10 Essential Tools and Resources for Business Growth
Written on
Chapter 1: Introduction to Business Tools
In today's world, many individuals are keen on entrepreneurship and finding side hustles. I am one of those individuals who appreciates recommendations for the best websites, applications, and tools that can help in growing or scaling my business.
Recently, I've collaborated with several startups and even initiated my venture, which is currently in its early stages. I understand the challenges that come with managing a business. Surprisingly, there are numerous resources available online that can assist us, even if we are not aware of them.
Finding the right tools can be a daunting task, especially for those who may not be tech-savvy, as it involves client acquisition, task management, and product sales. Therefore, I'm here to share the tools, applications, and websites that I personally use—completely free of any affiliate links or promotions. Let’s dive in.
Section 1.1: Scheduling Made Easy with Calendly
When launching a business, learning from experts, hiring staff, and connecting with clients becomes essential. Calendly serves as an invaluable tool in this regard, allowing me to share a link so others can schedule calls based on their availability. It’s widely regarded as one of the top tools in the market.
Section 1.2: Visual Communication with Loom
While we have email, Slack, and other communication tools to engage with developers and clients, there are times when visual aids, such as videos, are necessary. Loom allows you to create and share recorded videos effortlessly, facilitating communication with numerous individuals without the need for one-on-one calls.
Section 1.3: Team Collaboration with Slack
Throughout my career in three different companies, I've noticed a common thread: all of them utilize Slack for communication. Its user-friendly interface, reliability, and helpful features make it a standout product.
Section 1.4: Design Made Simple with Canva
Every business needs to create presentations to showcase their products or services. Whether you aim to offer courses, start a YouTube channel, or become a graphic designer, Canva is an excellent resource to help you achieve your design needs.
Section 1.5: Organizing with Notion
Notion has proven to be one of the most effective platforms I’ve encountered. According to their website, it serves as a central hub for thinking, writing, and planning—ideal for capturing ideas, managing projects, or even running an entire business in your unique way.
Chapter 2: Creating a Digital Presence
For many modern creators, a simple one-page website suffices rather than a full multi-page site. Carrd is the perfect solution for this need. After my initial experience with it, I couldn't help but recommend it to my friends.
Section 2.1: Monetizing Digital Products with Gumroad
A friend of mine, Gracie, utilizes Gumroad to sell digital products, offering some for free to grow her business. Surprisingly, 20-30% of customers end up paying for these free items. Gumroad is an excellent digital marketplace for self-publishing services like books and courses, making it a must-consider platform for selling digital products.
Section 2.2: Teaching and Selling Courses
Many of my friends, primarily programmers and designers, offer courses through platforms like Udemy, Skillshare, and Teachable. These options are popular due to their customer service, marketing reach, and promotional capabilities.
Section 2.3: Automating Tasks with Zapier
Initially, I didn’t see the need for Zapier when I started my business. However, as I took on more tools, I found it hard to manage everything efficiently. Now, I can't imagine working without it. Zapier is a straightforward tool designed to automate your tasks by connecting over 3,000 applications, including Gmail, Slack, and YouTube.
Section 2.4: Enhancing Focus with Freedom
Freedom has been one of the most beneficial tools I've ever used. It helps eliminate distractions from notifications and apps when I need to concentrate. According to their site, Freedom is an app and website blocker embraced by over two million users seeking to reclaim their focus and enhance productivity.
The first video discusses essential marketing tools that can help you run a successful business.
The second video explores the top online tools and software ideal for small business owners and digital creators.
That's all for now—thank you for reading!