.png)
Starting up or maintaining a successful small business can be a challenge. It’s not an undertaking for the faint of heart. Great news, there are many online tools for small businesses to get you organized, advertise your business, balance your finances, get connected and make your workday smoother than ever. Here are our top 7 must have online tools for small businesses:
1. Google Drive and Google Docs
Just the tip of the Google goldmine, Google Drive and Google Docs may quickly become indispensable to your company. You can use Google Docs to create, format, and collaborate with colleagues, clients or potential clients real time. Once you’ve created your documents you can share editing and viewing privileges, download and email documents. Google Docs also works seamlessly with both Android and iPhone. The free version of Google Drive offers 15 GB of storage and allows you to file and organize your Google Docs, Google Sheets, and Slides easily. Uploading, organizing, and sharing is a breeze using this central storage option.
2. Skype
Skype’s basic features are both free and versatile. One on one chat from your computer or smartphone, group chats, screen sharing, file sharing, voice and video calls help keep you in touch with employees or clients with the touch of a button. Extremely inexpensive upgrades for businesses are available that can add additional features such as online meetings for up to 250 participants and the ability to schedule meetings effortlessly.
3. Mint
Mint is one of the best online tools for small businesses that allows you to create a budget, manage money and get personalized tips for money management. You can receive alerts directly to your smartphone and even obtain a free credit report. Allowing Mint to pull all your financial information into one convenient place keeps you organized and up to date no matter where you are or what size your company is. The customization will save you time and money and it takes seconds to get started.
4. BlueCamroo
BlueCamroo is an online tool equivalent of a Swiss army knife for your company. Taking the brief tour of their website will show you just how much help is available. Project management, invoicing, CRM, social network integration, expense management and email marketing are just a few of the features available. There are also different packages to choose from which allow you to concentrate on custom projects or choose from a list of fixed price services for more common needs and solutions.
5. LinkedIn
Do not underestimate the power of connections! Creating a professional profile for yourself and your business can keep you connected and growing. You need to be searchable in order to be found. That may seem like a no-brainer, but just having a profile to be found is half the battle. You can share directly from your company page to your LinkedIn profile. You’ll also have access to the ability to recruit directly from the site. You can search through talent and connect with like-minded colleagues in a matter of minutes. You can find LinkedIn here.
6. Score
Score is another great free online tool that can be especially helpful to small startups. A nonprofit organization specifically dedicated to providing support for entrepreneurs around the US offers a ton of free templates and tools from business plans to contracts. There is a section that helps you locate online webinars and you can even request free help from a local mentor as easily as inputting your zip code.
7. Hootsuite
Hootsuite helps you reach further with social media without a lot of extra work. You can schedule posts, manage all your social media, find out what people are saying and analyze how you stack up. Hootsuite makes it easy to stay connected to clients and always on top of your game.
Do you have other must-have online tools that work for you? We would love to hear what they are! Drop them in the comments below.
If you’re looking for more great tips check out our other blog posts here!
Komentarze