Partner Article

Using online services to grow your business

The 21st century has given us access to a wealth of knowledge and resources at the touch of a button. This can result in complete information overload, with us all wandering the web without any real purpose.

But help isn’t far away. With so many different tools out there, I thought I’d share the cloud-based tools and online services that really show how it’s possible now to start and run a business from scratch online.

Finding the initial funding
In the current economic climate, it can be hard to find a venture capitalist that believes in your idea and has the capital to make it a reality. Crowd-sourced funding platforms such as Kickstarter open your idea up to a wider community of individuals who might share your passion and provide the initial investment to get the wheels in motion. In return the supporter can be offered incentives such as the finished product or an acknowledgement on the company’s website.

Get the basics in place
Using web-based office suites like Google Documents will allow you to make paperless collaboration easier than ever, enabling employees from around the world to contribute on one shared document.

Combined with cloud storage providers such as Dropbox, sharing and collaborating on documents with colleagues, clients and customers suddenly becomes easier than ever.

Access global talent
Online employment platforms such as my own company, Elance, allow businesses to hire skilled workers for a variety of jobs and tasks on a freelance basis. This means whether you need legal documents drafting or a new mobile app creating, finding the right team or resources is easier and more efficient than ever.

In the same way as using cloud-based storage, a cloud-based workforce cuts costs and allows your business to react flexibly in times of high demand.

Get your makeup right
A solid brand identity is essential for businesses of any size. And, in such a competitive market, it’s important that your brand stands out. Why not hire a cloud-based web-designer to help you put together a brand identity that will work?

Additionally, in this social age, conveying your expertise in the area in which you work is more important than ever. A blog can be a great way of showing potential customers that you’re ahead of the competition. Using an easy-to-use publishing platform such as WordPress makes it simple to set up a blog.

Remember to share this content across social networks such as Twitter and Facebook so that you can engage the right audience and create a community around what you’re doing.

Don’t forget to switch off
Going back to my initial point about the vastness of the Internet, while there is so much opportunity out there to run a business through the web, it’s worth remembering that digital should only be one part of your strategy.

Building strong relationships through networking and face-to-face meetings remains invaluable for many companies.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Kjetil Olsen .