Web-based or cloud-based software and/services are all the
rage right now, you hear about them everywhere. You are probably wondering how
they can benefit your business and if any of them are a good fit for your
organization. There are so many types of cloud services today it can be a bit
of a daunting question to ponder. Keeping things very simple, here are ten
reasons why I think you should learn more about cloud-based solutions and how
they can benefit you and your business.
1.Save Time: Running a business is like having two or three
full-time jobs. Because there are so many things to do – time – is one of the
most valuable assets you have. In my experience, cloud-based software =
substantial time savings. From easy to
access email to no longer having to install software updates, cloud-based
solutions can really make an impact on efficiency.
2.Share and Empower: I have found cloud-based software to be
much easier to access, use and share information across my team. My team is
more empowered to do things that only I used to be able to do. That is a
win/win!
3.Work from Anywhere: I spend a lot of time traveling, so
being able to work, in addition to accessing my full email and calendar from my
mobile device is critical. This allows me to be productive when I am waiting in
lines, at restaurants, and anywhere really. The thing I love most is that when
I am in the office; I am not playing as much catch up.
4.Keep in Touch: When I am traveling I like to keep in touch
with my family via mobile video calling, but I also use it to stay in touch
with donors and my team. Video calling adds a face to face interaction (which I
am a huge fan of) in a very convenient way.
I recommend Skype, but there are a ton of great services.
5.Stay Safe: Your data is your lively hood. Backing it up in
a secure environment is essential.
6.Learn More: Take time this fall to use a web-based survey
tool to learn more about your customers. The information you gather can be used
to build a more successful marketing plan. I recommend Survey Monkey because it
is easy to use and the base product is free!
7.Build Awareness: I meet businesss all of the time that
have not yet started an email marketing program. There are a multitude of
web-based email solutions that will really make getting started easy.
Consistent communication is key to building awareness for your business. So,
what are you waiting for?
8.Network Online: Social is another blog post all together,
but becoming social and networking online is critical to your businesses
future. Make it your goal to join the top 3 by the end of summer. (Start with
Facebook, Twitter and Linked In.)
9.Collect Mobile Payments: My new favorite web-based service
is mobile payment processing. Check out my other blog at www.donorexpereince101.com
to see why I love it so much, and check out Sage Payment Solutions mobile
offering.
10.Get Current: Now is a great time to consider moving your
old solutions to the cloud. Think about how your organization might benefit
from moving your accounting, CRM or other application to a cloud-based
solution.
Take-away: Cloud-based solutions can really make your life easier and
increase productivity.
Republished from Sage Nonprofit Solutions.
