Ten Must-Have Tech Tools for 2008


iPhone for 2008Every year I compile a list of 10 “must have” technology tools and services that every well-equipped entrepreneur needs.  I like to have fun with the list, too.   This year, the iPhone tops my list — for pure enjoyment of use.

And when I say tools, I don’t mean just gadgets and equipment.  Actually, I find that like most entrepreneurs and business owners, I make greater use of today’s services, especially free or low-cost online services or software-as-a-service, rather than constantly throwing money at the latest gadgets.  So I usually include several services.

I also include at least one item that is relatively low tech but enhances our use of technology.  This year I included those purse organizer inserts — gentlemen don’t laugh!  They come in manly colors and can be used in briefcases and carry-on luggage just as easily as in a woman’s purse. 

Check out the entire list of 10 Must-Have Tech Tools for 2008, published as my column this month at Inc Technology

13 Comments ▼

Anita Campbell Anita Campbell is the Founder, CEO and Publisher of Small Business Trends and has been following trends in small businesses since 2003. She is the owner of BizSugar, a social media site for small businesses.

13 Reactions
  1. This is a great list Anita.

    I particularly agree with the dashboard topic. This is very powerful tool that businesses of any size can take full advantage. You don’t have to implement expensive business intelligence software to reap the benefits that it can provide.

    I’m so pleased that you’ve included in the Top 10 technology items that organizations need.

    But even if one doesn’t use Quickbooks, you can still implement your own custom dashboard to help manage your organization.

    At my site ExcelWithMonarch.com, we discuss how organizations of all sizes can very easily and very quickly implement their own custom dashboard systems with software most every business already has: Microsoft Office Excel.

    We also discuss how you can very easily and quickly feed Excel current, 100% accurate data with Datawatch’s inexpensive Monarch software. Think of Monarch as a universal data translator. It can extract data from report files, databases, PDFs and many other sources, and output to a number of formats, including Excel files.

    This really is a knockout combination as an organization can define exactly what content they need to see in their dashboard, how they want to visualize it (charts, tables, etc.), and (this is the best part) they can make the most of the software tools (accounting, ERP, etc.) they already use.

    Here’s to a successful, well managed 2008!

  2. Anita,

    Great list, but I am a little depressed about a few of the picks.

    The i-phone is only an option with AT&T and our company is stuck with a Verizon contract. To make it worse I want to smash my company VX6700 phone, that runs the MS Pocket PC OS, whose only saving grace outside of the wireless internet is that I am not paying for it.

    And don’t even get me started on Facebook. I have rarely felt so lost in my life as when I go to my own Facebook home page. I have even tried bribing young people to explain it to me. But that’s not worked out as money is not enough of an incentive to get them off their computer in the first place.

    But I do understand Linkedin so perhaps there is hope for 2008 after all. LOL

  3. Love these picks. Sad thing is, I’m looking for a very SIMPLE PDA, and the world of tech toys seems to be getting more complicated. 🙂

  4. Sandy, thanks for letting us know about ExcelwithMonarch. That’s why I love editing this site, because I learn about new services all the time! I’ll check it out.

    Anita

  5. Hi Andy, don’t get too depressed! So much is happening so fast in the mobile space, that things could change for the better before you know it.

    I’m curious: what would you have included on the list?

    Anita

  6. I was amazed and delighted to see Jacquie Lawson cards tucked in there among all the techie stuff. I send them out all the time, and my friends/colleagues love them. They are truly a work of art!

  7. Anita,

    Not that I would change your list in any way, but if it were a top 11 or 12 list I might be tempted to add Meebo.com for sheer practicality. For great SMB information from a podcast I would consider Webmasterradio.fm or Smbtrendwire.com.

  8. I agree with your pick of wireless broadband cards. They seem very handy for anyone who travels. My father in law is a truck driver and he has been using one for the past year. He uses his laptop at his convenience right in his truck bunk.

  9. Jacquie Lawson greeting cards is one of the very best. Agree with Ann, friends and family love receiving them. Happy to see this site make the list…well worth the $10.00.

  10. Excellent list, with some stuff I wasn’t aware of, MyBizHompage, E-Cards and Google Optimizer.

    Jamie

  11. Thanks for this list. Good Stuff. I agree with much of it. Especially about the iPhone.

  12. One service we use, especially when out on the road or at a tech trade show, is a fax through internet service called faxpipe. You can’t check faxes if you’re not in your office, or so you used to think. There are other companies that do the same thing (online faxing) but faxpipe has been the most reliable for us.