Businesses have undergone many breakthroughs over the years. But when smart technology was introduced, companies reached a milestone, unlike anything they ever had before. We’re now in an age where electronic devices are as reliable as people. For businesses, this meant more investments but greater rewards, such as increased efficiency and sales.
Technology allowed businesses to drive more sales without as much labor. If not for it, no small business would’ve survived the pandemic. Of course, we know that many small businesses still shut down permanently during the crisis. But new ones have also emerged. This proves that technology has made industries more resilient. As such, your small business can rely on only tech tools and still generate sales.
That said, here are the top tech tools that can help you increase sales:
1. The Internet
As today’s primary platform for marketing, the internet is, of course, the most helpful tech tool for all businesses. It allows you to conduct advertising and engage with your customers for lower costs. And unlike radio, TV, and print media, using the internet lets you reach millions of people worldwide.
Even if your small business only caters to a specific market in a particular area, it’s still important to spread brand awareness to other locations. This gives you insight into whether you can branch out in the future. For example, if you serve in Michigan, letting your ads reach New York enables you to test out how New Yorkers respond to your ads.
Do they visit your website or social media after seeing your brand on a site they frequently visit? Do they inquire about your location? These responses can be used as data for your market research if you plan to expand in the future.
Aside from that, the internet also gives you an additional channel to sell your products. You can use an e-commerce platform like Etsy or Shopify or build your own website. Multiple channels help you reach customers within your target market but frequent different websites.
And with an additional channel for selling comes a different medium for communicating. Your customers can use the internet to ask questions, review products, or issue complaints. Reading complaints may not be fun, but at least resolving them online can improve your customer service. It allows you to streamline the process and control damage faster.
2. Social Media
Social media deserves its own spot as it is different from the internet in general. It’s focused on engagement, with its ability to provide real-time updates or live videos. And though customers can’t have carts on social media, they can still browse your products through your posts and eventually visit your website to order.
Social media lets you understand your audience better. It allows you to analyze their online behavior, such as how they respond to your posts. For example, if you post content at 11 AM every day, and only a few of your followers engage with the post, it means that your audience isn’t as active during that time.
But if you post on 9 PM instead and the engagement shoots up, it means your audience is most active during that time. As such, you should schedule your posts around 9 PM because that would drive more engagement and sales than posting on a less active time.
But what’s more interesting with social media is that its point isn’t to make a sale. Indeed, customers wouldn’t appreciate social media posts that constantly urge them to spend. What they’re looking for are opportunities to connect. Hence, instead of focusing on selling a product, focus on getting to know your customers. Post polls, ask questions, or hold contests. This humanizes your small business and makes your customers trust and support you more.
3. Customization Equipment
Customization is key to making your small business stand out in the industry. Bespoke products feel more personal and valuable, so customers are willing to pay more for them. True enough, the research found that one in five customers will pay 20% more for a customized or exclusive product. Even if that’s just a shirt, phone case, or any other nonessential, everyday item, customers will patronize it.
There are various tools for customizing products or materials. If you offer personalized mailboxes, for example, you can earn money with a sophisticated laser cutter. If you sell customizable T-shirts, you can use a digital T-shirt printing machine or a silkscreen. The internet plays a role here, too; your customers can use your website to see how their customized products would look like, which is what Casetify — among other brands — does.
Next to a talented workforce, tech tools are your most important resource. Use them well, and your small business can make it big in no time.
