You want your company to expand, or it might already be growing, and with that comes inherent “growing pains”. Perhaps your potential base of target customers is now national (or even global) but you are stuck being viewed as a small fish in a big pond. Or maybe you’ve hit the point of diminishing returns and need to expand without a great deal of expense. Regardless of ‘why’, as part of an SMB, you love the potential that a flat world offers your business. At the same time, you need to question how to best jump into the international game.
But what type of business tools can help you finesse your company size while you are figuring it out?
Desktop video conferencing (especially desktop video conferencing with video capabilities built in, such as the solution offered by HearMe) is one way in which you can make your SMB have a bigger appearance. Here are three ways in which this is accomplished:
The Wow Factor: In the early days of video conferencing and collaboration tools, the price point for such solutions assured SMB decision makers that they would never be able to utilize the latest technology in their own company. That’s no longer the case, and there are desktop video conferencing solutions, like HearMe, available that will work for virtually any budget. These solutions can vary in what exactly they offer, but it’s virtually guaranteed that if you look for something that fits your needs, you will find it. So, the next time you’re going to present a proposal to a potential client who’s located out of town, you can say “Certainly, join our web presentation,” as opposed to sending along a slide deck and setting up a phone call. You’ll be impressed with how impressed they are.
Expanding your national footprint: You’ve brought on a new client, and they suddenly have a project for you that doesn’t necessarily play to your company’s core competencies. It happens…and as an SMB, you need to say, “Sure, we’ll take that project on” in order to help you further the relationship. So now you’re on the hook for a project that you need to find help with. In many cases, this might mean finding freelance talent. The next question is: Is your pool of available talent limited to your geographic area? If so, why? Implementing a desktop video conferencing solution will allow you to collaborate with and manage a much bigger pool of talent than your geography would otherwise dictate. In other words, you can find a more qualified person who may charge you less.
Client “face time”: While being face to face with your customers is a very important part of any business, video conferencing can be an effective way to have face-time, while never having to jump on a plane. This lets you see your customers’ reactions to presentations and ideas, as opposed to hoping they agree with what you’re saying. After all, more than 90% of communication is non-verbal (according to a study conducted by Middlesex University Business School).
