As a business owner, we know you love to save time and money. That’s why it pays to know that there are tools out there that not only work well, but work for free as well. Check out the following online business tools that are absolutely free to use.
Google Drive
You know that when it’s from the tech giant Google, it’s gotta be good. Google Drive allows you to keep all your work in one secure place with online file storage. You can even access your work whenever you need it, from any device (such as a laptop, a tablet, or a smartphone.)
Google Docs, Sheets and Slides
Another useful set of tools from Google: Docs, Sheets, and Slides – are like the web-based lightweight equivalent of Microsoft Office, which allows you to write, edit, and collaborate with your colleagues wherever you are. But unlike MS Office, Google Docs is free to use.
The great thing about these tools are that they work with Google Drive, so you can organize your files all on the web. They also work with Microsoft Office files, so you don’t have to worry about compatibility issues.
Boomerang
Boomerang is a third-party Gmail add-on that allows you to take full control on when you send and receive emails. It is useful if, for example, you want to send an email on a Friday, but did not want it to get lost in the recipient’s inbox over the weekend.
Boomerang also has a feature that enables you to review emails at a later time, by emailing it to yourself according to a schedule, therefore “boomerang-ing” it to yourself. Boomerang can also shoot you a reminder to follow up with all the people you email every week.
These and more of Boomerang’s features are probably why there are over 350,000 users of it worldwide, particularly small business owners.
MailChimp
As a business owner, maintaining and growing your email lists is important, since it is your collection of both current and potential customers. MailChimp allows you to build and manage that list, with tons of features like drag-and-drop interface, dozens of free templates, and the ability to customize your email campaigns. And the best part is, it’s all for free.
Skype
Skype by Microsoft has become a business standard in video conferencing, for enterprise-level businesses and small businesses alike. All you need is an internet connection and a device to use, such as a computer, a tablet, or a smartphone (with a camera, speakers, and microphone – of course.)
Video conferencing is a great solution if you need to conduct a meeting with your clients or employees, but they are far away.
Evernote
Manage your time effectively using Evernote. It is packed with useful features that enables you to do quick create-to-do lists, save web pages to read later, and store documents with just a click.
Evernote also has a mobile app so your notes stay synchronized across all your devices, so you can work from anywhere without missing a thing.
Milanote
Milanote is a tool for organizing your creative projects into beautiful visual boards. Created to replicate the feeling of working on a wall in a creative studio – visual, tactile and sometimes a bit messy – Milanote is a great fit for freelancers in both the marketing and design spaces. Milanote has heaps of built-in templates to help you get started with a variety of different projects, from creating a moodboard to set out the visual direction for a project, to writing that perfect creative brief. Its sharing features make it a great option for those who regularly provide work to clients for feedback.
Milanote’s basic plan is available for free with no time-limit.
Expand Your Business Online
If you don’t already have a website for your business, you should consider starting one now; simply having a Facebook page or a social media page for your business is not enough. Having a legitimate dot-com website not only adds credibility to your business, it also enhances your ability to reach more potential customers in the online space.
Celeste Graphics offers a FREE consultation on how to start your website. Click here to find out more.