Category: SEO

Software is a major component of every company these days. From startup to an international brand, software helps to drive our businesses and gives us the features that we need to manage and grow our companies. In the past, on-premises local software dominated most of the market, but it was expensive and was difficult to scale up as our businesses grew. These days, virtually every business is powered by cloud-based software applications that can be scaled to your exact needs.

But what exactly does it mean to use scalable software and how can you start taking advantage of it today?

What does it mean if software is “scalable”?

Imagine if you’re currently using a piece of software that supports 10 users. If you’ve only got 2 employees, then you’re easily able to stay within the 10 user limit. Now let’s say that your business is slowly growing and you’re at a point where you have 15 employees–what do you do? The logical answer would be to purchase a new piece of software or increase the number of users you can support, but this can introduce several problems.

One issue is familiarity. A lot of employees dislike using different pieces of software because it involves learning all of its features. In fact, it can take several days or even weeks to get accustomed to something brand-new. This slows down your business’s productivity and can hinder many of your existing staff members.

The other option, increasing the number of users, could drastically increase the costs of the software. Some software companies demand that you purchase a different type of license if you’re a larger business, and in some cases, the costs of upgrading might also require you to purchase new license keys.

Using scalable software to your advantage

In order for your business to remain agile while staying on a limited budget, it’s important to use software that is scalable and adopt it early on. This will help all of your employees get used to the software so they become more proficient with it, and it also saves you from having to import all of your data to a new system should you require a different software solution.

It’s worth looking into a variety of different software solutions to find a scalable option that can keep up with your business’s growth. For instance, SAP for small business is a wonderful scalable solution that gives you access to a range of different cloud-based applications. Cloud applications are often infinitely scalable since they can easily support more users and even offer collaborative opportunities.

Scalable software is the key to creating a foundation that can easily grow with your needs. A lot of businesses suffer when they focusing on growth because their technology simply can’t keep up, and drastic changes in their workflow can cause productivity issues. This is why it’s important to pick scalable solutions from the beginning so that you aren’t hindered in the future when you try to expand your brand.

Do you have dreams of starting your own business, or perhaps you’ve considered looking into franchise opportunities? Have you always wanted to go out on your own and create something from scratch? When that’s the case, if you know that there’s something that you’ve always wanted to do, you should give it a shot. Because dreams rarely go away. Whether you want to start a blog, a company, or just go it alone, if you’re not giving it a go, you may regret it in the future. Right now, it’s the perfect time for you to take a shot at making a go of something. The internet is making everything possible right now, so you could definitely find success in everything that you’re looking for. You just have to try.

However, you may be scared. You may worry that you are comfortable where you are right now, and that changing things could really be different. And that’s intimidating. While things may need to change, it doesn’t have to be a bad thing. It can be enjoyable, and you never know, the change that you experience could be the best thing that happened to you. If you’re lacking in confidence or you just need a boost to help you finally start your own thing, you’ve come to the right place. Here’s a few hints to encourage you…

You Owe It To Yourself

To start with, you have to acknowledge that this is something that you owe to yourself. You just do. If there is anything that you dream of doing, you need to go after it and fight for it. You have to make sure that you follow your dreams before you have regrets. It’s always better to try and fail than to have never tried at all. So keep that in mind and make sure that you honour your own wishes.

It’s Fun

Another thing to remember (because you probably have blocked this idea out) is that this is fun. Or it can be fun at least. It doesn’t have to be hard work. If there is a business idea that you want to try because you’re passionate about it, you’ll find that you actually enjoy doing it.

You Can Do It In Your Own Time

It’s definitely scary to think that you need to give up everything that you’ve ever worked for to take a risk – especially when you have a family. But you really don’t have to do that. You can make time to start something on the side, rather than quit your job to do it. Starting a business is a big business, but you can do it gradually. It doesn’t have to be a huge operation right off the bat. So that can be really comforting to you.

You’ll Always Wonder

The one thing that you really need to hold onto here is that you are ALWAYS going to wonder what if? If you don’t at least try, then you’ll always wonder what might have happened if you’d of given it a shot. So, just go for it and see. It’s better than having a deathbed regret.

There Are Options

It’s scary to think about taking a risk or changing your life. But you have to at least try. And if you’re really worried about failure, know that there are options if things don’t work out. Although it’s not ideal to plan for this (and that’s not what you’re going to do), know that you can look into company liquidation options if you need them. You don’t just have to lose everything; you can settle things amicably.

You’ll Become A Better Person

Something that is often work remembering, is that when you try something new or anything different, you learn a lot. Whether it actually works out in the long run or not, you’re going to have had a different kind of experience. And that experience will always help you to grow. You’re going to learn a lot and it will change you as a person – always for the better, whether what happens is good or bad.

It Could Be The Best Thing That Ever Happens To You

And, don’t forget that this could be a really good thing for you. It doesn’t have to be something bad or scary or disastrous. Have faith in yourself, your dreams, and your abilities. Because doing the thing could actually really work out for you. All you need to do, is just start. Make that leap. Then, trust that it’s all going to work out for you. And who knows, maybe it will even surpass your wildest dreams!

One of the first and most fundamental principles of business is that you need to find a niche in which to operate. Though you might have some crossover with other companies, you need to be able to separate out and show what is different about your business. 

But is there such a thing as too niche?

What Do Your Customers Expect?

With businesses focusing on incredibly narrow niches, it’s even more important to know that there is a need for that service or product. In other words, is that niche market big enough for your company or do you need to branch out?

There are some great examples of incredibly niche businesses from those who supply medical refrigerators like Ethicheck Ltd to those who offer bags made from crisp packets. But what all of these niche businesses show is that even though the market is quite small, there is a strong demand for the product from their customers. 

The point of many niche businesses is to expand their customer’s expectations and tap into an idea that they didn’t know they needed. Eco-friendly products are rapidly using this method to produce everything from organic straws made from reeds to biodegradable glitter. This sort of niche brings a larger area of business to a smaller idea but it works really well for many businesses. 

Is There Room to Expand Later?

The major risk with a niche business is that it will fall out of favour and ultimately fail. Trend-based businesses often fall foul of this issue because fashion is ever-changing and everyone wants the new thing. Remember back in 2016 when cereal cafes suddenly appeared everywhere? Yeah, didn’t last long, did it?! 

The problem with a niche like this is that if the customer base dries up, there isn’t much room to pivot. The novelty might be exciting for a while but unless you are ahead of the fashion and ready to expand or pivot, you could end up with a failed business. This is why it is so important to leave yourself room to manoeuvre in business. If you can expand into other products or services, you can expand your niche and give your business a greater chance to thrive. This is the kind of thinking that can allow any business to thrive. 

A niche might be fundamental to your business but that doesn’t mean that you have to be faithful to it no matter what. Listening to your customers might reveal that where you were positioning yourself isn’t actually what they want. Moving on and figuring out a new approach should always be on your radar, no matter how successful you think you are right now. 

So, to answer the question, yes, there is such a thing as too niche but that doesn’t mean the end for your business. Identifying trends and customer needs is a vital part of any business at any stage of development so if your niche isn’t working for you right now, look for ways to expand it or pivot into something else.