Entrepreneurs have to go through a lot as they try to build a business. It can feel isolating at times, and it is very challenging. However, as a small business owner, you don’t have to feel alone when you are running your business. There are free tools or free trials of tools online that can be of help.
Analytics
- Google Analytics – This tool lets you know where the audience is accessing your site from. This tool helps business owners in deciding the marketing plan and gaining insights on web traffic.
- Unbounce – Try Unbounce for a 30-day free trial for designing landing pages for optimized conversions.
- Hubspot’s Marketing Grader – Use the free Marketing Grading tool form Hubspot to find out the leads being generated by your digital efforts.
Advertising
- Yelp – Use the Yelp business profile for free to add information and post pictures of your business, check what customers are saying about you and respond to them.
- Yellow Pages – The Yellow Pages app and YellowPages.com can help find the audience online, invite people to comment and respond to reviews about your services or products.
- Foursquare – Foursquare for business is a free way to connect and advertise with the audience, interact with customers and give updates about your business to the customers.
- Google my business – Google offers a free profile to businesses to advertise themselves. You can share pictures, locations and hours of your business. You can give visitors a virtual tour, and it also helps the site’s SEO ranking.
Blogging
- CoSchedule – Business that has a good presence in the blogging world and have multiple staff members working on it can use CoSchedule. This is an add-on to WordPress, it free for 14 days. You can collaborate, share and plan in advance with this.
- WordPress.org – Sign up for free for web hosting services, use different add-ons and use the benefits of digital marketing with this.
Business development
- Local Small Business Development Center – This sponsored by the SBA and helps small entrepreneurs with free consulting, mentoring and business education to small business owners.
- SBA.gov – They are known for straightforward business advice and education. Great for rookie entrepreneurs.
- SCORE – SCORE has provided mentorship and education opportunities. It helps business owners get their business off the ground.
Business Planning
- Enloop – This helps in writing a professional business plan, complete with reporting. Your first plan is free if you use Enloop.
- Bplans.com – They have sample business plans for each industry. You can use those to build upon your business plan.
Design
- Pablo – Pablo creates images from text in a few seconds. This can make your social media page look great.
- Canva – This gives the look of professionally designed graphics for marketing and blogs. This is free and offers pre-formatted templates for blog graphics and more.
- Piktochart – Create infographics with Piktochart that offers easy to use tools for non-designers.
Finance
- Fundera – If you just want to borrow money for your business, then Fundera is a one-stop-shop. It works with lenders to get you the best possible options.
- AngelList – AngelList helps out with finding investors and getting employees for your startup.
- StreetShares – It’s a free marketplace that connects with peer to peer lenders, and you can make an online application for funds.
- Kickstarter – You can use this for crowdfunding for your business.
Legal
- Docracy – This is an open-source repository of legal documents, and you can save some money on lawyers.
Internal Communications
- Slack -Slack is a great tool to manage communications. You can create groups, set up alerts and have it all at your fingertips.
- Skype – The internet calling service is excellent for conference calls. You can do video and audio conferencing.
- Sococo – This is a virtual office where you can talk and see who is working. There is a free starter plan, and you can use that.
Email
The following provide emailing options for business owners.
- Boomerang
- Gmail
- MailChimp
- Organizer by OtherInbox
- Unroll.me
Scheduling
- When I Work – Get availability, notifications and trading of shifts with this.
- Doodle – Cast votes and get the meeting scheduled.
- YouCanBook.me – Can be integrated with the business website and with Google calendar.
Money Management
- PayPal – offers transactions for payments.
- Expensify – scan receipts and one-click reimbursements are offered.
- ZenPayroll – Simple payroll process.
- TSheets – GPS monitored app that tracks time.
Productivity
These tools will get the task of managing the day to day activities easy. Keep thoughts of plans and ideas in one place.
- Google Drive
- Evernote
- Pilcro
Images
Use free images for your media and branding.
- FreeImages
- Flickr
- Unsplash
- Pixabay
Social Media
- ManageFlitter
- Hootsuite
- Instasize
Storage
Use these easy to use storage cloud tools and manage your documentation.
- Box
- Dropbox
- Google Cloud