A Few Free Tools That Might Help Your Small Business
In this economy no matter how strong your small business may be it never hurts to save money with tools that are free or of very low cost. Here is a small list of some of the tools we like to use on a regular basis. Would love to here your comments on the tools you use for business online.
Google Analytics
A tool we use regularly that is free, easy to use and has shown sustainable endurance in web analytics. This tool allows you to look into your web traffic for your site, and verify marketing effectiveness. When using it to analyze your traffic data and where your visitors are coming from, entering and exiting your site, it can aid in making the correct changes to your site, marketing campaigns etc. It’s better to know, than not know, and wonder.
Google Webmaster Tools
A tool we have a love hate relationship with as the data it provides are usually snippets of the full amount it finds, though it is extremely informative on any issues Google might be having while viewing our site. One of the easiest ways of being informed and receiving data from Google about how they see our site. A must have in your arsenal of tools.
Mikogo
A tool we just began using recently which we LOVE. Mikogo gives you the ability to opportunity to share any screen content or application over the Internet. Perfect for online meetings, web conferences, product demonstrations, web presentations, remote support, and the list goes on. This tool allows you to have 10 participants online at a time all while never leaving your desk. As for usability, it cannot get much easier than this. Another must have. Recommended!
Free Conference Call
This site is a money saver. Instead of paying for numerous attendees to a toll free conference call, this site will set you up with a FreeConferenceCall.com account. Then give you a regular standard number to call (not 800 number) where close to 100 callers can join in for up to 6 hours in conversations. Callers will get charged whatever there normal long distance rates are to call in, but most everyone these days use cell phones with free long distance and long distance fee’s are minimal compared to toll free charges with 800 numbers. We love it.
Log Me In
This tool we have used for quite some time, as it allows you to work remotely on another computers desktop just by logging in. Has been great thus far though no file transfers are included with the free version, the payed version does allow file transfers. This tol has been very dependable though we see ourselves using Mikogo much more in the future. Good tool.
Fax Zero
This tool allows you to upload and send a 3 page fax twice a day for free. Now that is pretty good, though they do include a small ad on the cover page it still is great in a bind. For a very small fee you can be rid of the ad and faxing many more pages…We thought it was worth the mention. Another tool we like for free.
Just a few of the many
Well we could go on, and on with many other tools we use and have used that are free or very low cost, but we would be writing for a very long time. We will definitely provide more tools we like in the near future, we hope you find some of these as useful as we do!
We would love to hear about any tools that you use on a regular basis that are free or of very low cost, so please send us your comments…
Tags: free business tools, free tools, online resources, Small Business
During an economic crunch and downturn, Mastercard and its Spending Pulse – March Report is showing double digit growth in sales within the eCommerce venue. With booming sales just over 2 years ago, we find many online retailers that have gone under due to slow sales during these hard economic times. We have also found more eCommerce stores and online business merchants requesting proposals for SEO and Internet Marketing for their website, realizing the need for more targeted customer traffic.
Lately eCommerce channels show sales are up 18.4% form this time last year according to Mastercards’ Spending Pulse Report. It’s 8th consecutive month of double digit growth, showing that e-commerce is Alive & Well! Clearly growing at a faster rate than regular brick and mortar stores. This increase though still lower than prior to 2008 is a great sign for online merchants and websites alike.
Now Is The Time For e-Commerce SEO
In a time when so many online business were thrown into economic fear and reduced or stopped their marketing budgets, we’ve advised many clients that now is the time to use those marketing budgets for eCommerce promotion, Internet Marketing and website promotion. It is the typical domino effect when businesses reduce their marketing budgets due to economic downturns, marketing companies have to tighten their belts as well, as it all rolls down hill. This is the perfect time to negotiate better rates with all marketing venues and agencies. So many SEO Firms, including our own have reduced their pricing structure to accommodate struggling online businesses.
Another point to think about is when you reduce the amount of companies that are utilizing professional SEO services, you are also reducing the amount of tangible competition in the search engine advertising market. So again, I say now is the time to launch that eCommerce store you’ve been wanting, or that merchant website to compliment your brick and mortar business. The next step is to partner with an Internet Marketing or SEO Firm that has a strong specialty in e-Commerce marketing strategy and online sales, it’s even better of the firm has solid experience or understanding of your niche industry. We are especially happy to see some good online sales growth, and looking forward to continuing growth that will benefit our clients and ourselves.
Tags: e-Commerce, e-Commerce SEO, eCommerce Promotion, Marketing Strategy, Mastercard, SEO Firm
Why should you start your home based business today
As the new world of downsizing continues to make news and the Internet makes telecommuting even more productive, more and more entrepreneurs are discovering the benefits of running businesses out of their homes. If you are looking to get out of the rat race, to spend more time with family and friends, and to live a more sound life, a home-based business may be the right decision for you. According to the U.S. Federal Highway Administration the average American spends 348 hours each year commuting. So you can imagine, with a home-based business, you have those extra hours to have power over your personal life. Plus, there are no bosses, no dress code, no set work schedule, and no office politics to maneuver. All you need is, discipline, personal drive, and time-management skills. Just think you don’t have to wait for a raise or a promotion. The harder you work the more money you get to make. Also, you save so much money on the little things like food and gas. You will find yourself eating what you want and not what you just have time for. That usually means a happier and healthier life for you.
Along with having more time, there are also many tax advantages of having your home and business under the same roof.  These advantages include; a percentage of your mortgage, property taxes, insurance, utilities, and/or the expenses of household maintenance. Now that sounds exciting. Another thing to think about is if you have kids, you can set your own hours to tend to them if they are sick or have a school function that you don’t want to miss. Life is too short to miss out on.
“An empowered organization is one in which individuals have the knowledge, skill, desire, and opportunity to personally succeed in a way that leads to collective organizational success.” –Stephen Covey
Tags: home based business, home business, Small Business, tax advantage, taxes, working from home
