Luddite to Budding Technophile: 9 Simple Steps

Are you old school? Have you been in the workplace longer than the “interwebs” have been around? Maybe you just don’t have time to learn how to use digital tools, but have wanted to.

You’re in luck. There’s no reason why you can’t (and shouldn’t) start taking part in the digital shift today. Communicating digitally in business is happening now, and it’s inevitable that you’re going to have to jump on board.

9 Ways to Get Started

1. Do you have a smartphone? Well then start being smart with it! Efficiency apps such as Evernote and Remember the Milk let you take your work with you wherever you go. And if part of your job is to update your company’s social media outlets, you can do this easily from your phone, anywhere, anytime.
2. Start using Google Docs (and show/encourage others to use them too!). It’s so much easier than emailing numerous versions of Word Docs, since Google Docs live solely online and can be accessed from any computer, any time, and can be viewed and edited by multiple collaborators at the same time.
3. Collaborate on projects using Basecamp or some other project management software to keep all communications and files in one shared space. Use online mindmaps to brainstorm and share ideas.
4. Do you still use a fax machine? Stop. Now. Less paper and more accountability.
5. Does your company have a website? No? Make it a priority to get one.
6. Subscribe to a blog that shares digital business tips (like ours).
7. Are there other processes you can digitize in your office or work? Think especially about daily tasks that require paper.
8. Encourage your team to use electronic calendars instead of a paper ones. Every smartphone has a calendar, and your email client does too. They are easy to use, helpful and in the palm of your hand.
9. Sign up for Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and Pinterest if you don’t already have a personal account. The best way to start to learn how you can use these outlets for business is to have a basic understanding of how people use them personally.

Don’t be overwhelmed in your move towards becoming more digital. Just take it one step and one day at a time and shed that Luddite name tag. You’ll get there.