SuiteWorks Recommends Some Great Small Business Apps To Help Our Clients

Here at SuiteWorks we often listen to our small business clients talking about productivity issues and concerns, how to get more things done in a day, and what can make them become more productive.  We've done a little research to help and we've come up with this list of 5 Productivity Apps that any small business will find helpful.

Here are some simple, day-to-day software solutions. Most of these apps work on iOS and Android, some will work on Windows.

Make quick-and-easy notes - Evernote (iOS / Windows / Android)

Evernote is the grandfather of note-taking apps. This product works seamlessly as you move from your mobile device to your desktop, something business professionals increasingly do throughout the day. Whether you want to keep track of an upcoming business trip, save your favorite web pages while you're researching online, or simply share notes with colleagues, Evernote makes it a cinch. The company is so committed to satisfying all types of business users, that they've moved beyond the app world to offer physical products. For example, Evernote-enabled Moleskine journals are a great way to enhance your note-taking experience, so you have the simplicity of pen and paper with the searchability of the Evernote app.

Create and sync lists - Any.do / Cal (iOS / Android)

For most small business owners, each day starts with a long list of tasks. There are a number of apps that will help to organize your daily responsibilities, but award-winning Any.do is starting to rise above the rest. The app lets you quickly and easily add daily to-dos. Select “done” to scratch an item off your list, or defer it to another day. This allows you to play around with your tasks, so you can get them done even if it means moving them a few hours ahead to fit your schedule. The company also offers up an app called Cal, which makes it simple to create tasks within events that can be synced with Any.Do.

Collaborate with colleagues - Quip(iOS / Android

Quip enables you to collaborate with others on documents. The app is a dream for business users who need to work on drafts and edits in real time, and keep in touch with constant updates. As the company says, Quip makes it easy to cut down on email because work groups can be notified on mobile devices as projects change and evolve. The app also works with attachments, and allows you to create and work on documents--even when you're offline.

Connect with industry news - LinkedIn Pulse (iOS / Android

Approximately 22% of online adults use LinkedIn, according to recent findings from the Pew Research Center. The popular social network has evolved from a place to find a new job to a place to connect to the latest news from thought leaders and influencers. With the company's Pulse app you can personalize your reading experience to get down to the exact type of content you need to help you run a better business. If you're away from the Internet, you can load up your stories beforehand so you can read them when you're offline. What's more, you can share the articles you find to network with other professionals and grow your own LinkedIn community--all within one streamlined download.

Communicate in real time – HipChat (iOS / Android / desktop)

In a world where business professionals struggle on a daily basis to keep up with their email messages, HipChat comes to the rescue. This cross-platform tool makes it a cinch for your entire team to message one-on-one or in groups. Unlike other private messaging services, there is no server technology to maintain. Moreover, the price is right (free for teams of five or less, $2/user every month beyond that). With the company's desktop, mobile, and web apps, everyone in your business can readily be available to participate in a chat. Not only can HipChat help to decrease email messages among your team, it can also help team members communicate more effectively. After all, too many email messages go unanswered--and if they are answered it's often hours or days later, leading to a decrease in overall productivity.

Let's Get SMART About Goal Setting

Goal setting. We know that it helps to have clearly defined goals but many of us don't take the time to write our goals out or think deeply about achieving them. It's a bit like setting off on a road trip without knowing exactly what town you want to end up in and when you want to arrive. We're heading off in the general vicinity of 'having a successful business year', but we don't really know how to define the end result.

One way of defining goals is to make sure they follow the SMART rule.

S - specific
M - measurable
A - attainable
R - relevant
T - time dependent

S – Specific. What is it that I want to achieve and why is it important? What are the benefits and who will be involved? How will the goal be achieved - do I need to set benchmarks along the way, overcome obstacles, take more training, connect with different people..?

M – Measurable.  Can my goal be quantified in any way? Is there a target number associated with the goal or with any steps along the way. If you can set a measurable goal you'll be able to gauge your progress.

A – Attainable. Goals need to be realistic and attainable. Sometimes it helps to bounce the goal idea off a close associate or friend. Getting some outside perspective can help you determine if the goal is realistic or needs to be modified. Remember you want to stretch yourself, but in the end you want to achieve your goal.

R – Relevant. To find out if your goal is relevant try asking yourself if this is the right thing for me to be doing at this time. Take a good look at the costs and benefits. The cost may not be monetary, but could be related to your time and effort. Will working hard for this goal take too much time away from another task that is important in my life?

T – Time limited. Can you commit to a timeline for your goal? Goals that are time specific can push us towards success because we can see more clearing when things need to be done to move forward. You can also track your progress against time and put more effort in if you are getting behind.

Setting SMART goals is a methodology used in many types of corporate performance appraisal systems. If you are working on your own or in a small business you can still benefit from this approach by taking the time to identify important goals and write them down. Validate the goals with SMART and you'll be on your way to accomplishing tasks and goals that support your business objectives.

SuiteWorks is a world class business centre serving all of central Ontario. Call us today to set up a complimentary Tour and learn how your business can benefit from a flexible office solution including coworking space and virtual offices - Toll Free 1.866.967.5711 or visit our website to find out more about SuiteWorks solutions for your business.