Starting a new business is always a daunting task. When you decide to take that work all on yourself, however, the job becomes much, much bigger, leading to solopreneurs...
...facing great challenges in the business world. Unlike traditional entrepreneurs, who intend to expand the company and bring on more workers as time goes on, many solopreneurs intend to run their company all on their own, long-term - and technology can help them down the path to success.
Flying Solo
Being a solopreneur often equates to more work, but it also means more creative freedom and control than other operative styles. But the best thing solopreneurs can do for themselves is to recognize, from the top, where their skill limits lie. By knowing what one can – and cannot – do, solopreneurs can find the tools they need to bring their business to life on their own.
One of the greatest tools a solopreneur has at their disposal is technology. As Modus explains, tech has become ubiquitous in the worlds of business and marketing, and it’s reshaping how we function. These days, it’s difficult to imagine how a company could thrive without making good use of technology. Even hundreds of productivity tools exist, making it a huge market thanks to modern day technology and business requirements. That’s why it’s important to understand the full scope of what tech has to offer your business, and how to make the most of it. Here’s a look at a few ways technology can boost your company:
One of the greatest tools a solopreneur has at their disposal is technology. As Modus explains, tech has become ubiquitous in the worlds of business and marketing, and it’s reshaping how we function. These days, it’s difficult to imagine how a company could thrive without making good use of technology. Even hundreds of productivity tools exist, making it a huge market thanks to modern day technology and business requirements. That’s why it’s important to understand the full scope of what tech has to offer your business, and how to make the most of it. Here’s a look at a few ways technology can boost your company:
Branding
As The Balance points out, your first step when growing a new business is to develop your brand. This is your company’s outward face and its first impression on new customers. Branding details include your logo, your mission statement, even your company’s name: any and everything that customers and clients will use to understand who you are and what you do.
Technology provides a ton of branding opportunities, so make the most of them. For example, your business’s website offers a wealth of opportunities to nail your company’s brand. You can use the “About” section of your site to include your mission statement and share the human details of your company’s story.
The design of the site itself will even make a big difference on how your company is perceived. If you don’t have graphic or web design skills yourself, consider looking at JavaScript developers to put your website together. A poorly made home-brew website will make the wrong impression on customers and clients. How can you tell you’ve got the right designer? Look for someone with experience in web fundamentals, a strong JavaScript background, and confidence with both front and back-end technologies.
Technology provides a ton of branding opportunities, so make the most of them. For example, your business’s website offers a wealth of opportunities to nail your company’s brand. You can use the “About” section of your site to include your mission statement and share the human details of your company’s story.
The design of the site itself will even make a big difference on how your company is perceived. If you don’t have graphic or web design skills yourself, consider looking at JavaScript developers to put your website together. A poorly made home-brew website will make the wrong impression on customers and clients. How can you tell you’ve got the right designer? Look for someone with experience in web fundamentals, a strong JavaScript background, and confidence with both front and back-end technologies.
Organization
Solopreneurship gives you freedom and creative control, but it also gives you a lot to keep track of. Organization can make or break the business owner trying to go it on their own. Fortunately, there are tools at your disposal that can make keeping track of everything much easier.
A reliable smartphone, for example, can make a massive difference. Just the simple act of being able to keep all of your communications in one place, whether it’s calling, messaging, or email, will make your job easier. On top of that, there are plenty of task management applications you can load onto a smartphone that will keep you on track with everything that needs done.
A reliable smartphone, for example, can make a massive difference. Just the simple act of being able to keep all of your communications in one place, whether it’s calling, messaging, or email, will make your job easier. On top of that, there are plenty of task management applications you can load onto a smartphone that will keep you on track with everything that needs done.
Budgeting
Making good use of money is the single greatest challenge solopreneurs face. After all, when you are the only member of the business, you put your finances at huge personal risk. Using budgeting software to keep track of your spending and profits will give you much-needed knowledge and control. By paying close attention to how you use your money, you should be able to tell what kinds of investments are paying off.
For instance, you might have a top-notch phone, but your provider is costing you too much. Look for quality provider options that allow you to customize your plan to your work and budget requirements. Stay savvy, and don’t be afraid to cut things that aren’t working for your bottom line.
For instance, you might have a top-notch phone, but your provider is costing you too much. Look for quality provider options that allow you to customize your plan to your work and budget requirements. Stay savvy, and don’t be afraid to cut things that aren’t working for your bottom line.
Finding Your Audience
You can also use online advertising to reach out to the specific audience your company needs. Some more traditional forms of advertising, such as television or magazine ads, are limited in how much they can target specific audience members. After all, you can only do so much to control the demographics that are watching a particular show or reading a particular issue.
Hootsuite points out social media sites, however, have a massive amount of information about their users. Each profile is filled with details – some provided by the users themselves, others observed by the site – that help the site to know, with great detail, what kinds of services and products that user might need.
All this means you can do more with a smaller audience (and a smaller budget). A television ad might get your business seen by thousands, but only ten of those people are the “right” people. One hundred viewers who all need your product is a far more efficient use of your ad dollars.
Hootsuite points out social media sites, however, have a massive amount of information about their users. Each profile is filled with details – some provided by the users themselves, others observed by the site – that help the site to know, with great detail, what kinds of services and products that user might need.
All this means you can do more with a smaller audience (and a smaller budget). A television ad might get your business seen by thousands, but only ten of those people are the “right” people. One hundred viewers who all need your product is a far more efficient use of your ad dollars.
Building Customer Connections
One of the greatest aspects of the Internet is the way it has brought people together. Individuals from across the planet can connect with one another in seconds. There has never been a better time for companies to reach a massive audience – after all, the whole world is just the right click away.
Business owners can take full advantage of this by focusing on using digital means to connect with their customers. This means providing plenty of avenues for feedback, listening to what customers have to say, and using that feedback to adjust and improve. Going the extra mile to respond individually to those who reach out can make a big difference for your brand, especially when you’re just starting out.
This is why it’s important to make sure your website has up to date contact information and to regularly check and respond to your social media messages. Don’t let your audience feel unheard – even if their input isn’t as useful as they think it is, knowing you’ve listened will retain unhappy customers and boost your reputation.
In the digital age, having a firm grasp of technology – and finding people to fill the gaps when you don’t have the required skills – is a must for business owners. It’s time to put tech to work in your world. Making the most of the tech available means your business will have a strong path toward success.
Business owners can take full advantage of this by focusing on using digital means to connect with their customers. This means providing plenty of avenues for feedback, listening to what customers have to say, and using that feedback to adjust and improve. Going the extra mile to respond individually to those who reach out can make a big difference for your brand, especially when you’re just starting out.
This is why it’s important to make sure your website has up to date contact information and to regularly check and respond to your social media messages. Don’t let your audience feel unheard – even if their input isn’t as useful as they think it is, knowing you’ve listened will retain unhappy customers and boost your reputation.
In the digital age, having a firm grasp of technology – and finding people to fill the gaps when you don’t have the required skills – is a must for business owners. It’s time to put tech to work in your world. Making the most of the tech available means your business will have a strong path toward success.
Guest Author
Courtney Rosenfeld
Courtney Rosenfeld