Why the iPhone Is a Must for Salespeople

I have tried a number of iPhone apps, and here are a few that make my work a lot easier:

Photos. When I attend a seminar, I like to sit up front and photograph the slides that are most meaningful. This is quicker than taking handwritten notes. When I meet someone at an event, I photograph that person wearing his or her nametag. When I get back to my office and look at the photos, it helps me remember the conversation.

Maps. I normally add a GPS option when renting a car. With iPhone Maps, I type in the destination, tap “current location,” and get instant directions from where I am to where I need to go. A little blue dot shows my progress on the map. I estimate that this application will save me about $300 a year.

Yelp. A great tool to find restaurants anywhere in the US. Yelp displays the name of the restaurant, the distance to the restaurant from your current location, a map, and the user rating. Zagat displays only the location of a restaurant, and you can’t see the rating unless you pay for the service. Yelp is free, plus it helps you find the best coffee shops, hire a cab, select a hotel, or locate a gas station.

reQall. This is a handy tool for keeping track of random things I think of when I am unable to write them down. You can use the iPhone as a voice recorder. Press the record button and say, “Send a proposal to Acme,” and within seconds reQall will A) transcribe your note, B) send a copy to your email account, C) display the written note on your phone, and D) offer a playback so you can listen to your recording. It’s a great tool to record action steps after a meeting. When I get back to my office, I don’t have to listen to each recording; I simply cut and paste my notes into my CRM system.

Facebook and LinkedIn. Both social networking tools are available on the iPhone. They’re great for networking on the move.

Bloomberg. This application helps me track the stock market in the US and around the world. I can get company information, company news, and updates on currency and commodity prices from around the world. If I have an appointment with an executive of a public company, I look up the latest news about the company while waiting in the lobby. 

Google. This application is more than a Web browser. I get quick access to gmail, my calendar, or notebook. Click on “more Google products” to access YouTube. I often demo our video capabilities to my customers.

Oracle, Netsuite, Salesforce.com, and SugarCRM offer real- time access to your CRM data on the iPhone. With more than 6 million iPhones in use worldwide, there will be more and more applications that will turn the iPhone into a must for salespeople.