|
If you operate a small business, then you know how difficult and expensive it can be to try to compete with bigger businesses. It often seems like an uphill battle. But now, you can find a valuable ally in your effort to grow against the flow: technology. Technology can empower your small business and level the playing field when competing against larger businesses. If you're looking to grow your business or are finding yourself going head-to-head with the big guys, there are a variety of technological tools and sources that can help. (Source: businessweek.com)
Among the technologies most useful are the following: - Desktop sharing software allows companies to extend their reach. By using inexpensive desktop sharing software or services, businesses can hold sales seminars, prepare remote presentations, provide support or do demonstrations, all without leaving your desk. Inexpensive solutions include GotoMeeting, CrossLoop .
- VoIP. If you spend a lot of time on the phone...or would like to, Voice over IP Internet phoning might be your answer. Look to services like Vonage or Lingo to give you inexpensive unlimited local and long distance calling. Combine these with FreeConferenceCall to tie everybody in.
- Website. A small business website can get the same airtime and the same worldwide coverage as AT&T. If you're worried about how professional it looks, try using one "site builders" offered by your Internet Service Provider or by domain service companies like GoDaddy.Com or Network Solutions.
- Email Marketing is an inexpensive way to reach existing and prospective customers. Internet services like Constant Contact or Emma are a great way to get started. If you don't already have email lists of your own, you can consult third party lists brokers such as Venture Direct. Most suppliers will also help create the email materials with you.
- Contact management & CRM software help keep track of your prospects and customers can also help the small business provide big-business-like service and follow up. If you have the latest edition of Microsoft's 2007 Outlook, it includes the Business Contact Manager, but you can also use web-based services like FreeCRM.
- Getting a toll-free number or ensuring that your phone is answered with a professional-sounding call attendant complete with voicemail and voicemail forwarding is easy with the right technology. Suppliers like VirtualPBX.com or GotVMail.com offer professional phone answering for better prospect response and better customer support.
- Try Open Source; software is expensive, so don't discount using open source software or other forms of "freeware". You can have access to the same productivity software tools that your bigger competitors use for a much lower price (or for free)! Start with OpenOffice. For other Open Source utilities or specialized applications, including anti-virus, desktop gadgets, and CRM, go to eConsultant.
There are dozens of other technology solutions worth looking at for small business use. But these are just a few of the more powerful technology tools or services that will help level the playing field for small businesses against their big-business competitors.
-- Related newsletter articles:
2007/12/03 Quicken Founder Takes Fight with Microsoft Online (business)
2008/01/08 Where do the Presidential Candidates Stand on Technology? (technology)
2007/10/12 GM On Board with Radical OnStar Plan (technology)
2007/11/23 Abu Dhabi Invests in AMD (technology)
2007/12/13 AOL Launches Windows-Friendly Software (email)
2007/12/14 Microsoft Taps into Multi-Map (business)
2007/11/13 HP KO'd in Digital Camera Business (business)
2007/12/20 Web Experts Warn of Internet 'Exaflood' (technology)
2007/11/06 Vote Spam for President in 2008 (email)
2007/10/24 Tech Revolutionizes the Great Outdoors (technology)
2007/12/10 Artificial Intelligence on Your PC Desktop? (desktop)
-- Recent articles (from all channels): 2008/05/12 Today in History: for Monday, May 12, 2008
2008/05/12 [ShellX 20080512]: 'Remote Manager', and 'Cyber Bandwidth ...
2008/05/12 Video Gaming Trade Group Struggling
2008/05/12 T-Mobile Finally Joins 3G Phone Race
2008/05/12 Apple Slammed by Environment Watchdog
2008/05/09 [ShellX 20080509]: 'Advanced Run', and 'Diver Windows Manager'
2008/05/09 Texas Refuses Facebook Friend Request
2008/05/09 Photo-Enforcement Technology Replaces Officers On Patrol
2008/05/09 Cuban Government Says 'Ok Computer'
2008/05/09 Excel Can E-Mail Your Weekly Reports For You!
2008/05/08 [ShellX 20080508]: 'Shell Enhancer', and 'Lansweeper'
2008/05/08 Xobni: MS Outlook Social Networking Technology for your Inbox
2008/05/08 Music Companies Jump on GTA IV Bandwagon
2008/05/08 Fascinating: Memristor to replace Binary
2008/05/08 Adobe Hopes To Make Flash Master Of The (Mobile) Universe
2008/05/08 Spiffy Envelopes and Labels in MS Word
2008/05/07 [ShellX 20080507]: 'Winbin2iso', and 'Loop Typer'
2008/05/07 Yahoo Adds Security Warnings To Search Results
2008/05/07 Apple to Lose Money on iTunes Movie Releases
2008/05/07 Amazon.com takes New York Tax to Court
2008/05/07 Need Glasses for the Slide Sorter View in MS PowerPoint?
2008/05/07 After Winning The DVD Format War, Blu-Ray Sales Tank
2008/05/06 [ShellX 20080506]: 'Visual Basic 6.0 Portable', and 'Double-...
2008/05/06 Yahoo Outsources to Jajah
2008/05/06 New HP Circuit Could Change Technology Forever
2008/05/06 Movie Downloads To Match DVD Release Dates
2008/05/06 Microsoft Ends Yahoo Bid
2008/05/05 [ShellX 20080505]: 'Ie7 Pro', and 'Desktop Ok'
2008/05/05 The WB Network Hops Online
2008/05/05 Microsoft Slashes Price of Xbox 360 Overseas
2008/05/05 Google CEO Wants YouTube to Take More of Your Money
|
