According to a recent survey, the average entrepreneur spends over half of their time handling day-to-day operations and only 32% of their time focusing on long-term goals, strategic planning, and other tasks that can help their small business grow. Due to limited budgets and small staffs, small businesses typically can’t afford software tools and systems to streamline daily operations.
Incorporating affordable software tools and platforms allows small businesses to take care of tasks and tackle long-term goals. Here are five software tools that can help your business thrive.
Trello
As a free, flexible, and simple way to manage projects, Trello uses Kanban-style boards, allowing small businesses to track tasks while managing team member projects, and workflows. Its simple user interface allows users to create custom boards and lists with cards that can include pictures, files, checklists, and due dates.
Small businesses can get started in seconds with a blank board or choose from hundreds of templates created by other users. Trello also offers integrations with Slack, Google Drive, Dropbox, and other third-party platforms to streamline workflows.
Slack
Slack, a team communication platform, offers real-time messaging, feedback, and team collaboration. The platform lets team members create channels that can be organized around a specific topic, project, team, or client. Slack channels can be public and open to all team members or private and only accessible by invitation.
In addition to real-time messaging, Slack offers integrations, enabling team members to share files, create pools, schedule meetings, and more. Slack offers free, one-click voice and video calls, and lets users create messaging threads to keep larger discussions more focused and organized.
OKR Management Software
Objectives and key results (OKR) management software makes it easier for businesses to define long-term goals, manage team performance, track measurable results. According to Forbes, OKRs provide a platform to stay on track by encouraging collaboration among teams, allowing entrepreneurs to prioritize company goal setting and performance management.
With OKR graphics, entrepreneurs can easily navigate individual OKRs across corporate, departmental, and team levels. While the top management focuses on Corporate Objectives, team members can set individual objectives to work toward quarterly objectives.
Moz
When it comes to marketing your small business, search engine optimization (SEO) is essential. SEO makes it easy for prospective consumers to find your business online through search engines, which can help boost your revenue, give you an edge over the competition, and expand your market reach.
SEO tools like Moz are designed to help business owners understand how their target audience searches. If you’re serious about your digital marketing strategy, it’s worth investing in the Pro version to access tools like rank tracking, backlink research, and domain analysis.
G Suite
As one of the best document management platforms for small businesses, Google Suite offers several online office tools, including document creation, cloud storage, video chat, and calendars. G Suite is an affordable option for small business owners looking to create an efficient, simple cloud-based work environment without sacrificing their budget on expensive software tools. Because every tool on G Suite is a Google product, staff members can move seamlessly between different Google apps.
Along with integrations between Google apps, G Suite also allows users to connect to a wide variety of third-party platforms, including Trello, Salesforce, and Zoom.
“It takes discipline to stay grounded in the process of building a great team,“ according to Hayes Barnard, founder and CEO of Loanpal, which requires “ensuring the proper time and resources are invested into the people and the culture.“ To gain an advantage over the competition and foster collaboration, small businesses should focus on ensuring that team members feel motivated and inspired to come to work every day. Ultimately, investing in small business software tools help teams build communication while allowing business owners to receive input and perspective from all levels of the organization.