Happy Friday everyone! I have really been enjoying this new series and appreciate your opinions. I am back today with a question from Amy of Lady Mockingbird and her Buttercups.
I’ve been in limbo recently about my phone.. I have a good ol’ blackberry bold and am SO OVERDUE for an upgrade. I am and always have been a traditionalist when it comes to my phone – it took some serious convincing to get me to upgrade to the blackberry from the traditional “flip” but having my email on the go became necessary. I am still very anti-iphone.. for one, I like having buttons.. I need them, two I just can’t accept that a phone needs to be able to do that much and I don’t want to fall into an “app trap”, and three – lets face it, “grace” is NOT my middle name and I dont trust myself with something so expensive and so fragile. On the other hand, I’m reading all these blogs and seeing all these instagram posts and going to fairs where people are paying for things on credit card via their phones and I wonder.. am I doing my business a disservice by not jumping on the bandwagon with this technology? Basically are there any indie business owners out there happily and sufficiently working sans iphone? Or is it the single best way to operate?
Ooh! Such a good question! I can’t wait to hear about the role your phone plays in your business. Please help Amy out and share your thoughts and opinions in the comments!
I love my phone-the HTC EVO 4G. Amy, I am not a “have to have the latest & greatest” type of person! Like you, I take a bit to discover new technology (because if the old one is working just fine, why change it!!) BUT, you shouldn’t be discouraged by change either. YOU are in control of everything you choose. If you choose to get a new phone, you don’t have to go app crazy (just keep it simple to the ones you need for you business & a couple you may LOVE). I consider it a challenge when I get a new phone because I know I am smarter then a piece of plastic!! LOL!! I do use my phone for credit card payments when I do craft show (that is the main reason I upgraded to a smart phone) & it has increased my sales tremendously!! And as far as your middle name not being grace, my name (Ann) means Grace & I am just like you, I have two left feet!! LOL!! That’s why I got a cover for my phone, one of the ones that’s kind of rubbery, so it adds my color & protects my oopsies. Bottom line is, you won’t go wrong no matter which way you go, just don’t be afraid or discouraged of change. Change only makes people better people!!
My husband and I are just now thinking about getting iPhones. Our dilemma is iPhone4 or iPhone 5. One is free and other is $199. Seems like an easy answer to us. Right now we’re leaning toward the iPhone 4. Our three kids have the 4 and they love theirs, so why not? And I can’t wait to use all the new apps that will grow my business!
Haha, this is so funny! I literally just did a post about this on Monday http://www.reneweduponadream.com/2012/09/business-without-smartphone-dont-let-it.html I still have an old school flip phone. I’m of the opinion that you do not need a fancy smartphone to run a business. It is important to have time away from “work” & I feel like that could be impossible if your work is always attached to your body by way of smartphone.
HI Amy,
I was exactly the same as you, but ’3′ offered me a great deal on IPhone, so I thought I’d try it.
I didn’t think I’d use half the stuff on it, and I didn’t think that I would be that imptressed. Boy, was I wrong. I love, love, love my iPhone, and now wouldn’t be without it. It has revolutionised my life – really.
I no longer have to sit at my computer all day checking to see if I have any new orders. I can check on my iPhone wherever I am, even if I am in bed. I can read my emails, send emails, post to Twitter and Facebook, read the news, go to Etsy, and even read books and magazines on Kindle, because there is a KIndle app that you can download to your iPhone withought having to by a KIndle.
I will never be without one now.
Sue
You’re asking about using a phone for business, but seem to only consider pros and cons for yourself. What about your customers? Obviously, the decision to buy an expensive, new phone affects you personally – you have to pay for it and use it. But since you’re asking from a business perspective, the effect on your customers should also be taken into consideration.
Would your customers like to be able to get in touch with you easily via Twitter/Facebook? Do you lose sales at shows because customers want to pay with credit/debit cards? Would customers like to see behind-the-scenes of your business through photos? Those are all things that would be easier achieved with a Smartphone.
I recently upgraded from a flip phone to an Android Razr, with mixed results. It is great to use it at shows for taking credit via the Square, taking photos of people wearing recent purchases and accessing email. It is rather intimidating for a first time smart phone user, and not very intuitive to use. I look at it as a challenge and am slowly learning its features. I would suggest that you give it a look though.
I went back and fourth with the same question. Finally I scrapped the land line and CC merchant and upgraded to iphone with the Square. It has saved me lots of money in CC fees and having the iphone has helped with business. Being able to take pictures and post in an instant of day to day activities and new products is great.
I just recently moved into the smartphone world. I have the iPhone 4s and really, really like it. The Etsy app and Facebook pages app help me stay on top of client orders. I really enjoy being able to respond right away to clients instead of having to spend an hour writing emails,etc. the camera is great, and instagram is so fun! Good luck deciding!
Get the iPhone. Today. I too was a hold out. It’s literally changed my business life. I now take all my Etsy shop photos with my iPhone, and they’re instantly sent to my PC, ready for editing. It’s worth it for the camera alone; however, it’s also great for the aps (like directions) and web browsing. Do it. You won’t be sorry!
Definitely jump on the iphone bandwagon. I use Square at art shows and with my shop’s to make payments on consignments. You can get a sturdy case that will not make it feel as fragile. I agree with the others, instagram is fun! Etsy app is fun! Not wanting to use app’s is like sticking with a typewriter because you’re used to it instead of getting a computer – they will make your life SO MUCH EASIER!
I did not get a smart phone until about 6 months after launching my own business. It has helped me tremendously. Yes, it’s great to be able to check your email and etsy sales, etc., but the main reason for having the phone is to accept credit card payments. Before I had square, I was cash-only, and I know I lost sales from not accepting credit cards.
I’m now part of a designer’s collective store in addition to selling for myself at weekend fairs, and we use square at the store. Two-thirds of our sales are paid for via credit cards. That’s a huge chunk of income. One of the requirements of joining the store is having a smartphone so that you can process credit card transactions.
As for the cons, you’ll get used to them. I hated the idea of a touch screen (and in fact my first smart phone had a slide keyboard). But now I’m used to it. Also, yes, there is a fear that you’re “always” available, but you know what? That’s up to you. When I was on vacation for 2 weeks, I barely checked in. I had my phone with me, but I actively chose to be on vacation. And some of those extra apps will help you get through a slow day at a market!
I got my very first smartphone last year. I got through three years of college just fine without one, but as soon as I got serious about my business, I had to grab one. I didn’t go for an iphone (“grace” isn’t my middle name either, and neither is “coordination”) but I got the Samsung galaxy, and I’m loving it. For about the first 3 months, I fell into the app trap, as you called it, but the shine wore off, and now I have folders of apps strictly for business. I can even get podcasts about running a business and listen to them while driving or working out. Not to mention that Square was a huge reason too. And now PayPal Here. They’re great for doing shows, doing a little business over lunch, and taking orders when you least expect it.
And I’m really on top of my emails now, which is a HUGE plus for my customers. So many of them have thanked me for quick responses to Convos on Etsy, and it has resulted in sales.
Also, social media. Having it at your fingertips is wonderful! The marketing done on my social media accounts is the only marketing I do, and it is doing wonders.
I bought my first smartphone–an iPhone–about 3.5 years ago and my life was changed forever! That is no lie. It is a tiny handheld computer that you bring everywhere with you, and you will see the massive advantages to your productivity from day one. The future is here, and customers are part of that future wave, so I think you’ve got to jump on the train! Nice thing about the iPhone is it’s sooo easy to use. I could never text with my flip phone but now, a lot of business associates text me and can actually text back haha. I have a soft rubber case for the outside, as I tend to drop things, and the phone hasn’t been harmed yet. The glass also has just one tiny scratch on it after throwing it into bags and backpack for years! My friend has a Galaxy Note and she loves it (Android). You’ll never look back, believe me!
Hey Amy
I resisted the cult of iPhone for a long time, but I’m also a recovering tech-knob. I don’t think you need an iPhone, but a smartphone is likely in order for your small business (Android, Galaxy or whatever) – just not a Blackberry, which is unwise at this point…relatively limited features & quality.
Like you, I was initially fixated on having push-buttons vs. a touch screen, but I think you can easily adapt (it took me about a week to figure out).
When I recently upgraded my phone/internet plan in June, I got the iPhone 4S. The high-quality camera alone has been worth the switch & works very well for product/event shots. But: the conga-line of fab apps make it an even more fantastic resource, and I can easily/quickly check on & update Twitter, FB, Shopcaster (a Toronto e-commerce site), e-mail, edit photos, etc. And, if you’re considering using PayPalHERE, Square or some other mobile payment device via your cell, an iPhone is ideal – it’s the intended/primary tech partner.
Shop around…now that the iPhone5 has just launched, you might be able to get the iPhone4 for much less (or even free) from your provider. If you don’t plan to rely on your phone’s camera for business use, then most Android phones have similar capabilities on all other fronts (iPhone’s camera is above-average).
I’m sure I must sound like I drank the Apple Kool-Aid, but another perk that comes with any of their products is the Genius Service – it’s available at all Apple Stores. They offer limitless *free* one-on-one tutorials re: how to best use the features on your iPhone. They also have a broad index of how-to guides on-line.
Good luck sorting this out…I bet you’ll be quite happy you invested in a smartphone – whichever brand you choose. Just be sure the phone you go with serves your key priorities.
N-R :]
I have to agree with a few people above. I am a iPhone addict but there could be worse things out there right?
I definitely think having a smart phone in this day is super important to your business. If you do shows, having the ability for customers to pay with a credit card is crucial and now they make it so easy to be able to offer this awesome service. I also think it helps if you are on the go a lot. There have been plenty of times where I have been waiting in line to get my daughter from school and was able to get 15-30 minutes worth of emails done when normally I would just be sitting and waiting. Now, I have that extra time to spend doing something else. So my advice is heck yeah!
Wow thank you all so much for all the great advice! It definitely seems like there is a strong lean towards the iphone – mainly because of the camera which seems like a pretty great feature that oddly enough I wasn’t thinking of before when I was weighing the options. Let’s not forget that the blackberry is indeed a smartphone – and while not capable for important apps like credit card payments – it does have full email, facebook, twitter, and browsing capabilites so I do get all my notifications and am able to reply right away. I have since upgraded to the newest blackberry bold shortly after I wrote in with this question (before it was posted) – I wasn’t intending on getting a new phone that soon but. I had a bad run-in with a rainstorm sans-umbrella. I like that it has a touch screen AND buttons, and its brousing is much more advanced than previous models – it brouses more like an iphone would (I am actually writing this post from it). And I often find I’m the only one of my friends that still has battery life left at the end of the day. The camera is definitely lacking, and although I’m not at the point now that I will be selling at fairs – I hope to be in the next year or so and it would be nice to accept credit cards (maybe my boyrfirend will have his proposed ipad by then). I am very happy with this phone so far, I feel like its a baby step to the iphone, which seems inevitable at this point. I really appreciate all of your input as I have been curious about the crafting communities thoughts on the subject for a while. I am sure I will join you all in iphone world at somepoint – even if I’m the last blackberry standing
I love love love my iphone. I bought it originally for person use but the apps for business are great. I have an app for releases for photo shoots, patterns, stitch counters and etsy. I have a credit card charger but I have yet to use it. I would rather have it though then miss out on a sale.
I held out on getting an iPhone too, I had a Blackberry for years and didn’t think I “needed” an iPhone, was also worried about missing the QWERTY keyboard. But I got one 2 months ago and can honestly say that buying an iPhone was the best decision I have made for a long time. For me, its more like I’m giving myself permission to have fun! I genuinely do use the apps: Skype (amazing – no longer have to be at home to do long distance calls), check my bank balance, read Kindle books, list and buy on eBay, Amazon app is fab too…. Basically it makes my life a lot easier and in my humble opinion is well worth the investment.
Another great question! I’m not currently using my phone so much but I suppose it’s mostly because I still don’t own an iPhone! eheheh For sure it allows you to make a more direct and immediate connection with your followers, also with photographs (and now photos are the most appreciated and visually attractive things to share). So I think if you use it well it can really be a further interesting instrument for your biz.
Maybe it’s only a trend but let’s see what the future holds… I’m pretty curious about this
P.s. Already realized it some time ago but I probably forgot to tell: I like the new look of Handmade Success!
I have an iPhone and I love it! I can handle email requests (from three accounts), manage my shop, stay up to date on twitter and FB, blog and accept payments all from one device. I have a silicon cover on it to protect it and I use square to accept payments.
I highly rec’d it!