Just which are the best apps out there enabling us to make the most of our phones, tabletsand computers? Over the last few weeks, TechNewsWorld’s All Things Appy has beentaking a hard look at these newfangled software program disrupters.
This week, All Things Appy looks at must-have, 21st century business-orientedtools in the Chrome Web browser environment.
About the Environment
Chrome apps are found in Google’s Chrome Web Store. Download Google’s Chromebrowser, and click on a new tab within the browser.
Then choose the Chrome Web Store link in the lower right corner of the page. Use the Search text box to find the required app.
Here’s a look at five of the best free business-oriented tools.
No. 1: TweetDeck
TweetDeck is a social media management app that claims 1,380.291 users and has aChrome Web Store rating of 4 stars out of a possible 5 from 5,083 reviewers.
Marketers can engage with Twitter conversations in real time with this app. An includedTimeline provides the same classic feed seen in the standard Twitter client.
However, the app also provides at-a-glance standard and optional alternative views thatinclude Interactions, Mentions, Messages and Activity, among others — and it’s all onthe same schedule-capable, dashboard-like screen, creating a Twitter command center.Simple.
No. 2: HootSuite
HootSuite is a social media management app that claims 287,287 users and has a ChromeWeb Store rating of 4 stars out of a possible 5 from 674 reviewers.
Not purely Twitter-focused like TweetDeck — and a bit more complicated, with moreanalytics — HootSuite lets marketers manage campaigns across social media platforms. Streamsinclude Facebook and LinkedIn, among others.
Add-ons include the HootSuite Hootlet extension that lets you automatically captureWeb content, and schedule and publish across social networks.
No: 3: Zoho CRM
Zoho CRM is a customer relationship management app that claims 37,905 users and hasa Chrome Web Store rating of 4 stars out of a possible 5 from 27 reviewers.
Zoho CRM, with free options for up to three users, has the most Chrome Web users for afree CRM app.
Zoho features lead management, account and contacts, sales opportunities, social CRMand reports. Import functions are included so you don’t have to re-enter data. Paid add-ons include an email product, QuickBooks accounting, and telephony integration.
No 4: Wave Accounting
Wave Accounting is a small-business finance and accounting app that claims 105,423users and has a Chrome Web Store rating of 4 out of a possible 5 from 212reviewers.
This app includes expenses tracking, plus double-entry accounting reports. It’s gearedtoward entrepreneurs and freelancers.
Accountant-friendly balance sheets and ledgers can be created, as can invoicing andinsightful graphical snapshots. Online bank accounts can be synchronized.
This is an advertising-sponsored free app — and at that price, it’s a boon to small businesses.
No. 5: IssueBurner
IssueBurner is a help desk and issue tracking app that claims 8,845 users and has aChrome Web Store rating of 4.5 out of a possible 5 from 51 reviewers.
This app provides a Web-based interface to track customer issues until they’reclosed. Free for a couple of users, it cuts out the email inbox tracking that often hasto take place at the small-business customer help desk level, when more expensivededicated software isn’t available.
It earned a runner-up position because once you’ve completed the sign-up process, the appamusingly continues in your default browser, which may be something other thanChrome, defeating the app-concept purpose somewhat.
However, TechNewsWorld likes the small business management functions of this app,and how it provides free, big-organization help desk capability to smaller outfits.
Want to Suggest an Apps Collection?
Is there a batch of apps you’d like to suggest for review? Remember, they must all be for the same platform, and they must all be geared toward the same general purpose. Please send the names of five or more apps to me, and I’ll consider them for a future All Things Appy column.
And use the Talkback feature below to add your comments!
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