A personal addiction for many, smartphones have also become the bedrock of success for companies worldwide. What was once considered an office distraction now plays a vital role in keeping employees within reach at all times. In the fast-paced world of marketing, the early bird gets the worm, so here are seven reasons why your agency should think twice before silencing those smartphones.

We live in a global economy, often doing business across time zones. Having access to a smartphone means greater flexibility for employees who need to manage relationships outside of traditional working hours. That client in Japan doesn't care if it's 2 a.m. when your project deadline is in less than six hours. So you better make yourself available or they could decide to go with the other guy next time.

Doing business with a partner on the other coast may require some face time, but companies can save big bucks on travel by making use of smartphone technology. Almost all smartphones come standard with high-resolution cameras to make those live conference calls easy and effective. You can even pitch your next marketing campaign by phone, but don't forget to change out of your pajamas first.

 

Image via Flickr by pestoverde

On T-Mobile's 4G LTE network, the Galaxy S7 Edge smartphone includes a suite of productivity apps that give you everything you need to take your work on the road. Did you promise little Billy you'd be at his baseball game? Sneak in some work between innings to prepare for your big campaign launch in the morning. He's likely to forgive the small distraction, as long as you're there to witness his first home run.

Marketing professionals often spend more time in their cars than they do in the office, meeting with clients or researching the competition. While people should never use a smartphone while actually driving, it can certainly come in handy when that nasty pothole punctures a hole in your tire. First dial for help, and then reach out to your team to explain why you won't be attending the all-staff meeting.

Social media is not going away any time soon. In fact, the majority of people use Facebook or Twitter as their primary source of news. Can you guess when those people are most likely to be online? As a marketing expert, you probably know that it isn't always during the week from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Depending on your target audience, the best time to post on social media can be during the weekend, and you'll want to be sure your employees are maintaining your 'leader of the pack' status by joining the conversation at these peak times.

Marketing can be a tough industry, and all it takes is one small problem to cause a public relations nightmare. Being able to reach the right people at the right time can be a life saver — or a company saver in some extreme cases. You will all sleep better knowing that, when something comes up, you are connected to a solution.

A picture is worth a thousand words, so use smartphone technology to tell a story and strengthen your brand. With a high-quality point and shoot camera on every smartphone, such as the Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge, amateur photographers have the upper hand. Ask employees to snap a few photos of their latest project, or take a quick selfie with your new client. It can be a great opportunity to highlight what makes your agency so special and also help team members feel more personally invested.

In a world that is often moving faster than most of us can keep up with, success requires flexibility, and smartphones can offer that. While some employers may concern themselves with overburdening employees, those who are wise will recognize the value in staying connected, trusting employees to find their own healthy balance between work and play. Others will likely find themselves quickly outsmarted by the competition.