Are you a small business owner working with narrow margins? If so, you're like many other entrepreneurs that work mostly for the joy of the job. But that doesn’t mean you can’t maximize your revenue and squeeze every bit of profit from your customers' payments. Here are a few of the best free and paid pieces of technology and business services that can help you extract every ounce of your value.
Adobe Acrobat’s E-signature Tool
Business owners should embrace e-signing for contracts due to the convenience and efficiency it offers. Tools like Adobe Acrobat's e-signing feature enable you to sign and fill out PDF forms online, eliminating the need to print documents. This not only saves time and resources but also simplifies document management. Additionally, e-signing provides a secure and legally compliant method of signing contracts, reducing the risk of errors and disputes. Click for info about this practical solution that enhances productivity and streamlines the contract signing process, and see why it’s a smart choice for modern businesses.
A Functional Website
Your website is your most valuable piece of online real estate, and an attractive and functional site works as your digital storefront, even if you don’t sell online. Luckily, there are resources that can help you get up and running so you can showcase the best of your business to the billions of internet searchers each day. Your website can answer common questions, like your hours of operation and product availability, which will reduce the man-hours it takes to respond to these queries manually.
Start Your Own LLC
Your business structure can have a big impact on your finances, so if you haven’t already, you might want to start (or convert to) a limited liability company, since that offers certain legal protections and tax advantages that could be beneficial. You can hire a lawyer to help you get set up or better yet, save money by using a formation service that’s already familiar with Texas’s LLC regulations and can get you up and running in just a few minutes.
Marketing Automation
If your sales and marketing teams seem to be on completely different loops, it’s time to explore solutions for digital marketing software. This is a type of program that can keep everyone on the same track and avoid extraneous or unnecessary work. Your platform should offer insights and analytics, custom campaigns, and the ability to follow and respond to customers, no matter where they are in their buyer's journey.
Review Collection
According to Mention, online reviews work as social proof, make you more visible, and build your credibility. But how do you get your happy customers to leave online feedback? A few options here include creating an email campaign that sends a post-purchase message asking for review, adding a request form to your product pages, and utilizing SaaS programs to collect feedback via text messaging.
Workflow
Workflow is defined by the Kissflow platform as “a collection of fixed tasks or sequences” that you need to complete a specific type of job. Look for workflow software (or simply create a spreadsheet to follow each task) that lets you add multiple users, color-code where things are in your internal funnel, and assign tasks to different individuals depending on how far along each job is.
Social Media
Social media is not just for sharing cute cat names and funny baby videos. For businesses, having a robust and dynamic social media presence improves brand awareness without taxing your marketing budget. It’s also a great place to engage with your customers and build your customer base.
Freelancers
Freelancers are valuable in all sectors. They provide expert or specialized help in areas where a full-time employee might not be needed. A few different freelance services that small businesses can benefit from include copywriting, admin support, photography, and accounting.
Point Of Sale Systems
A point-of-sale system allows you to collect payments from your customers and provide them with a trackable receipt when they need it most. Your POS should accept multiple payment methods, including credit cards, checks, and cash. You also need a system that integrates with your online marketplace. Ideally, these will work together to track inventory and customer demand.
Running a small business means that you have to deal with narrow profit margins. But that doesn’t mean that you can’t carve out a nice salary for yourself and your loved ones. From establishing a functional website to enhancing your marketing through an automation platform and looking for freelancers to lend their expertise, today’s tips are just a few smart ideas to help you get the most out of your business.
Join the Victoria Chamber of Commerce to get the resources you need to build a thriving business in our community!
