As a business owner, I’m a lover of all the technological advancements that help you develop your organization and take the company to new heights. Seen as there’s an app for pretty much everything, it should come as no surprise that there are also mobile based tools that can help busy business owners do what they do best!
Getting back to basics
Being able to successfully manage your company as well as keep a beady eye on everything that’s going on from wherever you are is a challenge faced by many entrepreneurs, particularly those with rapidly growing businesses. The Basecamp app allows you to get virtually back to base, even if you can’t always be there in person.
Proclaimed the world’s number one project management tool, it can be used on a number of devices including Mac, PC, smartphone and tablet. It’s portability is just one feature that makes light work of organising your team and their tasks so projects can be completed and you can monitor progress.
Give a hoot about social media
Social media forms a vital part of any business’ marketing campaign, and a great social media strategy can connect you with thousands and even millions of customers that were otherwise out of reach. Unless you have a dedicated social media executive based in-house, managing your menagerie of social profiles can be difficult, however, social media management app Hootsuite allows you to manage multiple networks and track the success of your campaign. For added ease, you can also schedule tweets and messages in advance to make updating your social networking platforms a breeze.
Streamline expense management
For any business owner, managing expenses can cause a real headache, however, apps like Expensify allow you to streamline the usual, breakdown inducing expense reporting. Their super savvy features allow you to record expenses on the go as well as capture mileage, time and other billable expenses.
Digitalise your promotional materials
The way we do business has undergone a digital revolution in recent years, and many practices have been streamlined and modernised for ultimate convenience. Marketing tools in particular have been transformed to ensure easier access on the go for both yourself and your customers. One area that has remained ‘stuck in the past’ however is the business card.
The business card is an essential way to market your company at trade shows, conferences, meetings and other events, however, they’re not always the easier thing to remember… Apps like Bump ensure you never mislay or forget this business essential! Available for iPhone or Android, this app works as a virtual business card that can be passed to recipients by simply bumping your smartphones together. These virtual business cards can also be shared via social media to promote your business effectively.
Gauge your marketplace
Understanding your market is rule number 1 for businesses of all sizes and without the right research even the greatest ventures can fall flat. Apps like LocalVox make getting to know your core demographic easy, whether you are a small or multi-location business. LocalVox also gives companies a platform to market on the web through a range of tools and features.
About the Author
The author of this post is Tony Earnshaw, an entrepreneur who established UK Commercial Cleaning in 2007. Since then the company has evolved from a small cleaning firm into a national organisation and is now the UK’s foremost commercial cleaning contractors.