Starting a small business is equal parts fun and hard. But the hard can outweigh the fun if you do not have the necessary tech in order. Settling on which technologies are absolutely essential can be difficult. In many ways, it is tougher than ever. So many options are at your disposal. People dipping their feet in new markets and industries will not know which services and pieces of equipment they need right off the cuff. It can require research. And again, that is hard. It can even lead to more questions than answers.
For argument’s sake, let’s say you decide that manually scraping data is a waste of time for your site. A seasoned pro may know it makes sense to roll with a Phantombuster Chrome extension. Newer small business owners may not pick up on that, at least not right away.
Truth be told, there is no hard and fast rule when it comes to which technology every company should invest in. It largely depends on what you are doing, and your target demographics for clients.
Our focus in this article will lie with mapping out must-have technologies for small businesses that already or will at some point benefit from emphasizing IG leads to maximize their exposure and revenue stream. Make no mistake, these are not the only tools you should need. But they should be considered non-negotiable additions to your arsenal—not eventually, but from the moment you open up shop.
Customer Relationship Management Software
Otherwise known as CRM tools, customer relationship management software is all about the—you guessed it—customer experience.
Your business will not succeed without cultivating clients and consumers. But identifying and converting them is only half the battle. The other half is managing these customers once you get them, to ensure they continue using your service.
That is where CRM software comes into play. They can help you with every stage of the process.
The best CRMs on the market will do everything from help you increase your lead conversion, nudge up overall usage and even lower your marketing costs.
For small business owners, specifically, you should be on the prowl for all-in-one tools with streamlined user interfaces. As you learn the ins and outs of your company, you can graduate to more complex options that include advanced tools and insights. But the basic CRM packages are perfectly useful when you are just starting out.
Project Management Systems
Running a business isn’t just about managing external factors. You also need to have your internal vision and operations on point. That is where project management systems enter the fold.
Certain companies will eventually be large enough to hire specific project managers to do the job. That is not something you should rule out. A lot goes into project management. As a research paper from Southern Illinois University expertly details:
“The best way to describe a project manager’s role is to envision a professional football team. On this team, the employees are the players and the business owner is the head coach. The project manager, however, is like the offensive coordinator. While the head coach is responsible for the entire team’s performance, the offensive coordinator is solely in charge of the offense. Like a football team needs an offensive coordinator, a small business will nearly always thrive if it hires a competent project manager.
“One of the project manager’s most significant roles is that of a communicator, which includes both external and internal communications. External communication involves speaking with clients to set adequate expectations and timelines. Internal communication, on the other hand, means ensuring that all employees understand the task and the best way to achieve it. This involves holding employees accountable on a day-to-day basis to reach long-term goals.”
Essentially, project managers serve as liaisons between employees and a company’s top figureheads. While hiring a specific PM will eventually become a necessity, there are a number of project management platforms that can simulate most of the job. They are particularly useful for task-oriented companies that will have a lot of deadlines. The right software can help you monitor progress, and communicate any changes or feedback in an organized and concise manner.
Payment Processing Systems
If you are running a small business, you obviously want to get paid. Payment processing systems are the key to ensuring compensation doesn’t become a headache.
When you are just starting out, the goal should be to simplify the amount of legwork you do. Even if it comes at the expense of how many payment methods you can accept, you want a service that handles the heavy lifting for you.
The best payment processing systems will allow you to complete transactions on a global scale, transfer money to various accounts almost instantly, and not hit you with high overheads. You will also want to consider contract length. Some PPSs will require lengthy agreements. That is fine when it’s a service you are familiar with and trust. Early on, however, it is worth considering options that do not require a contract, won’t demand more than a six-month commitment or allow you to break agreements at your discretion without assessing heavy penalties.
Social Media Management
Rounding out our list are social media management services. We could go with inventory systems, but the needs for these vary by the type of business. Social media management is closer to universal.
Every company, however small, needs a social media presence. These days, people follow, interact with and support individuals over corporate brands. This does not mean a company can’t thrive on social platforms. On the contrary, you can adopt a strategy that relates to your clients, making the social media experience feel equal parts intimate, information and relatable.
Bigger businesses will have dedicated social media managers. Yet, they will even use SMM systems that help them track and plan their content.
Automated insights are key when looking for this kind of software. You must be able to quickly track the performance of posts with various different metrics. Calendar blueprints are a biggie, too. They let you gameplan content well advanced.
As an added bonus, if you can spring for a software that will let you schedule your posts and then publish them for you, it will make your life a lot easier.
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