Category: Small Biz Go Mobile

How to Upgrade Your iPhone to iOS6: What You Need to Know

by Katherine Elsasser

iphone 5 and new ipad running iOS6iOS6 is coming tomorrow September 19th! If you have an eligible device, it’s important to do some crucial prep work to make sure you’ll be able to update with minimal hassle. Even if you don’t care too much about feature updates, it’s a good idea to download the new iOS just for the security and bug fixes alone. Plus the upgrade is free, so why not?

So first, what’s eligible?

The short answer is all the recent iDevices. That includes:

– iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4, iPhone4S
– iPad 2 and the iPad3 (also known as the “New iPad”)
– iPod Touch 4

It’s important to note that not all devices will have the capability to take advantage of all of the features of iOS6. Lots of the small tweaks of iOS6 will be available to everyone, but many of the key features will only be rolled out to the newest devices. Check out our chart:

How to Upgrade

1. Tidy Up a Little
Take this opportunity to get rid of stuff you’re not using. It’s just taking up memory space. Go through your photos, notes, and videos: if you have them in another place, do you really need it on your device? Delete apps you’re not using. Think of it like cleaning out your closet: if you haven’t used it in 3-6 months you don’t need it!

2. Back up your iDevice
Make sure you back up.  It’s a two part process, so hang on tight. To start, make sure your device is connected to a power source and you have stable WiFi. On your phone, go to Settings > iCloud > Backup and Storage > Backup Now.  iCloud backup is free for all iTunes purchases of music, movies, TV shows, apps, and books. For everything else (including camera roll photos), Apple gives you 5GB of storage for free and lets you pay for more. If you don’t want to pay for more storage it’s not a big deal: you probably still need to plug your device into a computer running iTunes. Here’s why:

iCloud will not back up media you didn’t purchase from iTunes (music, movies, etc), podcasts and audiobooks, and photos transfered from your computer. So you probably need to sync with iTunes by connecting your device to a machine running iTunes, either via USB or wireless. If you haven’t set up wireless syncing with iTunes then don’t start now: go the old fashioned way and plug into your computer.

3. Get the most recent version of iTunes (10.7)

If you already have iTunes on your computer, you can update by going to iTunes > Check for Updates. If you are having trouble with the auto update, you can also download it at http://www.apple.com/itunes/.

That should do it! You’ll be all set to bask in the glow of iOS6. If you have questions feel free to leave a comment or get in touch on Twitter @smbizgomobile.

How Small Businesses Can Use the New Twitter Profiles, Twitter for iPad

by Katherine Elsasser

This morning on the Today Show, Twitter rolled out a couple of big changes: updated profiles and a huge update of their iPad app. These new Twitter changes are bigger than they sound, and it’s important businesses react quickly to these and future changes to a key messaging and marketing platform. Not only is there a slight first mover advantage, but you’ll never be caught trying to play catchup on new technology. It’s especially important if being a tech-savvy company is important to you brand. As always, it’s a branding opportunity.

Mario's new Twitter profile page

Updated Profile Image
Goodbye tiny Twitter avatar, hello giant banner. Does Matt Lauer’s Twitter profile page remind you of anything? If you answered Facebook, we’re on the same page here. That giant image is great for quickly and immediately introducing people to your brand, and makes your Twitter page feel more “branded” in general. Take advantage of it, and make sure you’re presenting a page that fits in with the rest of your identity, digital and otherwise.

Updated Profile Photo Stream
Over in the left sidebar, you can see the redesigned Twitter profile page puts a lot more emphasis on photos that you’ve posted. As a small business, it’s important to remember to take those photos, and that only 6 will show at a time. While taking photos, try to balance subject matter, colors, and close-ups between photos, so that you have different kinds of photos showing on your profile that look good even at a glance.

The big trend here is an emphasis on media, and users creating and sharing it. Again, that should remind you of Facebook, and it makes sense. Getting users to interact with your service means they spend more time on your site, and it makes sense to bring the media inside your site, rather than push users elsewhere to bring pageviews to other people.

We see that same trend pushed even farther in the new Twitter iPad app. The big news here, beyond the redesign, is that users can experience media from Tweets within the stream. The company told the Today Show that the idea was to create an experience more like Twitter.com, but also to let users “view photos in fullscreen and swipe through them really easily.” So again, it’s all about photos. Are you good with a camera? It’s good for Twitter, Facebook, and your business’s image if you are.

iOS6 vs iPhone 5: Should You Buy the New iPhone?

by Katherine Elsasser

Last week Mario talked about the iPhone 5’s new docking port that’s going to have some people frustrated in the coming weeks, and advised iPhone 4S owners to hold off on buying the new iPhone. It’s a smart move for a lot of folks, especially since many of the iPhone 5’s new features are actually a result of the new operating system, iOS6. Current iPhone 3GS, iPhone4 and iPhone 4S users will get a free upgrade to iOS6, so they’ll get many of the cool new iPhone 5 features without having spend a single dime. So before you decide whether you need the new iPhone 5, think about whether you’re in it for the hardware or the software. If you’re in it for the hardware, go for the upgrade. If it’s about the software, you may want to wait. We break down the biggest features of each for you below:

Hardware

– LTE compatibility
– Thinner & lighter
– Better battery life
– 4″ Retina Display screen

iphone 5 running passbook
The iPhone 5 running Passbook

– A6 processor chip for faster performance
– Improved sound quality for voice calls
– Aluminum back for more sturdy product
– Dual-band 802.11n wireless  connectivity
– Improved 8MP camera, including better low-light sensitivity, panorama mode and 40% faster photo capture
– 1080p HD video with main camera, 720p HD video with front-facing camera
– Nano SIM card
– New 9 pin dock connector

Software (iOS6)

– Maps application, with turn-by-turn directions and 3D mapping
– Enhancements to Siri
– iCloud sync to Mountain Lion
– Send Tweets & update Facebook from the notification center
– Passbook, the digital card and coupon storing app
– Facebook integrated in Photos, Safari, Maps, iTunes, and more
– Do Not Disturb feature lets you receive incoming calls and texts, but won’t alert you during the times you specify
– FaceTime over cellular (instead of just WiFi)
– Shared Photo Streams with friends or family
– VIP email lets you mark certain senders and messages as priority and makes those emails for prominent
– Game Center sync to OSX

There are a lot more hardware and software features, but this covers the big ones for most users. iPhone 5 pre-orders are happening now at AT&T and through Apple stores and online.

WATCH: Apple iPhone 5 Announcement now available online

by Shy Mukerjee

The talk of the town this week is that Apple announced the iPhone 5, but while blogs can speculate every which way on whether or not Apple made the right choice changing the form factor and moving to a taller screen, whether or not the new dock connector is a frustrating or a good long-term decision, and whether or not it’s the right time to upgrade. But why take everyone else’s opinions for granted? You can stream the entire launch event straight from Apple’s website, so if you’ve got some time today watch Tim Cook and his team discuss why they’re so excited about the iPhone 5 and draw your own conclusions.

If you decide the iPhone 5 is the right decision for you, you can pre-order the phone right now on AT&T. Customers on other carriers can pre-order straight from Apple.

Exclusive Offer: 20% Off #neverbepowerless Duracell Powermat System

by Katherine Elsasser
powerhouse4040 panelists
A big thanks to all our #powerhouse4040 panelists!

In case you missed it, last night was Mario Armstrong Media’s giant #Powerhouse4040 party in NYC at Jay-Z’s 40/40 Club. We were there with SocialCam, Duracell Powermat, and yes, Jay-Z himself. It was a blast, but if you missed it, don’t worry. We have a special offer for MarioArmstrong.com and SmallBizGoMobile readers!

We get to offer our readers the first-ever discount code on the Duracell Powermat 24-hour Power System! Save 20% just by entering the promo code “powerhouse4040” at checkout when you buy the system directly from Duracell.

We’ve talked about how much we love this system before, because it’s great for anyone with an iPhone that’s always on the go. It includes a wireless charging case for your iPhone, the Duracell Powermat you use to charge it on, and a backup battery to get an extra charge while you’re on the go. Your days of running out of battery are over!

Click here for our special 20% discount offer on the Duracell 24-Hour Power System so you’ll #neverbepowerless!

New iPhone5 Launch: Liveblogging Starts Here at 1PM Eastern!

by Katherine Elsasser

iPhone 5 leaked imageWe’re sure you haven’t forgotten, but the official Apple press conference (aka iPhone5 launch) starts today at 1PM Eastern. We’ll have live coverage of the entire event here on Small Biz Go Mobile, plus we’ll be tweeting highlights, so follow us on Twitter for our must-have info. If you want to extra-double-sure you won’t miss anything, sign up for Mario Armstrong’s newsletter, and we’ll send you a reminder as the event gets started and we start liveblogging.

If there’s anything you’re curious about the new phone, let us know in the comments. We’ll do our best to answer…and we’ve heard a LOT of rumors!

Developing a Mobile Marketing Strategy: Delineate A Territory Where You Can Be Unique

by David Egger

David Egger is Lead Marketing Manager for AT&T’s IRU (Individual Responsibility User) Mobility Programs. You can find more blog content from David and other experts on emerging technologies and mobile application on the AT&T Networking Exchange Blog. AT&T has sponsored the following blog post.

 

Develop your mobile marketing strategy
Samsung Galaxy SIII on AT&T

With so many options to promote your business today and an American economy that seems to be driven by advertising and its revenue, how does a small business develop a mobile marketing strategy and rise above the white noise? Michael Porter offers marketers some great advice for situations like these: “A strategy delineates a territory in which a company seeks to be unique.”

A first-year marketing professor will teach that Marketing is about 4 P’s – product, place, price, promotion.  While I can’t help you decide how to price your products in this blog, I can tell you that knowing your mobile marketing strategy as it relates to product, place, and promotion will help center your mobile marketing strategy.

Look Inward 

The first step in developing any communications about your company is to know exactly what you want to say about your products and services.  You do this by intimately knowing these parts of your business.  What is your product, who buys it, when do they buy it, how often do they buy it, what triggers those purchases?  Examining and answering these questions will get you quite far down the road from your competitors, as these are the questions that high-cost consultants will ask … and they are the questions most business owners won’t be able to answer adequately.

For example, is your product something not even sold to consumers?  Your mobile strategy will be vastly different than a mobile strategy for a consumer product.  Is your product something purchased on a whim, or a planned, expensive purchase?  This will determine how you design your strategy and optimize it for the type of customer that your business will serve best.  Is the buyer of your product someone younger or older?  While the elderly are joining social media in greater numbers, you’ll need to tailor your approach depending upon how your customers approach the mobile space.

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Ready for the new iPhone? Sell your old tech for cash or credit

by Katherine Elsasser
Apple iPhone buyback offer
My iPhone buyback offer from Apple

Between last week’s new Kindle announcement, the new Nokia Lumia announcement, and this week’s new iPhone 5 announcement, you may be itching for some new tech. And if you’re upgrading old gadgets, you might want to sell your old tech to raise a little cash for a new purchase.

If you decide to sell your device, definitely do some comparison shopping! There’s a lot of competition in the used gadget buyback market, and some pros and cons to each competitor. But the idea is the same across the board: sell your old gadgets, get cash or credit. The basics about each site below, plus what they offered my for my 8GB iPhone 4. For each site I said that it was in fair to good condition, with no water damage or screen cracks, but that I wouldn’t be including the charger.

Gazelle.com
Classic. Gazelle is one of the originals in the gadget buyback game, and they still have one of the easiest consumer experiences. They buy all kinds of smartphones and cell phones, but as far as computers and tablets go they’re only interested in Mac products. Shipping your phone to Gazelle doesn’t cost anything, so you get to keep 100% of your payments (check, Amazon gift card or PayPal). My offer: $116.

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A Quick Social Media Q & A with HootSuite CEO Ryan Holmes

by Katherine Elsasser
Ryan Holmes, CEO of Hootsuite

I predict companies who don’t have social media management platforms will be like companies today who don’t have a telephone system.

Yesterday we talked about how HootSuite has acquired Seesmic to reach even more business customers. We also got a chance to talk with Ryan Holmes, CEO of HootSuite, about his thoughts about where social media is going, how its going to impact businesses, and what small business owners can do to be prepared.

1. What tips can you give small business owners looking to build their social following?

Dave Olson, HootSuite’s VP of Community, put together the following social media tips for small business users looking to build their social following:

·  When it comes to social media strategy, amplification is key. Make sure you tap the right channels during an optimal time of day. For example, restaurants may benefit from Tweeting daily specials at lunch time. Timing is crucial! The best time to send messages is on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. Monday is a catch up day and Friday is too close to the weekend, so try your best to avoid those days. Also, you will get the most traffic by scheduling your messaging according to Eastern Standard Time.

·  Social messaging should be tailored to each audience: short, succinct and catchy messages are appropriate for Twitter, longer, more detailed posts work for Facebook and Google+.

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