5 Ways to use an iPad in Real Estate
By: Barbara Lipkin
Having become a user and fan of the iPad, and with all the publicity surrounding the release of the new iPad, I have been looking for more uses for my iPad. Other than checking my email, looking up information in Wikipedia, and playing games, I have begun using my iPad for listing presentations. I have found the following ideas for additional usage:
1. Travel light with it. Instead of taking a laptop, I can use it to check email, make Skype calls, and have access to my online documents and programs.
2. Tackle my business tasks. I can prepare documents,organize my notes, and tasks to do. I have found 2 apps worthwhile- catch.com and taskerlite.
3. I have been using and will continue using my iPad for customer presentations. This morning, a client of mine made a presentation to me on his new company. It is a sexy way to make a presentation – very modern, hip, and yet professional.
4. Accessorize your iPad from the case to the apps that work for you. Many are free, and those that are not, are generally inexpensive.
5. Beware of spending all your time on games. I love solitaire, but other than a momentary break, I prefer to catch up on the news or read a book.
Have fun with your iPad.
Original article as follows:
Make it your mobile companion.
The iPad can take mobile entrepreneurs one step closer to a laptop-free existence. The small size — the iPad 2 is even slimmer than its predecessor — instant-on feature and long battery life make it easier to deal with than a bulky laptop. “It allows me to travel light on one- or two-day trips where I don’t expect to have any text-intensive tasks. Moreover, instant access to my cloud for information and data allows me to walk into meetings paperless, but perfectly prepared,” Sinclair says. He uses the Shareplus app to stay in touch with his Microsoft Sharepoint files. “It gives me access to every client database including all tasks, communications, contacts and, most importantly, all files that relate to the client,” Sinclair says. That makes the iPad a good fit for businesses that have already migrated data online for easy mobile access. The iPad 2′s cameras and FaceTime app make videoconferencing over Wi-Fi a compelling possibility for on-the-go entrepreneurs.
2. Tackle your business tasks.
Before you spend between hundreds on an iPad, determine what you want to be able to do with it. “For light tasks, it’s perfect, for writing detailed documents or software intensive programs, it makes no sense,” Sinclair says. You might not want to compose a novel on it or crunch a huge database, but you can easily handle jobs such as editing word-processing documents using the very capable Pages app or organizing notes and ideas with Evernote. The costs of the apps themselves are very reasonable. “Show me an expensive Windows application and I’ll show you an inexpensive alternative in the Apple App Store,” Ayoub says.
3. Hand it off to customers.
Image may not actually be everything, but it means a lot. Businesses that want to project a forward-thinking, cutting-edge persona are adopting iPads as tools for customers. That can range from using the iPad as a wine list in a restaurant to offering branded iPad apps that show off retail wares. “Any company using this latest tool is going to appear current, relevant and clever — all good things in a competitive environment. It helps that Apple has heavily marketed and publicized the iPad. Nearly everyone knows what it is when they see it,” Ayoub says. Sinclair has seen a lot of iPad interest from businesses in the hospitality sector. Restaurants have been quick to pick up on the device as a way to deliver menus, expand ordering capabilities and give customers more information about food and beverages.
4. Accessorize for your needs.
The Apple-related accessory market is in high gear. (See our story on the iPad boom for accessory makers.) That means you can find all sorts of add-ons to customize your iPad for your business. For those of you who don’t want to give up on the laptop experience, check out an external keyboard like the Apple iPad Keyboard dock or the Apple Wireless Keyboard. Either one costs about $70. Mobile sales professionals can share the love with a dock connector to VGA adapter for making presentations. Along with the iPad 2, Apple unveiled an HDMI video out adapter cable for greater flexibility when presenting.
Of course, apps are still the ultimate business accessories. Enjoy all your iPhone favorites on the comfort of a larger screen or take advantage of iPad optimized apps like PrintCentral for printing and Instapaper for saving and reading Web pages. “If the iPad doesn’t fit your business needs out of the box, either you or someone in your respective industry is sure to create an app that will make it fit,” Ayoub says. (Check out more enticing iPad accessories in our previous article about pimping your iPad.)
5. Don’t get too distracted.
It may be tempting to take down a few zombies or fight your way through a dungeon in your down time, but beware of getting sidetracked by entertainment apps. “Don’t download Angry Birds,” Sinclair says. “Understand what tasks and purposes the iPad is supposed to solve.” He initially had to concentrate his thinking around the iPad from shiny new toy to serious business tool. He stays focused by exploring business apps and looking for ways to match the iPad with the needs of his clients. Stock up on the apps that help make your business run and keep your productivity intact. Keep the games to a minimum.
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