“No technology is required to run my business because I’ve been doing it successfully for 20 years using the same methods.”
Small business owners can benefit from a little extra help every now and then, thanks to the abundance of free digital business tools available today, you can have all of that at your fingertips plus some extra cash in your bank account!
You may be wondering, how?
Numerous digital solutions are now available thanks to advancements in software and app development, which can help you streamline your business, improve workflows, and reduce stress. So now you can devote more time to growing your business. However, with this pool of great options, it can be difficult to know where to start, especially if you’re a small business owner who is new to the digital workplace.
We’ve compiled a list of free tools your small business could use to maximize online marketing, ads, and everything from communicating with ad-hoc teams and just organizing your portfolio. While some of them may have paid plans and options for an upgrade once your small business outgrows the free plans, It’s still a great place to start.
1. Google Docs & Friends (Google Slides, Google Sheets, Google Forms, etc.)
We will begin with the internet giant that everybody knows. You can’t talk about free business tools without mentioning Google. When working on files with others, this is an excellent tool to use. As a business owner, you will have a lot of flexibility because your documents will be safely stored in the cloud.
This freedom allows you to conduct business outside of the traditional office setting. You can organize your work directly to the customer and make changes to contracts in real-time. You can also access important documents that need to be modified before meeting with a client.
As far as document collaboration is concerned, Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides are the best tools to use. It’s a great way to avoid the constant back-and-forth emails when working on multiple documents at the same time.
2. Project Management Tools
In today’s world, most business owners juggle multiple roles at any given time. Project management software is great for multitasking. These apps allow you to keep track of your tasks, appointments, and deadlines (as opposed to having to do so manually).
These tools can generate reminders for upcoming tasks and events, including details like meeting times and locations. Other team members can be reminded as well, so everyone knows what’s expected and when.
An example is Trello
It has a simple pricing structure, and unlimited member invites, boards, cards, and lists. It works on all platforms and is mobile-friendly.
Another example is ConnectTeam
Connecteam is a leading business tool designed for deskless and remote teams. A free plan for up to 50 users gets you all your work done (and saves you hours!)
With Project Management tools, you can easily;
- Create and share an efficient job schedule.
- Track employee work hours with a self-service, GPS-tracked time clock that syncs with Quickbooks Online.
- Share GIFs, videos, and pictures with a group or one-on-one chat.
- Improve training and onboarding so your team has direct access to resources
3. CRM (Customer Relationship Management (CRM)
Small businesses need CRM software. It gives you a central location to track, manage, and measure all customer interactions. Who receives, opens, and reads your emails? It may also indicate that you haven’t contacted a key client in a long time. It gives you the ability to closely observe and analyze customers’ needs. HubSpot is a good example and it can help you stay top-of-mind with your customers.
4. Website Control
Your website is the face of your company, and you’ve probably spent a lot of time and money making it appealing and user-friendly. But you need to know who uses it and where the most (and least) traffic is.
Many small business owners use Google Analytics to track their websites. It shows your traffic sources (organic search, referrals, or direct).
5. Online Advertising and Product listing tools
These tools come in handy when you want to deliver promotional marketing messages to consumers. They are excellent for increasing your reach, exposing your brand, and driving revenue. Businesses today rely on platforms like Locale.ng to stay afloat. Doesn’t that sound dramatic? But consider that failing to take advantage of online advertising platforms may cause your company to fall behind its competitors.
So if you’re a small business owner who struggles with visibility, finding your target audience or you need an all-in-one place where you can manage every aspect of your business with ease? Worry not! Locale. ng has brought the best solution to you!
Locale.ng is the expert when it comes to online business listings, helping connect millions of consumers with local businesses each month. Locale.ng provides its users with the information they’re looking for — from phone numbers and driving directions to ratings, reviews, and special offers.
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