Five Tools Essential to Startup Success
When you are looking to start a new business there is so much to consider that it can often be difficult to know where to begin. This is especially true when you are thinking about all the things that you will need to get the company off the ground. One thing that you should definitely be careful not to overlook is software, and there are several tools that are essential for all startups:
- Dropbox
Dropbox allows you to share documents and other files with your contacts quickly and easily, without the need to email large attachments. There are also free apps that can be downloaded on smartphones so that you can have access to your files even when you are not in the office. Competitive packages are available for new businesses that can be well worth taking advantage of.
- MailChimp
MailChimp makes contacting your customers via email and through newsletters a much easier process. This can be invaluable in the early days of your business when you have a lot of things going on and you need to keep your customers informed of the latest developments.
MailChimp will produce reports that provide you with information about how well your email campaigns are performing so that future campaigns can be improved. It also remains free until you have 2000 subscribers which should be more than enough in the early days of your business. It is another tool that can be used from phones and tablets; which means you don’t necessarily have to be in the office to make the most of this software.
- Buffer
Social media is another great avenue for connecting with your customers and Buffer can help you get the most out of all of the various platforms available, as well as helping keep all your accounts organised. You can easily post photos to all your social media accounts and there is even a feature where you can set the program up to post for you throughout the day, allowing you more time to concentrate on other areas of the business that need your attention.
- GoToMeeting
This allows you to hold online meetings with up to 25 people attending and it can be accessed from any device. This tool can really come into its own when you need to get a group of people together but it’s impossible to get them all physically in the same place. The meeting can go ahead as normal and you are not left with the task of having to fill everyone in with the issues that were discussed.
- Microsoft Excel
While this may not be trendy, it is most definitely an essential. Microsoft Excel is one of the most versatile pieces of software on the market today. If you are working on anything to do with figures, then Excel can be set up to replace any manual calculations. If you do not feel confident with using all the different features, then an Excel training course can help you discover its true potential.
Using the correct software is an essential part of any business, and if you can get it right from the beginning then it will make your life much easier. The types of software that are needed will vary between companies, but the tools that have been discussed will be a good starting point for most types of business.
