When you’re running a small business, it’s essential to take advantage of all the resources you possibly can in order to ensure that you can stay on top of your responsibilities and prevent customer service levels from dipping. From keeping communication open between all your employees to creating an easy-to-navigate website your clients will find accessible, there are all sorts of ways you can boost your business throughout the year. Fortunately, advances in technology have made it easier than ever to find the help you need to keep your business running smoothly and making a profit. Knowing where to find these resources can cut down on your stress levels while ensuring that you’re able to run things effectively. So where do you start?

Where to Start?

First, map out your needs. Areas that could use immediate attention might include an updated website for your company, cybersecurity, and a system that will help you and your employees communicate and stay organized while easily sharing files. When it comes to web-based projects, which ones need to be more streamlined or more secure? Think about both your needs and your customers’ needs, especially when it comes to the ease with which they can find what they’re looking for. Keep in mind that many customers will move on quickly if they are unable to navigate a clunky website or if the payment system is glitchy. With a few small tweaks, you can ensure that they stick around and keep coming back.

Next, think about your budget and create a plan. If you need cybersecurity, for instance, that’s something that will likely need to be paid for on a monthly basis, so the cost will have to be rolled into your long-term budget. Also, consider how you’ll pay for professional assistance with building a site or creating freelance projects. These days, there are all sorts of freelance designers and writers who can help you remotely with just about anything you need for your business, but their fees vary widely.

Here are a few things to think about when it comes to utilizing resources for your business’s web-based projects.

Jump-start your website

Every business needs a website. Whether you have goods to sell or services that your customers need to have access to, there are many ways you can make a great site work for you. The key is to make sure it’s professionally done because a qualified developer can build a web presence that is easy to navigate while remaining functional and accessible. The right HTML freelancers will have a working knowledge of HTML and can update your site with a contact form, data tables, and a spot for all your social media handles so that customers can easily engage with you when they need you. Look for a freelance developer who can turn your dream site into a reality rather than trying to do it yourself; this will save you time and money and will raise your company’s return on investment.

Make your content more accessible

One of the trickiest parts to navigate in the business world is figuring out how to remain accessible to all your customers. After all, the larger your customer base, the higher the profits. It’s important to think about the details where this is concerned, such as how to ensure that anyone who comes to your website can make the most of it. This means making engaging video content that is fully accessible to customers who are living with disabilities such as a hearing impairment, and adding captions to your content is a great way to do that. Rather than doing this yourself–which can be time-consuming–consider hiring a service that guarantees results, and make sure they are approved by the FCC and ADA. Many of these companies have a quick turnaround, so you can make your content accessible as soon as possible.

Protect your data

Small businesses are just as vulnerable to a cyber attack as a larger company, if not more so, because they often assume they’re too small for hackers to notice. Protecting your data and your customers’ personal info is essential and can save you a ton of money in the long run, so look for a cybersecurity service that will keep your info safe and sound. This will give you and your clients peace of mind, and it will prevent huge amounts of money spent when you realize your sensitive material has been compromised.

Stay organized

These days, there are many resources for small businesses when it comes to organizing and sharing files, so it’s a good idea to try out a few to see which one works best for your needs. Many small business owners have come to rely on services like Google Suite, which contains numerous applications that will allow a team to communicate effectively and stay on track with projects big and small. From creating spreadsheets to sharing documents, there are numerous programs you can use on a daily basis, and it’s pretty budget-friendly, which makes it perfect for a small business. If you need something more mobile, there are several apps you can utilize along with your team members to maintain communication as you work on projects.

Using as many resources as you can to ensure that your web-based projects run smoothly just makes good sense, because there are so many that are free or inexpensive nowadays. With a little planning, you can boost your small business while working smarter, not harder.

This is a Guest Post by:
Chelsea Lamb has spent the last eight years honing her tech skills and is the resident tech specialist at Business Pop. Her goal is to demystify some of the technical aspects of business ownership.