Tag Archives: apps

Useful apps and tools for small businesses

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With many businesses feeling the pinch, XLN Business Services has listed 20 of best apps to streamline operations. View more details here

Pinterest launches new mobile apps

Pinterest have launched a range of new mobile apps for Android, iPad and iPhone. For those with Blackberries and other phones where an app isn’t available you can access Pinterest at http://m.pinterest.com.

I’ve tried out the Android and iPad apps and they work really well. It’s easy to browse pins which look great and to pin photos and videos from the web. The new apps are available for download at apps.pinterest.com.

There’s an really useful embedded browser on the iPad app. It makes pinning content really easy plus you can see what others have recently pinned from websites you are visiting. Select ‘Browse the Web’ from the menu on the left.

As with Pinterest on the web, you can login or register easily on the new apps with Facebook, Twitter or an email address if you prefer.

If the launch of the new apps isn’t enough for you to join Pinterest here are another 5 reasons why you should sign up now.

To learn more on using Pinterest for your business you can attend one of my regular Pinterest workshops or ask me about one to one training.

5 ways to use Facebook apps

Following the introduction of Timeline, apps (previously called tabs) have become a really attractive feature for owners of Facebook Pages. They are now more visible and accessible with large icons - which you can customise - at the top of the Page. The apps themselves are now larger with a width of 810px. There are no ads or sidebars so no distractions meaning fans can now focus on the app content. Pro-tip: You can use Facebook Ads to link directly to your tab to increase visitors.

Below are a 5 ideas on how you can use them:

1. Sell your products - set up a shop on Facebook to sell your products. Here’s an example from the Flissitations Crafty Creations Page which uses the free Etsy Theme Shop app.
2. Encourage newsletter sign-ups - add a sign-up form for your newsletter to increase your readership - You can read more about this in a previous article and here’s the app I use on the Intranet Future Facebook Page.
3. Showcase your videos - let your fans watch your videos on Facebook. Here’s redbull.tv from the Red Bull Facebook Page.
4. Run a competition - encourage people to enter a competition. Here’s a Cheekiest Smile Photo Competition which I helped set up for the Nametags4u Facebook Page this month.
5. Ask for customer feedback - obtain feedback from your customers so you can help them. Here’s the Customer Care tab from the Domino’s Pizza UK Facebook Page.

Working with our partners we also design and produce complete Facebook Pages or individual apps - more info and prices. For help with using Facebook for marketing and customer services you can book a consultation at £70 per hour or attend one of my Facebook workshops for £87.