Have you ever wondered what mobile apps are all about? Or would you like to learn more about social networking with Facebook and Twitter? Well, Metro Éireann’s new column could be the answer for you.
Starting from next issue both in the paper and online, Marcin Kulik – a highly qualified marketing, management, web and IT specialist – presents his first in a new series called IT Tips help readers better understand the internet.
One of the main thrusts of his column is helping small businesses use new technology such as e-commerce and mobile applications to grow their business and make more money.
To Kulik, there is no better time for business to go online than this present economic crisis, which has proven to be a bonus for his own web development business.
“A lot of people are looking to develop their business online as a way of fighting recession, so we are doing a lot of e-commerce shops,” he says.
Originally from Poland, Kulik – who relocated to Ireland in 2004 and established his own business in 2006 – said times are hard at the moment, but that all business need to adjust to the present economic situation if they are to survive.
“The most important thing is not to get depressed but to look for more opportunities,” he says. “I think the recession is a time to be creative and it also offers people time to think about how to develop their business.”
For business owners who are yet to embrace e-commerce, Kulik said they are losing out.
“[Having an] online shop is like having a 24/7 salesperson who is constantly there to sell. The best thing about it is that there is no monthly salary to pay.”
He said the websites he has built so far are always aimed to help businesses grow. “There is no point if a site is not going to generate business,” he adds.
If however, you have no business but plan to establish one now or in the near future, he advises: “Don’t go into business if you’re not prepared for it. You have to fully understand all the aspects of a business before you venture.”
But if you are prepared and convinced the time is right for you, Kulik says you must “hit the road in a recession – and that is now.”
According to him, if a business that started in a recession succeeds, “once recession is over they would be very successful.”
With growing numbers of businesses going online, one wonders if that would not lead to a future ‘dot.com bubble’ similar to that which burst a decade ago.
“It is possible that it would happen again but the world is doing more online now than ever,” says Kulik. “More and more people are purchasing their goods online. I think everything would be online soon.”
Kulik has recently launched a new initiative aimed at penetrating the online market and also to help new business start-ups.
“We have introduced a new business website service where businesses can get a professionally designed website with admin, worth over €1,000, for only €20 a month.”
He said customers who subscribe to this custom service also receive basic technical support and up to five e-mail inboxes.
“We have a friendly payment structure for customers. Irrespective of the total cost of the service, customers can avail of the opportunity to pay monthly,” he added.
