Give your business a technology tune-up: five ways to make you and your business run smoother.

• Position: How-To GUIDE

We all want the freedom to roam free from our desks, find a better work-life balance and increase our overall productivity. If it seems you're not reaping all the benefits of being a small business owner, having the right technology could be the answer.

1. Unchain Your Workplace

   It's now common for small business owners to bring work on the road, to client meetings and back home. Take your business wherever you want to go by finding an energy efficient, fast-processing laptop with dependable wireless capabilities, and a mobile device that can serve as a secretary, bookkeeper and personal assistant.

   Recent mobile applications make working remotely much easier by allowing you to review sales quotes, access business intelligence reports and assemble a human resource department in the palm of your hand. You can also choose mobile applications that let you review your business expenses from the airport, manage and track time over coffee and conduct conference calls from a park bench. Many mobile phones now offer turn-by-turn navigation, which is necessary for stress-free travel and saves you the cost of a new GPS. By selecting the best phone for your business, you can cut unnecessary expenses and gain constant access to exactly what you need.

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2. Make Friends with Social Media

   In today's economic climate it's imperative that small business owners capitalize on the power of social media to build relationships, generate leads and stay connected with their customers. To do that, more and more business are investing in software that can monitor web traffic and compile metrics to increase their online presence. Once gathered, this information is often used to better inform clients and interact with potential customers. Most importantly, these new services can save you loads of time and stress by presenting the data in an attractive and easy-to-use format.

3. Spruce Up Your Storefront

   It's no secret that winning new business often comes down to how you present your company to prospects. While a high quality printer is a given, investing in up-to-date design software can go a long ways in giving your company's image a fresh new look. Most businesses can get just about everything they need from a 3-in-l printer. If you want to print from anywhere in the office or your home, the extra investment in a wireless printer might be well worth it. Also...