There is literally an app for everything these days. There are even smartphone apps that tells where the user has parked their car in a festive pirate voice. It truly is quite the time to be alive.
It is also quite the time to be a business owner. The number of smartphone applications that can be leveraged by entrepreneurs that are available for free is amazing. I sometimes sit in amazement that so much of what I have done to create this business has been because of a few programs I downloaded from the App Store to my iPhone. It really is an amazing time to be alive!
So, what five apps can I not live without?
1. TRELLO
I use Trello app everyday. They describe themselves as “the easy, free, flexible, and visual way to manage your projects and organize anything, trusted by millions of people from all over the world.” Through the use of boards and lists, Trello creates a very graphic and interactive way to create to-do lists and plans. That’s how I primarily use it: I use it to create to-do lists for the different segments of my business. For example, I have a “Wedding” board, and on that board I have several lists–A calendar lists with booked dates, an editing list for the processing schedule, a marketing board for upcoming plans. It is super helpful, and it has made a huge difference in my business.
2. GOOGLE DOCS
This is my primary typing app. I start all blog posts in Google Docs and then copy and paste into WordPress. I love it because I can start typing on my laptop (like I am right now) and then finish it on my phone or iPad when I am on the go. It has made everything very fluid and consistent, which is always important.
3. BUDDHIFY
Mediation is so important to me, and this app allows me to chill and find my zen pretty much anywhere that I am. There are even specific “Work Break” meditations that allow for a quick little mental break. It is really quite handy, and definitely allows for a little bit of peace in the palm of my hand.
4. HONEYBOOK
HoneyBook is a Customer Relationship Management system, often known as a CRM. I use HoneyBook for all my client relations, which means I use it for all my contracts, invoicing, and emails after booking. They have a great app that pretty much lets me do all the things on the go. For example, I had a client order an album the other day just as I was ducking out the door. In the time it took to order and receive coffee at Caribou, I was able to quickly create and send an invoice to my client. It doesn’t get much more convenient than that.
5. QUICKBOOKS
There are two truths about my business: I travel a ton and I have a lot of receipts. The QuickBooks app by Intuit allows me to handle both with ease. I can scan receipts with my phone, automatically track mileage, see a simple profit/loss statement…it is really quite great. And added bonus is that HoneyBook can connect right to the app, so all transactions are automatically synced, so that is one less step in my day. It is a great app for anyone in small business.
Smartphones have no doubt widen our access to the world around us, but it has also created opportunities that never would have existed without the technology. These are the top five apps on my phone, but I am always looking for more! What is your favorite app?
Kayla Lee is a Minnesota-based wedding and elopement photographer who provides services to elegant, authentic, joyful couples who not only choose their own adventures, but also live them to the fullest.
