10 Free Online Tools To Run Your Small Business More Productively
Online tools are just like office supplies. Every business owner must use them to get things done efficiently. But when we think about online tools, we often associate them with paid services. In this blog post, we’re going to reveal various online platforms you can use to drive your business forward. The best part is that they’re free to use.
1. Trello
Trello is a well-known project manager with a user-friendly interface. Tasks can be categorized based on progress and nature. They can also be set with deadlines. The best part is that it’s both available on Android and iOS.
Get the tool here.
2. Canva
For your marketing and advertising needs, Canva is one of the best free tools to edit your posters, notices, email headers, and pictures. There are plenty of templates you can use. All are designed to capture the attention of any demographic.
Get the tool here.
3. Hootsuite
By using Hootsuite you can schedule the posting of your content after creation so you’re able to use the time to attend to more tasks. Hootsuite also has a feature of measuring ROI - very useful when knowing if social media advertising investment has paid off.
Get the tool here.
4. Zoom
Nothing is more convenient than having a highly reliable VOIP service that you can use either with an app or browser on any device. Zoom gives you exactly that. You can start a video conference with your remote team anytime, anywhere, and in any way.
Get the tool here.
5. MailChimp
As a small business owner, you should never undervalue the use of email marketing as it is still the best and most direct form of advertising. But using an email marketing platform when you’re still small can be costly. Lucky for you, MailChimp provides a variety of features for crafting and sending beautiful campaigns at no cost. You’ll only pay if your monthly sending quota increases.
Get the tool here.
6. Google Calendar
Every smartphone has its own calendar app. But you can only view your schedule on one device. By using Google Calendar, you can never lose track of your tasks and appointments because you can check your daily agenda if all your devices have your Google account logged in.
The tool is even more useful if you have a virtual assistant. You can share your calendar and they can set important appointments for you.
Get the tool here.
7. Streak
The beauty about Streak is, it’s a CRM tool that easily integrates with Gmail. If you want to manage your sales, projects, messages, and contacts, all you need to do is open your Gmail and take advantage of the additional features provided by Streak. Think about it as an email marketing platform in the form of an extension for your mailbox.
Get the tool here.
8. Boomerang
Not all small business owners operate during the day. Some have varied routines which could really be troublesome when sending important emails to other people with a different working schedule. Boomerang allows you to write and automatically send emails at the appropriate time.
For example, if you finish writing a business email at 2 am and your recipient clocks in at 9 am, you can use Boomerang to send the final draft at 9 am.
Get the tool here.
9. Wave
If you think that accounting tasks such as sending invoices, scanning receipts, or making reports can’t be done using a phone, you’re wrong. Wave has all these features on iOS and Android. Even if a customer buys your products while you’re on the go, you can still transact with them and provide proper documentation without any error encountered.
Get the tool here.
10. Google Alerts
Curious about the strength of your brand presence? Use Google Alerts. This tool crawls the web for any mentions that your business receives. It’s the best tool to use if you want to know where you should focus your advertising efforts to receive a high ROI.
Get the tool here.
Most of these online tools are free but you’ll eventually pay to access more advanced features. Don’t worry about that yet - just use these platforms according to the basic needs of your small business. As your business grows and you become financially capable, only then should you pay for the premium features.
Discover more tips about how to manage an online business here: