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Tech Skills of Highly Productive Entrepreneurs | DAllisonLee.com

5 Tech Skills of Highly Productive Entrepreneurs

There’s no doubt that technology can play a significant role in improving the productivity of modern-day entrepreneurs. Of course, using technology is not enough. Today’s digital entrepreneurs must also be willing take the time to find and learn how to use the right tech tools and to improve their tech skills.

And, there are lots of other qualities business owners (and their teams) need to lead successful companies. There’s the drive, passion, and confidence you need to create something valuable and sustainable from the ground up. You also need strong leadership and decision-making skills as well as the ability to focus on priorities (sometimes several at a time).

So, where do tech skills come into play? And, why are they so important?

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5 Tech Skills of Highly Productive Entrepreneurs

Today’s entrepreneurs and freelancers know that managing a company without any sort of help would likely be very foolish. That can be help from people, like virtual assistants. And, often, it also means getting help from a few gadgets and tech tools.

Tech tools and the ability to use them well are super important because this is what gives the small business owner almost equal footing with larger corporations. Keeping your tech skills fresh and current can also help you to be more productive and more competitive.

Check out these five tech skills that every entrepreneur should master.

Keeping your tech skills fresh and current can help you to be more productive and more competitive. #smallbusiness #productivity #entrepreneurs #tech Click To Tweet

1. The Cloud

If you’ve ever forgotten an important document or left your portable hard drive that has an important client presentation on it in your office, you totally understand the pain of not using the cloud.

If you’re a blogger with a deadline to publish and the draft of your post is on the thumb drive on your desk, you’re likely to be in a panic. But, if you use cloud-based tech tools, you can use any device anywhere to write your posts.

Don’t lose face or come across as unorganized to your clients. And, don’t cramp your productivity style. Use cloud tools like Evernote, Google Drive, Dropbox, or Microsoft 365 to store (and even edit) your documents even when you’re on the go.

You won’t have to be tethered to your computer to easily access your business documents. In fact, they will be right at your fingertips within seconds. How cool is that?

Tech Skills Homework

  • Watch: Cloud Computing in 6 Minutes by Simplilearn (see video below)
  • Download: Evernote (yes, you can actually download it) and start writing a blog post or client proposal
  • Upload: Three business documents to your Evernote Professional (referral link) account or Google Drive

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2. Graphic Design

If you’re a blogger or social media user, you know how important it is to use images in your posts and updates. Juicy, creative images can get more clicks and even make your blog content seem more credible.

So, now you know you need to use them. But, you also need to know how to create and edit them so they look professional without breaking the bank. Apps like Canva, Picmonkey, Wordswag (iOS | Android), and PicsArt Photo Studio (iOS |Android) can help.

These tools are simple and easy to use. This means that they won’t take a lot of time to learn and you can get started with creating fabulous graphics straight away.

Tech Skills Homework

  • Watch: Graphic Design Tutorials (Canva)
  • Create: Design an animated graphic quote using Canva (see video below)
  • Upload and Edit: Add your logo to an image using Picmonkey

3. Communication

You can have a killer product or service, but if you can’t effectively communicate your brand message to others, it will be all for naught.

Communication comes in a variety of forms. There’s the stuff that lands in your inbox, there’s e-mail marketing and social media engagement. And, you have to take care of and stay in touch with your most loyal clients.

Let’s not forget about your internal clients — the members of your team! They are super important to the success of your business, so regular communication with them will be essential. You’ll also have to remember to stay in close contact with (no, not micromanage) those who are on your virtual team.

Tech Skills Homework

  • Test: Use Skype, Zoom, Join.me, or Google Hangouts for your next virtual meeting (remember to record!)
  • Test: Check out CRMs from Hubspot and Insightly
  • Create: Write e-mail templates for inquiries or messages you receive often (Gmail or your email client)
  • Create: Develop a communication schedule for leads and current clients and add it to a business notebook in Evernote (referral link)

 

4. Blogging

So, when you think about it, blogging is another form of communication you should focus on. This form of communication is not for the faint of heart or the quick money scheme peeps.

When you start blogging, you should be in it for the long haul. Why? Well, blogging helps you to build trust with prospective clients while sharing high-quality and valuable information. That trust thing doesn’t happen overnight, so you have to keep at it and find the right mix of content that your readers like.

Sure, there are other bloggers out there, but they’re not you. You have your own voice and your own way of explaining things. And, yes, it does take time. So, come up with a plan of attack, ways to blog faster, and think about:

Keeping your tech skills fresh and current can help you to be more productive and more competitive. #smallbusiness #productivity #entrepreneurs #tech Click To Tweet

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Tech Skills Homework

  • Brainstorm: Use a mind mapping tool like MindMeister to brainstorm topics (see video below)
  • Plan: Use an Editorial calendar (or this WordPress plugin) to help you plan your content
  • Read: Learn about lead magnets you can create using content you already have (Hubspot)

5. Virtual Assistance

Think you can go it alone without any help? Yeah, well, let’s do away with that silly way of thinking right now. You’re going to need help at some point.

You might start off by getting feedback from trusted friends about your business idea. Or, you might assemble an advisory board. Other people who can help you include bookkeepers, copywriters, web developers, photographers (you do need a great headshot), and more.

And, you’ll need help for the little (but big things) so that they don’t fall through the cracks. Things like doing keyword research, editing blog posts, scheduling appointments, creating digital products, creating social media covers, etc.

You won’t be an expert in everything and you certainly won’t have time to do it all. You can try, but you’ll likely burn out or pull your hair out. Neither are good options, right?

Instead, find a helpful and skilled virtual assistant to help you get more accomplished.

Tech Skills Homework

 

So, now it’s time to polish your tech skills so you, too, can be a highly productive entrepreneur. Which tech skills homework will you tackle first? Any other skills you need to brush up on?

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Take the Tech Skills Challenge & Level Up!

10 Apps in 10 days! Get more comfortable using apps to help you brainstorm, connect with your team and clients, stay focused, and even have fun! Click here to get started.

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Hey there, I’m Deb. I’m a Digital Productivity Coach and Consultant, Certified Professional Organizer®, speaker, and lover of all things tech. I’m also addicted to apps and love helping small business owners leverage technology so they can be more productive.

This Post Has 16 Comments

  1. I completely agree with your list. These tools have helped me over the past few years to stay organized and build my business. As a small business owner, I wear many hats and I love that some of these apps allow me to compete for business on a larger scale.

    1. It’s so interesting how far technology has come. It used to be (at least it seemed that way to me) that smaller companies couldn’t afford the technology they needed. And, now with availability of cloud solutions, mobile apps, and other tech tools, the playing field has leveled a bit. And, you’re right — those tools really come in handy when you’re a multiple hat wearer. =) Thanks for stopping by, Ref J.

  2. I’m going to share this article; I love that you give everything someone needs to know to get going – a roadmap – and that there is easy homework to get them there. And it’s great to see choices in each section; so much of tools choice is understanding what will get your own brain engaged and using the tool consistently. Thanks for another great post. ~Sue

    1. Hi Sue and thanks for sharing this post! =)

      I agree with you — there isn’t a one size fits all tool. There’s always going to be a bit of trial and error until you find the one that fits with your brain. And, it helps to have one small thing to start with. Baby steps, right?

      Thanks for dropping by. =)

  3. This is so well written, Deb. Easy to understand the key point, and then follow through with self-help links! I have enjoyed Fivrr, Picmonkey, Canva, and Zoom. Another tech tool that is starting to come in handy is Doodle poll… works well when trying to coordinate a date with a group of people.

  4. What a great round-up of tech tools and skills! Lately I’ve had a lot of ideas floating around in my head and your mention of the brainstorming tool MindMeister intrigues me. I’ll have to check it out!

  5. I’m always relieved, when I read an article like this, to find that I’m already doing most of these things. 😉 I haven’t used ALL of these tools, though, mind you.

    1. That’s always a nice feeling. =) Though I have to admit that I get excited when I see something new that I should try.

  6. Canva’s been on my radar for a while, but I haven’t played around with it much. I love how you integrated the videos into your post. And after watching the Canva one, I can see how fun and easy it is. Looks like I’ll be trying it out for 2017.

    1. I think Canva is simple and easy to use. And, the tutorials are easy to follow along with. Let me know what you think once you give it go, Linda. =)

  7. So funny. I see that last go around Canva stood out to me. This time, Mindmeister did. What a cool way to share and brainstorm ideas! I did try Canva a few times. The video makes it look a lot easier than I found it to be. I think I need to try again.

    1. It’s interesting what we “see” when we read something for the second or third time, isn’t it? I would recommend that you give Canva another go. Would love to hear if it seems any easier this time around. Always great to see your smiling face around here, Linda. =)

  8. What a nice list and summary! I was feeling *pretty* good about myself until I got to Lead Magnets. Womp, womp.

    And other than outsourcing for expertise (logo / graphics, web design, accounting/taxes) I don’t do much with Virtual Assistance. I should look into what levers are out there for me that might be game-changers.

    1. Sometimes using virtual assistance for small things can help you 1) get something checked off your list and 2) test the waters of using a VA. For example, I used Fiverr to create a Facebook cover photo. The cost was minimal (under $10) so if I didn’t like it, the cost was so low that I wouldn’t stress about it. As it turned out, I *did* like it and I will likely use that Fiverr seller again and consider him for other graphics projects.

      Loved that you stopped by, Kathy. =)

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