My Top 10 Resources for the Digital Entrepreneur
As a corporate girl most of my life, I wasn’t typically the one to implement systems. They were in place, so I used them. Without a second thought, we had access to complex CRMs, expensive project management tools, unlimited subscriptions and resources at our fingertips. The last few years, first working at start ups and now being a business owner and entrepreneur myself, I have realized the value of those resources and how challenging it can be to manage a business without them.
But, of course, those incredible resources come with a price tag. A very high price tag, typically. So over the last year, I’ve made it my goal to scour the free (or relatively inexpensive) resources available to the digital entrepreneur. For those of us building a business on a budget, these 10 tools have been lifesaving. The best part? All of these can be managed directly from your phone.
Social Media Planning
Planoly - plan, draft, autopost…Planoly allows you to visually manage and schedule your Instagram feed and so much more. This has taken the guess work out of Instagram and is super user-friendly.
Unfold - This is my favorite tool for IG Stories. Dubbed as a toolkit for storytellers, I love how you can create beautiful and engaging stories from these minimal and elegant templates.
CRM & Project Management
Traktivity / Hilo - These are CRM systems that are both pretty specific to those of us in the social selling / network marketing industry. Traktivity is a really simple, user-friendly way to track contacts, reach outs, connect with team members and set reminders on when you should be doing what when. For a busy entrepreneur who has a million balls in the air? Reminders are KEY. This one does come with a fee associated, for the basic service it’s $9.99/month or $99/year. They have a 14 day free trial.
Hilo is really a more robust CRM that includes all of the capabilities of Traktivity plus email templates, allows you to create campaigns, and more. This one is $14.99/month for the basic plan, and they also have a 30 day free trial so you can test it out before buying.
Hubpot - If you want a free way to keep track of contacts (no matter what your industry), Hubspot offers a totally free contact management tool. There’s limitations, but for business owners starting out, it’s a solid tool.
Trello - While it may not be as visually appealing as some of the other project management tools out there, it does the job, is easy to use, and has a totally free option. This is a great way to keep your tasks and projects organized. The free plan is incredibly generous in terms of capabilities, but if you find yourself needing more, the upgrade option is only $3.75/month!
Communication
Voxer - I cannot tell you how much I love Voxer. I wish that I could get all of my clients to use it. This is the BEST way for teams working in different locations to stay in touch. Voxer is a walkie talkie app that allows you to message each other in real time at the touch of a button. It keeps me in touch with my team members all over the country and allows to stay connected. It’s free, but of course there’s an upgrade feature available as well.
Design
Canva - I could write an entire post on my love for Canva. You have to play around with it, but once you get a handle on the templates function, it’s a GAME CHANGER. This site allows me to create professional, high quality designs for both my own business and that of my clients. There’s a free option, but I use ‘Canva for Work’ to get access to some additional features, which is still only $12.95/month.
Business
Quickbooks Self Employed - manage accounting, send invoices, receive payments, track expenses, link your bank accounts, the list goes on. This is hands down the best solution I’ve come across for small businesses for managing all things finances. The best part? Only $10/month.
And.co from Fiverr - I originally stumbled across this app when searching for a tool to manage my time between clients. But as I started exploring it, I quickly learned how useful this tool really is. I use And.co to create proposals, send contracts, send invoices, receive payments, track and manage time and tasks…it’s a BEAST of a tool and all for FREE. Check this one out now!
Ok, tell me, what am I missing? Are you using any free (or inexpensive) resources that have changed the game for your small business? I NEED to hear!