Is Your Small Business Stuck in the Dark Ages?

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Thanks to the internet, millions of people across the globe have managed to turn their dreams into reality by starting their very own venture. This is great as it creates so many opportunities as well as choice for customers, but the downside is if you’re a business owner yourself, the competition is fierce. The market is saturated in just about every area, finding your niche can be really difficult and no matter what you do or what you sell, chances are there are other companies out there doing the same thing. If you want to succeed and stay ahead of the competition, it’s important to make sure you’re not stuck in the dark ages. Here are some simple yet crucial things you need to consider for your small business. 

 

Do you accept multiple payment methods?

We live in a very digital age, so much of what we do is now online, including the way we manage our money. Cash is becoming obsolete, with the majority of people preferring to pay using card, or contactless payments like Apple and Android pay. If your business only accepts cash, this provides an obvious barrier for people wanting to buy your goods as people simply don’t tend to carry it around any more. Even if you’re a small market stall, a food truck or any other kind of business that serves people in person, you absolutely need to be accepting card payments. 

 

Have you invested in an app?

More sales are now made on smartphones and tablets than computers and laptops. Have an app designed and you’ll stand out amongst your competitors, it can also make the general shopping experience for your customers more pleasant and also makes you look more professional. It can be costly upfront to have a good quality app designed and created, however it’s an investment in your business since it will mean more sales compared with making customers use their phone browser. Official apps are preferred as they’re safer, since they have to be verified. Meaning your customer will find shopping via an app more trustworthy. As a new business, it’s often building up that initial trust that can be difficult, so this is one way to go about it. 

 

Are you getting the most out of your time?
Productivity is everything in business, as the old saying goes- ‘time is money’. Waste time and your profits will suffer, you need to be working smart and ensuring that you’re getting the most out of your working hours. One way to go about this is to use the right software, modern programs make life much easier and you’ll get the job done quicker and more efficiently. The next is to delegate, making sure that everyone is working on tasks that suit their skills and are doing so to the best of their ability. If you’re finding that you and any employees you have are overworked, it might be time to consider hiring more staff or outsourcing. This could be anything from blog writing to marketing to IT, click here to find out more. 

 

Are you guilty of keeping your small business in the dark ages? Which changes do you plan on making this year?