5 Awesome Free Tools We Used to Build Our Brand [And 5 We Paid (Very Little) For]
It’s no secret, building a business takes an enormous amount of hard work, a tremendous amount of time and ironically a host of funds and resources you don’t have. When you’re getting started, free, cheap & expansive resources can be priceless. Here’s a list of products and services that will get your business started (with a little hard work) for under $100/month.
Top 5 Free Tools
Google Workspace
As a founding father of the internet and debatably the resident authority on workplace tech, Google is the tried and true when it comes to digital resources. Over time, their toolbox has to evolved to feature a plethora of tools to start, brand, communicate and grow any type of business. An incredible amount of these tools are completely free to use, but Google offers a low cost plan that allows access to other features including open access to Google Meet, an extremely valuable resources for post-covid businesses.
Microsoft 365
Microsoft introduced the world to the digital space and has continued to evolve alongside it ever since. When it comes to functionality, familiarity and accessibility, with tools like Word, PowerPoint & Excel, the Microsoft Suite is second-to-none. While these tools have always been a necessity, recently Microsoft has made their entire platform available free to use online and of course you can still purchase desktop versions as well.
Calendly
If you will direct your attention to the lower right-hand corner of your screen you will notice a discreet icon calling you to “Schedule a Discovery Call”. Clicking this icon will allow your customer (or you in this case) to easily schedule an appointment at a time that is convenient to both them and your business (or ours in this case). A powerful tool for reducing buyer friction, Calendly allows for a one-click lead generation and an opportunity to gather information to help you close the sale on further communications. Sign up for Calendly is free, but for larger operations, special features and custom branding, they also offer low cost premium plans.
Mailchimp
An all-in-one integrated marketing platform for small businesses, Mailchimp is an email marketing platform and analytics dashboard that allows you to collect and store contact information, as well as, make contact instantly after a specified action. With everything you need to create, curate and execute email campaigns, Mailchimp is a great place for businesses and brands to manage customer outreach.
Upwork
THE place to find freelancers and virtual employees online. With a world of candidates, Upwork allows you access to vetted, top quality talent, as well as allows you to review, interview and instantly engage them in contract, part time or full time work. This brand was brought to you in part by Upwork!
Top 5 Paid Resources
Squarespace
If you’ve ever wondered what kind of website can be created with Squarespace, look no further. Honestly take a look anywhere around the internet and you’re sure to find a variety of professional websites you wouldn’t have guessed were made on a click-and-drag platform. It’s about as easy as it gets, with startup as little as $9.99 and a business plan at $29.99 any business can create a digital storefront with minimal funds and resources. For a priceless asset like your website, Squarespace is an invaluable tool.
Adobe Creative Cloud
An essential for any business, featuring powerful, trusted tools for creators and designers at any level, Adobe Creative Cloud is consistently the top choice for photo and video creation. Seamless integration across platforms, accounts and throughout individual programs allows for beautiful branding and content creation, easier than ever. Sign up for a free trial here!
SEO Optimizer
If you’ve got a website and you want visitors (and you probably do), SEO is easily one of the best ways to drive traffic. The only question is how? With so many different SEO programs on the market, doing this well has never been easier. If you are looking to keep up with competition and save time and energy, we recommend starting with a basic software like SEO Optimizer. They offer a free site audit that will be all that’s needed for most businesses or for $29/month you get unlimited website audits which makes this extremely resourceful for marketing or similar type agencies. Research that would take days can now be done with the click of a button.
Square Up
Square earned it’s name in the industry by transforming the way retail operations accept payments, but to keep up with the changing digital space, Square has introduced Square Up. Backed by the same quality of support, Square Up allows for easy invoicing and e-verification at a modest monthly fee and typical market commission rate.
Anytime Mailbox
A little trade secret (so don’t tell anyone we told you), Anytime Mailbox allows you to purchase a real physical address that can receive mail and deliver it to you virtually (and tangibly if need be). Just upload a few documents and meet with an assigned notary in minutes. The advantages to this are open to the imagination, but we found Anytime Mailbox to be extremely useful for gaining digital authority in geographical locations we serve, but are not physically located.
For assistance integrating any of these tools into your business or if you want us to take the work off your hands, get in touch. We’re happy to help!
