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There are probably thousands of stores around the world that still haven’t updated the way they work. Technology has introduced some clever and wonderful advantages that have helped us change the way we work for the better. It has sped up processing times for orders, it has widened our audiences and it has helped us grow considerably larger than we were in the past.

All of these added together makes for a more successful business overall, but there are still many stubborn stores that just refuse to or simply can’t upgrade their processes to the modern age. In this article, we’ll be updating your knowledge of the modern business facilities and features you need in order to grow your company.

Updating your payment methods

If you still haven’t at least introduced credit and debit card support in your business then you’re living in a dark past where cash was the only accepted form of payment. Get yourself a free credit card reader so you can start taking different payments and finally remove that “cash only” sign on your door. Accepting different payment methods opens you up to more customers and it helps to make purchases more convenient, which is an essential factor when thinking about customer retention.

Get yourself a website

Thanks to the easy website builders available on the internet, it’s simple to get yourself an online presence. Many people think this is a waste of time especially if they’re just a humble grocery store or antique shop, but you’d be surprised at how useful it is to at least have some presence on the internet. You’ll be easier to find in online directories and you’ll be able to provide contact information if a customer wants to get in touch for one reason or another.

Growing on social media

The world of business comes with many social media marketing challenges and these can make it seem virtually impossible for a small-time business to take advantage of social media. However, social media doesn’t need to be a complicated and confusing concept–all it takes is a bit of knowledge and understanding of how it works. Social media is essentially just an online platform for people to communicate, but because there are so many users it’s a fantastic way to get exposure. Growing on social media ties in with getting yourself a website because they’re both ways to boost your online presence. Again, while it seems like a lot of work and borderline pointless for most business, it’s a fantastic way to increase awareness of your store and draw in more customers.

Selling on the internet

If you run a store that sells unique goods or has products that people across the country (or even the world) are interested in, then it might be a good idea to look into selling your products on the internet. Just think of it as sending a friend or family member a gift, except this time you’re getting paid for it and if you do it enough, you’ll land yourself some deals to reduce the amount it costs to send goods around. Even if you just register your products on an auction website, it’s still a fantastic way to widen your audience.