Small businesses are like all businesses -- they want to use tech tools to do things better, faster, and cheaper. SmallBizResource's Gayle Kesten has the lowdown on the best tools for small businesses, including the ones that eventually will level the playing field.
Gayle Kesten knows small business. In addition to running her own one-woman show, Kesten is chief blogging officer for bMighty's sister site, SmallBizResource, and has covered everything of interest to small businesses from social networking to eBay policies to trying to balance work with life. For Kesten, running a small business is all about staying connected, and she shares the tools and trends that make a difference.
bMighty: What tech trends should growing businesses be aware of?
Gayle Kesten: Everyone is talking about cloud computing as a means of leveling the playing field for small businesses. It lets us get our hands on traditionally expensive applications that now live online instead of our own computers. Also, our options for connectivity continue to increase, with so many more applications built for our mobile phones. Everyone seems to have an iPhone or BlackBerry, and there are people taking laptops wherever they are so they can work on the go. My audience is especially equipped for that. Some days my biggest change of scenery is taking my laptop from the dining room to the bedroom.
I'm all about simplicity, so applications like IM and texting are easy ways to keep you connected no matter where you are. This is especially important for those in smaller businesses who are balancing work and life. Those involved in smaller businesses are more apt to be flying in a million more directions and are taking multitasking to a new level. I can make the most of my time in the car or traveling by hanging my Bluetooth headset over my ear. It's all about maximizing time.
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bMighty: What are some tools you recommend for growing businesses?
Kesten: Everything starts with my laptop and Wi-Fi. Again, I like to keep things simple, so I'm always on the lookout for applications that don't require much setup and do what they promise. For example, a few months ago I wrote about GenBook. It's an online appointment scheduler that is so easy to use, whether you're a hairdresser or a doctor. It lets you create a calendar online that customers can get in and book an appointment. Talk about handy. If I can set it up and figure it out, that's my gauge that anyone can.
In terms of social networking, Ning is an easy platform to navigate. In fact, one boring Saturday night I started my own network for my high school. Now it has over 1,600 members, with four decades worth of alumni. Setup was a breeze and the social networking tool did what it promised.
I also rely on Google RSS feeds to stay on top of news related to small and midsize businesses. Gathering my feeds and building it up took awhile, but to do so was far from brain surgery and worth the effort.
bMighty: Do you think social media is beneficial to growing businesses or a waste of time?
Kesten: I wrote a blog about this wondering the same thing. I think sites like Linked In and Twitter are helpful for people wanting to re-establish old connections and to make new ones. I also use Twitter as a marketing tool by linking to what I'm writing about. Actually, that's another benefit right there -- you can leverage the work you've done and show a bigger audience. That said, one downside I'm finding is having so many more sites to update and people to get back to. They come at you from everywhere!
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