| Almost every business in the world nowadays makes | | | | what didn't work so well. By analyzing what worked |
| use of a computer system in one form or another. | | | | the best, you can easily repeat your success (and |
| So, given that you are using a computer in your | | | | avoid your mistakes!). |
| business, you might want to ask yourself if you are | | | | 3. Marketing Materials |
| getting the most out of it. | | | | You don't have to buy a top of the line graphic |
| 1. Make A Database Of Products and Customers | | | | design package if you don't want to. Various pieces |
| Once your business grows to a certain size it doesn't | | | | of software allow you to do just one thing, for |
| make sense to keep track of everyone you do | | | | example, create a business card design or a brochure. |
| business with on paper. You will want to have a full | | | | You will still have to pay for good card stock if you |
| database of customer names, contact details, | | | | are making business cards, however. You can even |
| addresses, and a record of their transactions with | | | | design your own business card and have it printed at |
| you. A number of cheap softwares are available that | | | | your local printing shop. |
| let you do just this, but it's also possible to make | | | | 4. Sell Over The Internet |
| your own database using open-source technologies | | | | You can use computers to set up a website that has |
| like PHP and MySQL. By having all of their names and | | | | an online store. You can also open a merchant |
| addresses on file, it makes it super easy to print | | | | account to use as part of your home business over |
| address labels and send them flyers or specials or | | | | the phone or by post, by simply entering the card |
| anything else that you might have going on in your | | | | numbers and amounts into a website to process the |
| business. This allows you to increase the contact you | | | | payments. |
| have with your customer which will inevitably increase | | | | 5. Back Up Records |
| sales. | | | | Sometimes, the importance of backing things up can |
| 2. Graph Sales and Make Predictions | | | | only come from learning things the hard way. |
| Once you have your data all sorted neatly, you can | | | | Regardless, if you are smart you will have some kind |
| go a step further and get your computer to produce | | | | of system-restore software installed on your |
| charts, graphs, and even predict what sales will be | | | | computer. Better yet, make a complete backup of |
| like in the months or years ahead. Using this data, | | | | your computer on an external hard drive. |
| you can track what marketing campaigns work and | | | | |