Indeed, ten years ago, small businesses remained virtually the same – they still used physical offices, performed admin tasks with paper and communicated via meetings – and simply used the Internet to bolster their efficiency. However, if we fast-forward a few years to 2013, we see that eight million Brits were in charge of an online business.
Thanks to the advent of cloud computing, online services and remote communication platforms, small business owners don’t need an office, diaries or meeting rooms. In fact, as long as someone has a computer, an Internet connection and a stream of work they can run their own business from anywhere they like.
Remote Earning is Now a Reality
In fact, over the last few years the term “digital nomad” has been used to describe those who now have their own mini-business and work virtually when they want and where they want. According to Lottoland’s tips for being a digital nomad, earning an income from a remote location is possible if you have the right conditions.
After picking your venture, such as a travel blog, and where you want to live, the blog posts suggests that you need to consider how you’re going to get yourself online, what sort of device you’re going to use and how you’re going to generate business. In recent years, social media has become one of the best ways for small businesses – whether that’s an individual working alone or a small team of people – to promote their services.
Using Twitter, Facebook and Instagram to alert the masses to your latest service, product or offer has been the go-to strategy for many businesses since things went digital. In fact, one of the very reasons why operating a small business can now be an all-digital affair is because of social media, so the news that Instagram is now offering new business tools should be seen as another step forward.
Instant Ways to Make Money
Following the release of three new tools, UK businesses with a partner account on Instagram can now promote their posts, analyse their interactions and show off their business in a more efficient manner. Dubbed Instagram Business Profile, Promote and Insights, the new features will make it easier for businesses to generate income using Instagram which, in turn, will make it easier for business owners to run their services without the need for physical objects and locations.
The business world has changed dramatically over the last ten years and it will continue to evolve as we move forward. While it used to be that the Internet was an accompaniment to a physical operation, today it’s the case that a small business can exist entirely online. Whether it’s a digital nomad trotting the globe or a team of ten working from remote locations to achieve a common goal, working online is now becoming the norm and Instagram’s latest update is a testament to that.
While the world of the web might still fill some with a sense of dread and confusion, the inescapable reality is that it now pays to be online. Running a small business from the comfort of your lap is not only possible, but encouraged. Through social networking, cloud computing and digital communication, it’s easier than ever to manage a small business and live life as a digital nomad.
