9 digital essentials for start-up businesses
Posted on 1st February 2023
Sometimes, the most obvious things are the things we forget. She Inspires spoke with Anil Motivaras from Giga Ops Ltd about the IT requirements that any new business needs to consider.
There are many considerations when starting a new business. Do you need your own premises? Where are you going to sell your product? What is your target market? In the modern age, it’s important to remember that a lot of your business interaction will take place on a digital platform.
Giga Ops’ Managing Director and IT Specialist, Anil Motivaras, gave us a list of digital essentials that new business owners need to consider.
Appropriate laptop/desktop with anti-virus and file backup
This may seem like an obvious place to start, but is your hardware equipped for your business needs and do you have the software to protect it? You might start out on your personal laptop, but long-term, you'll need something capable of keeping your data safe and the memory to process your workload.
Internet connection
If you work from home, a stable internet connection is vital - you'll need to decide between mobile or fixed broadband. If your business has its own premises, you'll need to remember to get an internet connection installed there too.
Company domain name
Your domain name is your web address. Ensure that you can get the domain name you need - no business wants to be using Megacorp783.net (unless your business is actually called “Megacorp783”!). Keep your domain simple.
Company email address
Armed with a domain, set up your company email. This makes you look more credible than a Hotmail or Gmail account. It's part of your branding, and often the first touchpoint for your business.
Company branding
You might not think of this as a digital essential, but branding affects every part of your business. Your website, your email signature, your social media pages... It’s so important to get this right as good branding helps you stand out.
Company website
This can be a simple web page to start with. Over 80% of customers expect your online presence to include a list of services and how to contact you.
As you grow, you can add new elements like client testimonials, blogs or an image gallery. Most customers will find you on Google, so set up a free business profile. This will allow you to highlight your service credentials and respond to reviews.
You should also create social media pages - LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook - as they'll allow you to engage with your customers and build a following and brand loyalty.
Microsoft 365 Licence
Microsoft's Office Suite is easily the most universal software for word processing, spreadsheets, and presentations, meaning you'll have fewer compatibility issues when collaborating and communicating externally. It also comes with useful tools like OneDrive - this will allow you to securely store your files in the cloud and enable sharing with others.
Customer Relationship Management system
An online CRM system can help you to log your clients’ and prospects’ details and keep them ready for future marketing campaigns. There are many free CRM tools to get you started.
Telephony requirements
A cloud-based phone system allows you to turn your mobile into your office phone and work remotely via an app. This could be Teams (included in Microsoft 365), Skype, or even WhatsApp.
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