Small Business Owners: Here Are 8 Services You Shouldn’t Skip if You Want to Grow Your Business
If you’re a small business owner, then there’s a good chance that your biggest goal is to grow. You do have a few cards in your favor: the internet has made it easier than ever for you to reach new customers all over the globe. But to capitalize on this opportunity, you need to take a look at the services that could help your company grow even more. No matter what type of business you’re in, one of these eight services is critical for your company’s growth.
1. Online Marketing
If you want to grow your business quickly, you can’t skip out on online marketing. One recent study found that internet users in the United States spend an average of 16 hours a week on their computers and mobile devices. That’s a lot of time spent browsing the internet, and it could translate into a lot of lost sales. You can effectively double your reach by adding a company website to your existing advertising efforts. Plus, you can use this space to provide more detailed information about your company’s offerings and services. Visitors are more likely to stay on your website for a more extended period if they can easily find what they’re looking for.
2. Online Payroll Services
The payroll department is one of the essential parts of any business, but it’s also one of the most overlooked. By handling payroll in-house, you may end up paying high fees that force you to do business with an expensive payroll service. Instead, it would be best to consider using an online payroll service. These services can offer you the same benefits as your local payroll company, but they’ll do it all electronically, so there’s no time wasted. At the end of the month, you’ll have a fully-filed and complete payroll report that all employees will receive.
3. Online Office Supplies
The growing popularity of office supplies like coffee shops, bookstores, and even restaurants has made everyday office supplies in high demand. That has made office supply stores a precious asset. However, if you’re operating a small business, it’s important to note that in-store prices tend to be higher than their online counterparts. Instead of driving out to an office supply store, you should use an online office supplies shop like Staples or Amazon. These services will sell the same goods at a lower cost, and they offer fast shipping so your business can keep running smoothly.
4. Employee Management Tools
To be successful, you need employees who are happy and productive. But that’s easier said than done if your employees have no idea what to do or how to do it. Fortunately, you can take advantage of the growing popularity of free employee management tools that can help you manage your workforce. It is crucial if you are running a distributed team. You can use these tools to help your team members stay on the same page with their work. It will also help you keep track of task-specific details. And if an employee is struggling, you’ll be able to know right away and help them improve. There is not much difference in the work management tools you may use when running distributed versus remote teams. If a service is helpful for one, it’s useful for the other.
5. Accounting Services
The last thing you want is to lose a lot of money from making an error on your taxes. Fortunately, you can use online accounting services to help prevent that from happening. You can use these services to keep track of your business’s figures and keep an eye on your transaction. You’ll be able to import your accounting data into these online services and make sure you’re doing everything right. Once you have everything posted, you’ll have an audit report that your tax advisor will be able to read. By using an online accounting service, you will be able to save on costs that you would otherwise have to pay to a full-time accountant.
6. Customer Service Tools
Customer service can get very complicated for small businesses if they don’t have the expertise to handle customer issues. However, you can find excellent customer service tools that make managing customer support more accessible. Some of the most popular customer service tools include live chat, a web form, and email. For example, you can provide live chat support on your website so that customers can get an answer in real-time. You can also have a form where visitors can submit their complaints or questions. Or, if using email is more convenient for them, you could have an auto-responder that routes emails to the right people in the company.
7. Online Communications
Paying for an internet marketing service can cost a lot of money, so you should check out other options before committing to one. One of the best ways to get more exposure is scheduling social media posts on your Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn profiles. This way, you can attract many new followers who have been looking for a local business in town. But don’t forget about email marketing either. You can create an email campaign centered around a marketing offer and send it out to your list of customers. It’s important to send these emails out promptly because if you do not get them off your list, they’ll probably end up in the spam folder. Allowing customers time to sign up for your email list can make them more likely to buy products or services once you launch the campaign.
8. Contact Management
It’s essential to keep in touch with everyone in your network. By using a contact management tool, you’ll be able to maintain current relationships and build new connections. Many different contact management tools are available for business professionals, but one of the most popular is LinkedIn. This service allows you to connect with thousands of professionals who can help grow your company. You can use LinkedIn Groups and the website’s career section to look up potential employees and even vendors that can help you further your business’ reach and success. By carefully planning your social media strategy, you’ll be able to connect with new people who can share your business. Using the right tools at the right time can increase your reach and ultimately increase profits.
9. Employee Training Services
If you want to grow your business, you will need trained employees. But if you can’t afford to pay an expensive training expert, you can still use some free strategies. One of the best ways to train employees is using mentor programs to learn from an experienced business owner, ask questions, and clarify mistakes or frustrations. The best way to stay current on training is by joining communities of professionals like LinkedIn. You’ll be able to find people who share your same interests and connect with them for professional advice. It’s also essential to train employees to use the tools you’re already using. It will help you make sure all of your employees are using the right equipment in the right way.
Summing Up
As you can see, several services are essential if you want to grow your business. Whether you’re a small team or a large corporation working with multiple remote offices, these services can help your company improve in all the right ways. Remember, when you develop your staff, you are creating the potential of your business. Moreover, It doesn’t matter if you are a one-person team or a huge corporation. These services can help you stay competitive and improve your bottom line.
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