Running a small business can be overwhelming. Fortunately, for almost any tough task, there’s a tech tool that can help.
When you first start a small business, you have to handle everything from big to small tasks yourself. You’re a CEO, CFO, project manager, customer service rep, salesperson, and service worker all in one. As your business grows, you have to find ways to outsource or delegate some of these jobs.
Before reading about the different tools, think of a problem that you need to solve in your small business. Here are some common challenges:
- Keeping projects on track
- Scheduling meetings to fit different schedules
- Collaborating on projects
- Communicating effectively
You’ll need to hire additional employees to take on some jobs. But, the following tech tools might be the solution for some of your most cumbersome duties.
Trello
Trello is a collaborative project management tool. You can use Trello to organize your ongoing projects into online “boards.” The boards you create are subdivided into different tasks, which you can then assign to different members of your team.
Trello helps you see the status of all your projects at a glance. Imagine that you’re in the middle of a new marketing push and you need to design, create, and schedule social media posts. Using Trello, you can mark which designs are ready and which still need to be done. You can keep track of upcoming posts. This tool helps you focus on the big picture as well as the small details of your most important projects.
Google Workspace
You probably already use Google for many of your business tasks. Google Workspace connects your small business’s email, calendar, meeting, and document systems so that you can access them all in one place.
One of the most popular Google Workspace features is Google Drive. You can use it to store your business’s important documents online, such as licenses, permits, and business plans. Documents that you work on in collaboration with your employees can be easily shared through this system.
Google Workspace also integrates with many of the other tools on this list, making your small business’s tasks even more streamlined.
Connecteam
Connecteam offers a new way to manage your employees. The app works especially well for small businesses that are managing employees in the field. You can add your team members to the app and then track their time at different locations throughout the day.
The app also helps you quickly design employee schedules and assign tasks. Its digital checklists are particularly handy for service workers like house cleaners and landscapers who have to complete many tasks at each job.
Calendly
Calendly is a scheduling application that syncs with your online calendar. If you’ve ever been frustrated by the back-and-forth of trying to find a meeting time that works with someone else’s schedule, Calendly is for you. When you send someone your Calendly link, they can select a meeting time that you’ve pre-approved based on your availability. The meeting is then automatically scheduled to your calendar and you receive an email.
SBA.gov
The US Small Business Administration website has great resources to help you start a small business and help it grow. You can find clear explanations of the tax and legal side of small business ownership. The website can also help you conduct market research and write your business plan.
This tool is most helpful for beginning business owners, but more mature business owners are sure to find valuable information there as well.
Loom
Loom is a tool that helps you record your computer screen and webcam. This tool is great for creating video walkthroughs of business processes. For example, maybe you want to show your new assistant how to add customer data to the new CRM. Instead of training them during a meeting, you can record your screen while you use the CRM and then send them the video. The receiver can pause the video and replay it as many times as they want. In this way, Loom can save you significant meeting and training time.
Canva
After you start a small business, you probably want to announce its opening on social media or over email. Canva is an easy-to-use graphic design platform that helps you create stylish content.
Canva has thousands of visually appealing templates for social media posts, posters, and presentations. You can even design your business’s logo and build out your branding on Canva.
Planoly
Once you’ve designed several beautiful social media posts on Canva, you need to make a plan to publish them. Logging into Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest every day to make new posts is too time-consuming. Planoly helps you schedule out all of your content days, weeks, or even months in advance.
Using Planoly’s calendar scheduling tool, you can decide which posts will go out when. Some versions of the app even tell you what time of day is best for engagement on each platform. Then, you can focus on other aspects of your business while your social media remains active.
Meetup
The final tech tool is actually meant to get you away from your work and your computer. Meetup is a website that helps you find people with similar interests near you. When used correctly, Meetup can be an invaluable networking tool. Use the website to connect with others around your business interests. You might also enjoy meeting other small business owners or participating in coworking sessions. The relationships that you build in your community can have a huge impact on your business’s success.
ServiceWorks
ServiceWorks combines several of the functionalities mentioned in this article into one app for field service businesses. Using ServiceWorks, you can manage your employees, schedule meetings, collaborate on documents, and manage your projects. In addition, the app lets you manage invoicing and payments, optimize your service routes and send automated SMS. You can try ServiceWorks for free for 14 days without putting in your credit card number.
