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Smart phones are those do-everything little mobile phone devices you see people mysteriously hovering over while typing away with their thumbs; like I am doing now as I compose this blog post while waiting for my meal to arrive at a favorite restaurant (Azteca in Charlotte, NC in case you were wondering).

For teenagers a smart phone’s main function is to frustrate parents as mom watches in disappointment while Jimmy ruins the dinner mood texting to his friends. For you, the business owner, a properly outfitted Blackberry or iPhone is your gateway to generating new business and profits. The following are some tactics guaranteed to bring balance to your balance sheet.

1. Twitter for dollars:  Twitter is a free social networking and micro-blogging service where users send and read other users’ updates (tweets). It takes some getting used to for newbies but I have built great relationships and made “real” money for my business through Twitter connections.  Because the usefulness of your updates above all drives your attractiveness on Twitter being able to make those updates from anywhere is important and there are a host of smart phone applications for doing this. My favorite iPhone Twitter app is Tweetie and for Blackberry users I suggest TwitterBerry.
2. Email list building
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   : Once you realize that very few people will buy from you at your first meeting, the power of sending regular messages to your prospects becomes obvious. With this, it stands to reason that getting prospects onto your opt-in mailing list is critical. A clever way to do this with your smart phone is to add a mobile version of your mailing list registration form to your website.  Now when you meet people at networking events, speaking engagements or shopping at the mall you can use your phone to access your mobile page and easily allow them to join your list and become part of your sales funnel.  Tip: Bookmark your mobile registration page.

3. Your mobile commercial:  All smart phones these days allow you to add video and some even capture video.  Just add your professionally produced company marketing video to your phone and you, your sales staff and anyone else you give the video to becomes a walking commercial. Blackberry video converter is a free application for BB users to make their videos mobile ready and iPhone Video Copy is a similar application for the iphone
4. Instant messaging: Use IM+ for Skype or similar program to text and voice chat in real time with people around the world.  How can this help your business you are probably wondering?  I have employees in a number of countries (US, Great Britain, etc.) and I regularly instant message with them for project updates and to share ideas.  Communication is free between Skype users (even voice).  Take that Vonage!
5. GPS Navigation: If you are directionally challenged like me, being able to always know where you are and where you are going is a huge benefit especially while traveling.  With my phone’s GPS service I am never late for meetings and I can always find a good place to eat or entertain clients. Not to mention the optimized routes allow me to drive less which helps mother Earth.
6. Blogging:  Blogging is a great way to build relationships with prospects and hit them with regular value-added bits of information that will position you as the expert in their minds.  I can’t tell you the number of times blog post inspiration comes to me while waiting on a movie to air, in a holding pattern at the doctor’s office, or shopping.  Being able to compose my post on the spot with my smart phone saves me time and supports my creativity.  This scenario is where I give the edge to phones that have“real” keyboards vs the iPhone and Blackberry storm that have touchscreen inputs.
7. Research
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   :  A real example…I received an impromptu referral from a client that led to an urgent meeting scheduled by the prospect and I had no time to prepare.  While waiting for my host to wrap up a previous meeting I whipped out my BB and did a quick Google search on the prospect and learned enough about the company to wow the prospect.

8. Note taking:  This idea seems simple but I know you are smart and come up with a lot of ideas and being able to jot them down or voice record a synopsis is like money in the bank.  I currently have a running list of blog post ideas, Twitter post topics, website enhancements and client suggestions.
9. Calendar sync:  Keeping my cell phone calendar synced to my Google calendar means not only knowing where I am supposed to be but enabling others wanting to schedule meetings to view my availability. More on Google mobile sync (click here).
10. Mobile desktop:  Through downloadable and cloud applications you can create word processing, spreadsheet, Powerpoint presentations and share documents with others to support your business.  The cloud applications are particularly promising as you do not need to install any software to use them (see Google docs for a demo)

Today’s cell phone is more than an excuse to buy another cool gadget it is an essential business productivity tool. Just tell this to your spouse the next time he or she catches you drooling over the ad for the new Blackberry/iPhone.

Now you have me curious.  What creative business uses do you have for your phone?

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Tags: lead generation, mobile computing, video marketing strategy, web marketing strategy

This entry was posted on Tuesday, May 5th, 2009 at 7:56 pm and is filed under Strategy, Video, Website Tactics. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.