The age-old wisdom that time is money holds true for today’s small business owners. However, finding ways to streamline without sacrificing quality can feel pretty challenging. We’ve pulled together some of the best free and paid service options for companies in the B2B arena, so you can enhance your business and improve efficiency without skimping on quality — ultimately boosting your bottom line.

Go virtual

Knowing you want to make improvements is one thing, but knowing where to make them is another. Start by taking a hard look at where you and your team spend time, particularly on routine tasks. Sometimes, the solution to many problems comes in the form of equipment upgrades. For instance, Chron.com points out that virtual meetings reduce travel time, improve communication, and allow for more effective time management.

Get financing

Of course, if funds are keeping you from investing in technology, there are financing options to help you make it happen. Many of our clients make use of invoice factoring to increase their working capital.  Whether you’re running a startup, have a well-established company, or have struggled with accessing funding in the past, your trusted financial partner can help you find the right option for your company.

Build your brand

It’s no secret that brand recognition can be a key to success. Take the wide selection of soft-drinks for example. One glance at your choices and you may instantly gravitate to a favorite — and that might have a lot to do with the visible branding. While most companies never get to that stage of brand recognition, carving your niche out of the market is a realistic goal, and there are ample tools to help you achieve it.

An effective and recognizable logo is a great starting point, and for businesses just starting out, you can use logo design services to create your own. Whether hiring a professional designer, going the crowdsourcing route, or taking a crack at it, DIY style, your updated look should follow key design best practices to make it eye-catching and impactful.

Engage social media

Social media can seem like a mixed bag for small business owners. Posting about your company’s comings and goings can feel like a time drain, much less taking the time to respond to comments and inquiries you receive from interested parties. However, when it comes to getting the word out, Entrepreneur.com points out that business owners shouldn’t underestimate the power of social media.

It’s free and effective, and with a few well-chosen tools, you can stay on top of things without skipping a beat. There are even apps for building things like surveys and quizzes, creating animated videos, and increasing exposure through hashtags. It’s a great opportunity to build your brand with minimal investment.

Enhance customer satisfaction

You probably know happy clients help sell services and products. Not only does it keep them coming back for more, they are more inclined to tell others about you. What’s more, when they run into a problem, being able to connect with you about it promptly can sometimes make or break their experience. With that in mind, consider adding free apps to your repertoire that enables your customers to voice their needs, day or night, without adding to your workload.

Related: 4 ways to keep busy customers happy (without sacrificing exceptional service)

Keep sales flowing

A faster, more efficient, and highly effective sales cycle can mean putting more time and energy toward the next achievement. As a small business owner, this can sometimes feel tricky, as the personal touch is often what endears you to your clientele. Thankfully, there are numerous online sales tools that automate time-consuming, behind-the-scenes processes so you can make the most of interactions and building your customer base. From email marketing systems and task scheduling to automated reminders tailored to your clients, letting apps take on the grunt work can free up time and boosts sales.

Engaging outside services to enhance your business can take your business to new levels.  Look out for where efficiency could improve your processes, ensure customers are happy, and get the word out about your company in effective ways. These smart strategies can grow your small business by leaps and bounds in no time.

 

Up Next: See 10 ways that small businesses can crush big competitors.