IT has created a new level of engagement that businesses can utilise to increase customer retention and sales. There are so many digital platforms for a business to use that it can sometimes be overwhelming trying to decide which one to focus on. For example, there are major social media platforms such as Facebook and Twitter to advertise and promote on, but what separates the two and, given a constrained budget, which service would give better returns for the cost?

It’s important that businesses do not spend too much money on technology because it can be easy to go over budget with the high advertising and maintenance costs. For instance, if you are planning to use an ERP system in your business, you may want to seek erp consulting services to help you find the erp solutions that are suitable to your business needs.

This guide will hopefully answer some of those questions. It will delve into the specifics of IT systems that a business can utilise, and how effective they are at ultimately drawing in more profits. You may need to invest in managed it services to support these systems that you would like to utilize for your business.

Social Media

Social media advertising is a commonly discussed topic among budding entrepreneurs that want to engage their audience in the digital world as well as physical. Unfortunately, it can be easy to spend too much money in the wrong places which will result in poor exposure and terrible customer growth. The only way to target your marketing accurately is to first research how digital marketing works. Terms such as SEO and keyword relevancy might seem alien to a first-time business owner, but they are commonly used in the world of online advertising and you should become familiar with them before proceeding to waste money advertising to the wrong crowd. Then asking for the best and ideal advice from an SEO expert similar to Damon Burton is the ultimate move you can do!

Cloud Services

Managed IT Services & Consulting for businesses can tell you that cloud services will be your saving grace when it comes to value for money. Not only do cloud services remove the need for bulky physical storage mediums and high-cost software, they also act as a continuity plan for when something goes wrong with your system due to an accident or natural disaster. One of the most disastrous things that can occur to a business is a loss of data such as sales records and customer information. Prevent this from happening by ensuring that you have sufficient cloud services implemented in your business so you can continue working no matter the conditions.

Hardware

Computer hardware can seem like a mysterious thing. All the numbers and values make little sense to most business owners so they need to hire a specialised consultant or team member to deal with buying the proper hardware. However, many people underestimate the power of relatively cheap components and they assume that an expensive computer is needed to run the latest software, but this simply isn’t true. Unless you are running a content production business (such as video and art) then a powerful computer is a waste of money. Applications such as Adobe’s Creative Cloud suite and 3D modelling tools do require workstation-level computers that cost a lot of money, but running cloud applications such as Google Drive can be done on cheap office laptops and computers that cost a tenth of the price.