When you are starting out in business on a budget or restructuring or on a shoe-string for an existing business, it’s OK to be frugal. The Internet has a vast variety of resources that you can use in your business on a shoestring budget. A client once told me that she was amazed at the toolbox of free resources that I had acquired for conducting business and marketing activities. So in this article and some future ones in this series of free resources, I will share them with you.
Know that I am also an advocate for investing in your business. If you are a serious business owner, you will need to invest in your time, resources, business and personal development. As a business coach and consultant, my clients have made the important decision to invest in their business development and they reap the rewards as a result.
I have invested in my business by working with a business coach.
However, these tools can get you started until your business outgrows them and in some cases the tools can grow with your business if you choose the respective upgrade options. So browse and apply these tools where possible in your business.
- Tungle.me This is a simple, no-frills scheduling tool that allows you to invite people to book time to speak/meet with you. You set up your available times, link the tool with your email and even Google Calendar if you would like. Once someone has booked some time with you, an email notification is sent to your inbox. You can also go ahead and use it to schedule meetings with others. Just make sure to include the person’s email address and they will get the email invitation and can accept or decline at that point.
I am using Tungle.me right now to schedule Strategy Sessions where I speak with small business owners for 20 minutes, listen to their marketing challenges, suggest a tip or two they can use right away and recommend some of my programs or 1-to-1 coaching options that can help. You can see my Tungle.me profile here. Feel free to schedule a strategy session as well.
- Screencast-o-matic Screen sharing video tool. This tool allows you to make a video of your computer screen for up to 15 minutes. Very helpful for going through a DEMO for a client, PowerPoint presentation with voiceover. I use it for Video Tutorials and also for client DEMOS and Website Audits.
- Animoto.com Cool Video Slideshows. Love this tool! You can make 30 second videos for free with Music, Still Photos, Video Clips and Text. Great for a Introductory Video about your business or upcoming program like a Telesummit. Other possibilities as well. Click their link and check them out.
- Mailchimp.com Email Marketing service. Allows you to build an email list and communicate via email Newsletters with various templates. Free for up to 2,000 subscribers. Great if you are just getting started.
- Timely.is Social Media Scheduler for Facebook and Twitter. Allows you to schedule status updates using an “Autoschedule” feature which uses optimal posting times to send your updates. You set the frequency for the respective network and Timely.is will schedule the updates accordingly. You will also receive a weekly report of your updates, reach, RT’s or clicks and top updates/posts.
- Surveymonkey.com Create online surveys on the fly for customer feedback. Different templates, various questions types, ability to embed the survey in a webpage, send the link in an email or post the link on social media. Great tool!
- Paypal.com World-renowned way to collect and send money online. Free to set-up on your website to collect money for products and services. Even without a website, you can invoice your clients using their service. Fees will be applied when you receive money. There are also various upgrade options that allow you to do much more like collect money via credit cards at a live event using a printed order form.
- Superstickies Very simple website that allows you to create images that look like Post-it notes for use on your website. I just placed one in the sidebar of my website (top-right). I think it’s pretty cool.
- Viperbar Allows you to place messages or even your opt-in form for your email list at the top of your WordPress blog/website. You can play with the colors to let it stand out. Great for promoting upcoming events, new programs, big announcements or list building.
- Clip Your Photos I use this to add dimension to images that I use in my articles. Various styles to choose from. My favorite is the “Floater” style.
So what are some free online tools that you have found such great value in that you would pay for it? I would love to know. Go ahead and share it in the comments below. I love to hear from you and I read all comments.
Stephanie,
Thanks for sharing these tools. Some I knew, most are new to me. Im anxious to try out a couple.