Small Business Technology Trends 2011
Technology is the driving force behind small business in the Twenty-First Century. Here are a few trending technologies that will emerge as staples of the industry by the end of the year.
Pico Projection
Handing a client an iPad for a demo is cool, but pico projection is the technology that will run business demonstrations for multiple clients in large rooms through 2011. Never before has projection technology looked so good or been more affordable for business owners and now is the time for small business owners to take advantage of this inspiring new way to demo for clients. A strong and sharp pico projector can easily fit in your briefcase and can power an entire presentation from your laptop. On the consumer end, pico projectors will become a stable accessory on smartphones this year.
Cloud Computing
Businesses will be working in the cloud more and more through 2011, beginning with Google’s web-based business applications. Google will mainstream cloud computing for users throughout 2011 and what happens on the network will most likely decide the future of this ubiquitous new technology. Even though cloud computation is still in its infancy the advantages are already starting to surface in the business world.
Social Networking
Having a social networking strategy in 2011 is a must. Personalization takes time, but that doesn’t mean you can’t get immediate results through social networking now. A presence on Facebook is now a standard marketing tool for small business competing in a crowded marketplace. Social networking your business opens up a new territory for businesses and consumers alike to explore. Facebook and Google are now competing for the most internet traffic and each have their own distinct advantages, but Facebook lets a business get in touch with their clients and discover new one’s at an unprecedented rate. Companies are already doing great business on Facebook and you can, too.
Tablet Computers and Smartphones
Laptops are on the way out and tablets are coming in, as consumers and businesses want more functionality from their smartphones. The applications business owners have been using to manage their accounts are now available on smartphones and tablet computers. This shift in computer hardware will take business owners further away from the office and present more exciting opportunities for anyone in the mobile application business. Besides being cool and useful, tablet and smartphone devices will be the norm by the end of the year for on-the-go business men. Users want new types of hardware in their hands that aren’t a rehash of the same thing they used last year. Developers are working overtime to present interesting and useful applications to business owners who want more functionality from their new tablets. For those who want more than glossy applications from a tablet, operating systems such as Microsoft’s Windows will be running on tablets as a standard by the middle of the year.
Google has become the most important tool for small-businesses in the last few years. Anyone can participate in a variety of services with guaranteed results. Services like Google Place Pages and Adsense give your business an on-line presence immediately and affordably. If you’re tech savy or hire an SEO expert it’s possible to achieve all of your marketing through one Google account. This is really exciting for small business owners who don’t have the experience or funds for an extensive marketing campaign. Google will literally put your business on the map for free and offers a variety of marketing programs for small-business success.