Showing posts with label meetup. Show all posts
Showing posts with label meetup. Show all posts

Wednesday, April 24, 2013

26 Mobile Apps to Improve Your Business and Networking


#1: Adobe Reader

Do you need to work on PDF docs on the go?
Adobe Reader offers features to view PDF documents, store and access documents in the cloud with Acrobat.com, navigate through PDF content, annotate and comment on PDF documents, fill out forms, organize documents, electronically sign and print and share.
"Easily access, manage and share a wide variety of PDF types."
Free

#2: Bump

Do you want to easily share documents with those around you?
With Bump you can share contact information, photos, videos and files by simply bumping two phones together. You can also share contacts, photos and files with others and sync with your computer.
"Send your contact info, photos and music to the people around you who have this app."
Free

#3: CardMunch Business Card Reader

Have you been holding onto a whole bunch of business cards from the last conference you went to? Looking for a solution for the cards you collected at Social Media Marketing World in San Diego?
Convert business cards to address book contacts and add them as connections on LinkedIn. CardMunch provides card-capture functionality for faster card scanning.
"Turns your business cards into contacts, now with LinkedIn integration."
iPhone | Android *Yulu Card Reader
Free

#4: DocuSign Ink

Do you need to get that document signed, sealed and delivered?
With DocuSign Ink you can sign, send and store documents and even create a signature in different colors and formats.
"This app allows me to do my paperwork without having to download and print the papers, then sign and fax them in."
Free

#5: Easy Note + To Do

To-do lists have a way of growing when you don’t chip away at them little by little. Using an app for note-taking and managing lists can make them feel much more doable.
The Easy Note + To Do app allows you to organize notes in folders, check items as complete, assign a due date and prioritize.
"Good basic functionality with an attractive and clutter-free design."
iPhone | Android * EasyNote Notepad To Do List
Free

#6: Foursquare

Whether you’re in a familiar location or somewhere new, Foursquare has your back and 30 million others, too.
“Open up the app to discover and learn about great places nearby, search for what you’re craving, and get deals and tips along the way.”
"I really like seeing what my friends are doing. It's also useful to find places I've been before or remember when I was last at a certain place."
Free

#7: Google+

You don’t need to decide whether to check Google+ or leave your desk.
The Google+ app will help you stay connected via hangouts, photos and updates from what your friends are sharing.
"Sometimes the best things in life are small and simple yet packed with powerful connections!"
Free

#8: Highlight

Are you feeling particularly social today?
The Highlight app may be just what you’re looking for with its notifications when friends are nearby, ability to see mutual friends and messaging within the app.
"This app provides a good idea of what the near future of mobile + location can be."
Free

#9: Instagram

Taking photos on a mobile phone offers users spontaneity plus the ability to visually transform a picture and share it immediately.
Instagram includes filters and borders, blur effects and easy sharing to Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, Flickr and Foursquare.
"A photo can say more than a status update ever will."
Free

#10: Job Search

Searching for a new job can be time-consuming and stressful.  Using an app during a job search will help make the most of your time.
With the Job Search app you get access to information from company websites, recruitment agencies and job boards in the USA, Canada, UK, Ireland, India, South Africa, Hong Kong, New Zealand, Singapore and Australia.
"Shows a lot of jobs available in my area."
Free

#11: Kindle

You don’t need a dedicated e-reader to take advantage of reading on the go.  With the Kindle app, you can stay up to date with books, eBooks, magazines and newspapers right on your smartphone.
And while there are more reading choices than you’ll ever have time for, if keeping up with social media–related books is of interest, you can certainly do that. iPhone users can search for books within iTunes and Android users can find social media titles onGoogle Play.
"Being able to read books on the go without actually having to carry them with me is so convenient."
Free

#12: Logo Mania Quiz

Marketers recognize the value of a memorable brand logo. These apps will let youtest your skills and make a game of identifying a logo.
If your business is rebranding and reassessing the value of your corporate logo, this may be a fun way to review the strengths of well-known logos. (You can play Angry Birds or Words with Friends later!)
"Can't stop."
iPhone | Android *LOGO Mania
Free

#13: Meetup

Is online time usurping much of your day? There’s still nothing like the face-to-face experience.
The Meetup app will help locate meetups around topics of interest to youincluding social media, tech, business and entrepreneurship—and of course a range of fitness, hobbies, community, parenting and dog meetups, among others.
"It's nice to see what people are doing in the community and be able to be involved."
Free

#14: Nook

Similar to the features mentioned about Kindle, the Nook reader app will helptransform your smartphone into your own library on the go.
There’s still nothing like holding a print book in your hands, but with these apps you’ll never find yourself without something to read when you’re waiting for the bus or train and the unexpected long time in a waiting room.
This may not the most desirable way to read something like War and Peace, but the convenience and ease will come in handy. Plus both apps will sync with your Kindle or Nook device and let you resume reading where you left off.
"Love being able to have my book handy, no matter where I am!"
Free

#15: Odometer

Do you need to keep track of mileage for a business trip?
Odometer apps will simplify the process and help you store the date and number of miles traveled.
"Export history as .CSV file on Odometer +."
iPhone * Odometer + $.99
Android* Odometer Free

#16: Photo Covers for Facebook Lite

Facebook cover photos are excellent real estate for business branding. The iPhone and Android apps referenced here will make it easy to create a new photo coverand post it while on the go.
Use your own image or choose one from a library of images that you further customize with special effects, captions and more.
"Simple but spot-on."
iPhone | Android * Timeline Cover 4 Facebook Lite
Free

#17: QR Reader

Whether you want to scan a QR code (Quick Response Code) or create one, there are a number of apps that will add meaning and destinations (websites, special offers, contact information, etc.) to those ubiquitous codes.
Use the QR Reader to check out how other businesses are using QR codes and see if one makes sense for your business.
"Has so many options, is easy to use and distributes my code!
iPhone | Android *Scan
Free

#18: (i)Reddit

Reddit describes themselves as the “front page of the Internet.” If you’ve come to rely on Reddit’s news aggregation from countless sites, you’ll be happy with these apps knowing that you never have to leave home (or office) without Reddit again.
"This is a fantastic way to interface with Reddit."
iPhone | Android *Reddit News
Free

 #19: Square Register

What will your smartphone do next? Take credit cards?
If you’re headed to a tradeshow, conference or a community event where you’re planning to sell your products, the Square Register app makes it possible to swipe credit cards and have payments delivered to your bank account within 1-2 days.
"I love the convenience w/o the contracts and additional fees that are attached to the traditional credit card machine or merchant services contracts."
Free

#20: TED

If TED conferences are new to you, then you’ll be in for a thrill with their app that makes the wonder of these talks a mobile experience. There’s a wealth of information right at your fingertips.
Whether you want to buff up on some business-related topics, technology trends or be inspired by ones that are rated jaw-dropping, there’s clearly something for everyone on TED.
By #20, I don’t know about you but I’m feeling that if only there was an app for creating more hours in the day, we’d be all set!
"The TED app is great and perfect. It encourages you."
Free

#21: UberSocial

UberSocial, previously known as Twidroyd, is a mobile app that enables users to post new tweets, monitor and keep up to date on hashtags, lists and people you follow, while also managing other multiple social accounts all in one place.
"It's always been my most favorite mobile Twitter app because it's so easy to use and has many features."
Free

#22: Vintique

Want to look retro? Having several different styles for your photos on social accounts will add variety and make your images even more shareable.
The Vintique app allows you to add effects that give an old and classy look to photos.
"Fun to run pics thru all the effects."
iPhone    *Vintique $.99
Android * Vintique-Photo Editor Free

#23: WiFi Finder

Need to find WiFi areas while traveling to make a Skype call or save on some of those minutes?
The Wifi Finder app features over 550,000 free and paid locations in 144 countries worldwide.
"Found hot spots I didn't know were in my town."
Free

#24: (e)xcel Contacts Lite

Business is all about contacts and making sure that you have a good solid list that you can access while you’re on the go is essential.
The Excel Contacts app will help you move contact information to and from your phone.
"Transfer contacts to and from your smartphone."
Free

#25: Yelp

Making a decision about where to eat, shop or play has become more streamlined with mobile apps. Yelp has a very large and loyal following and is definitely worth checking out, especially when you’re in a new city.
It’s also very interesting to see how the places you’ve come to know, within close proximity to work and home, rank within the Yelp community. And, if you’re so inclined, you can add your two cents!
"No matter were we are, local or traveling, I can always find so much more on Yelp."
Free

#26: Zendesk

It seems fitting that the last app on our list would be focused on customer support.
In this article we’ve run the gamut of the sales process; for example, maintaining and engaging contacts, promoting businesses with photos, QR codes, credit card payments, plus more. Managing customer support via mobile phones has also become a necessity.
With Zendesk you can view, update and create new help desk tickets, configure support ticket fields and add comments.
"Very simple to use, giving you peace of mind while you're on the move."
Free


Wednesday, June 27, 2012

5 Tools for Turning Social Media Relationships Into In-Person Connections


Social media can be applied to all kinds of activities, including staying in touch with relatives, getting advice, and playing games. One type of application that is growing is the development of in-person relationships resulting from connections originally built exclusively on social media platforms. Building connections in person is incredibly important despite the rise of social media, according to Ed Keller and Brad Fay, co-authors of The Face-to-Face Book: Why Real Relationships Rule in a Digital Marketplace
Keller and Fay’s research uncovered that in the United States, 75% of conversations occur in person, with less than 10% occurring via social media. Their data also showed that, on average, in-person conversations are thought to be more credible, and often skew more positive than those conducted using social media.
Of course, it’s not always easy to manage the transition of a social media acquaintance into an in-person friendship. Here are a few tools that can help make that happen.

1. Lanyrd

Lanyrd, a social conference directory, is a great way of finding out where your social media connections will be so that you can arrange to meet up. The site allows you to sign in with Twitter and then see Lanyrd’s list of suggested events you may be interested in. To help you build connections with your Twitter friends, there’s a “from contacts” tab that lets you see all of the events your contacts have said they’ll attend. A glance at this list will show you which events will be more conducive to making more in-person connections.
Next to each conference or event, Lanyrd offers two main buttons: “Attend,” to signify you’ll be in attendance, and “track,” to bookmark an event and keep tabs on it.

2. LinkedIn

While it’s not too uncommon for a Twitter user to follow thousands of other users, social media practitioners tend to be more selective on LinkedIn and Facebook. Inviting a Twitter acquaintance to connect on LinkedIn or Facebook is often seen as a move towards a more formal relationship.
“I often ask fellow #LikeableChat participants to [join me on LinkedIn] after we chat. It solidifies the connection,” says Valerie Pritchard, a research coordinator and writer at social media marketing firm, Likeable.
For many, LinkedIn is an incredibly useful tool for building and maintaining professional relationships, providing access to plenty of information about someone, such as shared alma maters, mutual connections, and similarities in work histories, leading to opportunities for bonding.

3. Banjo

Banjo is one of the fastest growing mobile platforms used to maintain and develop in-person connections. In April, the service announced it had slightly more than 500,000 monthly active users, with total membership hitting 900,000.
Banjo can find your connections across Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, and it alerts you when your contacts are within a geographic interval of your choosing. This makes it incredibly easy to arrange spur-of-the-moment meetings with online acquaintances.
Banjo is also great if you’re planning a visit to a place where you don’t have many friends. You simply tell Banjo where you plan to be, and it will load a map indicating where your online friends (and other Banjo users) are in the vicinity.

4. Sonar

Similar to Banjo, Sonar is a mobile app that lets you check in to physical locations and know when your social media contacts are at the same venue or nearby. One key feature of Sonar is letting you know when your friends’ friends are nearby as well, revealing connections you might not have otherwise made. With Sonar, it’s not uncommon to check in to a busy venue such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art and find someone with four Facebook friends, two LinkedIn connections, and dozens of Twitter followers in common.
Sonar usage is particularly heavy in fields such as digital marketing and among communities such as parenting bloggers, in which people usually form strong connections online before ever meeting in real life. During conferences where these communities come together in person, Sonar is very useful in making sure users don’t miss the people they really want to meet.

5. Meetup

Of course, going to a meetup is a great way to meet some of your online friends in real life. You can do this by setting up an account on Meetup.com, and linking it to your Facebook account so you can see where your friends will be. You can flesh out your profile with specific interests, which lets Meetup improve the meetups that it suggests to you, or you can simply search by keyword. Meetups are organized for all sorts of interests from politics to botany.
Of course, Meetup.com isn’t the only way to strengthen relationships made online. Google Groups is a very useful choice when it comes to organizing a tight-knit community and planning in-person meetings.