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Effective Technology for Small Businesses in Lynchburg, VA

The business environment is rapidly changing thanks to innovation. Technology transforms the workspace by streamlining processes, automating functions, integrating systems, and enhancing security. However, the size of your business affects the cost-effectiveness of the invested technology. For startups and small businesses, having the right technology is one thing, but affordability is another significant aspect. Your business can only enjoy the benefits of practical, scalable, and reasonably-priced technology. 

Before investing in any technology, find out if the provider offers support in case a problem occurs after implementation and integration. Test the waters by calling support before ordering to see if someone is available to help as promised. Read on for a list of technologies specific to small business operations courtesy of the Lynchburg Regional Business Alliance.

Slack 

Effective communication channels are essential for small businesses. Good communication is critical, especially if you manage a team remotely. You need technology that organizes, streamlines, and enables remote engagement. Luckily, Slack is an affordable and effective communication platform for small businesses. You can use Slack for team-wide and project-specific channels. You can also create a newsfeed for important information everyone in the company needs to know. 

QuickBooks

QuickBooks is an invoicing software that ensures you receive prompt payments. The accounting software has downloadable and customizable invoice templates that you can send or give to your clients. Create professional-looking invoices that suit your brand and include your logo with QuickBooks. All you have to do is choose from an assortment of pre-made templates and customize your preferred design by adding your business name, logo, brand colors, and other pertinent information. 

Wix 

Your small business needs a professional website to market goods and services and engage consumers. Hiring a web developer or an IT department to create and manage your website is expensive. You can use Wix, a cloud-based web development service with build-it templates to build and design your business website. 

The process is easy and fun. Simply drag and drop pieces of templates available and customize them according to your brand specifics. Wix has a community of users and direct support from the company readily available to assist. It is also secure, connects with all social media platforms, and has tools for search engine optimization. 

Square 

Square is an excellent choice if managing a website isn't your thing and you only need an e-commerce space. The platform enables you to create an online store and accept payments securely. You can also opt for a third-party payment application of your choosing. 

HubSpot 

HubSpot is the perfect solution for streamlining, optimizing, and automating your marketing strategies. You can use this application as a customer relationship management tool. It's also essential as a lead generator and converter since it focuses on consumer behavior and patterns. Additionally, you can use it to boost sales. 

Free Marketing and Communication Resources

Fortunately for the small business leader’s budget, there are plenty of free tools to help you with marketing and communication. In addition to the web publishers mentioned above, you can find free templates for more social media platforms that can cut your design time down substantially. You can also find good general email and email newsletter templates that can help you communicate clearly to your customers even if writing isn’t your strong suit. 

You can also find great tools for file conversions, page extraction, and editing. You can leverage an online PDF editor to send and receive feedback on a social media post or newsletter draft before making them public. Ask a trusted team member or friend who has experience marketing to review a PDF draft or mockup before finalizing them. The tool has pen, highlighter, text, and sticky note options to give feedback directly on the draft.

Invest in Technology for Small Business 

Technology for business is not exclusive to big corporations. Small business owners can also benefit when they choose technology suitable for their business size and pocket. Be strategic about paid tools and invest in what you need most, and look for great free options like a PDF editor that can help you create effective marketing materials. In the end, each tool is an investment, and you should see them pay off soon.

Access even more great resources to help your business grow and thrive in our community by joining the Lynchburg Regional Business Alliance.