10 Mobile Apps That Will Keep You On Your HR & Social Media Game

Small business owners are always looking for ways to integrate social media into their already extremely busy day.  As a social media coach, I do try to help small business owners learn how to integrate social media into their marketing strategies. One of the most effective ways to do this is to take your social media strategy mobile. 

It’s predicted that by the end of 2014, mobile use of the web will have outstripped desktop access. It’s clear that taking social media on the go saves time and energy – you can tweet while waiting in line at the bank, you can blog while riding the train and you can read RSS feeds while sitting in traffic (when you’re not moving, of course). While most of us have the necessary and very helpful mobile apps for Twitter, Facebook, Google Plus and Foursquare (and if you don’t – download then now!) there are many others apps that can help you stay on top of your social media game.

Ten Apps That Will Keep You On Your Social Media Game

●      HootSuite: This mobile dashboard allows you to manage your Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and Foursquare accounts while on the go. You can schedule posts and tweets, add updates, track click stats and set up tracking columns to monitor keywords, hashtags and lists. 

●      Google Search: This app allows you to search the web faster and easier. It has features like voice search to allow you to search while on the go without needing to type, Google Goggles, which allows you to take a photo of what you see to get more info about products or landmarks and it allows users to find places near them without typing their location. 

●      NetNewsWire: An RSS reader for your iPhone. This allows you to read the news from millions of blogs and sites that publish RSS feeds. A definite must for those who need to fill wait times – either in line, on the bus or waiting for clients. You can star items or send them to instapaper to save them for later. You can also e-mail articles or post the links to Twitter.

●      PitchEngine: PitchEngine is a web-based service that helps people create content-rich media releases.  The mobile app allows businesses and organizations to create portable, one-page PR sites, with images and videos and publish it to the world, all while being away from the office. 

●      Buffer: Like the desktop version, the mobile version of Buffer app lets you schedule both Facebook and Twitter posts while on the go. Buffer allows you to spread your updates throughout the day. You can add updates easily with the bookmarklet whenever you are reading an article in your browser. 

●      Card Munch: This app by LinkedIn is a great way to turn business cards into contacts, with LinkedIn integration. You can easily convert business cards by scanning the card with the card reader and uploading the information without needing to type. Very useful at business meetings, conventions, trade shows and networking events. 

●      Mobile Payment app: With the mobile age, it is critical for merchants to find new  ways for to close deals and accept payments when they’re on the go. There are many  mobile app tools that enable businesses to process transactions and payments, with next day direct deposit to your bank account. I didn’t include a specific app as it depends in which country you are doing buisness in. Square, Intuit GoPayment are for US based banking, while Payfirma is Canadian. It is well worth looking into a mobile merchant app for your business. 

●      Vignature: With most businesses going mobile, its important to be able to access and legally sign documents while on the go. Vignature lets you access your documents from email or dropbox and open it within the app. You tap to sign and pose for a photograph. Your image is integrated into your signature, along with a date stamp. You can then email the signed document to yourself and any other required recipient. 

●      Wordpress for iOS: With WordPress for iOS you can easily manage your WordPress blog or website from your iOS device. You can moderate comments, create or edit posts, add images and video. You can now write, edit and mangage your blog while waiting for the bus or riding the train to work. 

●      G-Whizz: This Google Apps Browser is a great way to access all your Google Apps, even from a non-android phone.  You have access to over 20 apps right on your smart phone including Google Docs, reader, Google Voice, Gmail, plus Facebook and Twitter. You can send free text messages, track your schedule with Google Calendar, get driving directions and stay up to date with Google News.

Posted by:Ali Goldfield

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What to Ask as You Start 2012: Why Would Somebody Work For You?

As we enter the doors of 2012, the prognosticators have all given their respective thoughts on what is coming into focus for the year.These are all great readings, but if you have survived these past few years of economic turmoil (and the aftermath), you know that, really, who knows?

All organizations have basically put together their various strategies for either getting back into the game, moving to the next level, or something similar. Some of those strategies will be called into focus as the year progresses. Think Verizon and their slogan —  “Can you hear me now?”

As I read Sunday’s New York Times, there was an article that encapsulated IBM strategy that was devised by Samuel J. Palmisano, who is departing as IBM’s chief. In the article, Palmisano mentioned that he focused on four key questions to drive strategy and growth when he took the helm of IBM.

4 questions for business excellence

He says his guiding framework boils down to four questions:

• “Why would someone spend their money with you — what is unique about you?”
• “Why would somebody work for you?”
• “Why would society allow you to operate in their defined geography — their country?”
• “Why would somebody invest their money with you?”

The No. 1 question for HR executives and the C-Suite

I continue to read over these questions and marvel as to how these four powerful questions would frame a conversation about any organization. To me, the most powerful question in the group is the simplest — “just why would somebody work for you?” I would love to pose that question to any senior level executive as they embark on a 2012 that, by all accounts, will be another year of uncertainty.

Just imagine during the interview process if his question was posed to the interviewer, whether that is the recruiter, hiring manager or senior executive. “My question is why should I come to work for your company, what makes your organization so unique from a people prospective?” As Emeril Lagasse of Food Network, would say “ BAM.”

How would YOU answer the question?

In some companies, it would result in a deer-in-the-headlights look from the other side of the table, and probably, that powerful question would not derive a credible answer. But every person that you sit across the table from (yes, including all the employees in your organization) are asking that question in some way, shape, or form.

A low level of engagement in your organization is an incubator for these types of questions. The clarity of specific words may not be formed in this way, but they are hovering around in the employee mindset.

Can you sell your Employee Value Proposition?

This brings me to most important message that an organization must live, eat breathe and sleep — the Employee Value Proposition. This is the key link to your employer branding. Every organization should not only think through this powerful question, but also need to develop a mission statement the specifically focuses on why an employee would want to work with you.

So, what is unique about you and your organization?

• What are the major people policies?
• What processes and programs demonstrate the organization’s commitment to employees?
• How does your organization create and sustain employee growth?
• How are you developing your managers and employees?
• Are your employee rewards in balance with an employee’s performance level?
• Is your corporate social responsibility policy telling a compelling story? 

People plans need to relate to business strategy

The essence of the Employee Value Proposition  should be the central reason that people choose to commit themselves to your organization.

The branding message should be shouted from the mountaintop and used in all recruitment efforts as well as any other opportunity that offers the opportunity to tell others about your organization’s people strategy.

High performing companies know that their business strategy is viewed through the prism of their people strategy. Going forward into this New Year, there is simply no other way to get to your prescribed destination.

So, if you can’t answer the question as to why somebody should work for you, you may want to go back to the drawing board.

Believe me, everyone will be listening for your response.