Have you just started your own small business?
Are you facing new competition from larger corporations, and are afraid you won’t make it to next quarter?
Help to grow your business and stand your ground against chain retailers by taking advantage of these 5 business development tools.
#1. Google Analytics
Google Analytics is the bread and butter of your website.
It provides invaluable data about your web traffic, lets you know your site’s most and least successful internal pages, and even helps you to figure out which keywords are bringing you the most traffic.
All this information is provided to you in an easy-to-read chart with plenty of graphics — so there’s no excuse to not make the most of it.
You know that epic PowerPoint presentation you just gave to a group of potential clients?
Slideshare makes it possible for you to share it with them again and again — ensuring that they never forget your business’s name.
Simply upload your presentation online, and send them the link in an email.
This tool isn’t just great for refreshing potential clients’ memories. Uploading your presentations online can also help to establish you as an authority, and help you to access new markets your competition doesn’t even know about. Think of them as blog posts, in a PowerPoint format.
#3. A VoIP Phone System
Reliable — yet flexible — phone systems for small businesses are one of the most valuable business development tools out there.
No matter how efficient email may be, the reality is that people still want to talk to a real person and have an immediate, in-the-moment conversation. Not to mention, you’re a lot more likely to close the deal this way.
A VoIP phone system, in particular, allows you to make calls over the Internet — without having to add an additional line. Not only does this save you money, it also allows you to make even long distance calls from anywhere you have Internet access.
In many cases, you can also conduct video calls through your VoIP system.
#4. A Free Keyword Tool
In our first point, we mentioned how Google Analytics can help you to figure out which keywords are bringing the most clicks to your website.
But how do you find those keywords (phrases potential customers type into search engines) in the first place?
By using a free keyword tool, you’ll be able to find location-specific, niche-friendly keywords that will draw clients to your site — and away from your competition’s.
#5. WordPress
We saved the most important tool for last — WordPress.
One of the best things you can do for your business is to create a blog for it. After all, small businesses that have a blog see a 126% increase in lead growth.
WordPress is a blogging/hosting platform that can help you to get those numbers for yourself.
Plus, it also allows you to connect with your customers and readers in the comments section. This is an invaluable, easy, and often fun way to engage with your market and get great, unbiased feedback.
Take Advantage Of These Business Development Tools
It takes a lot to keep a small business afloat. These tools can help you do it.
For more advice on how to grow your web traffic, and to learn how to start a blog, visit our website.