A while back there was an article on SmallBizTechnology.com about how the biggest problem small businesses have in using technology is lack of education. I absolutely agree with the sentiment – who has time to learn about technology when they have a business to run? In the article, author Ramon Ray recommended spending an hour or two a week learning about technology. From there, however, he talked a lot about technology that boosts a businesses online presence – Facebook, blogging, Twitter and local search. These are all important but there is so much more!
So what else should a small business owner educate themselves about? There are so many topics that it can seem like a maze but if you take a look at this list you can concentrate on a few topics at a time:
- How can you make things easier for your customer? (easy online access to content and services)
- How can you make things easier for your staff? (remote access, simple processes, collaboration tools)
- How can you touch more prospects, close more sales and increase revenue? (CRM, email newsletters)
- How can you streamline your internal processes and maybe save money? (better integration, fewer but more powerful systems, remote hosting, cloud services)
- How can you get a better handle on your business? (reporting, analytics)
Here is a short round-up of good sources for technology information. These are only a few examples, but they should give you somewhere to start:
- Online technology magazines and blogs like smallbiztechnology.com and smallbusinesscomputing.com. I also like Laurie McCabe’s blog.
- Industry specific online sources like the Law Technology News section of Law.com or Techtips on TheProgressiveAccountant.com.
- Online communities like American Express Open and Biznik.com
- Local blogs like atlantasmall.biz
What technology topics would you like to know more about? Where do you go to get your technical education?
Patti Bunker is the president and founder of Clearly Simple Solutions, a technology advisory firm located in Atlanta, GA. She is an executive with over 25 years of technology experience in corporate America, as a consultant and in commercial software development. She understands both business and technology. Her broad background and varied experience enables her to see easily see the big picture and apply technology creatively to support business goals. Because it is about the business, not the technology. Now she applies that experience to help smaller businesses to benefit from technology. The result is Clearly Simple Solutions.
