Face it, we have evolved. Those who can remember when computers filled a room (yeah me) are just amazed at how fast mobile technology has grown. According to a report I read back in 2009, tech cycles tend to last 10 years and the mobile cycle has taken over in less than two.


So how does that impact small businesses? We use the tools every day. There are lots of useful apps but how can a company start using these wonders of telecommunication to  better engage their company?

Here are my tips:

No. 1 – These tools are for “just in time messages.” Communicate with your staff and people in the field with short to the point messages. We have kindles, laptops and soon Ipads for reading large amount of data.


No. 2 – How about on the mobile side of your website, you have easy links to reference check lists, for important information, useful for preparing for clients?


No. 3 – Text message (aka SMS systems) reminding people of:

• Learning opportunities
• Meetings
• Webinars
• Updates – emergencies

As far back as 4 years ago, I have shown companies how to set up distributions lists in their email program. Using the “email address” of people’s cell phones, someone at the office can send a mass email to everyone’s cell phones as a text message, instead of their email inbox. Sales people are trained to look for these messages. Very easy to use and implement.


No. 4 - Mobile Directories:

Access to important phone numbers and email addresses like:

• IT personnel
• Managers
• Affiliates

No. 5 – Knowing that we will be reading this information on small screens, here are my 3 tips:

3 screens or fewer and chunk content, so it is easy to read. No images needed, really, don’t get fancy.

So lets bring this home . . .


Use mobile tools to communicate with your company, your team, your associates.

• Make it easy to use.
• Make the information clear and concise.
• Make it easy to access.
• Make it compatible with established systems.

Share with me what you are already doing, I am very interested!!

Twitter is an amazing resource for me. Not only do I learn a lot by following very smart people, but I am able to leverage my relationships by asking questions and post content that could be beneficial to my followers.

I don’t have tons of follows, I have decided to grow my list organically. As I post people find me and follow me. Sometime when I get the email I don’t have lots of time to follow through and see if this is someone I would like to follow as well.

This is a post to share a simple program called Topify. It has enable me very quickly to figure out who people are who are following me and whether or not I will be following them.

You can sign up for Topify at www.topify.com.

Plain and simple it saves me time. When someone decides to follow me I am sent an email. The email

• Has buttons to easily follow or block them
• Number of followers
• Number of updates and their engagement level
• Their bio
• Samples of the Tweets

I think topify sends better twitter email notifications. Even better, if  I am reading the email on my Blackberry I can follow back by just replying. I can even reply with a direct message via email. With a click I can either follow, or block.

If you do follow someone Topify sends a confirmation message.

Sign up at Topify. Change the email in your Twitter profile to the one topify gives you and you can take advantage of this easy to use program.