7 Handy Online Tools to Grow Your Business

Growing a business is a process and it does not happen overnight. Once you have online accounts in place, the opportunity to reach more people becomes available. With this a business can create content to share, create online broadcasts and interact with customers. Interaction is important to maintain a positive reputation. 

Dropbox and Programs of the Like

Dropbox and programs that are similar allow users to host files and access them from any computer that has the software. These files are also able to be accessed from mobile devices. For businesses with multiple types of files and/or products, this is an ideal organizational tool. Users are able to create folders that are labeled for specific topics. Finding the content or file that you need is rather simple. The files can be used to upload online, send to clients or share with others virtually. Another benefit of this is that each file gets a link of its own. The links can be shared online that will direct others right to the content.

Speak to Type Programs

Speak to type or text programs, such as Dragon and SpeakWrite, transcribe what you are saying into text on a word processing page. These programs are fairly inexpensive and save a lot of time. It also allows users to multitask, such as research on a second monitor as content is created or shop online if that is the desire. This convenience also helps to prevent tendinitis and other typing related ailments.

Take Online Payments

When a business or service is able to take online payments and deposits, it is more appealing to users. This convenience saves users of your website a lot of time. The ability to take online payments from a variety of sources, such as credit, debit and virtual accounts such as PayPal, will increase revenue for the business. It is important that the features put in place for users to make these payments are user-friendly and fast loading as well as completely safe and secure. 

Build a User-Friendly Website

Nowadays it is important to have a website as a business. Not only does this help to build your reputation but it allows more Internet users to be aware of your business. A positive online reputation is important and can either make or break your business. The impression that users have of the website and how the business runs is important. Users must be able to easily navigate a website and it must be easy on the eyes and fast loading. The navigation must also be simplified to prevent user frustration.

Manage your Money

This is a crucial step if you wish to grow your business. You have to manage your money and be on top of revenues, expenses and losses at all times. This includes having daily financial reports as well as access to the bank account online to view balances, deposits and payments. If a business owner does not now where the money is going, chances are that they are setting themselves up for financial disaster. Online accounting software allows you to combine multiple revenue streams and see them in one area. You’ll be able to understand how much tax you need to pay and whether you’ve turned a profit in a matter of seconds.

Business Cards

Businesses and business owners need business cards. This goes without saying. Every person of status and those in sales should also have cards available. Even if it is just dropping a card into a letter or speaking with a friend about the business, every opportunity to hand one out is an opportunity to gain a new customer. These should be on-hand at all times. 

Use Social Media Networks

Social media networks are becoming the best way to reach out to new and existing customers. The ideal networks to share content on are Google+, LinkedIn and Facebook. Twitter is fizzling out as far as popularity and a way to boost your presence are concerned. It is also beneficial to post photos of products on Instagram and Pinterest to grab the attention of more users.

These are just a few of the tools that you should consider to help grow your business. It takes more than just advertising and word-of-mouth to increase revenues and gain new clients. This is a constant process. If you have these tools implemented properly, the business will grow itself with minimal work being needed on your part as the owner.

How to Generate an Income with Your Smartphone

Economic conditions around the world have made it so that people everywhere have to explore new and simple ways to make an income, sometimes without leaving their home. Fortunately, it’s possible to do just that by picking up your smartphone and downloading a few apps that are specially designed for moneymaking purposes.
High Rate of Usage in the USA and United Kingdom

In June of 2013, the Pew Research Center released the results of a study which found that 56 percent of adults in America now own a smartphone. The rate of popularity is very similar in the United Kingdom. The eMarketer website reported how through the end of 2013, it’s estimated there will be 30.9 million smartphone users there.

Things to Do Before Getting Started

For years, there have been ways to make money through the Internet, ranging from completing surveys to performing website usability tests. Although many of those opportunities are legitimate, it is still necessary to be diligent and conduct adequate research before signing up for a moneymaking opportunity that seems to be a perfect fit. The same is true if you’re ready to make money with your smartphone.

Get started by asking people you trust if they have recommendations of apps to try, and also search for reviews online to get a broader perspective of whether or not something is worthwhile. You may also discover that designers of apps you use for work-related purposes have also produced platforms that make money.

After getting that information, dig deeper to find out more about your phone, such as details of the operating system and functionality. That will make it easier to find ways to make money that match well with the things your phone does best, plus the manner in which you’re comfortable using your device.

Read below to get details about particular moneymaking opportunities that exist. Although the possibilities are not exhaustive, they should give you a firm idea of what’s available and how the options could pad your bank account when money is short.

EasyShift: Earn Money for Things You Do Anyway

In many cases, generating income requires us to do things that are at least slightly inconvenient, or perhaps cumbersome. In contrast, an app called EasyShift seems to live up to the first part of its name by allowing users to make money for things they do regularly like going to the movies, shopping for groceries and ordering a cup of morning coffee. Payouts occur through PayPal after the accuracy of a finished task has been verified by the system. The app is optimized for Apple OS X 6.0 or later, and you can use it on an iPad as well.

CheckPoints: Get Rewarded for Shopping

Shopping at your favorite stores no longer has to only be associated with spending money. Available for both the Android and Apple operating systems, the CheckPoints app encourages you to take your phone on the go, find particular products, and scan them into the system. It’s like a scavenger hunt for smartphone users! In time, it’s possible to earn points that you can eventually redeem for things including gift cards and airline miles.

Ipinion: Benefit from Speaking Your Mind

Many people greatly enjoy taking market research surveys, because they feel they’re a way to provide direct feedback about products used on a daily basis. It can also be especially rewarding to take a survey that tells marketers how to properly introduce a brand-new product to the market. By getting a chance to do that, you have even more potential influence than an early adopter, and could help to shape the future popularity of a product or service.

The Ipinion app works on the Android operating system in conjunction with existing market research panels. If you aren’t already a member of the panels that participate with Ipinion, simply sign up with them and access content directly through the app. You’ll become familiar with a points system where one point is equal to one penny, and you’re eligible to start redeeming them once you’ve accumulated 500 points or more. Some of the things you could earn include cash or gift cards.

The possibilities described above are just a few examples of the dozens of possibilities that exist from moneymaking apps. The ones mentioned here are all free to try, so you have nothing to lose. At a conference in San Francisco this past June, the Apple Corporation announced that there are now more than 900,000 apps in Apple’s App Store. Add apps available for other operating systems to that number and clearly, if you’re willing to put forth a little effort and find apps that make sense with the ways you already use your smartphone, that trustworthy device could help you stay in touch with others and also boost your income.

Andrea Witherspoon works in the marketing division for a business mobile company, www.businessmobiles.co.uk where you can compare mobile plans. You can follow her at @AndreaWTweets.