When you’re running a small business, it can often feel like all of the hats you have to wear just might cause your head to explode. From the simplicity of answering questions about where you’re located to the complexity of filing taxes, everything is on your own shoulders. That’s why it’s important to use technology to lighten your burden whenever possible. Here are some great ways that tech can help you work more efficiently and effectively.
Manage Your Time
If there’s one thing most business owners probably wish they had more of (aside from sales), it’s time. For starters, an online calendar that you can access whether you’re at your desk or on the go is a must for keeping you on schedule. By adding every commitment right as it’s made, you won’t run the risk of double booking yourself or forgetting important tasks.
Using a calendar system that can also provide time-tracking analysis can ensure that you are being as productive as possible with your time. Project management tools can also be incorporated so your time can be well-allocated when tackling a major endeavor. Spending a few hours researching which software or app will best meet your needs can lead to massive time savings once you start using a new system.
Engage with Clients
While few will disagree that face-to-face contact with your clients is key to building and maintaining good relationships, technology can play a big role in customer engagement, and it can also be a real time saver. Having an informative website is necessary for making your business look like the professional enterprise that it is, but your web presence can do so much more for you. A website allows you to showcase your goods and services to more clients than you could ever reach one on one, and it’s a great platform for sharing positive reviews and testimonials that can earn you new business. It’s also a hands-off way to provide users with all of your contact information, including how to find you on social media. Easy-to-use website builders abound, so there’s no excuse for not taking advantage of the ways that running a website can save you time in the long run.
Another way to save time when engaging with customers is by using answering service software. When you have a call answering service, clients contacting you by phone will reach a live professional day or night, 365 days a year. Rather than being tethered to your phone, fearful of missing a critical call, you can rely on a virtual receptionist to provide you with a detailed message that you can respond to as needed. Even better, with an app- or text-based service, you’ll have up-to-the-minute call details at your fingertips.
Streamline Financials
Money makes the world, and certainly, your business, go ‘round, but it can also be a heck of a headache to manage it. That’s why many small business owners find that it’s a real time-saver to utilize accounting software that puts all of their financials in one place. Consolidating multiple processes can be both freeing and enlightening.
Finding a system that handles budgeting, invoicing, revenue tracking, payroll processing, and tax preparation may not only make each of those activities simpler to handle, it can also give you a better idea of your overall financial outlook. Being able to quickly see where expenses might be cut, or whether or not you have the means to invest in new ventures, can be critical to your growth and success. If nothing else, each moment not spent on handling your accounting needs is time that can be put toward building your business.
If you’re like most business owners, you probably feel like burning the candle at both ends still doesn’t give you enough time to get everything done. For that reason, it might seem counterintuitive to spend time researching and setting up new processes. Yet, as precious as each moment of time feels, using technology to better manage your schedule, interact with your clients, and get a grip on your financials can save an enormous amount of time when all is said and done. Your business will benefit if you invest a bit of time in saving time.
