It's the time of year when we take a moment to reflect on all that we are grateful for. Of course, relationships and health are deservedly on top of the list, but there's a lot more to be thankful for.
For entrepreneurs whose personal and professional lives are intertwined, certain technologies help keep their heads above water. These technologies create a high multiplier effect on entrepreneurs' efforts and enable them to create an edge for their business. As a result, entrepreneurs can carve out more time to do some reflection and enjoy their friends and family.
Our informal survey of technologies entrepreneurs are grateful for in 2010 produced a widespread response. Here are a select few:
- iPads: Many entrepreneurs find iPads a great tool for running their business. I initially thought iPad was going to be another cool toy, but I find myself using it for business all the time. For one thing, iPads have a large screen that makes them easier to use than smartphones when it comes to entering and consuming data. And they are portable enough to travel with you to most places. They give you a lot of the functionality of laptops but are much easier to carry. They are also easy to fly with. While you have to take your laptop out and put it in its own bin to go through the X-ray machine, iPads can rest in your bag during that process.
For Karen Moss of Lemon Ladies Orchard, which sells organic Meyer lemons online, her iPad has been a life-changer. Moss can now walk through the orchard and make notes on her iPad about each tree. She can stay on top of all her online orders no matter where she is or when she feels an urge to check on the orders.
iPads have also enabled iPhone/iPod app developers an easy move to a new device. For Jill Mikols Etesse, creative director of SmartyShortz LLC, a children's educational app developer, iPads have created a new customer segment. Says Etesse, "Now our consumer is not just iPhone parents letting their kids use their phone but actual schools!"
iPads come in both Wi-Fi and Wi-Fi+3G connectivity options. If you can afford it, I highly recommend the 3G option, which costs about $130 more plus monthly data fees. With iPad 3G, you are truly untethered and mobile. iPads are available through Apple, AT&T and Verizon stores.
iPads are the dawn of the modern tablet era. Other new and upcoming tablets include the Samsung Galaxy Tab, which is a little smaller (a 7-inch display vs. iPad's 9-inch display). In addition, RIM, maker of BlackBerry, will release a new tablet called PlayBook early next year.
- Google Voice: We covered Google Voice in detail in a column last year. This is one tool many entrepreneurs are grateful for. For starters, callers can always reach you since your Google Voice can transfer the call to one or more of your phone numbers, including your office phone, cell phone, Skype or other phone numbers. This tool has become more useful since it went mobile. Google Voice for mobile is now supported on iPhones, Androids and BlackBerrys.
- Campfire from 37signals: Campfire is an instant messaging system designed for groups. Since it is a web-based tool, you don't have to install any software. It allows you to chat with your team members or clients in a private chat room. Bart Mroz of SUMO Heavy Industries calls Campfire his company's "most important communication tool." The three members of the company are in the "water cooler" chat room all day, resolving issues while sharing screens and documents.
- Facebook Ads: We all know Facebook has become the king of social networking. MySpace officially threw in the towel Nov. 19, when it announced that it will let users log into Facebook through its MySpace page and will instead become a "social entertainment" site. Many entrepreneurs are using Facebook as a platform to market their products and services. With Facebook becoming a major force, Facebook ads are gaining solid traction. Sara Margulis of Honeyfund, a honeymoon registry, says "compared to other awareness advertising, Facebook ads are incredibly cost-effective and have allowed us to reach new audiences."
- Square: Square offers a unique way for entrepreneurs to accept credit card payments on their mobile devices. The company sends you a free card reader upon signup. You can download a free Square app from the app store. From then on, you can swipe credit cards (AmEx, Discover, MasterCard and Visa) to get paid. The company charges you 2.75 percent plus $0.15 per transaction. Dan Nainan, a comedian and professional entertainer, uses Square. It allows him to accept credit cards and have a merchant account and, as he says, "the cost is exactly zero to get started."
Entrepreneurs use many other technologies to be more productive. We'll cover more in the future.
Gotchas: A lot of great technology innovations are coming down the pike at a rapid pace. When selecting a technology for your entrepreneurial venture, do a return-on-investment calculation. Also, make sure it fits your business circumstances. When calculating investment costs, don't include just the cost of the product or service, but also support, training, maintenance and future transitions.
Bottom line: Being an entrepreneur is not easy. You wear so many different hats that your head hurts. But it can be an amazing, fulfilling, liberating ride. Thanks to technology innovations, entrepreneurs have better tools to do more with fewer resources in a shorter amount of time.
Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!
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