As an entrepreneur, you wear many hats. You’re the CEO, the CFO, the COO, and sometimes even the janitor too. With so many balls to keep in the air, it’s easy to let some things fall by the wayside. But there is one area you can’t afford to neglect: technology.
In today’s business world, tech skills are essential. Here are three that every entrepreneur should learn.
Social Media Marketing
This is essential if you want to grow your business. Platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram provide you with an audience of billions of people who are potential customers for your products or services. So, how can you learn social media marketing without pulling all your hair out? Here are some steps to take.
1. Figure out your goal.
Before you start posting on social media, you need to figure out what your goal is. Are you trying to increase brand awareness? Drive traffic to your website? Make more sales? Once you know your goal, you can create a strategy to achieve it.
2. Choose the right platform.
Not all social media platforms are created equal. Each platform has a different user base with different demographics, interests, and needs. So, before you start posting willy-nilly on every platform out there, take some time to research which platform makes the most sense for your business.
3. Create engaging content.
Content is king on social media. If you want people to follow you and share your posts, you need to create content that is interesting, informative, and engaging. No one wants to see a feed full of random memes or posts about what you had for lunch—unless you’re a food blogger, of course.
4. Take advantage of tools.
There are tons of tools out there that can help make your life as a social media marketer easier. From scheduling tools like Hootsuite and Later to analytics tools like Sprout Social and BuzzSumo, there’s a tool for every need. Utilize these tools to save time and get better results from your social media marketing efforts.
Web Development
Are you an entrepreneur with an idea for a website or web application, but you don’t know how to code? You’re in luck—learning web development is easier than ever before. Follow these three steps to do this.
1. Start with the basics.
If you’re starting from scratch, begin with the basics of HTML and CSS before moving on to more complex topics like JavaScript and server-side programming languages. Once you have a basic understanding of HTML and CSS, you can move on to more advanced topics.
2. Use online resources.
In addition to articles and tutorials, there are also plenty of online courses available that can help teach you everything from the basics to more advanced topics. Platforms like Udemy and Treehouse offer thousands of courses on web development, so you’re sure to find one that’s right for your level of experience and expertise. And since most of these courses are self-paced, you can learn at your own pace and in your own time.
3. Find a mentor.
If you know someone who is already a web developer, reach out to them and ask if they would be willing to mentor you. A mentor can answer any questions you have about the development process and can provide insights based on their own experience in the industry. Having a mentor is also a great way to network and build relationships within the development community.
Photoshop
From crafting social media posts to designing your own website, there’s a lot to learn. Fortunately, Photoshop is a powerful tool that can help you with both of those tasks—and more. To help you get started learning Photoshop, here are two tips.
1. Get to know the interface.
To learn Photoshop, get comfortable with its interface. Take time to explore the different panels and tools and get a feel for where everything is located. If you get stuck, don’t hesitate to consult the help documentation or search for tutorials online. The more time you spend familiarizing yourself with the interface, the easier it will be to find the tools you need when you need them.
2. Practice, practice, practice.
The best way to learn anything is by doing it yourself. So once you’ve learned the basics of how to use Photoshop, start practicing! Find some photos or images online that you can play around with. There are also tons of free resources like brushes and fonts that you can download and use in your own projects. The more you work at it, the easier using Photoshop will become.
If you want your business to stay competitive, you should try to create a strong social media presence, learn the basics of web development, and create visuals that will grab people’s attention. By learning these skills, you’ll put yourself—and your business—in a better position to succeed.
