Most people who own an iPhone use it to wake up in the morning, check emails throughout the day, hop on social media and keep up with the latest news reports. You may already use your mobile device for some of your business needs, but did you know it’s truly your brand’s secret weapon, allowing you to outpace the competition?
According to Statista, about 45.4% of Americans own iPhones. While some people still use Androids for their business needs, there are many benefits to iPhones for professional and personal use.
If you already own an iPhone, you may not be using it to your full advantage. Here are some ways you can turn the little pocket computer into a powerhouse to build your brand name and grow your customer base.
1. Create an App
Creating an app that works with iPhones is a great way to engage your users. When someone nears your store, they get a ping and news about the latest arrivals or a discount code. Since you own an iPhone, you can thoroughly vet and test the app to ensure it works effectively.
Apple even has a developer program where you can earn commissions. Of course, if you want to reach all your customers, you should also offer Android software. However, it’s fine to start with the iOS platform and expand later.
2. Improve Media
Have you ever used your own product and saw the perfect opportunity to snap a photo and share it on social media? Perhaps your employees are hard at work, and you’d love an update for the company newsletter. Today’s iPhones take amazing photos.
You can improve both print and online media by utilizing your mobile device to take photos a professional photographer might miss. You can then print high-resolution pictures for print ads or upload the images to your website or social media pages.
3. Learn on the Fly
Every person on the planet has wasted time they could have used to learn a new technique or read through tips for growing their business. When you’re at a doctor’s office or waiting in your car for an appointment, you can connect to nearby Wi-Fi or use your cellular data.
Work through a course on Udemy, read an article on a business management website, or seek tips for improving your website or sales strategy.
4. Embrace Augmented Reality
Business owners continually look for ways of engaging their audience, and AR is a top way of creating a lifelike experience anywhere. Apple’s iPhone 12 comes with a depth-sensing lidar sensor.
Advanced 3D scanning lets you put your product into any setting or allow users to try before they buy via a virtual model. We’ve already seen this type of technology from brands such as IKEA, where you can use your phone to see what furniture will look like at home.
5. Take Notes
Some of the best ideas come just as you’re about to fall asleep or when you’re driving. Inspiration seems to strike when you don’t have a pen and paper. When this happens, you can ask your iPhone to take a note.
Say, “Hey, Siri. Take a note.” When Siri says it’s ready, speak. While the program isn’t perfect, and you may occasionally get a weird word you have to decipher, it is a much better option than losing a great idea because you didn’t stop to write it down.
You can also use the dictation mode to write letters you need your secretary to send, and message them to her.
6. Create Videos
According to Wyzowl, around 85% of businesses use video as one of their marketing tools, and another 92% of marketers feel it is one of their most crucial strategies. There’s no need to invest in expensive equipment because iPhone takes amazing videos. It’s like having a portable production studio in your pocket.
You can shoot the video on your phone and wind up with a high-quality clip, and you can edit it, as well. Creating from your mobile device is a game-changer for busy entrepreneurs.
Are you at your kid’s soccer game? You can shoot a short clip of the trees waving in the breeze, add a few key headlines, come up with a catchy phrase and upload the video all while cheering on your child.
7. Create Podcasts
iPhones come with a built-in feature called voice memo. Like asking Siri to take dictation, you simply engage the app and record thoughts from anywhere. As you drive from one client meeting to another, you can record a short portion of your podcast.
Segment the pieces together later, and you have a podcast to help promote your authority in the field. You can also use voice memo to take notes and send them to your storage drive through programs such as If This, Then That (IFTTT). The more things you can automate, the more time you’ll save for building your brand.
Seek Helpful Apps
There are way too many business apps to name in a single article. You will find programs allowing you to create to-do lists, automate calls to clients, host video meetings on your phone and get organized. Whatever your need as a business owner, you’ll find a solution for it through your mobile device.
As phones get smarter and internet speeds increase, expect more apps and appliances to hook into the Internet of Things. Pay attention to the items that save time or get the word out about your company with little effort. Your phone becomes an assistant, helping you grow your revenue and fix problems in an instant.
Eleanor is editor of Designerly Magazine. Eleanor was the creative director and occasional blog writer at a prominent digital marketing agency before becoming her own boss in 2018. She lives in Philadelphia with her husband and dog, Bear.
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