Ten Essential Web-Based Tools For Small Businesses
Through facilitating hundreds of online marketing campaigns for my clients, I’ve been able to cut my teeth on some of the best web-based services available today.
Here’s a list of 10 of the most essential web-based tools we continue to use – on a weekly basis. These services can provide you with a multitude of solutions – from productivity, to payments/invoicing, to marketing and beyond.
FreeScreenSharing
If you’re interested in sharing your computer screen with others, FreeScreenSharing offers unlimited meetings with up to 96 participants at a time. They’ll even throw in a free, dedicated conference bridge you can use at anytime.
SlideRocket
If your PowerPoint presentations are getting a bit stale, try SlideRocket. It’s a better way to create, share and present stunning, media-rich presentations. It’s even compatible with mobile devices.
MarketWire
If you’re looking to announce exciting news about your business, MarketWire provides you with top-notch distribution channels to maximize exposure. They also offer an extensive array of specialty niche channels.
Bravo Video
If you’re a small business with a web presence, credibility is key. Bravo Video provides you with an easy way to capture customer testimonial videos. These videos can be shared on your website, blog and social media properties.
Formstack
If collecting information on your website is important to you, then it’s time to take a look at Formstack. You can easily create forms, collect and analyze data and even integrate third-party applications like CRM, email marketing and payment processing.
WePay
Tired of using Paypal? Give WePay a try. It’s a free, secure tool that helps you collect money online. They recently released a new feature which allows you to accept payments on your website through their secure embed solution.
Harvest Time Tracking
If you bill hourly, Harvest could be a perfect solution. Their service allows you to easily and accurately track time, analyze it with powerful reports and instantly create branded invoices for your clients. They even offer a desktop and mobile application to make time tracking even more convenient.
UserTesting
There’s no such thing as a perfect website. UserTesting allows you to watch a video of a real visitor as they navigate through your site. You provide the user panel with what you’d like them to accomplish, and within a few hours you’ll have incredibly helpful video (and audio) feedback.
Google Business Apps
Forget the annual email fees as Google Business Apps provides you with up to 10 free email accounts. Spam filtering is second-to-none, and you can easily sync your email with Outlook or access via the Internet at gmail.com.
Google Drive
If you use Google Business Apps, you’ll be automatically signed up for a free Google Drive account. Similar to Dropbox, Google Drive lets you store, sync, and access your files from anywhere – including mobile devices.
This article was written by Sean Rosensteel and published by Forbes magazine.
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