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Let’s talk about 7 apps that make running a business easier | Rhea Freeman

Oh… apps. My iPhone is full of them! Some are fun, some are useful, some are a huge waste of everyone’s time…and some I can’t remember when I last opened them. Yeah, I should probably delete those. Anyway, this episode of the Small & Supercharged Podcast isn’t about apps I don’t use, it’s about apps I do use. Apps that make running business easier. For me at least!

Have a listen here…

Let’s talk about 7 apps that make running a business easier

Show notes for the Small & Supercharged Podcast – Episode 10 – apps that make running a business easier… what you’ll hear in this podcast episode…

  • The apps aren’t the ‘obvious’ ones, like Pinterest, Instagram, Facebook, etc… they’re essentials in my world!
  • First up is Audible. If you’ve followed me for any time at all, you’ll know I’m a huge fan of audiobooks. I know you can listen to them in a variety of ways, but the way I’ve been enjoying most is Audible. I do have a subscription which is about £8 a month. This might sound a lot, but for that you get a book each month. If you pay per audiobook, it’s a lot more. And you can’t get many new books for that price either. Here’s more about my obsession with Audible.
  • Quickbooks is the second one. I’m still not sold on the whole concept of invoicing software BUT I can completely see how it can be hugely useful. There are lots of different ones available that allow you to invoice on the move. The concept of invoicing via app is definitely a time saving one.
  • Lightroom – I know – I was surprised at this one too. I don’t use filters on my Instagram images but there’s no doubt that my images could do with a little tweaking. I decided I loved it when Sophie Callahan set up the presets for me and now I use them on the vast majority of my images. I take most of my images on my phone and, not being a photographer, I don’t know what I’m doing editing wise, so using something like this is great. It take seconds to get from Camera Roll to Lightroom and back again too.
  • WordSwag. This is a paid for app – it’s a few pounds – but it allows you to create nice graphics on your phone with ease. Perfect for motivational quotes and lots more. Have a look on my Instagram grid for an example. The pale green posts with the interesting fonts are done through WordSwag.
  • Canva. This is one app that I do like BUT I LOVE the desktop version. I do a lot more on the desktop version, but it’s very useful to have it on the phone for minor things I need to do on the move. I do also think they have upgraded the app version. I wouldn’t personally create graphics through the mobile app on my phone (but that’s my personal preference), but the desktop version is superb. And together they work really well. If you’re not sure about Canva or haven’t used it before – here’s my quick guide to how to use Canva.
  • Repost. I do admin a few Instagram accounts for businesses, so Repost is good for me. User Generated Content is a really big deal, and Repost is a good way to repost images properly, with credit (but you still need to ask permission!)
  • DropBox – I use the desktop version a lot, but I do use the app for sharing quite a lot too. It’s a great way to share big files, and I also use it a lot for videos, podcasts and lots more. I also use it if I’m out and about and might need to access files when I’m out – I did this with a seminar I was giving as I knew the slides would be accessible if the tech failed.

All links above lead to the websites, but if you nip over to the App Store, you can view and learn more about the app versions.

There are lots of apps out there that can make running a business easier – these are just seven that really help me.

 

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Behind… my new obsession with Audible… and how I’m using it to upskill

My new obsession with AudibleIf you follow me on Instagram (and if you don’t, I’d love you to follow me here!), then you may have seen my Stories. I take most of them when I’m walking the dog, when my mind ‘idles’ a bit… and usually between me getting myself all organised and ready and listening to my latest audiobook… completely fuelled by Audible.

What’s Audible?

Audible is one way to listen to audiobooks. You can also buy them from places like iTunes, and I did hear of another system the other day that condenses books into audio format… which I need to research. Obviously you could just buy CDs, but I download everything to my iPhone because it barely leaves my side, so it makes the most sense. The reason I went for Audible was, actually, price. Initially I wanted to listen to the Dorie Clark’s Entrepreneurial You because it had been recommended to me. I was going to buy the actual book, but then I saw an Audible free trial and decided that it would be worth giving it a spin… and that was it! I started off with Dorie Clark’s book (which is really good by the way!), then downloaded Denise Duffield-Thomas’s updated ‘Lucky Bitch’, which I will review shortly too. I actually cancelled Audible after the free trial, but quickly reinstated it and paid for the subscription.

Is Audible expensive?

I pay £7.99 a month and that allows me to download one book a month. I thought that was a bit steep when some of the books I was downloading cost less to buy, but it’s actually a very different animal and, in all honestly, I was just being tight. I realised this when I went to look for Denise’s book. The options for me where really Audible, buy it from Audible as a one off or iTunes. And getting a monthly subscription from Amazon was by far the cheapest way. The package I’m on allows me to download one book a month, but I can (and have!) bought extra credits, so when I went to Badminton Horse Trials, I bought three extra credits (I think that was the cheapest way!) and downloaded Carrie Green’s She Means Business (I’ve reviewed She Means Business here) for the car journey to listen to.

Do you download books you’ve already read? Isn’t that weird?

Yes I do. And yes it probably is. I wouldn’t download a book I disliked or a book I read recently. I also own ‘Lucky Bitch’ but this is the updated version. In addition, you’ll often find that the authors ad lib a bit on an audiobook – Gary Vee does this a lot and I love it. Also, it kind on sinks in in a different way when you’re listening, well I think it does, and much like reading a book a second time, you absorb a bit more… and you take different things from it. I know of people who read the same book each year and, each time, they get something else. So while it might be weird, I think you can absorb more the second time around. Well, I find I do.

Audible helps me multitask

I feel like this is a promotion for Audible and it really, really isn’t – it’s more of a way to telling you how amazing audio can be and how it can help you and your learning. Another thing I love about Audible and, actually, any form of audio based learning, is that you can multitask. As I said, you’ll usually see me on Instagram Stories walking the dog, listening to an audiobook or a podcast. The slightly vexing thing is that some books feature exercises that require a pen and paper, and that IS more challenging, but the exercise still sinks in… and you can always rewind. I’m also a big fan of audiobooks in the car. This not only helps me learn, but I’m a chronic channel hopper when I’m listening to the radio, and I don’t channel hop with an audiobook, I mean, that would defeat the object, wouldn’t it?!

So yes, I am a bit obsessed with Audible…

…and I would urge you to give it or audiobooks or podcasts in general a spin. A lot of people state that a lack of time is what stops them from reading or learning as much as they would like. And I get that. I do try and read and do courses too, but it can be like trying to crowbar something else into a bursting schedule. What audio does, for me at least, is allows me to do two things at once. Yes, it might mean I need to replay sections or even listen to the whole audiobook again, but I don’t see that as a bad thing.

If you don’t have the budget for audiobooks, I’d definitely suggest podcasts. These are free, easy to access and some are absolutely superb. I mentioned them in my cheap ways to learn blog too…

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