Business

5 digital tools SMEs today should be using

Philstar.com

October 14, 2015 | 2:30am

MANILA, Philippines – Since entrepreneurs and consumers have embraced technology, the way people run businesses today is way more advanced, especially with the help of digital tools. In fact, a lot of entrepreneurs get their jobs done even when they are on the go.

While some established companies still find the digital shift quite a challenge, it has become imperative for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to start and stay digital.

To help all SMEs, here are at least five kinds of digital tools every entrepreneur today should be using to maximize the potential of their businesses in the market:

1. Tools for SEO

SEO or search engine optimization is a fundamental internet marketing practice that every business present online should be able to do well. To put it simply, SEO is the process of increasing a website’s visibility on search engine results pages, something that can greatly help you especially if you’re new in the industry.

Some SEO tools you can start familiarizing yourself with are some of those that Google has. You can use AdWords or the Keyword Planner to find out which keywords will help increase your website traffic. Google Analytics, meanwhile, is a great tool to monitor the performance of your website.

You would also want to use a plagiarism checker like Copyscape as duplicate content impedes SEO efforts.

2. Tools for social media

Social media channels like Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, YouTube, Google+, LinkedIn, Reddit, Tumblr and Instagram have proven to be very powerful platforms for brand awareness, customer relations and even ecommerce.

Getting your business on social media is actually one of the best ways to get your brand out in the open. Your target consumers can easily discover you in this way.

The use of social media management tools like Hootsuite, Tweetdeck and Sprout Social will make your social media marketing efforts more competitive and more effective.

3. Tools for collaboration

Brainstorming and file sharing can be more efficient with digital tools like Evernote, Dropbox, Trello, Basecamp and Google Drive. With the help of these tools, no one in your team will be left out of any important discussions. Sharing files and ideas is also more organized.

4. Tools for finding services

Don’t know who to tap for a short project? You can find a lot of talented individuals online. These people are often freelancers who are advertising their services at a competitive price.

You can turn to websites such as UpWork (formerly oDesk) and Elance to find the help you need. Locally, you can look at Raket.ph and Freelancer.ph.

Communicating with remote staff is easy with applications like Skype and Viber. The tools for collaboration that were mentioned in the previous item will also make working with them easier.

5. Tools for accounting

SME owners face the challenge of having to accomplish basic accounting tasks themselves. Thanks to digital tools like Wave Accounting, FreshBooks, Zoho Books, and QuickBooks because they make the challenge easier.

A lot of accounting tools are cloud-based and can be accessed in various platforms. They can also sync your data across your devices. That means you can finish your accounting tasks on desktop and on tablet or mobile when you’re on the go.

Take advantage of these tools to grow your business better and thrive in digital entrepreneurship. PLDT Smart SME Nation has a wide range of digital solutions that can make your business grow. Their technologies for broadband, cloud services and mobility solutions, among others, empower big and small businesses to thrive in the digital age. With such solutions, your operations can be more efficient, more cost-effective and more profitable. Learn and ask about their offerings at www.pldtsme-nation.com.ph.

PLDT Smart SME Nation is applauding today’s entrepreneurs who are thriving in their respective industries as they embrace technology in running their businesses. Watch out for the upcoming Bozz Awards on October 28, 2015 where select business owners will be awarded with various recognitions for their entrepreneurial and digital excellence.

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