65 Mobile applications for small business, you should check Out

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The response to my article  101 Small Business Web Applications You Must Check Out was overwhelmingly positive! Thank you for all the awesome suggestions and comments.

I decided to write this second article based on all the additional recommendations I received, with the emphasis on mobile applications focused on helping small businesses. Some of these mobile applications are completely free and some of them are freemium (free for basic version, then you pay for an upgraded version).  Which mobile apps do you love? What other apps are the real deal that we might have missed?  Send us your comments and suggestions!

Here is the list of categories we will cover in this article:

P.S. You will meet some of these awesome mobile companies at BizTech [Mobile] on May 12, 2011!

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Roambi: This allows users to get the latest business intelligence on their phones. Users can import data from an Excel spreadsheet to Salesforce or SAP.  Cost: FREE to $99/user/year

Salesforce: Salesforce allows users to view and edit sales information, log sales and service activities, and receive new leads and customer requests.  Cost: FREE

Kinito: This allows users to create, read and update sales accounts, contacts, leads, and opportunities.  Cost: FREE

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OmniFocus: Allows users to track tasks by project, place, person or date.  Cost: $19.99/user/year

Daylite Touch: Allows users to combines tasks, calendars, projects, opportunities, and contacts for the team.  Cost: FREE

iTimesheet: Allows users to keep track of time spent on projects, clients, and billings. Users can also back up timesheet data to an FTP server, or export to Excel format.  Cost: $5.99/user/year

HoursTracker – Time Sheet: This allows users to track time spent on projects and view earnings, including different rates for different tasks.  Cost: $2.99/user/year

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Skype: Skype allows user to make and receive free Skype-to-Skype calls and converse via instant messaging.  Cost: FREE

Google Translate: This allows user to translate words and phrases in more than 50 languages.  Cost: FREE

Fuze Meeting: Allows user participate in online meetings and see real-time screen sharing while talking on the phone.  Cost: FREE

Voice Broadcast: Allows users to record audio content to send to multiple users immediately or at a future time. Great for keeping colleagues and team members up to date with quick voice messages.  Cost: FREE

Yammer:  Yammer allows user to share ideas, get answers and stay connected with colleagues through multiple communication feeds in your company.  Cost: FREE

WhatsApp: This allows users to to exchange messages without having to pay for SMS.  Cost: $0.99/user

HeyTell: Allows users to leave voicemail with friends and coworkers.  Cost: FREE

Word Lens:  Word Lens allows users to instantly translate Spanish to English using a camera phone.  Cost: FREE to $9.99/user

PGI Mobile: Allows users to host and record audio conferences using mobile phone. Users can see who’s talking, lock calls, and adjust or mute audio.  Cost: FREE

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WorldCard Mobile: Allows users to scan business cards and export to iPhone or Outlook contacts.  Cost: $5.99

Card Munch: Allows users to take a photo and submit your business card. Each business card will be transcribed, edited and reviewed by virtual workers to guarantee accuracy.  Cost: FREE

Bump: Allows users to use their phone to bump another phone. If both people confirm that the match is indeed correct, contact information will be exchanged between phones.  Cost: FREE

Hashable:  Hashable allows users to track their business relationships; record meetings, calls and intros; and exchange business cards.  Cost: FREE

Linkedin:  Allows users to access their Linkedin professional network and contacts on their phones.  Cost: FREE

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Analytics Apps: Allows users to view and build reports based on Google Analytics data.  Cost: $6.99/user

Twitter:  Allows users to get instant updates from friends and industry experts and tweet from multiple accounts.  Cost: FREE

Facebook: Facebook allows users to update status, browse News Feed and view friends’ Profiles from their phones.  Cost: FREE

GoDaddy:  Search and buy domains. Cost: FREE

Domainr:  Search and buy domains.  Cost: FREE

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iSwipe: Allows users to process major credit cards payment on a mobile phone.  Cost: FREE

Square:  Allows users to collect credit card payments by plugging a reader into a phone or iPad.  Cost: 2.75 percent per transaction

Cimbal:  Allows users to pay using a smartphone in the store, online and person-to-person anywhere Cimbal is accepted.  Cost: Free between individuals

Venmo: Allows users to pay with iPhone, Android or Blackberry.  Cost: FREE

Paypal: Allows users to pay and manage Paypal account using iPhone, Android or Blackberry.  Cost: FREE

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Whiteboard Capture:  Allows users to filter pictures of whiteboards to remove undesirable artifacts and get a near-perfect digital image.  Cost: $1.99/user

Evernote:  Allows users to save ideas and notes in text, voice and photos and access from any device.  Cost: $FREE to $5/user/month

Mindjet:  Allows users to capture and share ideas on the go, and transfer mind maps to and from Mac or PC.  Cost: $7.99/user

iShare:  Allows users to connect to Microsoft SharePoint Server, giving them access to their corporate documents, tasks and meetings from anywhere.  Cost: FREE

Awesome Note: Allows users to organize notes and to-do lists in folders, create custom lists and schedules, attach photos, and sync with Google Docs or Evernote.  Cost: $3.99

SmartTime Pro:  Allows users to manage appointments, and fit additional tasks around them.  Cost: $4.99

Things:  Allows users to manage to-dos, notes, due dates and projects. User can also schedule tasks and manage priorities using custom tags.  Cost: $9.99

Bento:  Allows users to manage personal or business data by organizing information using templates for contacts, projects, to-do items and customer information.  Cost: $4.99

Convert ~ The Unit Calculator:  Allows users to convert and calculate units.  Cost: $2.99

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Jump Desktop: Allows users to remotely access Mac or PC systems. Remote applications can be controlled with simple gestures to zoom, pan, click, scroll and type with ease.  Cost: $19.99/user

FTP On The Go: Allows users to view, edit and download files from an FTP server.  Cost: $6.99/user

Wyse PocketCloud Pro: Allows users to access their terminal, server or supported PC virtually. Users can view and manage Windows desktop remotely.  Cost: $14.99/user

Network Utility Pro: Allows users to check performance and status of the corporate servers using network tools including ping and TCP/IP port scans.  Cost: $0.99/user

1Password:  Allows users to securely store important passwords and information.  Cost: $9.99/user

Tap Forms Database: Allows users to create and edit built-in or custom database forms on the go.  Cost: $6.99/user

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Patent Finder:  Allows users to search the entire U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) database for issued patents and patent applications, and email saved PDFs of search results.  Cost: $4.99/user

Right Signature:  Allows users to sign contracts, proposals and NDAs from the phone.  Cost: FREE

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Keynote Remote:  Allows users to control your Keynote (Apple) slide presentation on your Mac from your iPod touch or iPhone.  Cost: $0.99/user

Keypoint: Allows users to build, play, share and export presentations on a mobile phone.  Cost: $1.99/user

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PDF Reader Pro:  Allows users to create and access high-quality PDFs and other files on a mobile phone.  Cost: $0.99/user

Box.net: Allows users to access files from anywhere and securely share content.  Cost: FREE

Mobile Phax:  Allows users to use mobile camera to capture and clean up documents, convert them to multipage PDFs, and email them to others.  Cost: $4.99/user

Dropbox: Allows users to sync files between computers and upload photos from a mobile phone.  Cost: FREE

FileMagnet: Allows users to transfer files from a desktop computer to mobile.  Cost: FREE

Quickoffice® Mobile Office Suite:  Allows user to access and edit MS Word documents, Excel spreadsheets and other files for access to remote or local files.  Cost: $9.99/user

Documents To Go: Allows user to create and edit business documents; modify, create, or view Microsoft Word docs, Excel spreadsheets, and PowerPoint presentations; and access PDF, iWork, RTF and Google documents and graphics files.  Cost: $9.99/user

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InerTrak:  Allows users to manage time spent on projects, hourly rates, and billed/unbilled time and money. Good for contract workers or anyone who works on multiple projects on a hourly basis.  Cost: $4.99/user

Minibooks:  Allows users to manage client records, record time against projects, generate invoices and track payments.  Cost: $14.99/user

Timewerks:  Allows users to keep track of billable hours and materials spent on projects, create reports and send invoices.  Cost: FREE to $9.99/user

Omni Invoice:  Allows users to create sales quotes and customer invoices from anywhere and email them directly to customers.  Cost: $4.99

iXpenseIt:  Allows users to record and track business and personal expenses, and create expense reports and summaries that include photos of receipts.  Cost: $4.99/user

Mobile Receipt:  Allows users to take high-quality photos of receipts; automatically adjust for character recognition; and create and email formatted PDF, RTF, or text expense reports.  Cost: FREE

Currency:  Allows users to get the latest exchange rate information for over 90 currencies and 100 countries.  Cost: $4.99/user

Currency Exchange – Currency Converter:  Allows users to convert dozens of international currencies using the latest exchange rates.  Cost: $0.99/user

Edith Yeung is the Founder of BizTechDay and SFentrepreneur. Edith is a lecturer at UC Berkeley International Program in Entrepreneurship and board member of the San Francisco Small Business Week.

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Small Business News: Small Biz strategy

What is your small business strategy…you have one, right? It is the difference between success and failure and must be one of the first decisions that make you on your business. Creating a strategy includes how your company sells, provides services, manages costs, uses tools and, in General, tells his story. If that sounds like a pretty big problem, it is! See the links below covering many aspects of the strategy of the small business. And then tell us…what your small business strategy?

How to engage with your customers. If you speak of customers who enter the bricks and establishment of mortar or visitors who visit your Web site, the commitment is the key. In this post, we look at how this is happening in the new environment of social media, including a big computer graphics with preview more on how to lead and engage customers with your brand. MyBeakSocialMedia

What Bob Seeger can teach you about business strategy. Make your message easy to understand and compelling can be the greatest challenge faces of your small business. As Bob Seeger song said "" what to leave, what to leave." What you leave and you leaving in your message for small business? They are the good things? What they mean for long term strategy of your company? Duct Tape Marketing

Do you have what it takes? To engage in the kind of strategy that will make your small business a success, you have the right stuff. Do not worry! No one is necessarily born with all these skills, but this article looks at some real weaknesses that could jeopardize your success. Forum opened

5 strategies to improve productivity. Planning for your small business successful are just long-term strategy on how to grow and to position your company, but short term strategies on the management of your own productivity also. Are you happy with the amount of work you get done each day? You allocate the right amount of time for all aspects of your business? If this is not the case, here are some steps to improve today. Admin today

Why you need social media: history of naked Pizza. Should your small or medium business really social media in your marketing strategy? It does if you plan to have a meaningful conversation with your customers on your brand and what you stand for. In a world of infinite choices, no matter what you sell, your message had better be something more. And your strategy had better associate someone say about this. BizSugar

Tracking and operate small business trends. An important part of your business strategy must be to remain looking for trends that benefit to your trade mark. When the British press earlier this month reported the wedding cake official for royal wedding on Friday to be responsible for log U.S. "a log on the floral theme with white icing and cream frosting" has seen a surge in the company. What trends you missing are and how would market you your business better when he leaves a smile on you? WSJ

How to find a brand Ambassador. One of the best strategies to build your business or your brand can be to find a brand Ambassador who will share what you do with their network and generate buzz without you having to lift finger. One of the best tanks for these ambassadors may be your employees, but finding good employees to fill this role may be more complicated that it looks. Inc.com

Control of your costs. Not all strategy is marketing, and a strategy of cost containment is equally important, if you want that your business can succeed, especially in the first few years. Then that many of your expenses can be easily understood in advance, costs of justice can sometimes be a challenge. Mike Periu offers this explanation of the problem and a strategy to correct it. Forum opened

What is your e-marketing strategy. E-mail marketing can be a very effective way to connect with customers and potentially generate interest and sales if done correctly. But without a strategy, your best intention for the creation of an effective email marketing campaign may not be enough. Examine the list of the important tips to include in any email marketing campaign. Capture trade

What is your strategy…really sales? Gary s. Hart blogger says it should not be the same old crap "best features, greater performance, more income, cuts costs in larger, higher Kings", as everyone tried to cram down the throat of customers for years. Because a real strategy of sale for your small business, Hart wrote must be so much more. Here are some tips to get you started.  Sales of the day

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Small Business News: Small Biz card to success

Map of success is different for every small business, but information and a commitment to ongoing learning are the first steps in the journey. Today, we share the latest news on the many aspects of small business to find a niche to get loans to hiring employees and beyond. If you start your journey of small businesses or are already well on your way, provide us some details of the map that you use on your road to success for small businesses.

Business of wedding a royal pain? Some columnist Rhonda Abrams strives to target interest today is royal wedding the world on this delightfully playful and strong title (and which no doubt search engines will enjoy), but his position is also a great explanation of how to target a market (any market) with marriages for example. USA today

10 small companies making big bucks out of the Royal Wedding. And as further evidence that their small businesses are really in all sizes, a list of ten companies that will reap huge profits from today's ceremony. If you think that limits on compensation for small companies or potential, take a moment to verify these support big for this historic event. Business Insider

Are flooding doors finally opening? Here at Small Business Trends, we never endorsed the idea that the success of small business is linked to the availability of only one loan and under the U.S. Small Business Administration loan programs certainly not simply, but we recognize that, for some of our readers, this funding is an important issue. Here's a Q & A with some details on what will be the new SBA loan program expanded. News OK

How will you be hiring new talent? Not necessarily of unsolicited résumés or working committees, say many of your companions to small business. Instead? Owners of small businesses are turning to employees and online networks to find qualified new recruits. Do not be left behind. Networking can be an excellent way to connect with people, you need to succeed your small business. WSJ

Small business can bring peace? Some contractors might not immediately consider altruistic objective, but a group of defence of the interests of small businesses with emphasis on the development of managers of small businesses in areas affected by the conflict believed a new generation of small business owners can make a difference by creating jobs where once There is violence. You are the boss

"Private Exchange" will reduce the premiums of insurance business? In a gesture anticipate probable State exchanges under a new federal health care law, some companies have started to send employees to "private Exchange" for health insurance programs. The objective is an attempt to control the unpredictable changes in premiums in the health insurance industry. Would an Exchange private more easily your health insurance costs? USA today

Explosion of tech small biz. It would not be a surprise for anyone who runs a small business of every day, but there are now some impressive figures connected to that many owners of small businesses already know. Small business tech use explodes in particular the use of the Internet through smartphones, laptops and other portable devices. See the data in this summary for more details. Silicon Valley BizBlog

Help small businesses compete in organizing a workshop. This is the plan behind an event scheduled for next week help small businesses in Oklahoma to capture some a budgeted 2.5 billion in federal research grants. For some small businesses, information is the greatest tool. How can you better help small business owners to recognize and take advantage of opportunities in a rapidly changing world? News OK

Why SEO is still in your future. Yes, of course, search engine optimization is always important to your small business. It is at least, if you have an online presence at all. And it is practically all of us these days. While social media has become an essential part of the mixture, but as everyone who has ever run is a small business, the recipe for success has more than one ingredient. Top Rank

A checklist of the contractor for may. As wrap us this post, it seems just to do a little forward thinking for your small business success. This success is subject to respond creatively to the opportunities and problems arise, but it must also be prepared with a plan of action and daily maintenance necessary to follow the steps in your business. Solopreneur Miranda Marquit gets us started with a bit of monthly brainstorming. Personal dividends

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Franchising is your business really the way forward?

Ultimately, the answer to the question "should I franchise my business?" is personal. But what franchise systems Excel in that small business can learn from their systematic, repeatable way of doing things. If you are seeking to franchise your business, you need to document your own systems. Even if you are not seeking to franchise, documenting your systems may be a good way to go.

And perhaps the thinking of franchising now sounds like too much, when all you are trying to do is to survive in this economy.  Well, dreaming is free, and strategic dreams are intelligent.  The dream "franchise my company" may well be move on documenting your systems. The immediate reward is best company today, followed by business more tomorrow.

How far do you dream?

Regardless of the structure of the company you choose, Susan l. Reid suggests that you stay within two degrees of separation in starting a business. It is concerned that your dream will remain a dream is "the gap between where you are and what you must learn how to start a business is more than two degrees of separation".

Not that you can learn something new, but if you are looking for a company that can pay off more sooner than later, and then Susan feels you need to go for what you know or something close to her "because if you extend beyond two degrésIl is likely that you will end up by" feel overwhelmed with everything you need to learn to get up to speed. "While the effigy of things, consider the following question:

Are losing you Out If you do Franchise?

Scott Shane highlights numbers in "how franchising contribute to the economy."  Are not all the industry uses of franchising, but for those that do, the franchise system is a tool of power employing millions, generating billions of dollars in wages and accounting for annual sales of $ 1.1 trillion. Directly from independent companies, said Shane, the figures vary widely by industry. "Independent institutions have higher average sales, pay and employment of motor and ancillary parts," Shane notes, but in convenience stores, establishments belonging to franchisees are higher for all three measures. »

The personal decision or not to franchise your business will rely on something more that numbers (i.e. freedom, structure, passion and numbers).

Joel Liepaja, the King of the Franchise, said the 5 reasons fitness franchises continue to grow.  He said: "After two years of solid news quite negative for small businesses, seeing businesses with strong growth is fairly energizing." If you find one that suits you, the niche is King.  If fitness is your business niche, said Liepaja, "fitness franchises that continue to innovate are those who will continue to grow."

The small business landscape is diverse. Need to find what suits you. If it works for you, the franchise may be the way to go.

Jamillah Warner (Ms.J), a poet with a passion for business, is the Marketing Coordinator at Nobuko Solutions, a business strategy specializing in solutions for business writers. Learn more about HIV.

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We will call a victory

My mother always told me that when life gives you lemons, make lemonade. That being said, these are difficult times, even for suppliers of lemonade.  Despite this, I try to look at the good side of things.

I played for an afternoon with how could turn really horrific numbers. Throw in a Word $ 100 as "emerging" and you yourself have a tasty little cartoon.

Mark Anderson cartoons appear in publications including The Wall Street Journal, Forbes, Harvard Business Review. His caricatures of the business are available for licensing to his website, Andertoons.com.

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Three ways to look at marketing

After reading "is a good advertising advertising?" by John Mariotti, I began to think (and rethink) on marketing.   John said the "media spreads stories in a blink of eye," but if messages are so easy to propagate, why owners of small businesses appear struggle with marketing?

Could be our State of mind? Even if effective marketing is also fundamental to our business as the quality of the product or service that we offer, we, the owners of small businesses tend to Don marketing on hold. Here are three ways to look at marketing to help us to change our mindset.

Some of us think of security as marketing "I will just cost a little bit." If run you an ad in the local newspaper and Yellow Pages. You pass on some business cards, tell a few friends, distribute some flyers and call on the day. You feel kind of good because you did something and don't waste money (I hope). But it is the cost of effective marketing that can save your business (and by the cost, I mean that time to develop strategies.) Hit-et-Miss-marketing pas good for long term business).  In my view, the marketing without risk is relevant marketing.

Anyone who does care about what you are talking about? It is important to your target market?

What care about your customers?
Communicate a message that nobody cares about is the feeling of worse - in the world and it is bad for business.  A quick way to start in the right direction is to pay attention to what is happening in the world around you.  Find the events that cares about or cares about if they knew their subject of your target clientele.  What are public holidays, tournaments and major events that concern them? Discover this and then plan your marketing autour to help your clients and prospects of celebrating, to recognize or participate in this event.

Where are your people?
Also, relevant marketing requires that you know where are your people (target market). Your target market reads the Yellow Pages? If they are then buy this announcement.  Or they go to Google to search for addresses and phone numbers? If they go on the Web for local information, and then enter into online directories. Choose to be relevant with your marketing. Talk what cares and make sure that your information is listed in the key locations they will naturally to your target clientele.

In "How Objections to Social Media are Killing Your Business," Ivana Taylor says "one of the most common objections to social media is that it is a fad-here today, tomorrow gone." But, if it's here today relevant to your target audience, and then use it to your advantage and connect. Social media are not not the only tool in your marketing plan, but it is one of them. Propose a strategy and begin.  The cool thing to be a small business owner is that if it does not work, you can adjust it quickly.

In "7 Facebook contest ideas for small business," Janet Thaeler gives some good ideas to help you use contests to grow your Facebook page, including "tie your competition in the events current."

When I say consistent, I do not mean to do the same old boring things again and again. I want to say that your marketing strategy is always applied. You should systematically take the time (at least quarterly) to assess and reassess what you do and how effective it is. Do more of what works - because it works, not because you've always done.

Effective strategic marketing and it takes a lot of effort upfront - but it pays for itself on the back end.

Jamillah Warner (Ms.J), a poet with a passion for business, is the Marketing Coordinator at Nobuko Solutions, a business strategy specializing in solutions for business writers. Learn more about HIV.

 

"Built to Sell" - even better if you do not want to sell

Please do not neglect this book because you do not want to sell your business, or do not want to sell in the near future.

In fact, the book is also useful for owners of small businesses that seek to improve their business and you do not want to sell.

Bo Burlingham, in his foreword to built for sale, by John Warrillow, said best:

"The point is that the best companies are saleable and smart business people believe that you need to build a company to be sold, even if you do not have the intention of the receipt of or decline any time soon.".

In 2008, Warrillow received an offer, he could not refuse and sold his company, which was built using the principles of this book.  Today, Warrillow and his wife and his children live the good life in Provence, France, from the sale of this company.

This book is actually the Second Edition, updated with a Guide to implementation and published in April 2011 by portfolio / Penguin.  Original version published in 2010, is written as a parable and is known by many, including the team of small business trends critical, and you can read the original review, Book Review Editor, Ivana Taylor.

I had received a copy of the review of John Warillow and could not wait to talk to you.  But I didn't want to regurgitate the information in the review of the original book (and it's great, and I recommend it Check out), so I talked to Warrillow and put him on some specific parts of the book that really called me.  Here are some highlights of the interview.

Question: What is small business owners reason tell you that they buy your book?

John warrillow: I hear most often it's because they want to grow their business.  They often reached a ceiling on their earnings.  Maybe it is $200,000.  It may be only $700,000.  In any event, they want to understand how their scalable enterprise.

Question: Make a scalable enterprise appears to be an important concept in your book.  Can you describe what you mean by that?

(John warrillow: a scalable enterprise has meet the three criteria I in detail in the book: 1) a service or a product that is "teach to employees," so that the owner is not always that doing the work; (2) a service or product that is valuable to your customers and is not a commodity; (-3) a service or a product that is "repeatable," means that customers need to return again and again to buy.

Question: It is clear how certain products are scalable, such as razors.  In your book, the main character, Alex, creates a scalable logo design company, which many people consider a "scalable" business, since it is a professional service.  Is it just an aberrant or business service value can really create "evolutionary products?"

John warrillow: here are two examples.  I know an attorney, who, instead of offering its services on an hourly basis, as the vast majority of lawyers, their offer in a package of products, such as the $5,000 for a divorce null and $1,200 for incorporation of new companies.  Another example is Hassle Free Home Services, Inc., created by Jim Vagonis. It offers customers a single point of contact for all their needs for home care by paying a flat for a year, in a renewable annual contract.

Question: What is the most common question that you get on your book?

John warrillow: is "Why can't I propose evolutionary products or services and still do custom work?"

Question: Ah, why should the former, I have a niche, why can't offer any argument…

John warrillow: Yes, and it is the concept that I am more passionate.  It is one of the reasons for which that I wrote the implementation guide.  In it I describe is trying to do just that at a time in my study of market and failed business.  I also reiterate throughout the book that the key to success in the transition to the offer only a product or scalable service is still fresh in advance, so that you have positive cash flow.  You may sometimes bumpy, but after a year or if your company generally regularly will increase.

Question: You also make a point about describing your customers as customers, not customers, in a scalable enterprise.   Can you explain that a little more?

John warrillow: the term "client" means a personal, consultative relationship.  It is not the kind of thing that can be scalable.  If your company has customers, this means that each client has a relationship with a person of your company, often the owner. If your company has customers, the entire team is working with them.

As always, I thank John Warrillow to write a great book, one of my favorite books of all time business.  The Second Edition is even better with the addition of the implementation Guide.  Run, doesn't work for this book.  Your company will be thank you.

Margie Zable Fisher is President of Zable Fisher Public Relations, a public relations firm that works exclusively with small businesses. It offers free advice for Public Relations at Zable Fisher Public Relations.

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