If you’re a small business owner that’s ready to tackle the challenges of growth, you’re in luck. There are many free and paid services that allow you to do everything from streamline your business to manage your money to boost your marketing efforts. Today, Dot Zero Multimedia shares insight into just a few of these.
Marketing Tools
 Marketing is one of the most vital aspects of any business. In addition to spreading the word via social media, you can use a text logo to help spread awareness of your exciting new business. And if you aren’t sure how to get started, there are plenty of tools loaded with time-tested templates that you can start using for free!
However, marketing means more than just getting your name out in front of your potential customers. For your marketing efforts to be effective, your teams have to be in alignment. This is where a marketing automation platform can come in handy. This type of software can automate tasks and offer insight into analytics that help you best meet the needs of your customers, whether they’re just browsing or ready to close the deal.
If you’re looking for human assistance, you can’t go wrong with outsourcing your brand management strategies. Brand management is essentially the practice of making sure that customers recognize you based on visual and social cues. Your brand is more than just a logo, it’s your voice, and a brand management agency can help you find it.
Timesavers
Time is really all we have, but we never have enough of it. Look for different processes, procedures, and even helpers that can free up some hours on your time clock. One example is using an online formation service to establish your business structure. If you choose an LLC, you can form quickly without an attorney, and you won’t be saddled down with paperwork.
You might also look into hiring an administrative support professional. Look for an administrative assistant by first asking for referrals. According to The Workable site, you’ll also want to assess their soft skills before you offer them a job. An admin assistant can take mundane tasks, such as answering phone calls and getting you prepared for meetings, off your plate.
Fearless Finances
How much time do you spend counting dollars and cents out of the cash register? If you have to count it all, it’s time for a payment processing system. If you use the right processing system – Zapier recommends PayPal, Stripe, and Square – you can also accept payments online. All of your transactions will process through a central hub, meaning you know how much you’ve taken in.
In addition to a payment processing system, you’ll also want to add a dedicated accountant to your roster of helping hands. Having someone on board to help with financial management can help ensure that you stay profitable and fiscally healthy. You can always use software, but a live person with experience in business finances can help keep you from making mistakes that might cost you time and money. If you’re looking to hire someone full-time, you can expect to pay around $22 per hour for a bookkeeper.
Other Options
A few other services you might want to consider include:
- A legal team. These are the people that will help you write clean and binding contracts and ensure you stay in compliance.
- IT support. Because technology is ever-changing, you need a technology professional that keeps up with trends.
- Human resources. Managing employees, onboarding, and handling benefits is a full-time job in itself.
While there are many other free and paid services that can help a business succeed, those listed above are a great start for most SMBs. From marketing automation software and business formation to payroll processing and IT support, you don’t have to go it alone. With a bit of research, you should have no trouble finding all the help you could ever want.
Dot Zero Multimedia is here to better the community through positive storytelling. We look forward to hearing from you!