How many ways have you communicated with a fellow human today?

You’ve probably sent a few text messages. Maybe jumped onto that Facebook chat group that blew up overnight and sent off a quick response. You’ve most likely sent an email, answered a phone call, or perhaps even engaged in that most old-fashioned of communication methods: face-to-face conversation.

The way we communicate  has exploded as technology continues to make its way into every corner of our rituals, habits and processes. No longer do we wait for the mail to bring important news, or send telegrams to loved ones far away. As quickly as interpersonal communication has morphed into an ever-present, always-available, multiple-options-at-your-fingertips web, so too has the potential for businesses to engage with their customers in new, intuitive and innovative ways.

And yet, surprisingly - far too many businesses communicate with their customers the same way today as they did a...

If you’ve spent any time on our website, you may have already come across our breakdown of Zapier, an integration platform that offers users the power to set up ‘Zaps’ and automate tasks that involve two or more applications by setting them up to communicate with each other.

A ‘Zap’ is an action that’s defined by the parameters or events of your choice, allowing you to link an event (ie. receiving an email from a client) up with an action (ie. automatically forwarding that client email directly into your CRM platform to be added to their record, all without any input from you). Zapier’s a powerful player on the market, offering customisable automation abilities through the ability to connect actions across more than 500 web and mobile applications.

However, there’s another market player in this space that’s worth paying attention to: IFTTT. Where Zapier is a strong provider of business automation, IFTTT focuses...

Sometimes, automation gets the short end of the stick. When misinterpreted, people speak of automation with fear – as something negative that will play a part in disrupting economies through the reduction of jobs available for a human workforce. However, this is a short-sighted approach to automation. In fact, when automation is used well, it’s far less about replacing people, and much more about empowering them – removing repetitive manual tasks and allowing them to focus on their core role and on their clients with a refined understanding of their strengths and abilities.

When automation is embraced in a workplace or business, it can significantly increase productivity and profitability.CLICK TO TWEET

Automation can be implemented on scales large and small, but every layer of automation that’s added in a way that complements your business will bring with it marked changes and improvements in the way your team operates.

Beginning to understand how...

Runningg a business is expensive. Rent, equipment, monthly overheads, marketing, retirement plans, even staff birthdays… the costs truly do add up. In a world where many are walking fine lines between profit and cost bases on a monthly base, it can be difficult to say yes to new costs, even those that stand to add monumentally to your business and actually, could increase your profit whilst lowering your overheads. It sounds crazy when you look at it from a long-term perspective, but the irony of automation for many small business owners is that they feel they can’t afford to invest into the development of it – when in reality, they can’t afford not to.

Automation is rarely free. On top of regular subscriptions to automated services, such as CRMs, it can also be expensive to develop and implement in the first place. These costs can put astute business owners off, as they mentally juggle an unknown outcome with a very real upfront investment. Implicated in...

For many, the 9-5 work day doesn’t look quite the same as it did for generations past. While many of us still face the dreaded commute in and out of the office each day, a growing amount of us are now working in flexible arrangements. Working from home, working in the office part-time, or working from cafes all around the world – the way we work is changing as technology continues to advance, bringing with it many benefits in cost savings and lifestyle changes for employers and employees alike.

However, there are some down sides to face when you’ve got a team working remotely. For many businesses, brainstorming and creative collaboration are crucial in order to achieve maximum output and results. When you’ve got staff members sitting at desks in offices all over the area, and sometimes the world, it takes more intentionality to achieve this same result.

Video call apps let your remote team members connect in a real time, personal setting.CLICK TO TWEET

Video...

Many advances in the online world can be defined by a desire to replace analog systems with instantaneous and improved solutions. Physical mail = email. Filing cabinets overflowing with documents = cloud-based storage optimised for sharing across multiple users. Old-school telephone calls = VOIP (Voice Over Internet Protocol) solutions.  VOIP alternatives were absent for a long time.

When VOIP was first introduced, it was a revolution. Removing the need for copper-and-wires telephone systems, VOIP allowed for phone calls to be placed and received to and from any number via handsets and numbers connected to the internet. This offered businesses and individuals a cost savings opportunity, as VOIP service providers offered lower rates than standard traditional call rates. This was particularly attractive to companies who relied on consistent and affordable phone calls as an integral part of their business model.

However, as time has progressed, telephone services have continued to...

Owning and maintaining an effective small business comes with many challenges. Small business owners are faced with the non-stop juggle of workload, staffing, cashflow, market conditions and competitor pressures. Although being a small business owner can be highly rewarding, finding creative solutions to the balancing act of these areas, and more, is paramount to success.

Automation offers small businesses many benefits, including the ability to alleviate manual workloads and ensure teams can remain focused on the core outputs required to achieve success. As any business owner knows, consistently delivering powerful marketing messages to your target markets is a critical element of engaging existing clients and introducing yourself to new prospects.

Marketing automation creates the power to streamline customer communications, achieved through replacing repetitive manual tasks with automated workflows. For example, instead of manually sending a potential lead follow-up messages a...