How Your Smartphone Can Be Just The Tool Your Startup Needs

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We’ve all heard it before. Smartphones can do just about anything. You’re walking around with a miniature computer in your pocket. You can even run a business on one, these days. But enough talk. We’re looking at the real uses that a smartphone has to your business. No, it can’t do absolutely everything. But it can help you maintain more than a presence when you’re out of the office. It can help you keep your finger on the pulse of it all.

Keeping in touch with the office

Let’s start with the obvious one. Your phone was built for communication and nowadays, that’s easier than ever before. Don’t waste time phoning your employees or colleagues, however. Consider the ways you can easily and more quickly share information. Google Hangouts is a tool that allows users to easily maintain a quick communication web, taking up much less time than email or a phone call. Speaking of Google, their Drive function can help you check up on the office without even having to talk to someone. Nowadays, plenty of businesses are using Drive to keep files shared so a supervising eye like yours can just poke in and give things a quick check.

Managing your time

If you want to get more hands-on with your management, then the phone has plenty to offer in that regard, too. Every phone has access to a bunch of great timekeeping and scheduling apps for the enterprising businessperson. Make sure you’re never late and never forgetting anything important. Go further by making sure that your employees aren’t, either. Keep track of their working day and what they’re supposed to get done with the right business timekeeping apps. That way, any employer’s fears of employees having a field day when they’re away are safely put to bed.

A marketing machine

Most people already use their mobile phones as a social media machine. There’s no reason that a business shouldn’t as well. You can get testimonials on the run by snapping a picture with a happy customer or client. You can keep fans updated by livetweeting events you’re at or hosting. Then you can even go one further. Social media management apps help businesses. Even with the scheduling and data-retrieval of complex marketing strategies. Most of those apps are just as available on your phone. Organise your whole digital marketing strategy from outside the office, if you like.

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Stay armed with information

We’re all pretty attached to our machines and the data they help us with. When we’re separated, it’s easy to feel like we’re cut off from the hub of our power. We collect all that data to use, so make sure you’re able to use it wherever you are. Lots of customer relationship management apps are available on mobile. From data based on customer information and purchases to communications histories. You never need feel like you’re left out in the cold again. CRM is just one example of the info that it’s all too easy to pull up on your phone.

Smart use of your smartphone

We tend to build up a lot of data we need on our smartphones. If you’re using it as part of your organic marketing strategy, you’ll have plenty of photos and videos that could be of good use for your branding. If you’re using it to access information on the go, that’s info that you might need again in the future. So make sure you’re smart with your data. Keep your phone protected. Make sure to backup your Android devices. Don’t lose the data you’ve built up over all that time.

Finding inspiration

A lot of us also just like to browse the internet on our phone. We’re always looking for ideas and inspiration wherever we go. From quotes and pictures to articles and videos. So make sure you’re not just browsing through aimlessly. Use tools like Pinterest to save any pictures you like along the way. On Youtube, set up an account and favourite the videos that really inspire you. Inspiration is better if it’s kept fresh. If you’re just browsing on, you might very well forget what inspired you in the first place.

From communication to inspiration. There are just some aspects of the business that simply fit your hand even better than they do in front of a keyboard. Nowadays, it’s even easy to keep things organised and secure. So don’t underestimate that little piece of technological wizardry. Start using it and seeing real improvement in the business.