how to turn your smartphone into a business tool

 Everyone has a smartphone, but only a fraction of people use it productively. Instead of using your smartphone for wasting time, you could be using it to stay productive and get more done, reducing your stress levels and creating a better work life. Today, we’ll give you three useful tips  on how to change the way you use your smartphone.

Choose the right platform for your business and role

There’s no single best platform for business, even though many say that for office workers, the Blackberry is still king (sorry, Apple). What’s essential is choosing a device that maps well to your business and to your individual job requirements.

Consider desktop capability replication, which entails easy access to email, opening and editing files, and accessing the business applications you need on a daily basis, says Frank Wilson, a Bellevue, WA-based product manager for technology services with Tectura. There may also be vertical-specific needs, for instance, if you work for the federal government or within a manufacturing environment.

The modern breed of smartphone — whether Android, iOS, or Windows — is a powerful tool that can be used to perform just about every necessary action a business needs. Let's look at what sort of business can be started with your smartphone, and what other tools you may need to enhance growth.

 Keep your official email account accessible through your phone

Link your official email account on your smartphone to access and reply to business emails in real-time. Besides being user-friendly and portable, a handset comes in handy to check emails without accessing your business email account through a laptop or desktop. It not only ensures faster response but also keeps the emailing process organised.

Avoid using your personal phone for business purposes

You may either keep a separate smartphone for business work or use only one handset for personal and business purposes. The former is a better option anyway. The mobile you use to call or message family or friends or internet surfing can't be used for business purposes as things may eventually distract you. Moreover, there will always be security risks.

Moreover, the phone you use for personal purposes will probably have many non-work-related features and applications that may distract your attention during working hours. To avoid all these potential issues, use a separate phone for your business.

Social media

certain apps allow you to concentrate all social media profiles of your brand, program publications, or simply monitor what is happening. These are very useful for those managing the contents as well as for those who delegate this task to third parties to stay on top of response times and tone.

ttitude and manners: as a general rule, check your spelling and grammar especially when writing an email or a work-related message; spelling mistakes or typos can give you an unprofessional image. Avoid using your smartphone during meetings since the idea is for you to have face-to-face interaction with the attendants. Don’t shout when talking and remember that it is a personal phone so if you are going to reproduce audio files at the office it is always better to use headphones to not bother those nearby.

 Take advantage of mobile social networking apps

If you use social networking sites regularly, what better way to access them than from your mobile phone? In fact, I prefer to use my iPhone interface for Facebook — it is simpler and much less cluttered. And if you deliver corporate status updates regularly as part of your job (sales and marketing) or need to network with others on the fly (recruiting, engineering, business development), it might be imperative to have mobile versions of your favorite social networking sites on your device.

Project management program

One of the biggest challenges of being a business owner on the go is managing your employees from afar. Project management tools (our favorite is Trello) keep you in the know from anywhere with a platform to create and manage tasks and workflows, communicate with team members, and monitor progress and performance. Most come with a mobile app that’s just as intuitive as their desktop version, so you won’t miss anything no matter where you are.

Point of-sale + eCommerce

You’ve probably seen mobile POS systems like those offered by Square and Clover all over—from food trucks to boutiques to the merchandise tables of touring bands—because of how easy and convenient they are to implement and use.Simply attach the card reader to your phone, install an app, and you’re ready.

Flexibility is exactly why they’re a hit— with a mobile POS system, if you’ve got a smartphone, you’re ready to do business anywhere. Many mobile POS systems now offer an entire e-commerce system that can be managed from a phone, so everything from sales metrics to order processing to employee schedules are with you at all times. Even developing and managing a customer database is possible with systems like these.

Tools you need to start your business

The main tool you need is your smartphone! However, we recommend that you use a dedicated number for business use, rather than utilizing your personal number. This makes sense professionally and in terms of convenience — plus, it makes a good impression. Some smartphones take two SIM cards that you can switch between, so you may be able to get a SIM-only contract for your business number.

While your smartphone is enough to get you started, you may want to consider a tablet for more versatility. And once your business begins to take off, perhaps a home office may be worth setting up. Nothing fancy, just the basics and you'll have somewhere to run your business from.

Let's finish by running through a checklist of what you need to do to start a business from your smartphone.

Manage Contacts

Businesses rely on contacts– both with customers and other businesses. Managing these contacts is essential to keeping a business running smoothly. To manage all your contacts efficiently, why not use your smartphone.

Using a contact management app on your phone is an effective way to store and organize contact information. These apps let you easily add new contacts, edit existing entries, make notes about certain people or companies, and even add photos or logos of the companies involved. 

Monitor Sales and Performance

It is crucial to make sure people are using analytics tools. These tools allow them to track key metrics such as website visits, customer engagement, and conversion rates. By understanding these numbers, entrepreneurs will be able to make smarter decisions about how best to serve their customers and increase profits. 

In conclusion, running a business from your smartphone can be an effective way to stay connected, organized, and efficient. By following the tips outlined in this article, people will be able to create an effective system for managing their business operations and gaining more success.