5 Major Forecasts for Small Business in 2011
As this year ends, we return to the technological advances that small businesses have benefited, and predict how these technologies affect business in 2011.
Here are my five predictions about how small businesses continue to adapt to changing technologies of us in the New Year in power.
Read and let us know what you add to the list in the comments below.
1. Increased spending on websites:
Small businesses are expected to increase spending on marketing online with websites under the front seat, according to a recent survey. The survey found that 54% of respondents indicated that their companies currently have a website. Unfortunately, most of these sites contain only general information, and less than half of them are the characteristics of customer service.
The importance of easily available on the Internet is not yet fully recognized by small, but increasingly, companies are taking notice smart. Next year will be characterized by increased spending on the development sites are picking up small businesses in its current iteration as online brochures to larger stations as a useful resource for customers.
These updates enhance their ability to present online e-commerce, reservation systems, corporate blogging and social integration of media. In addition, we can see more attention to better web design.
Increasing Internet Usage
2. Smartphone Revolution:
You should know that 49% of small businesses use smart phones, faster than the rest of America in Smartphone adoption, according to a recent Forrester study.
On a daily basis as owners of small businesses, PDA, it is inevitable that start with mobile technologies to innovate. In 2010, entrepreneurs have been traveling with Twitter, Location Based Services and investment in mobile advertising.
In 2011, the revolution will take place next Smartphone, with increasing adoption of Smartphones. Mobile devices continue to change the way businesses of all sizes to do business. For business needs at their fingertips, the experience of small business owners greater flexibility than ever before.
Smartphones
3. Shopping and social progress of E-Commerce
Although a number of small firms social shopping in 2010 have benefited, some wondered if the buying group was really worth the risk.
Regardless, it is clear that electronic commerce is a big advantage for small businesses that participate. With its products online, companies have expanded their customer base beyond their local markets.
While only 30% of websites of small businesses currently include e-commerce capabilities, enthusiasm has grown through online shopping and social experiment could push smaller companies with the means in 2011.
Shopping & E-commerce
4. More targeted social media initiatives:
This year was a time of experimentation with social media for many small businesses. Evidence of many social media last year, benefiting small businesses are informed about what their customers are using platforms and how their companies to stay connected on any platform.
It is not uncommon to visit a small company to show a mass of social icons, if all the profiles to find on the Internet. It appears that the contractors are spread thin in the area of social media this year to test each platform, got buzzed.
The simple truth is that every platform is tailored to each company – this is where your customers.
After answering many questions of social media small business this year, next year I think really the basis of its concentration on the essentials for success and demonstrated strong measures.
Developing Social Media
5. The increasing use of Cloud Computing:
Earlier this year, live a group of Internet experts and social analysts, and technology that provides all Internet users in the Clouds “in 2020. Even if I do not have the skills to analyze this prediction, I emphasize that I and many of my friends and colleagues are already working and living conditions mainly web and mobile applications, based less on the software installed on our desktop.
Cloud services have already been simplified many processes for the company. Google Apps and Google Docs, for example, accommodation and spreadsheets, presentations, forms, and word processing are much easier. Box.net safe and also took the online file sharing and collaboration easier. Meanwhile 37signals supports a full range of business tools for project management, CRM, internal communications and group chat.
In 2011, companies will be increasingly exposed to the cloud services in high-tech firms to introduce products that are increasingly moving into our digital life in the cloud.
Cloud Computing