Posts

What Every Start-up Needs to Know Before Going Online

/in /by

StrategyDriven Starting Your Business Article |Going online with your start-up|What Every Start-up Needs to Know Before Going OnlineWhether or not you intend to actually do business online or are simply going to be using your business website to build brand, there are a few important things you should know before going online. Make no mistake about it. Business websites are important on several levels even if you aren’t going to be engaging in eCommerce but first take the time to understand how to make your website work for you and not the other way around!

Time Is Money

One of the things that altogether too many startups fail to realise is that managing a business website, even a bare-bones WordPress theme, takes an ungodly amount of time to develop and maintain. Instead of spreading yourself too thin once the site is developed, have you considered the benefits of using IT managed services?

Just keeping a business site up and running securely takes an enormous amount of time and effort and that’s something you probably don’t have to spare – especially in the early days. To borrow an old cliché, time is money, and this is why you would be better spending your time developing and running your business. Let IT managed services do what they do best for you while you do what you do best for your company. It’s a simple formula for success.

A Look at Important Elements of IT Management

One of the leading concerns within the private sector as well as the public sector is theft of intellectual property. Even if you aren’t going to be selling anything online, a website can open back doors to your business’s mainframe where all your proprietary information is stored. IT managed services that focus on safety and security can help protect the backbone of your business and that would be your products, current or in development. You could also leave company and client data vulnerable to breaches without managed IT security.

Uptime, Downtime and No Time

If you find IT managed services as part of a provider package, all the better. One of the things which frustrates customers and potential customers most is when they have found your company in a Google search but are unable to click through because your site is down. Uptime is important but downtime leads to no time, for your business that is, and no pun intended. Downtime for your audience leads to no time for you as they simply move on to the next link on the SERPs.

Your Key Takeaway in All This

There is no denying the importance of creating a business website but only to the extent that you can ensure it will be well maintained. Sometimes it’s better to have no website at all than one which frustrates potential clientele. If you are going to go online with your startup, make every effort to ensure it will be an enjoyable (engaging) experience for your customers. Customer experience, UX, is the main path to success and the roadmap for their journey is your website. That’s what you need to take with you to the bank.

4 Amazing Strategies That Fast Track Business Growth

/in /by

StrategyDriven Strategic Planning Article |Fast Track Business Growth|4 Amazing Strategies That Fast Track Business GrowthEvery entrepreneur wishes to start a company and scale it to the highest possible peak with little market resistance.

Unfortunately, due to numerous challenges that small businesses face, this is not all possible. Without a step-by-step plan, you may have to painfully watch as your closest competitors make a killing in the market.

Read on to find out the strategies you must put in place to increase sales and, consequently, boost your business growth.

Maximize Online Selling

If you’ve been a sucker for traditional marketing methods like T.V., radio, or billboard ads, it may be time to re-think this strategy.

With most potential consumers online, using social media and e-commerce websites to facilitate growth is a smart business move. The digital world also gives you a chance to interact with your consumers on a one-to-one basis and, therefore, you can build a loyal base in no time.

It is challenging to maintain a social media presence without overlooking other essential tasks in your company. As a business owner, you should consider outsourcing some of your online responsibilities to IT managed services that help develop marketing campaigns, create social media content and optimize your website effectively.

Understand Your Audience

Anyone can create a product or service and try to force it down consumers’ throats. However, you may not have much success selling than businesses that tailor their works to meet individual consumer needs.

If you want to develop a product or service that resonates with your target audience, or expand your business, interact with consumers daily, positively taking in their views and concerns about your business.

Surveys and reviews are two of the best ways to get legitimate reactions from your audience. In addition, it allows you to develop meaningful products and services and strengthen the weak points within your organization.

Develop Strategic Networks

No man is an island, and trying to grow your business on your own can be counteractive to your objective due to burnouts.

Instead, direct some of your energy in trying to foster closer relationships with valuable people in your industry, such as influencers or product suppliers who can be beneficial to your business. You might also consider a legal agency to partner with, Visit Website for more information. 

To get the attention of helpful people around, you need to have excellent conversation skills, be proactive, and participate in impactful projects within society. Attend any industry-related events that will get you close to influential people.

Improve on Customer Service

If you want to land and keep a loyal consumer base, you need to have more than quality products or services. How you interact with first-time visitors on your social media pages, website, or those who visit your premises directly affects business growth.

As a rude or assertive entrepreneur, you stand little chance of converting potential leads into actual clients. So instead, have a clear head when answering questions, even if they seem like a direct attack on your business.

Handle each customer with utmost care and respect, and they’ll likely refer other people to your business.

Strategically Growing Your Business

While the business field remains open for anyone with an entrepreneurial bone, only those with strategic plans get to enjoy the fruits of their labor. Implement these four techniques, and your business will begin to chatter to new heights.

 

5 Ways Outsourcing Your IT Will Save Your Company Money

/in /by

StrategyDriven Managing Your Finances Article |Outsourcing|5 Ways Outsourcing Your IT Will Save Your Company MoneyLet’s face it: there are tons of web pages that describe the benefits of outsourcing specific functions of your business to external third-party companies. But, when it comes to IT or Information Technology, does it actually save your company money?

The thing is, you could quite comfortably streamline your IT processes and run a lot of them in-house. However, the downside is there are hidden costs to keeping your IT management within your business. Here are five ways outsourced IT services will save your firm money:

1. Staff Costs

As your business grows, you will undoubtedly hire new people to perform various functions within it. After all: you can’t do everything yourself, and telling yourself that you can is both unrealistic and foolish!

How can managed IT services save you money from an employee perspective? Firstly, the fees you pay for outsourced IT means you don’t have to pay for each employee that works on your business networks.
Secondly, you don’t need to incur extra costs, such as arranging tax payments, insurance policies and complying with various employment laws.

2. Training

As you know, the technology world moves at such a rapid pace that yesterday’s innovations could become tomorrow’s obsolete products. Each year, software and hardware vendors release new tools – many of which you use daily within your business functions.

Whenever there’s something new to the market that your business needs to use, your employees will need training, so they know how to manage any new processes. Training is seldom free or cheap, especially when it comes to IT training.
The beauty of using an outsourced IT partner is they incur such training costs. You don’t have to pay any extra fees.

3. Outdated Technology

When you pay a company to handle your organization’s IT needs, part of the deal will almost certainly involve upgrading your software and hardware when they become outdated. That’s because current technology will ensure your business runs as efficiently as possible.

If you handle all your IT, you would need to cover the cost of any software and hardware upgrades separately. However, outsourced IT services management can include provision for annual upgrades, and you’ll pay a fixed monthly or yearly price for those services.

4. Smaller Premises

Outsourcing your IT also means your organization doesn’t have to lease or buy large premises to house various computer equipment and the employees that manage them. That’s because most of the services provided get conducted remotely.
Smaller premises equate to cheaper leases or purchase prices, and that also means your business will have more money in the bank to invest in other areas and grow.

5. Expert Advice

Lastly, the problem with having a small in-house IT team is they might not necessarily know the best ways of streamlining your technology processes and saving your organization money.

Outsourced IT service management providers work with businesses and organizations of all sizes. Part of their job is to research and provide proof-of-concept of efficiency changes and cost-cutting measures to their clients.
As one of their customers, you can benefit from their expert advice and end up with a more efficient IT setup that saves you money.

5 Signs You Need IT Assistance Within Your Business

/in /by

StrategyDriven Managing Your Business Article|IT Assistance|5 Signs You Need IT Assistance Within Your BusinessIf you’re thinking of hiring IT assistance within your business but you’re unsure whether or not you’re at the right stage then don’t worry, you have definitely come to the right place. Whether you’re just starting your business or you have been operating for years, you need to ensure you’re looking after your IT systems. From freelance IT consultants to full-time IT managers, it’s important to hire the right person for the job. With that in mind, here are 5 signs you need IT assistance within your business:

– You’re Struggling To Keep Up With Updates

One of the hardest things about looking after the IT systems in your business is the constant updates that it brings. Whether that means updating your software or keeping up to date with industry trends, you need to ensure you’re on top of things. Whilst that may be easy where you’re a start-up, it’s often the last thing on your mind as your business starts to grow. If that’s the case, hiring IT assistance may be the best route to take. If you are looking for a guide to keeping up with IT trends, however, you can visit this site here.

– You Have No IT Experience

If you have no IT experience and you’re thinking of improving your systems, a dedicated IT team will be able to help you. Not only will they be able to look at the systems you currently have in place but they will also be able to tell you whether or not you need to upgrade. As you start to work with your dedicated team, they will be able to teach you some tips and tricks to help with your overall knowledge.

– You’ve Experienced Some Issues

Another sign you may need to hire IT assistance within your business is that you have been experiencing issues. Whether your systems are crashing or you’re having trouble uploading files, having a dedicated team to help you will ensure you’re not losing out on valuable time and money. For guidance when it comes to staying calm in a technical emergency, you can visit this site here.

– You Are Concerned For Your Online Safety

If you are worried about staying safe online you may want to consider looking into managed IT services that can help. Whether they set up two-factor authentication on your social media channels or they help you install anti-virus software across all your machines, you want to ensure you’re being as safe as you possibly can.

– You Business Is Starting To Grow

Finally, if your business is starting to grow then you may want to consider hiring a team that can help you manage the growth that comes alongside it – including all of the IT aspects. Although it can be expensive, it will more than pay for itself when you’re able to run your business without a worry.

Do you need IT assistance within your business? What signs gave it away? Did we miss anything? Let me know your thoughts and ideas in the comments section below.