There are roughly 151,000 small businesses in Maine and many are increasingly embracing new technologies to realize their dreams, simplify daily operations and ultimately fuel the growth of our communities. Of all the technology solutions available to small business entrepreneurs, the best may be the device they have right in their hands – their smartphone.
Small Business Week is May 4–10 and in honor of the occasion, UScellular is sharing some digital apps and resources that business owners can leverage when using their smartphones, including:
Networking: For small businesses looking to network, consider apps like Alignable and Meetup to connect with professionals, attend events and build relationships. The Alignable app provides a platform for small business owners to connect within their local and regional communities, as well as across the U.S. and Canada. Members can participate in Q&A’s, ask for advice and connect with experts in their fields. Meetup is a social media platform for hosting and organizing in-person and virtual activities, gatherings and events for people and communities of similar interests, hobbies, and professions.
Finances: Making use of smartphone apps like Wave help small business owners create invoices, accept online payments, and makes accounting easy. Apps like Expensify provide budgeting, expense tracking, and invoicing capabilities.
Marketing: Small businesses have a variety of options when considering apps to help with graphics, email marketing and social media management. Consider using marketing apps like Mailchimp for email marketing and Hootsuite for social media management. While not an app, Marq is an all-in-one solution for creating engaging marketing content that can drive growth for their business.
Data: For support with tracking ROI, the Google Analytics app allows access to data from your phone or tablet. The app optimizes the Analytics report layouts and controls for a mobile environment, so you get the best experience no matter what device you use.
Security: Small and medium-sized business often have fewer resources and, as a result, are less likely to have the latest and most up-to-date security measures in place. The F-Secure app can help protect your devices from viruses, malware and spyware, and personal data theft.
Time management: Small businesses seeking to improve time management can benefit from the help of an app like Harvest that lets you get a complete overview of your time tracking and invoicing with real-time dashboards.
UScellular has dedicated small business support when and where you need it. To learn more, visit a UScellular store or go to www.uscellular.com/small-business.
