Today’s business owners usually carry a computer with them everywhere they go — but it isn’t a laptop, netbook, or tablet, but rather a smartphone that is their main source of communication when they’re away from the office. With the thousands of apps that are available for smartphones today, they have the unique ability to keep track of what is happening at the office while the business owner takes care of business elsewhere.
Multitasking is the “SOP” (standard operating procedure) with most business owners today. They may need to record a receipt for their expense account and then use the GPS function to find the location for the business lunch with a client or make changes on a spreadsheet for that meeting –- all with their smartphone. Their smartphone has become a miniature computer where practically all of their business is conducted without having to go to the office.
Here are a few smartphone apps we have found helpful in our own business operations that aid in productivity and offer business tools that ensure you will have everything at hand when it is needed:
- Evernote – This versatile app allows you to create notes, text, take a photo, or record audio notes from meetings or memos to self that can be synchronized to your computer so you don’t lose any important information. It is a free app and is compatible for use on Blackberry, iPhone, Android, WebOS, and Windows Mobile. Available through Evernote.com.
- Deskaway – This is a project management tool that can track milestones, has collaborative pages that can be shared with a team, and is generally [click to continue…]
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Lots of people are talking about Groupon and how great the deals are right now. After all, whenever you can get 50% or better off a product or service, it has to be a good deal — right? Well, it depends on which side of the sale you are on as to how beneficial it really is. It should be good for the customer, but is it good for the seller as well? And, don’t forget that Groupon gets something out of the sale too — so is there enough left for the seller to make a profit? That is the real question.
Benefits of Groupon to a Business
- It is a great method of advertising and attracting customers especially to a new or small business by providing exposure to its products.
- If you have unsold or excess inventory, it is a terrific way to liquidate it — especially if it is no longer being produced.
- It should generate repeat sales, on the same product or service, or related ones that are featured by your business.
Pitfalls of Groupon to a Business
- It can bring a huge influx of customers that you cannot handle if you are ill prepared. In other words, you might not be able to meet the demand if you do not have enough products on hand or enough manpower to handle the increase in customers.
- You generally make approximately 25% of your normal earnings (50% discount and Groupon gets 25% as their fee too) so you need to calculate whether it is worth the risk and whether you can afford it.
- Ensure that the gift certificate laws in your state do not have any laws that might come back to haunt you — such as a five year term so that someone could come up with a voucher five years from now and want to cash it in.
Points to Ponder Prior to Using Groupon
- How much is it actually costing your company to offer the discounted product or service with Groupon? Is another intense marketing campaign of a different type more valuable than the one time shot with Groupon?
- Do your homework. Invest some time [click to continue…]
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