For years I was afraid of technology. Hated the phone, wrote letters well into my thirties, was not very found of Sunday driving as I inevitably become carsick. Then I got a job. In an office. Wearing pantyhose. The ‘real world’, my mom might say. While everyone was salivating over the new Palm Pilots (remember those?), I was still lugging around my 25 lb Filo Fax, determined to cling to the familiar. Overtime I did evolve, but with each new gadget, it never quite replaced its predecessor and in truth, never really became a part of me.
All of this changed when I got an iPhone. While I still can’t type coherent emails it has become my lifeblood because of one thing, and one thing only. The App Store.I can actually manage my freelance life from the palm of my hand in a way that appeals to my “type a” nature and supports my love of all things esthetically pleasing. In short, this phone is a solid representation of me. Here is a sneak peak into my personal arsenal of entrepreneurial ‘must haves’ broken down in 4 categories:
1. Productivity
Evernote – website
Evernote let’s me clip articles, organize them in folders and displays each clipped article, link, note in the same manner your would view on screen while instantly synching to my desktop. Lovely.
Square – website
Get paid instantly – This little beauty allows you to accept credit card payments directly to your iPhone. Great for small businesses as there are no hidden fees, minimums or contracts.
Billings – website
Hands down the best app to track expenses, time, and mileage, creating invoices and tracking outstanding payments.
Dropbox – website
Essential. I can transfer any file from my phone to my desktop (and vice-versa) in mere seconds. ‘Nuf said.
2. Creative
Hipstamatic – website
There are many camera apps out there but if I had to choose one, it’s the Hipstamatic. The app included 4 lenses (with the opportunity to purchase more) that can transform your dead houseplant into work of art – trust me on this, I tried it.
Diptic – website
Genius! Diptic allows me to arrange my photos into blog related templates. With 14 to choose from, your blog posts can appear fresh and visually interesting.
Impression – website
Now that you’ve taken great photos of your wares, make them your own with this handy app. Impression let’s you copyright your images instantly so they are ready for public viewing.
3. Resources
Open Forum – website
Published by American Express, this is a wonderful resource for any small business, full of handy tips, great community forums, and market trends.
LinkedIn – website
A must have for networking. Period.
Blogger/Tumblr/Wordpress – Blogger, Tumblr, WordPress
Whatever your platform for blogging, there’s an app for it. Handy when you need to blog from the road.
4. Style
Shop Style – website
Delicious. Need some fab red peep toes to go with your new black wool trousers? This app allows you to shop from a huge selection of retailers nationwide and curate the looks.
Sartorialist – website
For those of you familiar with Scott Shuman’s The Sartorialist, this is a handy app when you’re just in the mood for a little inspiration. I check in daily.
There you have it! If you’re strapped for apps and craving a little technology pick-me-up, look no further.
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This post was written for the CRAVE Company by seasosed marketing professional Kari Mitchell. She is the founder of Last Day in May, a Portland based creative communication consultancy designed to help small businesses grow via E-Marketing, Social Media, Public Relations and Brand Development. A self described paper junkie, you can check out her ramblings on words, designs, objects, and scenes at lastdayinmay.tumblr.com
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September 22nd, 2010 at 9:36 am
I want all of these apps! Thanks for sharing.
September 22nd, 2010 at 9:38 am
Kari,
If you’re a fan of to-do lists like I am, there’s a great app out there. It’s called teux-deux and allows you to simply make lists and cross items off. It’s browser based too, so you can manage it from any computer.
The best thing? If you didn’t complete something, it rolls over to the next day. And, the app is beautifully designed by swissmiss (swiss-miss.com).
September 23rd, 2010 at 7:23 am
Hi Danni
Yes, obsessed about to do lists – Thanks for the lead, teux deux is lovely!
Kari