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How Do You Turn This Thing On? Using Technology To Improve Your Business.
By Dannielle Brantley
I have a niece who's studying the industrial revolution in school right now. And if I may take ya'll back to high school, there where many technological products introduced to our country and the world during this historical time period. Various innovations that allowed businesses to improve upon their processes. Rough and uncomfortable wool
clothes were supplanted by more comfortable cotton clothes through Eli Whitney's cotton gin; the sewing industry saw improvements in each step of the weaving process, greatly increasing the speed at which clothes and materials could be made; and a new source of power, the steam engine, gave birth to an alternate transportation method that was extraordinarily faster than horse and carriage.
Although this intellectual and technological growth came with aches and pains foreseen and unforeseen, the ability to improve upon repetitive business processes cannot be denied. So, if we can now move from the 18th Century to the present day, we are still looking for ways to improve our business systems. With the internet (and its own revolution in the early 90's), the computer has become one of the most awesome tools to assist in the organization, implementation and marketing of your business. What other technical gadgets or software should you be using to give your business longer legs?...
So Who's In Your Rolodex?
As an advocate of networking, I've accumulated quite an amount of names and important contact information for associates and entrepreneurs. The days of rolling through your paper rolodex are in the past. A great way to keep track of who you've met, what their interests are and how you may be able to serve those needs is through contact database software. Personally, I use Microsoft Access and separate my contact information between categories that work for my type of business. You can make any type of lists you want, like Business contacts, Event sponsors or, specifically, Book writers. And what makes this software efficient is that once you've set things up the way you need it, you can relate your tables and only have to enter information one time. Other contact database software includes ACT! and Microsoft Outlook.
You've Got Mail!
As an entrepreneur, it is next to impossible to be able to talk to every person who may need your services and/or expertise. Even the greatest networker can't find the time to individually conversate with 1,000 current and potential customers about their product and the benefits of acquiring it BUT, your monthly or weekly email newsletter or announcement CAN! With the push of a button, you can utilize email technology to get your message to thousands and with some effort, millions of people who currently use or may need your service. The power in that should not be overlooked. If you haven't set up or developed an email newsletter to inform your clients and prospects on what's going on with your company, you are losing relationships by the minute. A great email service is Constant Contact which charges a monthly fee and allows you to send an unlimited amount of email messages. Email to find out how Mocha Works can set up an email
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newsletter system for your company without the monthly fee.
Let Me Look at My Calendar..Call My VoiceMail..Check My Email.
Cellphones, calendar books and wireless laptops are often used by business owners to keep their schedules together, keep in contact with clients and business associates and edit, send and receive important documents. The problem lies in carrying all three things around with you as you travel, run around the city and multi-task as us entrepreneurs are constantly doing. The sweet solution has come in the latest wireless handheld devices available that have beautfiully fused all three systems together in one. Specifically, and appropriately, one such device is named the TREO and allows you to make phone calls, view your calendar information, and create and edit documents with emailing capability. This device can be purchased through Cingular or Verizon and, although it can run you $100 or more per month for the voice and data plan, it allows you instant accessibility and mobility. When a client calls you and asks about a particular project you can pull that document up and give them information immediately, instead of making them wait till you can reach your hard terminal. This type of service is immeasureable. Other forms of handheld integration can be found in cellphones that are know as 'Next Generation Phones.' These phones often have what is known as Bluetooth Technology, which gives them wireless capability to synchronize with your home desktop or laptop computer. You can synchronize your calendar and contact lists and also have the ability to send text messages and emails as well. These phones will cost you less overall and won't allow you to create or edit any word or excel documents but they can be handy in setting appointments and organizing contact information.
So, Do You Have a Website?
If your answer to this question is no, that means either two things: 1. Your business relies solely on person to person interaction. For example, a construction company, contractors, etc. 2. You like to lose money, clients and marketing opportunities. A website is one of the best things an entrepreneur can use to repeatedly tell the story of their businesses products and services to all clients and visitors. Even businesses that offer hands on services, such as a spa or hair salon can utilize a website to help showcase their hair products or massage fees, show off their facilities and soothing atmosphere and share the story of the owners and how the business came to be. This is priceless to a customer trying to get a feeling about a particular company without any pressure. When a website is done professionally and with the customer in mind, the business is sending an instant message that says, "We are ready to serve you, CLICK HERE to find out how." So, do YOU have a website? Click Here to See How You Can Finally Get One Built at a Price You Can Afford.
These are just a few things to get your whistle wet but I wanted to start with some of the basic technology that can be, and is often overlooked, as affordable ways to increase the efficiency of your business and improve the overall way you handle your customers and potential clients. Happy Love Day to those who celebrate and I'll chat with you later.
Ciao!
Danny |
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