: emprendedores.es
No one better than the entrepreneurs themselves to tell us what free tools are truly satisfied in the management of their businesses, as well as when and why have decided to jump at a certain time and seek payment products.
A tour of tools needed. Some of them and presented a few months ago, but today extend to many more.
We asked 10 entrepreneurs from all areas which tools actually use in their daily lives and why. Here we offer a short list, the crème de la crème of which are free, with a little analysis of professionals to give you an idea of what can be better tailored to the needs of your business.
Office
In word processing, there is much discussion: OpenOffice and Google Docs are the most used. The two have word processor, spreadsheet and allows you to create presentations compatible with PowerPoint. But between the two, entrepreneurs are opting for Google Docs, combined with Google Sheets (Excel) and Google Slides (PowerPoint). “OpenOffice is not only for editing and allows several people to work simultaneously. With Google Docs, however, and from a single Gmail account, you can create, edit and share any document. Even several people working together online, from any device (PC, tablet or mobile) that is in the cloud, “says Emilio Rodriguez , cofounder of Gremyo partner.
Billing, ERP and CRM
There are three different tools that can be used separately or together (many have built-in CRM and billing functions and ERP).
For the enterprise customer who does not work or have to control stock, etc. a tool exclusively serve as direct invoice billing. For the management of point of sale and generate digital receipts, take inventory and sales reports design, good free solution is Safe Square. And for more complex business, you have to think more comprehensive tools. As ERP the most recommended is Openbravo as CRM, Zoho CRM
“They are very useful tools in its free version, in fact the main limitation Zoho CRM without payment is only allowing access to three different users within the company, which for an SME is usually sufficient. In the case of Openbravo, being free software, the problem may come, as with any open source solution (open source), which must have certain skills to put them to work. So while Openbravo is free, if you have technical knowledge must assess whether compensates hire someone to install and configure Openbravo to suit the specific needs of the company, “says José Carlos Cortizo , CMO of BrainSINS.
When to pay for them?
“As the company grows, new needs will emerge for which the free version does not support. And no choice but to pay. But today there are good alternatives with very low thanks to the SaaS format, which has democratized access to these tools costs. We are talking about 10 € -50 € per month and have access to solutions like Pipedrive (CRM that we use now), that greatly simplify workflows and help a lot in day to day optimization times ” Cortizo said.
together or separately?
Another reasonable doubt. If there are tools all in one, is it worth choosing a more complete or look for specialties? “It depends on the needs of the company. For many, an integrated software functionality including CRM and ERP can be more than enough. Now there are companies where some of these parts becomes very important and need special software. For example, retailers, the ERP is fundamental to manage well the stock, buying needs, etc., “said Jose Carlos Cortizo.
MARKET RESEARCH
“These are tools that help us to know how is our website or online business, in terms of SEO, competitors, keywords, rankings and another set of parameters. In the market you will find free versions and sufficient, as Mozbar and Quicksprout. For me the latter is best for your web reports and to compare yourself with the competition, “explains Emilio Rodriguez.
” Mozbar is a plugin that is installed on your browser and with a single click lets you know the force that has your website. Among the important Woorank also free, which helps you identify the mistakes you make in your position. It has a paid version, but not worth it. Whether to scratch his pocket for other essential tools for SEO as SEMRush, Sistrix and Ahrefs. SEMRush and Ahrefs have free versions, but very limited. Sistrix can use free just 14 days, “says Dean Romero , webmaster and author of the blog Blogger3cero.com.
Another way to conduct market research is to detect trends in Internet, with free tools like Google Trends, which reflects what keywords people search daily, “search fashions of the moment: for example, what toys have sought more in Reyes,” adds Romero. Or doing your own email surveys with solutions such as SurveyMonkey, also free.
PROJECT MANAGERS
They are tools that routinely use most entrepreneurs who need to organize working groups and project teams. They help assign tasks each, put them deadlines, etc. Essential, especially for those working with colleagues remotely. Basecamp here and win by a landslide Trello; both very similar, but Trello has taken the lead in the first because it is completely free (Basecamp is only for teachers) and it combines nicely with Google Docs. Another recommended alternative is Asana, even in its free version is limited to a maximum of three projects.
task managers
A task manager is something as well as a very sophisticated bloc notes to create task lists and notes of all kinds and share with others. Evernote stands out above all with a lot of difference, followed by RememberTheMilk. And only some recommend the solution of Google, Google Keep. “Evernote is the most complete for the part of collecting, processing and sharing. Remember the Milk is a perfect complement to Evernote to manage lists of tasks and assign time (alarms, automatic lists, deadlines, etc.), but you can do without it. Both are multi-device and have a great connection with third-party tools and apps, “said Emilio Rodriguez. The two are very complete in their free versions, although in the case of Evernote, “if you use a lot, worth resorting to paid version. It costs about 40 euros per year, “says Emilio Rodríguez.
MANAGERS TIME
They are tools to improve productivity. Among the free, the most recommended is Rescue Time, followed by Clippy and Teamviz. “Rescue Time is one that more and better results I get. Analytical personal service that shows how you spend your time, since you turn your PC or laptop, and provides tools to help you be more productive, “said Isra Garcia.
It is worth adding to these tools others help us better organize your mail, as Mailbox (an app for phones, tablets and a beta for Macs) and Unroll.Me. The first, to better manage your inbox, to your preference. Unroll.Me to forget the spam. “Now Google has launched the competition to Mailbox, called Inbox. They are fantastic for an efficient management of personal email. Unrol.Me is simply lovely. Not a mailer like the others, serves to see what you are subscribed, unsubscribe easily that interest you and no other group in the same email, “says Emilio Rodríguez.
TIMING AND DATA STORAGE
Google Drive and Dropbox will help you securely store, access and cloud all your data. In this way, you can access them from any device, anywhere. Yes, they both have limitations. Google Drive, up to 15 GB free. Dropbox, up to 16 GB. If you need more volume, you have to pay (about 10 euros per month).
computer graphics, PRESENTATIONS AND CHARTS
They are tools with different utilities. For presentations stored in the cloud and totally free, the best are Google Slide and Prezi, especially the latter. “It’s very visual, with zoom effects, etc. It has evolved considerably to offer many more options than before. The handicap is that you are no longer the original when using Prezi, since everyone uses, “said Isra Garcia. Another thing are what help us organize information visually as Infogr.am. “Create stunning computer graphics and graphics in minutes. A very useful tool in presenting data, “he adds.
CORPORATE IDENTITY
” Canva is brutal. A tool with which we are not designers can make very powerful own designs. Also Withoomph, very good free to create your logos in minutes. And to create your videos, in a simple and low budget, about 20 euros, Videolean “says Rodriguez.
VIDEOCONFERENCES
Google Hangout and Skype MashmeTV are the best options. “Skype and Google Hangout are very comprehensive, and free, unless you want something superespecífico, you do not pay for these services to communicate between devices with voice or video. Skype also has very cheap fares phones, “says co-founder Gremyo.
Antivirus
The most recommended are Avast and Avira. In particular, the latter because “Avast consumes lots of memory. I always recommend a virus attached to Spybot Search & amp; Destroy or any other free package of security against malware, better than alternatives such as Malwarebytes, “said Emilio Rodriguez.
COMMERCE
Most recommended us Magento and Prestashop. And both are free. Prestashop, for small and medium retailers, and Magento, for larger. The but is that both are open source solutions: they are free, you can install and configure the you, but as we said before, if you do not know, I find it almost impossible. “Ultimately, normal with Prestashop and Magento is to pay a developer for installation, configuration, adaptation and design of the visual style of the store. Need a minimum investment of 3,000 euros, but worth paying for it, “says Cortizo.
Alternative
” For many tools can be more interesting than a priori they are not free, like Shopify, but that is in the cloud, very prettily costs and are designed for a business person to mount your own store very easily. They are more limited in functionality and future possibilities, but there are many success stories (like Mimub.com) have begun with Shopify until they were billed hundreds of thousands of euros per month and migrated to another platform, “continues the CMO of BrainSINS.
There are also free solutions like WooCommerce, allowing mount a trade from a web of WordPress. “His grace is that it works on WordPress, which is a solution so widespread that many people in the marketing business and knows how to use user level. Thus, the input curve is much simpler. I always recommend that your marketing strategy is based on content (posts) and want the blog has the same importance as the shop (so are all on the same platform), “says Cortizo.
website creation
If you do not want to spend money to have your own website, Wix and WordPress are simpler alternatives. The two have a good reputation and, in particular, the first. “WordPress is best for creating blogs and websites. Of course, keep in mind that although it is free, as are about adding plugins and extra features, especially the powerful, cost money. As often it is usually paid by the template that you will use on your website or blog. But the platform itself is free. For simple web pages from a single page or landing page to attract customers, is also highly recommended Instapage “said Emilio Rodriguez.
Social Networks
Tools There are many networks, but some are associated exclusively to a single network. Among the generic, the most recommended are HootSuite and Buffer. “Buffer is useful to automate and share your content networks very easily. HootSuite is similar to Buffer, with more advanced features, but with a slightly more complicated interface, “said Romero. Another good alternative to know what happens in all your networks is Sproutsocial, but only offer 30 days free.
Not forgetting the more specific, as SocialBro, to better manage your Twitter account. “O Storify, which will help you create your own stories through healing (selection) content. You can then organize and share. Dandy ID to store multiple social identities in one place and create a profile Postling ordered or contact to manage all your social media ecosystem from a single interface, “he says Isra Garcia , and networking expert founder of IG.
web analytics and APPS
Google Analytics and Bitly are the most used. The first will give to know the volume of traffic that your website receives. Bitly is a shortening of URLs (essential for sharing links on Twitter, for example) also gives you information on what happens to the links you share.
“Not to mention tools for analytical and measurement apps. The measurement comoAppfigures, offer information on the number of downloads, sales ranking of your app, assessments, etc. The analytical, as Appanie, you indicate who does what within your application. Amplitude like. They are something like the Google Analytics applications. Alternatively Mixpanel, which applies to websites and analytics apps. This gives you extra information that Google Analytics does not offer web (who does exactly what), “explains Emilio Rodriguez.
EMAIL MARKETING
email marketing campaigns, two free solutions are MailChimpy Acumbamail very good. The only drawback, compared to other payment, is that they have limited the number of subscribers (up to 2000, and from there you have to pay), but MailChimp is more generous, allowing send up to 12,000 emails to those 2,000 subscribers. Acumbamail your campaigns will be limited to 2,000 monthly shipments, one per subscriber per month. “The free version includes both cases in one emails logo of each of the companies and link to the site, but not something that bothers, so the only logical reason to opt for its paid versions would be the number of subscribers or emails sent per month we prove insufficient. As for the differences between the two, in addition to the volume of shipments, it is the only Acumbamail is a Spanish company and its interface is in Castilian. In Mailchimp’s all in English, both the interface and the support, “says José Carlos Cortizo.
REPUTATION ONLINE
The tools of reputation management online will help you know what they say about you and where. The most recommended is Google Alerts, an alert system that alerts you when someone posts something about your name or brand. Though as the webmaster Dean Romero says, “do too many tools needed to know what is being said about you on Google. The algorithm is very qualified to find the terms you seek. Just type your name or your brand and ready “
Other good alternatives Klout and Mention may be very useful for managing reputation in social networking. What is said about you and what your own comments have more impact, Users who are most influential, etc. Yes, Klout is completely free, but Mention is only for 14 days. Also worth more specific tools like TwitterSearch, “a search engine in real time so you do not miss anything that is said about you on this network,” said Isra Garcia.
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