Over the last decade, there have been a lot of changes in the business world. Failing to keep up with these changes could make your business appear ‘outdated’ – which could affect your ability to attract customers. Not keeping up with these changes could also be making your business less productive compared to your competitors.
Below are just some of the signs that your business is still stuck in 2010.
You’re still not using the cloud
Cloud technology has been around for a while, but it has only really taken off in the last ten years. It involves storing data on a remote cloud server instead of on local servers or hard drives.
Some companies have been hesitant to migrate to the cloud – either because they don’t really understand what the cloud is or because of the costs and security concerns. There are many benefits to cloud storage – you can find a list of reasons to embrace cloud technology here at this guide Why Move To The Cloud.
Some of the major benefits include being able to access information from any location, allowing multiple people to access the same information at the same time and preventing potential data loss as a result of property damage/theft (if you store all your data locally, you could risk losing it all in a fire or a burglary). Of course, cloud usage incurs expenses, but reserved instance management, especially for AWS systems can help reduce overall costs.
Your website isn’t mobile friendly
Ten years ago, virtually no-one used the internet on their mobile phone. Now almost all of us use our phone to access social media or search Google. In fact, over 50% of internet usage is now on mobile devices.
As a result, it’s important to have a website that’s mobile-friendly. If your website was built over ten years ago and you haven’t updated it since, you may want to consider hiring a web developer to redesign it and make it mobile-friendly. It could also be worth exploring other forms of mobile marketing such as SMS marketing and apps.
You’re not using social media
Social media has now become as important as having a website. It’s an effective marketing tool for connecting with customers – if you’re not taking advantage of it already, now could be the time to get involved.
Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn are the most popular platforms. You may want to start by setting up a Facebook business page, getting used to running a page and then trying other social media platforms from there. You can find numerous tips on social media marketing online – this post Social Media Marketing: The Ultimate Guide could be worth a read.
You’re not considering your environmental impact
Environmental awareness has also increased over the last decade. Customers nowadays care more about whether a company is doing its part to protect the environment. This could include using sustainable materials, recycling waste, reducing chemicals, limiting energy usage and going paperless.
If you haven’t thought much about your company’s environmental impact, now could be the time to start making changes. This guide details a few different ways to make your business more sustainable.