This post will serve as a brainstorming session for all community members who get involved. Let’s compile a list of as many reasons why a small business should use a tablet PC as an engagement tool with existing customers in order strengthen their social media marketing efforts. Feel free to comment and please add your own value propositions to the mix! There are no wrong responses, let’s get the creative juices flowing people!I’ll start off with value proposition number #1- Ability to integrate email marketing and Facebook marketing through a third party Facebook application. The whole idea would be to get existing customers to sign in to their Facebook account at your business, having them use your tablet PC to connect with your 3rd party promotion, realize an instant discount and in exchange you receive their email and “like” on Facebook.

I have an Asus eee Pad Transformer that I use to recruit potential clients. I start by researching the client on the internet to see if they can use my services.

Once I determine how I can help them I do a mock-up to show to them during a face-to-face meeting. Then I visit the company and make an appointment to meet with the owner to show them what I can do for them. 

During the appointment I take out my tablet and show them the mock-up I created and then open a PDF contract that outlines how much it will cost them and what tweaks are included with the mock-up.

If the client wants to sign up I take out my stylus and let them sign the contract right on my tablet; I then save the document and e-mail it to them immediately. Then I use my Square reader to collect payment from them. Lastly I open up a new document and discuss what they want implemented. 

I love my tablet and it works great for me!

@rosehaase nailed it! Wireless is the way to go. We put our clothing designs on both the iPhone and iPad and it made it easy to flip through and zoom in and out to show off the designs. This is also a way you can show off your website mockups, take notes, take orders, visit websites on the fly or have contracts signed on the spot. I plan to go completely wireless in my next biz and feel it is the future.

Has anyone used business planner for the iPad? O m g, it is amazing, a must have for any business owner. Look it up now!

@seancookceo-salyrisstudios,

What tool do you use to put your designs on your iPad?

=C=

@matmaynor @rosehaase @jessicasmith

Great examples of how to use tablets.

Mat, I agree it is very impressive when retailers use it to make a better experience for their customers. There is just so much you can do, and the possibilities continue to expand.

@calevans I created a digital lookbook in Word from mockups via Illustrator and Photoshop (imported the JPEG images), then exported/saved as a PDF. I also added a password in order to open it and another to print it. Having it on the iPhone and iPad made it very quick and easy to share with whom we decided to get feedback from or specific silk screen printers we were interested in doing biz with. The ease at which moving from each design and the zooming features just made presentation a breeze.