Tips & Tools: Your Phone: Your Business On-The-Go

TIPS & TOOLS
Your Phone: Your Business On-The-Go
Guest post by Beth Jones

With our busy, often hectic, schedules, a smart phone is a great investment, helping you to take your business on-the-go through your daily life. Some favorites by women entrepreneurs are the Iphone, the Samsung Galaxy, Sprint’s Evo 4G, and the Blackberry. My husband Ray just upgraded both our phones to the Evo 4G. Whichever phone you choose, just make sure it is user friendly and has the features you will frequently use.

I love my new phone; the only problem I have had with it so far is that as you’re texting or updating your Facebook status, it gives “suggested” words as you’re typing. If you don’t pay attention to these suggestions, you may wind up “typing” something – and posting a status – that makes no sense!

But having internet – and especially Facebook and email – access with your phone is so convenient. With the internet, you have all the information you need at your fingertips. If you need directions or background information on someone (say, to google someone or search on Facebook for someone who has emailed you or requested to be your friend on Facebook), it’s there 24/7.

You can check the news, update your Facebook status, or tweet while you’re waiting at the post office, eating lunch with a girlfriend, at the hair salon, running errands, or at a networking meeting. You can get more done while you are out of your home or office.

You can check email sitting in the dentist waiting room or as you’re working on a info product, speaking presentation, or home study course. I have found that it is much easier and quicker to check my email on my phone rather than logging into Gmail on my laptop. As I’m working throughout the day or in my car, my phone “beeps” to let me know a new email has arrived and I can quickly check it for priority emails. (I do NOT text driving! It’s dangerous, so please do not put yourself and others at risk.)

If you’re a coach or consultant, you can check phone messages or email to confirm today’s meeting (or cancellations) or tonight’s phone call with your clients.

With your smart phone, you can take instant, beautiful, crisp pictures of family, friends, and people you network with each day….your products…your events – to promote on your website, Facebook, and Twitter.

You can also take videos on the spot, and upload them immediately to YouTube, Vimeo, or Facebook – no waiting to put it on your computer first! Video is hot right now; people want to see your face and hear your voice and it helps with the “Know, Like, Trust” factor that will grow your tribe and increase sales conversions. The camera and video features are one of the greatest tools on your smart phone for your business!

There are literally thousands of apps you can download to help you save time and money with your business, and are great tools, anything from from expense trackers to schedulers to how many calories you’ve burned running or walking. Some apps are Google Voice (one number to ring all your phones, saves voice mail online, transcribes voicemail to text, low cost international calls), Evernote (notetaking), Dropbox (synchronizes files on various PC’s), Seeismic (Twitter app), and many others. Take advantage of these apps for your business. There’s no waiting until you get home or to the office to get things done.

You don’t have to become a slave to your phone or to other people. Christ came to set us free, and we aren’t to be in bondage to any man or woman, or to technology! (Sometimes you should take a “tech-free” day and just relax.) Your phone doesn’t have to become another distraction or stressor in your life. I’ve seen people with their cell phones on dates, eating at restaurants, and at church, and feel that is taking things too far.

It doesn’t have to become an addiction! You are in control of your day, you set your business hours and your time on your phone. Take advantage of voicemail so that you can call and email people back at your convenience.

Yes, there are some limitations with your cell phone. Some websites are difficult to view on your cell phone and personally, I find it almost impossible to post blogs or articles on the phone because of the tiny, hard-to-read text and limited screen size. But your cell phone is a definite advantage for your business’ success, to make the most of your working day.

Beth Jones is a Christian speaker, writer, wife, and mom of 3 beautiful daughters, who resides in a small, rural town outside Kansas City, MO. She loves encouraging women to fulfill their great purpose through daily intimacy with Jesus and through pursuing their passion. You can find out more about Beth at www.BethJones.net.