Author: getmetraffic

Why Small Businesses Should Take the Plunge

Technology

Australian small businesses are adopting cloud accounting software faster than other countries, with 14 per cent already managing their accounts with cloud software compared to 11 per cent globally.

And perhaps more telling are the statistics about the accounting industry. Nearly 70 percent of Australian accountants use cloud-based software.

New clients come to us umming and aahing about taking the next step and moving from a traditional desktop based accounting process to the cloud.

We get it. Cloud accounting sounds scary and daunting. I’m sure these thoughts have run through your head.

“That looks like it will take ages to set up. We are already short on time.”

“If I move everything to the cloud, is my business information safe?”

“What does moving to the cloud actually mean?”

“A new platform sounds expensive. How can I afford that when cash flow is already tight?”

“I don’t even know what cloud accounting is. I’ll just stick to what I know.”

All valid questions and ones that we at Cornerstone have answers for thanks to our years of experience in cloud bookkeeping and the decision we made to move ourselves across to this streamlined way of operating (and never looked back).

One of the key drivers for businesses moving across to the cloud is functionality cited by 42% of businesses as the main reason they made the switch. Functionality translates into money saved and time reclaimed.

And as a business owner those two things are vital to your business moving forward.

So if you’re thinking of taking the plunge, what’s the next step? Ask yourself (or us!) these questions:

  1. How can cloud accounting benefit the business?
  2. How can it benefit our clients and the way we do business with them?
  3. Who are the key providers in the cloud accounting market?
  4. What features does the offering provide?
  5. Should I choose one provider or are there are a number of offerings in the market that would suit the way we do business?
  6. What solution is user-friendly and cost effective?
  7. Who is offering a pure and real cloud solution? Can I REALLY sit on my iPad in the airport and access current data in real time? Can I REALLY invoice a client for a completed job while I’m still onsite?
  8. How can I save time & money?

 

You can decide to dip your toe into the world of cloud accounting or leap right in. Whatever suits your business and your strategies.

Remember to ask for expert help, take advantage of the ongoing support companies such as Intuit QuickBooks and Xero provide and get your people prepared for change.

One of our clients recently described the switch to Cloud accounting as putting himself back in the driver’s seat of his business. He said the real time data and information he now had available to him was like having a dashboard of data in front of him that allowed him to make strategic and smart decisions. Fast.

Group certificates are submitted with a click, financial reporting is presented in a user-friendly way, receipts are electronic, and invoices are created on a job site and paid sooner. All these things that previously used to be pain points for him are now streamlined.

Cloud Accounting provides visibility and allows the business owner to manage on the go and be in control but relaxed with one hand on the wheel and the window open instead of with the foot permanently on the business growth brake.

If you are looking a reliable and professional bookkeeper, we can suggest you speak with the experts at iKeep. They are Xero Platinum Partners and QBO ProAdvisor.

Social Media: Reasons Why Use Scheduling Software

Social Media Marketing

Most brands realise the importance of social media. However, successful digital marketing can take a significant amount of time. It’s difficult to post updates throughout the day if you only have limited time available. The solution is to use scheduling software, and this article will explore the topic in greater detail.

1. Post updates worldwide

Global brands, by their very nature, have an audience to attract worldwide. However, you can’t always be on hand to post an update at the optimal time for a particular region. Scheduling software allows you to do just that.

First of all, you want to delve into your social media analytics to determine where your audience is from and when they are most active. You may also want to see what the experts are saying about the best days and times to post on social media. Once you have that information to hand, you can schedule your content using a service such as Buffer or Hootsuite to maximise engagement.

2. Stay active on the social platform

Managing social media content on a day to day basis can be a complicated business. Chances are there are several things you need to do every day, and social media is just one of them. Of course, some brands have a dedicated social media person, but many do not.

If you’re going to create content each day, it’s inevitable you will run into a problem at some stage. For example, you will be called away out of town or will have a day full of meetings. The advantage of scheduling your updates is you can plan a week or even a month in advance, knowing your posts will go out as expected even when life and business get in the way.

3. Social media content shouldn’t prevent holiday time

Your business is likely to take up a lot of your time, but you will want to take breaks every so often. Whether that’s an actual holiday or merely a few days off, you don’t want your need to produce social media content to get in the way.

Again, that’s another good reason to schedule your updates. The critical thing is your fans will not expect your business to be on holiday. Therefore, you want to stay as active as you can be when away. Keeping in mind the tip about staying active, you can take advantage of scheduling software even if you don’t usually use it. So, the best idea is to plan your content at least a week before your planned break so nothing will get in the way of those all-important holiday plans.

It can be hard to stay on top of your social media updates, but scheduling software can make the process so much easier. There are various reasons to use it. Through scheduling, you can post updates worldwide, stay active on social media and have posts scheduled even when you are away.

Author Bio: Hersh Singh is currently the Head of Digital at 28K, a Sydney-based digital marketing agency. A Google-certified professional, he has over 8 years of experience managing digital projects for several clients from proposal & strategy through to you Should Use Scheduling Softwarecution.

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