Page 9 - Home Business - Fall 2018

Productivity Tools for the Office

Use Digital Ecosystems to Help Your Home Business Thrive
HOME OFFICE Sroughly 300 million Internet users in enough of them. Typically led by one person
By Mayumi Nakamura, President & CEO, PSP, Inc.

ince the online world began, technolo-
gy has changed the way we live. From
who wears many hats, most home-based busi-
ness owners are stretched thin, oft en leading
them to work with family members or friends
1998 to more than 4 billion people (and count-
ing!) today, the use of the web to gather infor-
on the ‘complicated’ work of getting their online
presence up and going.
mation, communicate, entertain and conduct
business has grown signifi cantly since the fi rst
While this may seem like a trustworthy and
web page went live in the early 1990s.
With the rise of the Internet, so too has come
can lead to costlier and less than ideal results,
the rise of the home-based business: last year,
including loss of data security and out-of-date
there were 38 million home-based businesses cost-eff ective approach, it oft en backfi res and Maintain an effective online presence for
soft ware that leaves a company’s privacy and
in the United States generating more than $425 fi nancial security at risk while potentially caus- your home business.
billion in total annual revenue. With start-up ing more harm than good.
costs low, as 44 percent of home-based busi-
Fear Not Technology: The ‘Right’ Approach under one roof and help from experienced
nesses begin for less than $5,000, that trend
for Setting Up & Maintaining Digital customer service representatives is just a
also continues to expand.
Ecosystems phone call away. All of these sites can be
At one time, a physical location served as a So what is the ‘right approach’ for setting up mobile-ready and able to work on multiple
company’s storefront, but these days websites and maintaining an eff ective online presence devices, as well as search-engine friendly
have become a modern business’ virtual front for your home business? While the online world so they’re found by customers as you want.
door. Within a few minutes, anyone can con- may seem overwhelming, there are a number ■ Professional Emails and Online Market-
duct an online search leaving a good or bad of stress-free products and services that exist ing to Keep You Growing. Home business
impression on a potential customer. As a re- to make it easy to create and maintain eff ective owners can show off their company and
sult, the use of strategic online tools, includ- digital ecosystems. Th ese tools include: its style with every message through pro-
ing a smart ecosystem to create your digital fessional, personalized emails that stand
■ Memorable Domains & Hosting. Getting
footprint, is increasingly important for home out from the crowd, giving them access to
started online begins with securing a do-
businesses to thrive. email anytime, anywhere. And business
main and having a name on the web that’s
owners can also use resources to help grow
unique and memorable (just like your com-
further through targeted online marketing
pany) that can help customers fi nd and re-
“ As a critical step in member you. As a critical step in the online designed to help them be successful.
the online process, process, secure hosting can help keep web-
secure hosting can help sites up and running so business owners Current Tools to Help You Thrive
So once your digital ecosystem is up and run-
keep websites up and don’t have to think about them. ning, what to do? Th ere are many existing
running so business ■ Professional Website Building, or Custom tools that can help a home business thrive.
Design & Development. Once a domain From search to social media, multiple online
owners don’t have to think and host is set, simple, do-it-yourself tools tools exist to help get companies noticed and
about them. ” are readily accessible that can practically keep them growing, such as e-mail newsletters
build websites for busy business owners.
reaching customers with personalized content
Users can choose from a variety of profes- and professional design; free to inexpensive
Specific Tech Needs for Home Users:
sionally-designed templates and add their blogs eff ectively sharing information with the
Making the Most of Your Resources
own content, with websites up and running world and advertising your business while cap-
To determine what a company needs, it’s im-
in a matter of minutes. Alternatively, cus- turing details about search traffi c; and social
portant to start by looking at the business. tom website design and development can media connections added to sites — such as
Home-based businesses can run the gamut further extend a brand to its online cus- Twitter, Facebook and YouTube — to further
from service companies (landscaping, cater- tomers at reasonable costs. Talented de- engage your audiences. Simple-to-use online
ing and interior design) to business consulting signers and expert developers are able to forms (from signing-up to signing-in) can also
(accounting, graphic design, freelance writers) work their magic to make visions a reality. capture valuable user information.
to consumer products (vintage clothing, furni-
ture-building or other online wares), and more. ■ Simple Onboarding. For businesses who Included in this mix are many online ‘freebies’
already have a website, it can be easy to to help boost marketing eff orts. Monitoring
But the thing that most home-based businesses simply transfer a site as well as a domain customer reviews is easy to do via Google
hold in common is resources and not having name, emails and blog so everything is Alerts; comparing your website performance
34 Home Business Fall 2018 www.homebusinessmag.com
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