You may have been successfully running your business for quite some time without any major hiccups or complications. However, as is the case with most new businesses, you will eventually reach a plateau or stopping point where you are no longer able to generate very much growth.
In order to break down that wall and continue growing your business, you need to find an efficient way to increase revenue and sales opportunities. Using a mobile device, such as your smartphone, as an effective business tool can help you to do just that.
Manage Time Wisely with Productive Applications
Chances are that you are already using some sort of mobile application on a daily basis with your smartphone or tablet for personal purposes. One report shows that over 102 million mobile applications have been downloaded around the world. That figure is projected to rise to well over 268 million by 2017, according to Statista. Whether you are using an Apple or Android device, there are literally hundreds of thousands of applications that are easily accessible through your smartphone or tablet.
You can actually use this accessibility to your advantage when it comes to breaking through that stopping point. There is an abundance of applications specifically designed for time management and productivity purposes that can save you a considerable amount of time each day when it comes to time-consuming tasks, such as file management and administrative work. By taking the time to explore those options, you may find that you have more time to work on more profitable aspects of your business and less time with those tedious and time-consuming obligations.
Expand Your Hours with Mobile Sales
One of the best ways to use your smartphone to break through the plateau is to embrace the world of mobile sales. Perhaps you have a traditional, brick-and-mortar storefront that requires customers to come to you during your hours of operation. On the other hand, you might run an eCommerce business from the comfort of your own home.
Either way, you are still confined to a physical space with its own requirements. Using a smartphone will allow you to expand your hours in order to remain flexible for your prospective customers, because you will be able to use the device as a credit card processing system whenever and wherever you need it.
Create Sales Opportunities in the Community
Another effective way to break through the plateau is to create brand new sales opportunities for your company within the community. Within your physical or virtual business, you might currently be limiting to your sales potential to the traffic that flows directly to your storefront. However, you can maximize exposure and increase your sales by using the mobile capabilities of your smartphone to search for profitable opportunities elsewhere.
For example, you can sell your products and services at local trade shows or conventions. Perhaps the service that you offer can be done remotely instead of from your office – such as a mobile mechanic or IT specialist. Even though these opportunities would require you to be a little more flexible with your scheduling, the sales opportunities that they will create as a result will make it all worthwhile.
Cut Down Overhead Costs and Related Expenses
In most cases, the overhead costs and related expenses that you have to pay out every month just to keep your business running can also hinder the business from growing due to the decrease in profit that they cause. Therefore, an efficient course of action to take would be to study your current list of overhead expenditures – searching for target areas that can be drastically (or even slightly) reduced.
For instance, you might currently use a standard POS system to process your front-end transactions. This type of equipment can easily cost thousands of dollars to purchase upfront and tens of thousands of dollars to maintain over time due to recurring charges and licensing fees, according to Entrepreneur.
Investing in a mobile POS system, such as an equipment kit offered by Shopify, will allow you to process your front-end transactions efficiently for a fraction of that overwhelming cost. Remember, the more money that you save on the frontend, the more money you will be able to keep on the backend which will place your company in a position for positive, long-term growth.
Stay Connected to Your Customers
Use your mobile technology to stay connected to your customers and clients. Doing so will allow you to drastically improve the quality of your customer service, especially when it comes to responding to their complaints and issues in a timely manner. Keep in mind that nearly 90 percent of consumers stop doing business with the average company after having a poor customer service experience, according to Sales Force.
However, the same study shows that resolving issues in a timely manner will increase the chances of winning those customers back. Using your smartphone or tablet to respond to email inquiries, social media messages and other types of correspondence between yourself and your customers will open more doors of opportunity for your business – including repeat customers and referrals.
