2 The Next Level

I recently purchased my first Android application for my Motorola CLIQ. I have only owned my new smart phone since this past Christmas and I am discovering more ways to use it every day.  I have been filling up my phone with all kinds of free applications like SportsTap, Pandora and Foursquare. I was motivated to buy scanR to help me overcome of one of my all time vices. When I go to networking events–and yes, people still go to face-to-face networking events–I collect a lot of business cards. A LOT. I then bring those business cards back to my home office and proceed to put them in a card box that is marked “data entry”. Well, I have about 20 of these card boxes in my space, filled with business cards from the past. Some I have put into my database, but others are just waiting… and waiting… and waiting some more. Am I alone on this one?

Well, since finding scanR for my Android-powered phone, I don’t have this problem any longer. Developed by a privately-held company headquartered in Palo Alto, CA, scanR lets you use your camera phone to scan, print and fax, turning your paper documents and whiteboards into useful digital information. I am now currently going through hundreds of business cards, first scanning them and then throwing them away.

Not long ago I went to a local networking event and challenged myself to not collect a business card from anyone.  All I did was was take momentary possession of the cards to scan and take a picture of them using scanR. Then I handed them back their owners. Afterward, I went back to my office and downloaded the business card information gathered and the pictures, and then imported it all into my CRM database. Wow!

With this app at my disposal, I’m striving toward no longer carrying around even my own business card.  With scanR all I now have to do is scan my own business card and if someone wants it, I can share it via email or fax. That business card would come to the intended recipient via email as a text editable PDF file, at the ready for you to cut and past into your own database.

So perhaps you now see why I made this application my first purchase.  $4.99 per month or $28.90 per year for an unlimited amount of scans is worth my not getting buried alive under the well-meaning yet treacherous mountain of business cards that I still need to gradually tackle and tame.

The only things I don’t like about scanR are that you cannot share the scans with social networking sites like LinkedIn, Facebook or Twitter. It’s claimed that you can share it with Plaxo, but even though I have it set up on my scanR account, I haven’t seen that it’s completely working yet. There is also no direct integration with any CRM or Database Management System. Pity.

My good friend and Personal Productivity Expert, Peggy Duncan, will be very proud of me. She stresses having less clutter and more systems in place to stay more productive and to stop wasting time. Well, now I am getting rid of the clutter and have a system in place for my business cards that will make me more productive, give me back more time in my day and even save some trees.

What was one of the first smart phone applications that you purchased, and why?

Does that application save you time and/or money?

How many applications have you purchased over the last weeks, months or year?

About the Author
	@jbrath I am an Internet Technology Specialist. I can create your website/blogsite using WordPress, connect it to all the social media/networking sites, and train you on how to use your website/blogsite more effectively. I can also speak to your business or professional association on this subject matter. I specialize in making complex answers to most questions about the Internet plain and simple. There is no such thing as a dumb question. I can coach/train you on how to manage your social media presence or if you prefer, I can maintain it for you. No task is too small or too large if it leads you to more visibility and profitability. My main objective is to be your “guy” to help you with all things Internet-related, so that you can focus on your priorities as a business owner. Think of me as your Internet/Social Media expert team member that is ready to assist you behind the scenes, with the result of taking your business to the next LEVEL. I work with a team of professionals that help me get the job done right the first time. Contact us today for a quote. 404-287-0848 – Office jeff@2thenextlevel [dot] com Jeffrey Alexander Brathwaite, aka “JB” is an Internet technology specialist who trains business owners on how to use web strategies to increase their customer base and boost their productivity and profit potential. He is CEO of 2 The Next Level, a web-based technology solutions firm that serves small and medium-sized business clients with ongoing technical, training and Internet marketing communications support. JB’s Extended Bio

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