Q: How can a small business find out what technology is right for their business before shelling out the cash and finding it doesn’t meet their needs?
Nov 05 2008
Answered by: Marc Barber Ask a question
Advances in technology, particularly since the emergence of broadband in 2001/02, have worked to the advantage of small businesses. Start-ups can communicate with customers and market their services more effectively and cheaply than ever before.
First and foremost, decide what you need the technology for. Is it word processing? Number crunching and accounts work? For both of these it’s easy to shop around and get the cheapest deal by visiting high street stores, surfing the web or speaking to IT dealers who specialise in software for businesses.
If you’re going to take your sales and marketing campaigns seriously then you should invest in a database too. This will enable to build up a list of customers and filter data accordingly before sending out direct mail/email shots or to accept payments for products or services online.
Don’t forget that if there are other people in the business, they may need access to information as well so you will need a server – again this can easily be acquired as part of a package.
If you’re looking to set up a website then check out Microsoft Office Live Small Business, BT Trade Space or packages like Mr Site.
All of these try to keep setting up a website cheap and manageable for that computer illiterate individual who’s been bitten by the entrepreneurial bug.
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