Three Key Ways Your Internet Speed Affects Your Business

Business

Technology has always been accompanied by change. Some of this change is fairly small and affects only one specific sector, while other change is major and affects everyone. When it comes to changes in technology, more often than not it’s on a fairly large scale. Look at the computer, for example—we’re still seeing major ripples from changes in that technology. The business world is often hit especially hard by technology changes because they can result in the complete renovation of a process or even an entire industry. Here are eight different ways technology is changing the business landscape and how businesses have to adapt or be left behind.

1. Facilitating Business Monetization

Thanks to mobile technology, businesses have been able to monetize more than ever. Before these changes, customers had to walk into a business and pay for an item. Then, they could call in and order over the phone. With the internet, online shopping became an option. Now, thanks to the prevalent use of smart phones and tablets, businesses can offer transactions through a wide variety of apps. Retailers, restaurants, and even gaming companies offer customers the option to pay through apps on their phone in a fast, secure manner.

Slow internet causes employees to spend much of their day waiting on their network to catch up to the speed at which they are working. They have to sit and wait for file transfers, applications to. Three Key Ways Your Internet Speed Affects Your Business 1. Cloud Apps Remember plugging in a CD-ROM to download the latest software program? No more, today you can install. VoIP Communication The fact that landline phone use is down while mobile and Voice Over IP (VoIP) calling is on the. May 04, 2018 Internal & External Factors That Affect an Organization. Successful small-business owners keep track of all the factors that can have an impact on their business. They know when to sweat the small stuff without taking their eyes off the big picture, and they understand that all kinds of circumstances can change.

Three Key Ways Your Internet Speed Affects Your Business Name

2) Enabling Business Real-time Analytics

In order to keep up with customer trends and craft the most effective marketing plans possible, businesses need up-to-date customer data. With smart phones, they can now use apps to gather data in real-time, making it possible to react to customer trends and new habits immediately. Various tools allow the huge amount of customer data gathered every day to be analyzed and sorted into customer sets that can be utilized in a variety of different ways. This data can be shared between departments or office locations quickly and easily through online task management programs, too, making it possible to see the big picture no matter where you’re physically located.

3) Facilitating Interactions via Business Apps

Prior to the internet, customers and businesses interacted primarily in person or over the phone, and no one ever suspected it would be any different. Now, social media sites, texting, and apps let businesses interact with their customers on a day to day basis, sharing everything from coupons and product announcements to fun videos and pictures of the staff. Social media has become, in fact, one of the major forms of advertising today, and it’s all thanks to the technology that has made it possible to go online anywhere. Customers can access the services they want no matter where they are, while businesses can reach out with information and deals at any time.

4) Fueling development of Business Gadgets

Three Key Ways Your Internet Speed Affects Your BusinessThree Key Ways Your Internet Speed Affects Your Business

One thing you have probably noticed at the store, a restaurant, the park, and even the movie theater is that people are on their phones all the time. When they get home, they may exchange the phone for the computer screen, but they’re still online. Businesses know consumers are spending hours every day on the internet and using apps, and this knowledge is driving the development of more apps and other gadgets that will let customers interact with and purchase products from businesses. As more gadgets become internet-connected, the online customer base grows, and any business that isn’t trying to keep up by rolling out new gadgets to engage with these customers is going to get left behind.

Three Key Ways Your Internet Speed Affects Your Business Online

5) The rise of the cloud

Thanks to the cloud and various cloud-based applications, businesses and even the average user can now retrieve data from anywhere they can access the internet. Businesses can also spend much less money on software by “leasing” it from the cloud. They pay for the software as it’s needed, and when it’s not, they simply cancel the subscription. There’s very little to actually install on the user’s computer.

6) Supporting Business Security

Of course, all of these apps, cloud servers, and other online systems do mean one thing: businesses must be much more careful with their security. In the past twenty years, thanks to technology changes, cyber-defense has gone from a non-concern to an industry that makes billions every year. Having a strong antivirus, locking servers down from hackers, and using an advanced intrusion prevention, and detection system No system is 100% hacker-proof, of course, but the stronger your security is, the less likely malicious people are going to target it. Hackers go after the weaker systems, so those who don’t invest in security solutions may find that they’re targeted more often than not.

7) 24/7/365 business connectivity

The world is now connected 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. It’s easy to send email to an office halfway around the world, retrieve data from three different locations within a few minutes, and then attend a conference video call with representatives from a dozen different countries. Customers can access products and services at any time, allowing businesses to continue to make profits even when their physical store is closed. This connectivity only reinforced the idea that businesses must keep up with this technology. If they fall behind, they’re going to lose customers to the businesses that have embraced being connected every second of every day.

8) Other important trends

Three Key Ways Your Internet Speed Affects Your Business Effectively

There are a number of other trends that are currently in development that may have a huge impact on businesses in the future. One example is 3D printing. This technology may revolutionize the manufacturing industry, but it also has far-reaching applications for the medical community, retailers, and anyone who needs custom parts or products. Augmented reality may seem to be limited to gaming, but it may be used for training and for virtual tours. Wearable technology is advancing at a fast paceand may change how patients record their vitals and other health information.

As technology changes and evolves, the business world will, too. How it evolves and what changes we’ll see in the next five, ten, and twenty years may be surprising, but there’s no denying that they will occur.

Businesses big and small are realizing the huge benefits of social media marketing and its increasing importance in the race to stay relevant and attract new customers. Long gone are the days when your secretary was the first point of contact between the outside and your company – that role is being replaced by websites and social media profiles. According to data from Global Web Index:

  • 37% of internet users follow their favorite brands on social media
  • 30% of internet users use social networks to research products

With people turning to their mobile devices and social media in the buying journey there are many reasons why your business should be active on social media.

Here are 10 key benefits of social media for business:

1. Increased Exposure/Brand Awareness:

Social media will expose your company or service to new eyes. With one click your message is shown to multitude of people. Social media can help you find customers already talking about your business- information you can leverage to reach even more people.

2. Learn About Your Audience/Target Consumer:

Social media gives you insights into what your audience is into (besides you, of course). Getting to know your audience can help you discover creative ways to reach them via advertising or content. Catering and targeting to this degree will lead to increased conversions.

3. Customer Service:

Sometimes a customer won’t reach out to you if they have a problem, but will go ahead and post a complaint online. Many consumers now using social media as a point of contact with a brand, and expect a response The Social Habit reports that 42% customers who reach out to brands online expect a response within the hour.

4. Feedback:

Social media allows for instant feedback from your consumers good or bad. The time between knowing if a product or a campaign is a success is shorter. This means you can respond and resolve mishaps in a faster manner.

5. New Opportunities:

Social media can offer opportunities you may miss out on by not having a social presence. Negative comments and experiences can be addressed and adjusted – keeping customers happy and showing potential customers that you care (giving you a little more to love over the competition). In my own experience, clients I’ve worked with have been able to secure inclusions in digital publications – expanding reach and establishing authority – all from messages received on their social media profiles.

6. Competitive Analysis:

Social media can help you keep an eye (and edge) on the competition. You can use social media to target you competition’s fans, see what they may be doing that you can improve on – or simply identify ways to stand out within your industry.

7. Sales:

If your social media is done correctly it could help you increase sales. An audience that is truly interested in your brand or product will respond to sales messaging and convert. Having a social media presence can also allow customers “get to know” your brand, giving you more chances to gain their business.

Key

8. Leads:

Social media is a great inbound marketing tool that can help you collect leads and build your email list. Publishing and posting content that is relevant to both your brand and your audience is a way to attract customers who are truly interested in your brand and what you have to offer.

9. Brand Equity

Maybe this is something you don’t think about right away, but your #socialmedia presence does weigh in the value of your brand. Not only does this apply to how consumers perceive your brand, but a study conducted by INC revealed that “the average offer received among all of the businesses we analyzed was 3.7 times pre-tax profit. However, when we isolate just those businesses with at least 10,000 connections, the offer multiple goes up to 4.67. If you have more than 100,000 people in your opt-in footprint, the multiple goes up to 4.87”. Seems that your social media network is your net worth (kind of).

[bctt tweet=”Your #socialmedia presence weighs in the value of your brand – both monetarily and in consumer perception”]

10. Relevancy

Part of staying in business is to remain relevant. What better way to remain relevant than to be in the thick of conversations your customers are having about their needs and wants? Social media gives your company or brand insight into how it can continue to evolve and deliver results for your bottom line and your consumers.

Social media can be time consuming, and at times frustrating – but it is increasingly becoming a MUST if you own a business as consumers turn to social media not only as a point of contact, but as a research tool. Remember that what you post online is a representation of your business, and with mere seconds to capture someone’s attention, you always want to put your best foot forward. Done right, your business can reap the benefits of social media marketing.

Test Your Internet Speed

This article was originally posted here.