Technology is a wonderful thing and with the massive and explosive growth of the Internet, a growing number of businesses are finally realizing that they can capitalize on the Information Superhighway and all the resources to be found there. If you own or operate a small to medium size business (SMB), you will want to explore the following three very successful ways to grow your business online.
1. Ongoing Personal Growth & Staff Development
When it comes to growing your business, there are two ways to think about it. You can focus on giving your staff the tools they need to succeed, or you can focus on reaching your audience to build a solid customer base. Have you discovered that in order to really reach the level of success you are after you need both? It’s all about giving your people the tools they need to be successful while also focusing on what it is your customer base needs (or wants!) from you.
Let’s start with giving your team the tools for personal and business growth. Remember that finance is a key element in business growth so why not use the Internet to explore a Master of Science degree in that field? Schools like Suffolk University Online have flexible programs where you, or key personnel, can work towards achieving both personal and business growth. When growing a business, empowering your team to do and be the best they can is something many small businesses fail to budget for. This can be a grave error in judgment if you are looking to grow.
2. Explore the Power of Social Media
Then there is social media to be aware of. What successful company doesn’t have a Facebook or Twitter account in the current hi-tech world in which we live? Customers want to connect with businesses they deal with and what better way than to go social online? This may take some planning and if you don’t have a PR person on staff to work and monitor one or more social accounts, you can outsource the job to professional marketers who understand the power of social media. It is, after all, what they have been trained to do!
3. Quick and Easy Downloadable Apps
In keeping with that, it’s important to understand that loyalty goes a very long way towards business growth. Use those social sites to provide an avenue for potential or current customers to download apps that keep them connected. While text messages are handy to highlight sales and specials you are offering, promotional apps are so much better because they carry with them the power of the Internet. Your audience can actually see and interact with your company and that is exactly what today’s consumer, business or private, is looking for.
Never underestimate the power of the Internet when working towards growing your business. There are so many tools online that you can capitalize on but the bottom line is empowerment. It’s all about building relationships and by staying connected, those relationships grow. Whether it’s being connected to ongoing staff development or to those customers who are your business’ lifeblood, the Internet is the fastest and most direct route, so use it whenever and wherever you can. You’ll be amazed at just how effective it is.