The Podium mobile experience is here - send a message, ask for a review and get paid faster than ever! 

What's New in Podium: October 2022

What’s New in Podium is here to deliver all the enhancements and updates to the Podium platform that happened in October. 
First up, we have a new Podium mobile experience! Download the Podium app to chat with customers, ask for reviews, and more—all while you’re on the go. 
Next, we dive into Bulk Actions, an updated review invite experience, buy now pay later with Affirm, and the ability to set up taxes &amp; service charges in Podium Payments. After that, we show you how you can answer calls to your Podium number on your own cell phone. And finally, we introduce you to our Experts Directory. 
Let’s dive in since we have a lot to cover! 
The Podium Mobile Experience is now available on iOS and Android. 
We know how important it is to be able to respond to customers fast, which is why we’ve made major improvements to the Podium mobile app with you in mind. 
From the very first interaction with a new lead, the Podium mobile app is there so you can send a reply in seconds. Quickly fire off a typed-out reply or select a pre-written template instead.
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="alignnone size-large wp-image-24489" src="https://cmsaustralia.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/mobile-1024x714.png" alt="" width="640" height="446" srcset="https://cmsaustralia.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/mobile-1024x714.png 1024w, https://cmsaustralia.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/mobile-300x209.png 300w, https://cmsaustralia.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/mobile-768x535.png 768w, https://cmsaustralia.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/mobile-1536x1070.png 1536w, https://cmsaustralia.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/mobile-600x418.png 600w, https://cmsaustralia.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/mobile-360x251.png 360w, https://cmsaustralia.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/mobile-160x112.png 160w, https://cmsaustralia.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/mobile-350x244.png 350w, https://cmsaustralia.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/mobile-100x70.png 100w, https://cmsaustralia.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/mobile-492x343.png 492w, https://cmsaustralia.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/mobile.png 1600w" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px" />
Not only is the app fast, but it’s loaded with features to help you grow your business and save time. But don’t just take our word for it, early adopters have been loving the new app, which lets them work on the go. 
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-24490" src="https://cmsaustralia.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Razelle-Quote-Slide-2.png" alt="" width="793" height="569" srcset="https://cmsaustralia.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Razelle-Quote-Slide-2.png 793w, https://cmsaustralia.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Razelle-Quote-Slide-2-300x215.png 300w, https://cmsaustralia.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Razelle-Quote-Slide-2-768x551.png 768w, https://cmsaustralia.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Razelle-Quote-Slide-2-600x431.png 600w, https://cmsaustralia.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Razelle-Quote-Slide-2-360x258.png 360w, https://cmsaustralia.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Razelle-Quote-Slide-2-160x115.png 160w, https://cmsaustralia.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Razelle-Quote-Slide-2-350x251.png 350w, https://cmsaustralia.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Razelle-Quote-Slide-2-100x72.png 100w, https://cmsaustralia.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Razelle-Quote-Slide-2-478x343.png 478w" sizes="(max-width: 793px) 100vw, 793px" />
We can’t wait to share this new experience with you. View some of our favorite features and tips for using the new mobile app in our mobile video <a href="https://youtu.be/3SEnDeI6Hq0">here</a>. 
You can download the new app <a href="https://apps.apple.com/us/app/podium-interaction-platform/id971412288">here</a> for iPhone and <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.ionicframework.ionicapp410897&amp;hl=en_US&amp;gl=US">here</a> for Android (Android will be updated to the new experience mid-November). 
Next up, you can now engage with more contacts faster.
Introducing Bulk Actions. In just 3 simple steps, you can send a text or a review invite to up to 50 people at once. Just select your contacts, choose a template, and send it off! Easy.
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="alignnone size-large wp-image-24498" src="https://cmsaustralia.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Screen-Shot-2022-11-09-at-9.52.06-AM-1024x561.png" alt="" width="640" height="351" srcset="https://cmsaustralia.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Screen-Shot-2022-11-09-at-9.52.06-AM-1024x561.png 1024w, https://cmsaustralia.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Screen-Shot-2022-11-09-at-9.52.06-AM-300x164.png 300w, https://cmsaustralia.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Screen-Shot-2022-11-09-at-9.52.06-AM-768x421.png 768w, https://cmsaustralia.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Screen-Shot-2022-11-09-at-9.52.06-AM-1536x842.png 1536w, https://cmsaustralia.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Screen-Shot-2022-11-09-at-9.52.06-AM-2048x1123.png 2048w, https://cmsaustralia.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Screen-Shot-2022-11-09-at-9.52.06-AM-600x329.png 600w, https://cmsaustralia.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Screen-Shot-2022-11-09-at-9.52.06-AM-360x197.png 360w, https://cmsaustralia.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Screen-Shot-2022-11-09-at-9.52.06-AM-160x88.png 160w, https://cmsaustralia.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Screen-Shot-2022-11-09-at-9.52.06-AM-350x192.png 350w, https://cmsaustralia.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Screen-Shot-2022-11-09-at-9.52.06-AM-100x55.png 100w, https://cmsaustralia.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Screen-Shot-2022-11-09-at-9.52.06-AM-626x343.png 626w" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px" />
You can access bulk actions in three places in the Podium platform. 
The plus button in the top right nav, on the contact page, and after importing new contacts. 
If you’re new to Podium, this is a great opportunity to immediately engage with your contacts. It’s hands-down one of the best ways to get tons of reviews fast. 
If you’re ready to generate even more reviews, good news: we made leaving a review smoother than ever for your customers. 
With this update, we’ve redesigned the review experience for your customers, giving them clearer instructions and reducing the number of steps required to leave a review.
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-24494" src="https://cmsaustralia.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/voice.gif" alt="" width="600" height="1297" />
A smoother experience for them means more reviews for you. 
Since launch, we’ve seen businesses on Podium achieve a 77% average increase in the number of reviews left by their customers. 
New for Retail and Auto Services is Buy Now Pay Later, in partnership with Affirm. 
Businesses love Podium Payments for the flexibility it gives their customers. Today, we’re thrilled to announce that retail and auto service businesses can now offer Buy Now, Pay Later to make paying even more flexible.
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-24497" src="https://cmsaustralia.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/affirm.gif" alt="" width="375" height="812" />
Fact: Customers can spend more when they have the option to pay over time. Businesses that offer Affirm report an 85% increase in average order value. 
And the best part? You’re still paid in full. The customer will make payments via Affirm. 
If you’re a Retail or Auto Service customer, head to the Payments Settings page in Podium to enable Affirm at checkout. To learn more about how Affirm can help your business win this winter, be sure to register for our upcoming webinar. Linked below. 
Now you can set up taxes &amp; service charges for easier and faster purchases with Podium Payments
Merchants using Podium Payments can now pre-set tax and service charges for every purchase, making it even easier and faster to get paid by text or via Card Reader.
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-24496" src="https://cmsaustralia.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/taxes.png" alt="" width="262" height="512" srcset="https://cmsaustralia.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/taxes.png 262w, https://cmsaustralia.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/taxes-154x300.png 154w, https://cmsaustralia.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/taxes-256x500.png 256w, https://cmsaustralia.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/taxes-205x400.png 205w, https://cmsaustralia.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/taxes-82x160.png 82w, https://cmsaustralia.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/taxes-179x350.png 179w, https://cmsaustralia.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/taxes-51x100.png 51w, https://cmsaustralia.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/taxes-176x343.png 176w" sizes="(max-width: 262px) 100vw, 262px" />
All you have to do is enter the price of the goods or services you’re providing. Podium will automatically add the tax and service charges to the invoice. No more manual calculations!
Head to the Payments Settings page in your Podium account to set up your tax and service charges!
If you have the Podium app, you can now answer Podium calls on your cell phone.
Running a local business isn’t always done from a desk –  in fact, it usually isn’t – and depending on your industry, some staff members may be on the go all the time. 
Voice users can now set external numbers (like a cell phone, a work phone, or a landline) to ring whenever a call comes to their Podium phone number.
To set it up, just log in to Podium and head to the Voice settings page.
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="alignnone size-large wp-image-24495" src="https://cmsaustralia.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/voice1-1024x829.png" alt="" width="640" height="518" srcset="https://cmsaustralia.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/voice1-1024x829.png 1024w, https://cmsaustralia.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/voice1-300x243.png 300w, https://cmsaustralia.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/voice1-768x622.png 768w, https://cmsaustralia.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/voice1-1536x1243.png 1536w, https://cmsaustralia.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/voice1-600x486.png 600w, https://cmsaustralia.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/voice1-360x291.png 360w, https://cmsaustralia.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/voice1-160x130.png 160w, https://cmsaustralia.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/voice1-350x283.png 350w, https://cmsaustralia.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/voice1-100x81.png 100w, https://cmsaustralia.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/voice1-424x343.png 424w, https://cmsaustralia.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/voice1.png 1600w" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px" />
Want to be the first to know when Podium Voice is available in your area? Head to <a href="https://www.podium.com/voice">podium.com/voice</a> to learn more and sign up for the waitlist. 
Take advantage of Podium Experts. 
Have you ever wanted guidance from a Podium pro? Well, now, it’s easy to connect with a certified Podium consultant in our new Experts Directory.
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-24493" src="https://cmsaustralia.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/experts.png" alt="" width="876" height="908" srcset="https://cmsaustralia.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/experts.png 876w, https://cmsaustralia.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/experts-289x300.png 289w, https://cmsaustralia.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/experts-768x796.png 768w, https://cmsaustralia.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/experts-482x500.png 482w, https://cmsaustralia.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/experts-360x373.png 360w, https://cmsaustralia.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/experts-154x160.png 154w, https://cmsaustralia.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/experts-338x350.png 338w, https://cmsaustralia.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/experts-96x100.png 96w, https://cmsaustralia.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/experts-331x343.png 331w" sizes="(max-width: 876px) 100vw, 876px" />
Podium experts are here to help you and your business send Text Marketing Campaigns, respond to Reviews, Inbox Messages, and more. 
Go check it out at <a href="https://podium.partnerpage.io/experts/">podium.com/experts</a> and hire an expert today!