10 Apps Every Small Business Needs
The world is going mobile. There are hundreds of
productivity, finance, and business oriented apps out there, but which ones
will waste more time than save and which ones are really worth the effort to
incorporate into the way you do business? Well it differs for every business
and every businessperson, but here are ten apps with the most potential to
boost your business’ performance and experience overall:
1. Google Drive
Access your files on the
go. What’s wonderful about the Google Drive app is that it’s fast to load and
makes it easy to edit any and all of your files. On the desktop, you can sync
your files to google drive, and on your phone they will be automatically accessible.
This app makes it easy to keep up with your files, especially ones that are
shared between users, and allows for you to have all of your data with you just
a few clicks away.
2. Square
Turn your phone into a
cash register with Square. This app allows you to accept credit card payments
wherever you are. Square doesn’t charge a transaction fee, only takes 2.75% of
each transaction. Increasing the ease of billing and accepting payment has the
potential to do wonders for many small businesses.
3. Evernote
Unfortunately, our
memories aren’t perfect. Your life is probably quite multifaceted and there’s
always a lot on your mind. So when you have an idea or need to remember
something for later, Evernote is the perfect place to jot it down. Not only is
it very flexible with how you want to put your idea down (video, audio, text,
sketch), it also conveniently syncs with online and desktop versions of
Evernote.
4. TripIt
If the nature of your
business and your life as a businessperson involves travelling, TripIt is a
must for you. It is the ultimate itinerary tool. It keeps all of your
arrangements in one place so that you don’t have to keep checking this and that
and those and these. Organization is a blessing when travelling. Best of all,
it’s easy. You forward your trip information such as flight times and rental
car details, and it picks out the most important info and just lists it out to
you in a clean, easy to understand manner. Additionally, it displays weather
updates, maps, and gps directions to further ease the stress of travelling.
5. Bump
Bump is one of the best
networking apps out there. Its concept is that users can trade information that
is traditionally on a business card just by “bumping” their smart phones
together. There is an increasingly wide pool of bump users and provides a
simple and easy place to keep all of your business contacts. No more lost or
forgotten business cards!
6. Expensify
Keeping track of your
business’ finances has never been easier. This app allows you to simply scan
and upload your receipts into one efficient place. If your employees
participate, the app allows them to file receipts and expenses by trip and then
submit expense reports to employers.
7. Mailbox
This app does what it
says. It’s a mailbox for all of your email accounts. It is very simplistic in
design yet has a variety of features. With intuitive gestures and visually
appealing color blocks, Mailbox encourages a clutter free inbox and gives you a
place to view and manage all of your emails.
8. Wunderlist
If you’re a list type of
person, this is by far the best to do list app out there. It is simple and
highly functional. You can bookmark important tasks to pin them to the top and
it is easy to add and check off tasks.
9. Facebook Pages
If you have a strong
social media presence, the Facebook Pages app is perfect for managing your page
and analyzing its statistics. It allows you to control your page from anywhere
and gives you insightful information that can help you see what works and what
to improve on your page.
10. Hootsuite
Another beautiful social
media management app, Hootsuite puts all of your social media profiles into one
place. You can send messages through all of your profiles at once and schedule
posts for a later time or date.
Some people stay away from
apps to prevent them from being a timesuck, and others simply like to keep
things traditional. Both of these perspectives are valid, but always be open
minded and consider the positive potential of change. Give these apps a try and
you’re unlikely to be disappointed.
Good luck!
Author Bio:
Zane Schwarzlose is the
SEO Manager at Fahrenheit Marketing, an Austin
Web design company. Zane enjoys his Pandora app the most.
