[et_pb_section fb_built="1" _builder_version="4.0.9"][et_pb_row _builder_version="4.0.9"][et_pb_column type="4_4" _builder_version="4.0.9"][et_pb_text _builder_version="4.0.9" hover_enabled="0"]<h1 class="gnt_ar_hl" elementtiming="ar-headline" style="text-align: center;"><strong>How to stay in business during a pandemic: Avoid the top 7 tech</strong></h1>
<h1 class="gnt_ar_hl" elementtiming="ar-headline" style="text-align: center;"><strong> mistakes most small businesses make</strong></h1>[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version="4.0.9" custom_padding="|||1px||"][et_pb_column type="4_4" _builder_version="4.0.9"][et_pb_text _builder_version="4.0.9" hover_enabled="0"]<div align="center">
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<p class="gnt_ar_b_p" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #000000;">There was a time when small-business people did not have to be geeky or tech savvy.</span></p>
<p class="gnt_ar_b_p" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #000000;">How quaint.</span></p>
<p class="gnt_ar_b_p" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #000000;">Especially now, in this COVID-19 world, it is vital that anyone owning, running or working in a small business be as smart about technology as they are about business.</span></p>
<p class="gnt_ar_b_p" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #000000;">That is sometimes easier said than done.</span></p>
<p class="gnt_ar_b_p" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #000000;">Here are the most common tech mistakes that small businesses make, and how to avoid them.</span></p>
<h2 class="gnt_ar_b_h2" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #000000;">1. Looking small</span></h2>
<p class="gnt_ar_b_p" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #000000;">Of all the great things the internet has brought to small business – and the ability to sell anywhere, anytime is just for starters – maybe best of all is that there is no need to ever look small again. You may be small offline, but online, you can look every bit as big as your biggest competitor. If your website and social presence aren't top notch, you are leaving money on the table.</span></p>
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<h2 class="gnt_ar_b_h2" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #000000;">2. Lack of security software and policies</span></h2>
<p class="gnt_ar_b_p" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #000000;">Of course you know that you are supposed to have computer security software in place to thwart hacking, phishing and other scams. And maybe you have some basic software. But protecting your business requires more than downloading some no-name, off-brand, free program.</span></p>
<p class="gnt_ar_b_p" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #000000;">Your data, customer lists, passwords, contracts and other vital documents are the lifeblood of your business. So make sure to get proper security software. Also, put in place policies for how laptops are to be handled, how to secure mobile devices and how to properly download software updates.</span></p>
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<h2 class="gnt_ar_b_h2" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #000000;">3. Not scheduling regular data backups</span></h2>
<p class="gnt_ar_b_p" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #000000;">You know the drill by now: “Back up your data!” But do you? (Try losing two chapters of a book you are writing, said the dumb columnist, and you will.) So, whether you do it manually or use an online scheduled service, the important thing is that you back up, back up, back up!</span></p>
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<h2 class="gnt_ar_b_h2" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #000000;">4. Relying on outdated tech</span></h2>
<p class="gnt_ar_b_p" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #000000;">Would you use a phone on which you could not text? Or a dial-up modem? Of course not. Yet far too many small-business people think nothing of running their businesses using hardware and software that is out of date. Mistake, that.</span></p>
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<h2 class="gnt_ar_b_h2" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #000000;">5. Never really learning the app or software</span></h2>
<p class="gnt_ar_b_p" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #000000;">Most software is not unlike the brain: We tend to use only a small percentage of it. And that’s too bad, too. Tech companies make great tools designed specifically for small business. They test it, perfect it and add in tons of bells and whistles that can make your business life easier – if you just take the time to find and learn them.</span></p>
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<h2 class="gnt_ar_b_h2" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #000000;">6. Not having a disaster preparedness plan</span></h2>
<p class="gnt_ar_b_p" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #000000;">Unfortunately, yes, the worst-case scenario sometimes happens (see: virus, corona). And if you are not ready, that bad event can actually put you out of business faster than you can say flood, hurricane, earthquake, riot, fire, theft or pandemic.</span></p>
<p class="gnt_ar_b_p" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #000000;">What would you do if you owned an ice cream shop and the power went out? Without a plan, your business would literally melt. A good disaster preparedness plan might include a backup power system, as well as offline, off-site backups of critical documents; having computer security and backup systems; and having a phone and email tree ready.</span></p>
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<h2 class="gnt_ar_b_h2" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #000000;">7. Falling for social media scams</span></h2>
<p class="gnt_ar_b_p" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #000000;">Say your employee is on your Facebook page and sees a post that says, “Check out this cool video!” He clicks it and is asked to upgrade some software to be able to watch it. So he does. And your account may have just gotten hacked. Next thing you know, your page is posting miracle weight loss cures. Social media scams are growing exponentially because the bad guys go where the eyeballs are.</span></p>
<p class="gnt_ar_b_p" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #000000;">Beware and prepare.</span></p>
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<div align="center" style="text-align: justify;"><span><span style="color: #000000;">To read the full article, </span><a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/usaandmain/2020/08/04/small-businesses-coronavirus-7-ways-tech-savvy/5575210002/">click here</a><span style="color: #000000;">.</span></span></div>[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]