3 Tools that Have Helped My Small Business

I am so not a techie. My husband THRIVES off the latest gadget and tries to teach me how these advances in technology can make my life easier. I don't usually bite, but as an online business owner, I can conduct business wherever I am. I can write blog posts, check e-mail, even register sales. Because all my business is done electronically, it doesn't matter where I am or what time of the day it is, I can be making sales and growing my business. I have to admit, he was right about these 3 things (so far and I would never tell him that, but I'll share it with my other new tech-free friends who could care less about the newest "G" on the market!) 

Smart Phone

A smart phone should be a standard piece of equipment for any business owner. You can use it to check e-mail, log online to check out analytics or spy on competitors, use the phone to take photos for market research, and -- of course -- make phone calls to customers and business contacts. It's like a personal assistant right in your pocket. Compared to my old Jitterbug flip phone, this LOOKS like a tiny computer, but once you learn it, it's like riding a bike.

Tablet

It's similar to a smart phone, only it has more processing power. Hook up a wireless keyboard, and you've got a mini computer that you can take with you wherever you go. You can monitor databases, type up business proposals, conduct research, and much more. At first, I hated this. Now that I have played around with it for a while, I take it EVERYwhere!

Point-of-Sale Systems

I can turn my iPad into a cash register, making sales, monitoring inventory, and processing payments. This software turns my tablet into a sophisticated point-of-sale system that I can use for any sales anywhere I am. It's great for trade shows, conferences, and even the successful elevator pitch. I simply can not imagine what life was like before this thing. SO much easier than a register that you have to program and keep tape and ink in. Love it!

What tools have helped you grow your small business? I'd love to hear about them!