Resources for Small Business
I was just thinking the other day about how I'm a terrible business administrator. It's true. I suck. I do innovation, design, and big picture planning really well. But the accounting, legal business, and state departments are not my friends. So I thought I'd compile a list of online resources that might make my life easier.
Here goes!
Accounting/Invoicing/Time Tracking - This is my least favorite part.
Freshbooks.com - I love these guys. They have a comprehensive invoicing, book keeping and time tracking system that allows you to manage several client, contractors and employees. It is a web based application that you can take with you anywhere you go. From my research it's not so good for retail businesses but great for service driven businesses (like design, consulting, etc). It's free up to three clients, after that they have several reasonable business solutions.
Graphics & Design - Professional design and slacker student prices.
CrowdSpring - Set your price, describe your project and watch the designers run around like chickens to get your business. It's a pretty great process from what I understand. AND you can set your price. Did I mention you can set your price?
Weebly.com - Talk about the easiest way to set up a website EVER. This is the best online website WYSIWYG I've ever seen. You just pick a design, drag and drop your elements and publish. You can buy a domain, add a photo gallery, add text and pictures with just a click. It's inspirational. It would bring a tear to anyone who is trying learn CSS *ahem*me*ahem*. It's just so darn diddly easy.
Email Marketing - Nearly free marketing, a must have.
SendBlaster - If you don't have a customer relationship management (CRM) software or content management system (CMS) doesn't have a mailing list manager, you'll probably like this one. It allows you to put a field on your webpage that will add your customers to your list. A ton of convenient features and free up to 100 email addresses. After that it's 75 Euros for a year license and unlimited email addresses.
Long Distance Relationships - virtual meetings with those you love.
LogMeIn - This is a way for a person to see what you're seeing on your computer monitor. it's a great way to setup virtual meetings. For our purposes, this is a way to look at potential product ideas, and do market research. One of us "drives" and the other takes notes. This way we have the same experience, can discuss it and have cohesive notes. It's quite quite helpful.
General Information
Linkedin Q&A Section - I'm a general fan of this site just because it gives you a window into other companies through people you have genuine relationships with. But in the Q&A section you can solicit the opinions of professionals just panting to answer questions to prove themselves. This is an excellent resource.
Here goes!
Accounting/Invoicing/Time Tracking - This is my least favorite part.
Freshbooks.com - I love these guys. They have a comprehensive invoicing, book keeping and time tracking system that allows you to manage several client, contractors and employees. It is a web based application that you can take with you anywhere you go. From my research it's not so good for retail businesses but great for service driven businesses (like design, consulting, etc). It's free up to three clients, after that they have several reasonable business solutions.
Graphics & Design - Professional design and slacker student prices.
CrowdSpring - Set your price, describe your project and watch the designers run around like chickens to get your business. It's a pretty great process from what I understand. AND you can set your price. Did I mention you can set your price?
Weebly.com - Talk about the easiest way to set up a website EVER. This is the best online website WYSIWYG I've ever seen. You just pick a design, drag and drop your elements and publish. You can buy a domain, add a photo gallery, add text and pictures with just a click. It's inspirational. It would bring a tear to anyone who is trying learn CSS *ahem*me*ahem*. It's just so darn diddly easy.
Email Marketing - Nearly free marketing, a must have.
SendBlaster - If you don't have a customer relationship management (CRM) software or content management system (CMS) doesn't have a mailing list manager, you'll probably like this one. It allows you to put a field on your webpage that will add your customers to your list. A ton of convenient features and free up to 100 email addresses. After that it's 75 Euros for a year license and unlimited email addresses.
Long Distance Relationships - virtual meetings with those you love.
LogMeIn - This is a way for a person to see what you're seeing on your computer monitor. it's a great way to setup virtual meetings. For our purposes, this is a way to look at potential product ideas, and do market research. One of us "drives" and the other takes notes. This way we have the same experience, can discuss it and have cohesive notes. It's quite quite helpful.
General Information
Linkedin Q&A Section - I'm a general fan of this site just because it gives you a window into other companies through people you have genuine relationships with. But in the Q&A section you can solicit the opinions of professionals just panting to answer questions to prove themselves. This is an excellent resource.
Labels: evangelism, small business
posted by Maureen Jann: Internet Junkie at
7:40 AM
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