One of the most challenging areas of modern business is computing. Computers are essential for a lot of the work that people have to do in business. But, they can cause huge issues when they go wrong. And, computers just love to go wrong. So, it’s important that businesses protect themselves against the threat of IT failures. This task in itself can be hard, though. With very few people being able to repair computers, finding people to handle the work can be impossible for a small company. So, to help you out, this post will be going through some of the things you have to think about when you’re sorting out your IT.
One of the best ways to handle computers is by learning how to. Computers aren’t like humans; they can’t adapt and change to suit people around them. Instead, you have the learn how to work with them. And, this might require some training. It’s important that at least a couple of people in your business have the knowledge to solve basic IT issues. It’s a shame to have to call for help when the problem only requires a small fix. So, having people ready to take on these challenges will be a great help. To save money here, it can be good to take some training courses yourself. And, then, relay the information to your staff. This will mean that you are never in the dark when it comes to the use of your machines.
Of course, this won’t always be enough. People train for years to become computer engineers. And, some people even go to University for the privilege. This means that you will struggle to solve the bigger problems; even with staff who have training. For jobs like this, it can be worth looking into some outsourcing. There are loads of companies out there that are dedicated to making sure that other businesses have the right IT support. A company like SKYE can help you to no end when you’re trying to sort something like this out. These companies will be able to give you advice and support when it comes to your IT. And, they’ll even be able to help you in getting everything setup.
If you are willing to spend a little more money, you can cut out both of the previous steps and get everything handled by someone else. There are loads of companies out there that supply and maintain computers for businesses. They will be able to run repairs and ongoing testing on your systems. And, they will be able to help you upgrade when your business outgrows your current infrastructure. This will cost you a decent amount. But, it could be worth it if you want to completely remove the stress from your IT.
Hopefully, this should help you to make sure that your IT is handled as well as it can be; without hiring additional employees. This sort of work will go far in your business. And, you’ll notice the results straight away. Even if those results are simply less stress in your life.
The energy you put into your business is unparalleled. Your pride and joy in seeing it go from a kernel of an idea all the way to a booming business means focusing on every tiny aspect and going over every fine detail until you are completely satisfied. Each part needs to be just so, and a key part of the image which will make or break the customer litmus test is the interior. If you run a shop, the design has to appeal and encourage customers to purchase more than they went in for, or if you work in an office environment, the atmosphere has to be conducive to productivity. It’s a very important thing to think about.
What is the main thing when you are attempting to make a customer feel relaxed in your space? Well, space. In a restaurant, the concept of street food eating is a common one, but does it make for a relaxing experience? Hardly. The type of image you wish to present with a restaurant is largely dictated by the space. An open-plan restaurant with classy music and high ceilings gives out an impression of class. Or a fast food restaurant is a conveyor belt of custom, and space doesn’t seem to matter that much as the experience will be over as soon as it starts. The experience a customer has of the interior setting in a food establishment is more important than the food in some respects. The age-old rule of “it wasn’t what the customer bought, it was how they felt” very much applies to this type of business.
The worker perspective is as important, regardless of the type of product you are selling. Adequate lighting in a factory setting, such as industrial lighting strong enough to help people focus on their tasks is very important. A factory line job requires a lot of focus, especially if the task is the same one they will carry out for 12 hours a day! What you see makes up the vast majority of your overall impression of something, not what was said or how they said it, and walking into a clothes shop where you can’t see the items (trust me, they exist) doesn’t help customers make the right purchase. It is more likely to secure a high amount of returns because the customer bought the wrong color!
As a whole experience, the interior setting can be fine-tuned to increase the customer’s perception of a store or a worker’s productivity. The atmosphere of a store will be the overriding factor in a customer’s return, and the comfortability of a working environment will impact on an employee’s ability to work better. These are only a partial factor of the whole business design, but if you are dependent on customer returns, or the need to work staff hard and fast, then it is something you should endeavor to get right first time. It’s all about feeling, and if people feel good they will buy, or they will work harder.
Being a ‘jack of all trades’ is something many of us try to do when we start our own business. Running a startup often requires you to take on multiple roles at once, even if you have no previous experience in them. For example, as well as founder and CEO, you may also have to be a marketing manager, account manager, and distribution coordinator, plus many more different roles… you get the picture! However, even if it’s working out for you at the moment, you need to bear in mind that it is not always a sustainable way to live or to run your business. Eventually, you run the risk of burning out, and your business going under as a result. No one wants that, especially when you have worked so hard to build your business up from the ground. This is why so many small business owners start outsourcing members of staff and experts who can help keep their business afloat. You may not be ready or have the funds for full time, in house staff, so outsourcing could be the ideal option for you at this stage. Here are a few different areas of your business you may want to consider outsourcing in.
If there’s any area of business that is bound to give you a headache, it’s IT! Unfortunately, starting up your own company doesn’t come with a rulebook of things you need to know about technology, and in any case, it’s far too complicated to learn in one go even if you had the time to! This is why so many entrepreneurs visit websites like www.spectrumwise.com where they can find information on reliable IT support for their local area. A professional IT team can work with your system either in or out of your physical office, and can help you use your system to its full capacity.
Marketing
There are certain types of marketing that you may be able to keep on top of as the CEO of a small business – social media updating, the odd press release, etc. But, there will come a time where you have a major project on your hands that also needs a big marketing push, and you know in your heart of hearts that you simply can’t handle the two at once. It is at this point that you should consider outsourcing some marketing staff, either freelance or from an agency. This way, you can rest assured that all the marketing will be taken care of while you focus on the business side of things.
As a small business owner, you probably have a hard time remembering what day the bins go out, let alone being able to keep on top of your accounts and outgoings. Hiring an accountant make seem like a waste of money at first, but trust: once you do, you’ll wonder how you ever managed before. An outsourced accountant will be able to run your business account for you and help with any tax queries, and they could even look after your personal account for you too.
As any successful entrepreneur will know, there are a lot of different factors that make up the perfect business. You need to have a strong team behind you, state of the art computing systems and be aware of all the latest marketing trends, to name just a few things. However, you also need to perfect the glue that holds your company together, and this glue is internal communications. We all know the scary statistics about all the small businesses which fold within the first couple of years, and many of these cases are largely down to poor communication between teams. If you have started to see a fair amount of success with your business, you have probably already begun to expand your internal team – you may even have hundreds of employees under your wing already. So, to keep everything running smoothly, you need to ensure that you have a workable communications system in place so that nothing is amiss.
A huge percentage of work communication is carried out via internal emails – in fact; it is the most common way in which members of staff speak to each other, even if they are sat in the same office! Email has a lot of benefits – such as being able to have a proven record of what was said/decided between groups of people – but it can also bring up a lot of issues too. The main one is that everyone checks and responds to their emails differently, which can result in some being unanswered for ages while others are prioritized straight away. Speak to your team and suggest that you brainstorm a few options for company-wide email protocol – it will make everyone’s jobs a lot easier.
Phone protocol
We all have urgent moments at work when we need to speak to someone directly. Or, sometimes it’s just good to speak to someone in person rather than typing out a lengthy email. Whatever it is, having an internal phone system can be a huge asset to your business. Speak to a company such as VoIP Phone Solutions about what would work best for your team’s needs. Chances are you’ll need a lot of different lines setting up, and every individual employee will need their own handset, so it can be worth putting some money into this addition to your business to get the best results.
No one wants to be that nightmare boss who calls up their employees at 3 in the morning, asking if they can urgently do some paperwork. After all, everyone deserves a work/life balance, and studies show that employees work better too when their life isn’t all about their job. But equally, you need to know that you can count on your staff to help you out at short notice if you need them to. Consider providing your staff with work cell phones and if you know you have a particularly busy time coming up, consider using an instant messaging service so you can contact them in a non-disruptive manner, should you need to.
Reputation is everything in business, and there is a direct link to how people perceive your company and the success you will achieve. For startup owners, this poses a dramatic issue: you haven’t been around long enough to have an image, let alone be in a position to improve it.
There are, however, a few things you can do if you want people to sit up and take notice of your new business, even if you have nothing to spend on marketing. And we’re going to go through a few different methods every startup founder should be employing to ensure that they take off on the strongest foot. Let’s take a closer look.
First of all, make sure that your business looks the part if you want to be treated with respect – it’s that simple. Find out more about the importance of having a professional address, and act on that advice – people will take you more seriously if you are working from an office rather than your bedroom. Create a website that works for the user, and is home to valuable, interesting, and intelligent information about your industry. And always dress well when meeting clients – many will make an instant judgement on your abilities and professionalism just on what you are wearing.
Lean on your past successes
If you are an entrepreneurial type and have a string of successful businesses in your armory, you are in a better position than most. It’s vital that you make a big noise about these successes, as it’s an excellent way to gain trust from your target audience. It breeds confidence in your abilities and your experience, and whether you are seeking investment or trying to drum up consumer interest, it’s a proven tactic.
But what if you have no experience of note? It doesn’t mean you are incapable – far from it – but it doesn’t mean that you have no discernible reputation. One of the best ways of starting to create a better image for your startup is to write about what you know. Start a blog on your website, and demonstrate your expertise. Talk about the significant problems in your industry and how you are going to solve them. Get in touch with industry bloggers, and local media outlets such as newspapers and offer them a good story.
Network
We’ve already touched on networking, but it’s worth understanding the huge role it has to play in developing your business’s image. The simple truth is that you have to get out there and meet people, both from your industry and beyond. Try attending local business meetups, and look into online networking, too, on platforms such as Linkedin. Developing strong relationships with other members of the business community helps you build a strong platform and a healthy foundation for moving forwards.
Join in
Are there any industry organizations or associations you could join? Not only does it show you are serious about your work to your customers, but it also shows you are committed and professional. The small fees you pay for annual memberships are worth it when you consider how much business an association can bring your way.
Hope this helps – good luck with developing your reputation!
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