By: Donna Jo
Your business is in the early stages and it’s likely that you’re wearing several hats. Not only are you the accountant, but you’re also the graphic designer. You don’t know how you’re going to manage it all. But there are plenty of AI and automated tools that can help you out.
Now it’s time to worry about which tech tools to use. Starting a business includes the difficulty of using apps and tools that take up too much of your time. But here are some tech tools you’ll need before the stress of having a consistent income and dealing with office space issues sets in. Each of these tools will save you the time and stress from starting a new business.
Online Word Processor
Use Google Docs for collaborating with clients and colleagues. Most people only use 10% of the features that Microsoft Office offers. Save money and use Google Docs, which provides only the features that your startup needs for free. Everyone on your team can edit, share, and view the documents on this platform.
Google Docs is like a presentation application, spreadsheet, and word processor all in one. Moving all of your work to the cloud will increase the versatility that your business needs to move from different locations. It’s also the best storage for all of your documents, files, and photos. For a small monthly fee, you can use your domain name as your e-mail address rather than the Gmail address. You’ll also get immediate access to accountability, analytics, reports, and more.
Project Management Tool
Basecamp and Slack are two of the best project management tools on the market. They allow your teams to collaborate and communicate effectively without the need for e-mail. Both of these applications come with their own virtual chatrooms. Files, messages, and notifications are archived and indexed on a regular basis for easy access. Slack will extract each of your files into Google Docs, PDFs, and Word documents, so you can use them across various applications. These tools increase productivity and prevent your work from suffering.
Graphic Design Tool
Every startup needs its own creative tools. It’s important to communicate your mission, values, and vision to your target audience. Business cards, logos, newsletter templates, and social media icons are some of the branding options you need to create the right way. While there are agencies like 99Designs, tools like Canva and PicMonkey allow you to create a logo for cheap.
You don’t have to be a graphic designer. Now you’re just worried about your job as a security guard. You’re wondering which home security system to use. There are business security systems that come with simple features while others have more advanced features. It’s important to read online reviews before choosing the right one for your business.
Online Discussion Tool
If you want to keep an online brainstorming session going, then use Campfire. This online tool saves a copy of your entire chat history. It’s a great way to discuss any topic that comes up during work without getting distracted. It’s a mindful way to have productive work discussions. It’s also an ideal way of preventing private work conversations and secret projects from escaping out into the world.
Social Media Management
It’s tempting to hire a social media manager to help you attract more followers. Save your money and use a social media management tool such as Hootsuite or SproutSocial. It allows to post to several social networks at once, engage with followers, and schedule your posts to run at various times throughout the day. Social media can be overwhelming if you don’t manage it effectively.
Notes Manager
Start taking notes on the go. Google Keep is ideal for taking notes on your smartphone. Most business owners prefer to use Evernote, Microsoft OneNote or Quip for taking notes and saving images. The point of digital note-taking is to collect little pieces of information from websites you visit throughout the day. Google Keep is not the fanciest out of these choices, but it’s available as an app and is just a tap away. It’s impossible to run a startup without contacts, knowledge, reminders, and other pieces of information.
It’s important not to overwhelm yourself in the beginning stages of your business. The same goes for choosing the right tech tools for your startup. Choose two or three tools to get started. Eliminate the app or tool if you find that it’s not working for you.