’s tech even sole traders can run businesses that make a big impact. So, we’re going to look at ways you can be more efficient in your working life and benefit from current technological advances.
Optimise Your Forms
Online forms are central to most commercial websites, which is why it’s vital that you get yours right. If the balance is uneven, the consequence could be that customers give up before their orders are complete or before they give you the information you are collecting.
So, what should you aim for? Well, a clean layout is best. The wording needs to be clear and the questions should follow a logical order. Less is definitely more when it comes to online forms, so try to only ask for the minimum amount of information that you need.
Start a Business Blog
Considering that we’re on a site giving brilliant advice about blogging, this may seem like an obvious tip. But blogs really do allow you to punch above your weight in business terms. Relevant content will bring SEO benefits to your site, making it easier for your customers to find you. What’s more, a blog will give your business a voice that will enable it to stand out in the marketplace.
Choose the Right Delivery Partner
Getting your goods or services to your customers can often involve a multitude of delivery companies and hours spent on the phone. Well, now you can do it all in one place with a service like TNT, which offers a simplified online booking form for sending a business parcel just about anywhere. You can use this service without setting up an account, giving your business the capabilities of a much larger company. No need for an app in this case, sometimes simplicity is the best policy and using an easy to fill booking form can save you time and memory on your phone.
Track Your Time
There are plenty of time-tracking apps out there that will give you an accurate picture of where you are spending your time. When used correctly these can help you manage your hours more efficiently. They can also come in really handy if you need to bill clients for time spent on a project. What’s more, they can allow you to keep track of any employees you might have and make sure they are operating as efficiently as they can be.
Collaborate Successfully
From cloud computing to teleconferencing, there are many ways to collaborate remotely with colleagues and clients. The advantage that this gives to your business is that you no longer need to be in the same room as the people you’re working with. You don’t even have to be in the same country. Decisions can be made quickly and any files you’re working on can be updated in real time for everyone involved to see. It can also be a good idea to use instant messaging software to let team members keep each other in the loop.
Get Feedback
Another great use of technology is to gather feedback from satisfied customers. You can sign up to online services that handle it all for you, or you can send out your own forms and questionnaires. When added to a website, testimonials can really make a difference. They can also be used in your marketing efforts.
Work Anywhere
Business today takes place at an extremely fast pace. You need to be able to react quickly and work just about anywhere. It’s a good thing then that with just your mobile phone you can create a mobile office and stay connected while on the go. Peripherals like a stylus or Bluetooth keyboard can make working on the move even easier.
Talk Business
To really make the most of your working time you could take advantage of a digital dictation device, which will allow you to record and edit your voice. These devices can then be integrated with speech recognition software that converts your words into text. This makes it possible for you to get work done for your business at practically any moment – even while you’re driving. Just like any other form of modern tech, they’re smart, sophisticated and very reliable.
As you can see, there are numerous ways to give your business a tech boost and make you and your employees more productive while you’re at it. It’s important though to do your research online, speak to friends who are ‘techies’, and find out what advice they might have for you.
