Boosting SMB marketing with automation
June 14, 2019
Small business marketing has often been a difficult endeavor for small business owners. Marketing involves a great deal of time and effort, and can require a significant financial investment. Previously, only large corporations could afford marketing automation, but that’s no longer the case. Read the five most profitable benefits of this new IT innovation here.
Instant responses to email requests
If a customer or prospect sends your business an email via your website or a “Contact Us” form, any delay in response could ultimately cost you a client. But if you have a marketing automation plan in place, you can customize automatic email responses to respond to these leads as soon as an email is received. This either provides potential customers with the information they requested or informs them that you will be responding in greater detail soon.
Stop leaving voicemails and start closing deals
There’s a reason most people prefer to communicate via email: Keeping in touch over the phone can be tough if both parties are always busy. An automated system solves this by logging when you’ve contacted leads and automatically emailing them about follow-up times. The call, email, and its response are all logged in your CRM and calendar without a single minute wasted on inputting mundane information.
Inbound lead assignment
When you have phone calls, emails, and meetings piling up, it’s hard to keep track of which customer goes where and who is working with them. With marketing automation software and tracking, customer service representatives are automatically assigned to inbound leads based on specialties and demographics so they can begin working on building profitable rapport right away.
Give and you shall receive
Potential clients and leads get dozens, sometimes hundreds, of business emails every day. You need something to set your business apart from the rest. By offering valuable content such as how-to guides and total cost of ownership tools in exchange for contact information, you can provide prospects with content they actually want.
All it takes is a web form and some creative writing that ultimately leads visitors back to your products and/or services. Your automation software delivers content to anyone who provides contact information, and it downloads metrics that can be tracked and analyzed by your solution.
Never type another phone number again
Networking events mean new contacts and new leads. They used to mean having to keep track of thick stacks of business cards, but cutting-edge marketing tools now make it possible to take a picture of contact information and automatically store it as part of a cloud-based database. Call-ins, scanned business cards, and received emails all get organized into a single digital Rolodex with recommendations on whom to contact and when it is best to do so — without one minute of tedious data entry.
Every business owner knows that automating mindless tasks is a worthwhile investment. But not everyone knows just what sort of tools are available to help you cut down on wasted work. Our team specializes in using technology to add value to your business, and we believe that if you’re not utilizing any of the solutions above, that’s the best place to start. Get in touch with us today to make your marketing technology work for you.
Published with permission from TechAdvisory.org. Source.
The Growing Cyber Threat to Law Firms
A slow computer or a frozen screen are the worst things that can ruin your day. You've most likely dealt with outdated technology on multiple occasions if you manage a small business. It may seem cost-effective to extend the life of outdated equipment, but the long-term costs are frequently higher. Due to technological issues like sluggish PCs and antiquated laptops, small businesses lose about 98 hours annually, or 12 working days . This is why it's important to have an IT refresh plan. It helps you stay safe, prevents unplanned malfunctions, and keeps your team operating efficiently. Regardless of whether you outsource managed IT services or handle them in-house, a solid refresh strategy can save time, stress, and money down the line.
Does your small business ever feel like it has too much data? This is a fairly typical occurrence. The way small businesses function has changed as a result of the digital world. In addition to customer emails and backups, we now have an overwhelming amount of data to manage, including financial statements, contracts, logs, and employee records. According to a PR Newswire survey, 72% of company executives say they have stopped making decisions because the information is too overwhelming. All of this data can easily become disorganized if improperly handled. By implementing the appropriate data retention policy, effective IT solutions assist. A strong data retention policy keeps your company compliant, organized, and cost-effective. Here's what should be deleted, what should be kept, and why.
Selecting the best cloud storage solution can be similar to being faced with an endless buffet of options, each one claiming to be the best. A poor choice may result in lost revenue, compromised data, or even a snag in productivity. The stakes are extremely high for small business owners. Regardless of your level of experience, we will guide you through this thorough guide to help you choose a cloud storage solution that is specific to your company's needs.
Cyber threats are a daily reality for small businesses navigating an increasingly digital world; they are not merely an abstract concern. Financial and reputational harm can result from ransomware attacks, phishing scams, or unintentional data leaks. In order to reduce the risks, more businesses are using cyber insurance. Not every cyber insurance plan is made equally. Many business owners think their policy covers them, but they discover (too late) that it has significant gaps. We'll explain exactly what is and isn't covered in this blog post, along with how to pick the best cyber insurance plan for your company.
Have you ever questioned how susceptible your company is to online attacks? Nearly 43% of cyberattacks target small businesses , frequently taking advantage of lax security measures, according to recent reports. Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) is one of the most underutilized yet powerful ways to safeguard your business. Even with your password, hackers will find it much more difficult to obtain access thanks to this additional security measure. The implementation of Multi-Factor Authentication for your small business is explained in this article. Knowing this will enable you to take an important step toward protecting your data and guaranteeing more robust defense against possible cyberattacks.
Managing a small business requires a lot of multitasking. These hats include operations management, customer service, and maintaining order. AI-powered automation is a solution that can reduce the workload. Small business owners can now automate tasks that were previously done by hand thanks to technological advancements that have made these tools more affordable and accessible than before. There's no need to hire a big staff or spend a fortune. AI can manage a large portion of your hectic workload, allowing you to concentrate on more crucial facets of your company. AI can act as your virtual assistant, increasing productivity and simplifying processes, whether you're a small team manager or a solopreneur. This blog post explores how you can automate everyday tasks and free up your time if you want to learn more about how AI can change your company. We'll demonstrate how to use reasonably priced AI tools to reduce repetitive tasks, save time, and increase business efficiency.
In today's digital world, cyber threats are smarter than ever. Weak passwords or old ways of proving who you are can cost people and businesses money, steal their data, or steal their identities. A strong password is the first thing that will keep hackers out, but it's not the only thing that will work. This guide goes over the basics of strong passwords, two-factor authentication, and the best ways to keep your accounts safe. We'll also talk about new ways to check things and things you should never do.
A sophisticated type of cyberattack known as "password spraying" uses weak passwords to acquire unauthorized access to numerous user accounts. This approach focuses on using a single password or a collection of passwords that are frequently used across multiple accounts. The goal is to circumvent standard security protocols, such as account lockouts. Password-heavy attacks are highly effective because they target people and their password management practices, which are the biggest weakness in cybersecurity. This ar ticle will describe how password spraying operates, address how it differs from other brute-force attacks, and go over how to detect and prevent it. We will also discuss how businesses can defend themselves against these threats and examine real-world examples.
What would happen if tomorrow your company lost all its data? Would your operations come to a complete stop, or would you be able to recover? Data, including communications, financial records, product files, and customer information—is the lifeblood of any small business. However, data security is frequently neglected. After a disaster, 25% of small businesses close within a year, and 40% never reopen , according to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). That represents an incredible 65% failure rate because of inadequate preparation. The good news is here. An enterprise budget and a dedicated IT staff are not necessary for disaster data protection. You can create a backup and recovery plan that reduces downtime and provides you with peace of mind if you have the right approach, the appropriate tools, and a little forethought. In this blog post, we will discuss practical and easy-to-follow advice to help you protect your most valuable business asset: your data.