The Role of Digital Signage In Small Businesses.
November 3, 2020
TOOLS FOR SUCCESS
Building a business requires the right mix of knowledge, experience, and tools.
There are many tools available at a variety of price points. If you’re in the early stages of your business, start small and take advantage of as many free tools as possible. Monthly charges can add up quickly, especially when income is inconsistent..
CMS PLATFORMS
When creating and modifying your catalogue of digital content you’ll need a powerful content management system (CMS) to support collaborative creation and organize content. Wordpress is the simplest and most popular option. While basic websites take little technical skill to set up, there is the flexibility to create more complex sites. Joomla is the in-between option. It works well for ecommerce sites and social networks, but requires more technical knowledge. Drupal is the most technical option, but also the most versatile. Setting up a website takes basic CSS skills.
ECOMMERCE PLATFORMS
For any ecommerce company looking to sell products andservices online, shopping cart software is an essential component of daily business. Many of these services are turnkey solutions and will include everything you need for your website, including a blogging component. The industry is flush with options. Zen Cart is a user-friendly open-source shopping cart system for beginner businesses. Magento is a freemium system that offers enterprise level software for additional features and extended support. WooCommerce is a popular option that is highly compatible with WordPress websites. It’s free to download but features hundreds of paid extensions. Shopify is a premium option with different payment tiers. It offers expertly designed themes and designs. BigCommerce is a premium option that has revamped itself with new features to compete with Shopify.
TIP. Spend sufficient time researching your tools, and try to find testimonials and reviews from other small businesses.
ANALYSIS AND REPORTING PLATFORMS
In order to determine your ROI on digital marketing activities, you’ll need multiple analysis and reporting tools to crunch the numbers and help you make strategic decisions. Google Analytics is a freemium tool that will help you learn about and grow your audience by tracking crucial data. Search Console is another Google service that allows you to monitor your business’s presence in search results. You can maintain prominent placement by utilizing the data to modify SEO and make updates to your website. It provides important diagnostics with no fee. Google Adwords & Keyword Planner work in tandem to make effective ads. Keyword Planner allows you to test out and create new keywords based on how well they’ll perform. This helps you choose competitive bids and make marketing budgets with confidence.
CRM PLATFORMS
In order to examine the customer lifecycle and improve your relationship with customers, you’ll need a customer relationship management (CRM) tool. Some programs are very simple and others have thousands of features, so it’s important to research what tool will best serve your company. Insightly is touted as the most intuitive platform, since its interface is simple and user-friendly. This can be especially beneficial for small businesses that don’t have a full team to handle CRM implementation. Zoho is a bit more expensive and slightly difficult to use if you’re just starting out, but it has more features and is extremely customizable. Salesforce is for the big leagues — at $150 a month it’s an investment, but the enormous collection of add-ons and integrations can be incorporated into your system seamlessly.