So you have a great business idea that you believe could be successful. You’ve done your market research, written up a business plan, received funding, and taken care of all the legal aspects of your business— now what? It seems that you’re now open for business, but how are you going to get the word out about your business, and once you start getting customers/clients are you going to be able to handle all of your business operations? Here’s a look at some resources that you can look into to help get more business and also help you run your business more smoothly.
Website
If you’re an eCommerce business (you operate online only), then you’re already set with your business website. If you’re a brick-and-mortar business or you only operate in-person, you’ll still benefit from having a business website. You should include a description of your products and/or services, your physical address, email address, phone number, social media handles, and hours of operation.
A good business website also has several components to it that allow it to market itself. For example, having a blog on your website helps with search engine optimization (SEO).
About Page
This page will tell your visitors everything they need to know about your business. It should also have sections that tell a little about you and your employees— if you have employees.
Career Page
If you’re looking for employees to hire, then putting a career page on your business website can be a great way to attract candidates.
Reviews Page
Finally, you’ll want to have a place where potential customers can check out reviews from current customers. Make sure to encourage your current customers to leave reviews— whether good or bad. You’ll want them to be honest, and you’ll want to make improvements where you can.
Other pages have to include a frequently asked questions page, a “latest news” page, a privacy policy page, and a terms & conditions page. Your business website serves as a place for both current and potential customers to gather as much information as possible about your business.
Social Media
Like your website, having a presence on social media can help you gain new customers and boost awareness of your business in general. You can also use social media as a tool for recruiting candidates for employment. Gone are the days when social media is used only for staying in touch with others— it’s also become a powerful marketing tool. Here are some of the current most popular social media platforms:
- TikTok
- YouTube
Depending on the type of business you have, you’ll see more success on certain platforms than others. Facebook is the most popular social media platform, but it’s most often used by Generation X and above (those born before 1981). Instagram is most often used by Millenials (those born between 1981 and 1996) and TikTok is most often used by Generation Z (those born after 1996). Still, it’s important to try marketing on multiple platforms in order to figure out where you’ll see the most success.
Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP)
ERP is a type of software that helps businesses run their daily activities more efficiently. This is something that’s necessary for both small and large businesses because all businesses need at least one type of software in every stage to help them manage their day-to-day operations. Examples of different types of business software include:
- Accounting, bookkeeping, and payroll
- Customer relationship management (CRM)
- Project management
- Sales and marketing
- Time-tracking
Of course, you don’t have to purchase several different types of software to get what you need for your business. Some types of ERP software uses Netsuite implementation services that can include financial solutions, customer solutions, and several other operations needed to run and also analyze the success of your business. Most businesses can benefit from software that offers these services, but it’s important to make sure that you choose the software that will benefit your business the most.
So a website, social media, and business software are all three important resources to have when you’re just starting a business. Your business website and social media pages will help solidify your online presence, which is needed to attract and market to customers. Getting ERP software for your business will help you easily manage your daily tasks. These are three resources that every business owner needs to take advantage of, whether they’re a first-time business owner or are planning to open more businesses.
