"THE ENTREPRENEUR AND ICT"

"THE ENTREPRENEUR AND ICT"
By Charles Okoh.

The world has become very digital. Any entrepreneur that has not embraced ICT yet is not ready to achieve much in the business of this present age. Manual operations are now being supported and replaced with electronic operations. These electronic operations are carried out with the aid of digital devices such as computers and mobile phones. Some of the tools used for these electronic operations include: Excel spreadsheet, Websites and Blogs, Social media, Bulk SMS etc.

The Excel spreadsheet is an important tool used for inputting, storing and analysing data. Some entrepreneurs use it for their everyday regular record keeping. It is also used to take inventory, make forecasts and compare trends between two or more periods. The excel spreadsheet can be used alongside some accounting softwares for more advanced computations.

Have you ever been asked if you have an online presence? As an entrepreneur, both you and your business should be present online. That brings us to the issue of Websites and Blogs. Any business that cannot afford to build and host a website should at least have a blog. A blog is similar to a website and can be created in just 5 minutes. It usually costs nothing to own one. That means you can tell the whole world about your business from a free platform. If you don't have a blog already, create one today. It will enhance your business. Your website/blog should have these basics: a good description of your product or service, answers to frequently asked questions and testimonials of clients who have patronized your business lately. Your official phone number and email should also be present in case there are people who want to make further enquiries after surfing your webpage.

Social media is another interesting platform. It is not just for chatting with friends. It can be used legitimately to promote a business and increase patronage. It costs little or nothing to maintain. That's why most brands and establishments ask customers and aficionados to follow them on facebook and twitter. As an entrepreneur it is advisable you update your social media account daily. Give your customers latest information about your products/services. You can also include breaking news and goodwill messages in your posts. You will get replies after your updates have been read. Make sure you differentiate the complaints from the compliments and respond accordingly.

Are you not delighted when your bank sends you a birthday wish or holiday greeting? As an entrepreneur, you are expected to do the same for your customers. This can be achieved using Bulk SMS. That means you should have a database of your customers' phone numbers. Then create a Bulk SMS account and send out messages from time to time.

In conclusion, embrace ICT with both arms. Adopt the latest technology relevant to your business. Ask your friends and customers to follow you on social media. Collect their digital contacts also e.g phone numbers, emails, blackberry pins, twitter handle and so on. Guard these contacts and your business data against viruses and Internet hackers. Create a backup for your important files- it aids easy recovery should anything go wrong with your original data.