TOOLS FOR ONLINE BUSINESS PART III
Crowdsourcing, Networking & Community
Wild Apricot – Online tools for clubs, associations, and communities that include email newsletters, blogs, discussion forums, a member database and more.
OctopusCity – Build your online business network, keep in touch with people through mini-feeds, messaging and free teleconferencing, and save time by keeping one universal address book system.
LittleEngine – A community of small businesses and their patrons that are committed to buying locally and supporting local businesses.
Advisor Garage – it is a social network that connects entrepreneurs who need advice with advisors on just about any business-related topic.
Xing – A global networking and contact management site for business professionals.
Cambrian House – it is a free Crowdsourcing app.
Socialcast – Private online communities of all sizes to help organize enterprise communication that allows employees to decide how to find and use information while reducing email clutter and unproductive communications.
CEOWorld.biz – Global networking for managers, entrepreneurs, and senior execs.
cmypitch.com – Online networking for entrepreneurs, investors and service providers that helps connect people who can help each other succeed.
Customer Relationship Management, Customer Service & Contact Management
Mojo Helpdesk – Mojo Helpdesk allows you to track customer requests, keep your customers and your staff informed about what’s happening with their accounts, and deliver better service.
TagTicket – This hosted helpdesk software is great for managing customer problems as well as in-house issues. There’s nothing to install, and it allows you to manage, track and share your emails and files with other staff.
RightNow – RightNow is an on-demand customer relationship management program that integrates sales, service, marketing, feedback and voice functions.
Sfa finity – This CRM software offers all the regular features, plus account-centric, contact-centric and opportunity-centric perspectives, allowing you to view information the way you prefer.
LinkingUniverse CS – This progress-oriented CRM tool helps you work toward your customer goals. They also have a blog with tips for using the program.
Stazzle – Stazzle is a basic CRM that allows you to track information from birthdays and anniversaries to favorite ball teams and restaurants. It also allows you to track who referred which client and why.
HelpSpot – This help desk software allows support staff to easily manage requests from multiple sources in addition to providing powerful self-help functionality.
CRMdesk – This help desk software allows you to automate your online customer support.
insidesales.com – InsideSales.com provides a lead management CRM suite that incorporates an auto-dialer and allows coordination between multiple departments dealing with a single customer.
Free CRM – This is a Web-based customer relationship management software that allows for sales force automation. Track leads and manage your sales pipeline.
bConnections – This is a simple, easy to use CRM system that allows you to shorten your sales cycle, provide better customer service, make informed decisions, and increases your sales.
Salesboom – This is a CRM and back office solution that’s user friendly and provides seamless integration.
SalesJunction – SalesJunction is a highly customizable but easy to use contact management system that’s very affordable.
Leadvine – LeadVine can help you increase sales by allowing you to post sales leads and have the community find you new customers.
Bizroof CRM – A free, Web-based contact management program.
Bizzvo – Bizzvo offers contact management, email marketing and invoicing solutions.
BatchBook – BatchBook is a small business CRM that manages contacts, communications, and to-do lists, and offers list and report functionality (including creating things like mailing labels and email lists).
Solomon – Solomon is a simplified Web-based CRM and contact manager.
ClairMail – ClairMail provides account management, mobile payments, customer service, and more, all on your mobile phone.
Appature CRM – A marketing-focused customer relationship management program.
Helperoo – A simple email support system geared toward small teams.
Mzinga – A full set of comprehensive social media and enterprise learning solutions that address talent development, enable support staff to communicate and collaborate with customers and partners, and helps your marketing team increase brand visibility, demand for products and services, and more.
Oprius – Contact management software designed for independent sales people.
B2b CRM – it is a Web-based CRM that manages contacts, activities, and your sales pipeline, and integrates with Outlook and Word.
zendesk – A branded online customer support system.
helpdeskpilot – Help desk software that includes email integration, a knowledge base and more.
Tactile CRM – A cost-effective CRM that tracks sales, deals, emails and customer contacts.
Nuebbo – Online contact and virtual business card management.
Simple Sales Tracking – An online sales tracking app that offers free and paid plans.
Soocial – A simple contact management app and address book.
Database, File Storage & Information Management
Pixily – An online service that lets you aggregate, organizes, find and share your documents.
ThinkFree Docs – Online document sharing.
.docstoc – An online repository of free documents you can download, or upload your own documents to share.
Thinkfree – Online access to files, collaboration space for your team, and the ability to edit documents and post to blogs with a Web-based editor.
SpringCM – Online contract and document management.
ProofHQ – Online management and review of designs, artwork and documents.
Xythos – Online document management and storage.
NomaDesk – it is an online virtual file server with offline continuity.
Middlepost Docs – An online document manager that also allows you to sign docs.
AirSet – Online document management and sharing.
Email
MailChimp – Email marketing app that includes subscriber management advanced coding capability, tracking and reports, and more.
Ping82 – Control, manage and track your email using tools made to improve communication between people working together on a project.
eMail Manager – A Web-based email management solution for high volume email environments.
IFM Campaign Manager – A Web-based email list management and marketing tool.
Xpenser – Record your expenses with email, SMS, Twitter, IM, and more.
Synergymail – Online email marketing app that includes campaign tracking.
Mad Mimi – Email marketing utility that allows you to create branded email newsletters and promotions.
EmailBrain – Email newsletter management app.
Employee Management, Payroll & Human Resources
Taleo – Taleo is e-recruitment and talent management software.
Zapoint – Zapoint is a Web 2.0 enterprise talent management platform with integrated performance management, skills mapping, organization mapping, recruiting and succession planning.
Halogen Software – Halogen offers talent management and employee performance solutions.
SuccessFactors – An on-demand talent and performance management platform that gets everyone in your company working together by aligning goals.
Cornerstone OnDemand – This is an on-demand talent management suite.
paylocity – Online payroll, human resources, time tracking and tax services.
Litmos – Create, deliver and manage online training.
Akken – Staffing and recruiting management software that includes email, CRM, accounting, human resources, and more.
TalentMaze – A marketplace for employers to find top recruiters to find the best employees for their businesses.
Rejose – Applicant tracking system that’s simple, efficient and cost effective.
Catch the Best – Online resume and applicant tracking solution.
Feedback
Kumquat – Quickly and easily solicit feedback from clients, superiors, peers, fans, family, or anyone else on projects, plans, on-going activities, blogs, or whatever else you want.
Feefo – Feefo is an independent customer feedback system that is transparent and comprehensive (and doesn’t allow business owners to edit customer feedback).
RivalMap – An online app that helps you monitor and share market news, maintain knowledge of your industry and competitors, and discuss information.
Feedback 2.0 – Collect opinions, expectations, and suggestions from a selected audience and discover the consensus.
ConceptShare – Share media with colleagues and have them leave feedback, reply to comments, approve artwork, and markup on visuals.
Backboard – An online feedback tool that allows users to markup documents (including images, text and websites).
Marketing & Publicity
StartPR – StartPR allows you to monitor your brand on social media sites including blogs, social networks, and more.
Prospect Insight – This is a Web marketing automation suite that provides information to your sales team on where to spend its time in order to maximize your return on investment.
HubSpot – HubSpot is an Internet marketing suite that integrates with your website to track your online marketing efforts.
iKarma – A reputation management service that allows you to compare customer comments, display testimonials, get customer referrals and manage your word-of-mouth.
Survelio.com – An online survey service.
Sonar – An online polling software.
formatpixel – Create your own online magazines, catalogs, brochures and more.
Traceworks – Online marketing software that helps you set goals, plan, execute and optimize your marketing activities.
ReputationHQ – Online reputation management app that searches for your desired information across millions of websites.
WordJot – Business blog hosting platform.
IncSpring – An online marketplace for businesses to purchase brands and logos directly from designers.
Anthillz – Professional relationship and reputation management.
BrandDoozie – A DIY online marketing material creation suite that helps you create professional-looking business cards, brochures, logos, and more.
Shoutlet – Distribute and track viral marketing campaigns across social media outlets.
Money Making & eCommerce Solutions
GoodBarry – An integrated system that runs your website, email marketing and online store that also automatically grows your customer database.
Scrobbld – PayPal and eBay order management app that keeps all your transactions in one place.
Office Applications
Celum Imagine – Software that lets you manage and distribute your photos, PowerPoint presentations, PDFs and multimedia content.
gOffice – They offer Web Word Wizard, a true online word processor.
PDFHammer.com – An online, free PDF editor that allows you to merge/combine files, rearrange, reorder and delete pages, lock your PDFs and more.
Showing posts with label online business tools. Show all posts
Showing posts with label online business tools. Show all posts
Monday, July 5, 2010
Thursday, June 24, 2010
ONLINE MAKETING FOR BEGINNERS
ONLINE MARKETING STRATEGIES FOR BEGINNERS
HOW TO PROMOTE YOUR BUSINESS ON THE INTERNET
Today marks the beginning of a series on internet marketing strategies. This series is going to be strictly for those who are interested in marketing their small business on the internet. But before i kick off, i want to make the beginners feel at home with this series.
So today, i will be dealing with internet marketing strategies for beginners. Now what is internet marketing? Internet marketing is simply the art and science of finding and keeping customers using the internet as a medium.
Internet marketing for beginners is somewhat of an oxymoron. This is because while in theory the concepts behind internet marketing might be quite simple, executing effective internet marketing strategies can be extremely difficult. This can even be tough for those who are quite experienced in the world of Internet marketing, not to talk of the newcomers.
With this in mind, this article will attempt to explain the concept of Internet marketing for beginners and will outline some basic strategies which can help a business owner to launch his own Internet marketing campaign. We will cover concepts such as creating a website, placing banner ads, sending out e-newsletters, orchestrating an email marketing campaign and optimizing your website for search engines.
Now why do you need to market your business on the internet?
You see the internet is a huge network of computers linked together in a world wide web and behind each computer is al least a potential customer. The internet connects nothing less than 3 billion individuals across the globe. That makes it a really huge market place.
Now how does this affect your business?
Take a moment to reflect on the answer to these questions. What if your business competitor is marketing on the internet and you are not? That means his business will have access to 3 billion potential customers. What will be the difference between both of you? This article will answer these questions and examine some subtle ways you can begin marketing your small business on the Internet.
One of the most basic strategies to marketing your business on the internet marketing is to create a website. If you don’t have a website or have a poorly designed website you should consider creating or re-designing a website to adequately market your products. If you do not have experience in web design, there are a number of software packages which make it simple for those with no design experience to create a functional website. However, hiring a web designer is worthwhile because he can work to create a website which is attractive, functional and suitable to your products and series. He can also help you include more advanced features on your website.
Having a live website means there is the potential for curious internet users to access your website. You may not be actively marketing your website but you may still find that your website generates interest in your products despite the lack of promotional endeavors; this is a form of passive marketing.
Below are Basic Overview Of Internet Marketing Strategies You Can Apply When Marketing Your Business On the Internet. I will be ripping each of them open as we go further in this Internet marketing series:
Banner Ads:
Banner ads are another popular option for advertising/marketing your business on the Internet. Banner ads are advertisements which typically appear along the top of a website but it may also include smaller ads in other locations. Banner ads typically include graphics and text which entice Internet users to click on the advertisement. Once a user clicks on the ad, they are directed to your website. This type of advertising can be very effective when care is taken to place the advertisements on high traffic websites which attract an audience who may have an interest in your products.
Sending out e-newsletters:
Sending out e-newsletters is also a part of the numerous effective Internet marketing strategies we have. E-newsletters are essentially emails which may contain a variety of information including informative articles, useful quizzes, relevant advertising or any other information which is deemed worthwhile for the recipients of the e-newsletter. The importance of these newsletters is that they can be used as marketing tools which are not viewed by the recipients as an advertisement. One way to do this is to incorporate links or other soft sale approaches into the copy of the e-newsletters. However, care should be taken to keep these references minimal so the e-newsletter is not viewed as spam.
Email marketing campaigns:
Email marketing campaigns can be another successful aspect of an Internet marketing campaign. Email marketing essentially involves sending out emails to a group of individuals who may be interested in your products and services. Care should be taken in sending out these emails to avoid sending emails which are unsolicited and will be viewed as spam. One way to do this is to only send out the emails to users who have requested inclusion on an email mailing list. Another way to do this is to provide value in the emails as opposed to just including advertisements. This can be done by offering relevant advice in your emails and other useful information which may be of interest to the recipients of the email.
Participating in Discussion Boards or Forums:
Savvy small business owners realize the importance of participation in industry related message boards/forums to create an interest in their products and services, establish themselves as knowledgeable about the industry and offer a link to their own website even if it is in the signature line of their posts. However, even business owners who do not realize this may already be inadvertently enjoying the benefits of Internet marketing which result from message board participation just by doing something they enjoy and may be doing as a form of leisure activity.
Search Engine Optimization:
Finally, optimizing your website for search engines is a critical aspect of an Internet marketing campaign. Search engines rank websites according to quality and relevance for particular search terms. Many Internet users appreciate the effort by search engines and use these search engines to find the best websites on a particular subject.
This means the Internet users are likely to only visit websites which rank well with search engines. Therefore if your website is not high ranking, you are not likely to generate a great deal of traffic from Internet users who use search engines to find relevant websites. Top ranking websites are likely to obtain the most traffic from search engines and all websites falling on the first page of the search engine results will likely enjoy some degree of success in improving their traffic.
At this stage, i believe the word ‘beginner’ has been removed from your neck. I officially welcome you to the world of internet marketing. Till i come your way again, fasten your seat belt and prepare for the accelerated growth of your business.
HOW TO PROMOTE YOUR BUSINESS ON THE INTERNET
Today marks the beginning of a series on internet marketing strategies. This series is going to be strictly for those who are interested in marketing their small business on the internet. But before i kick off, i want to make the beginners feel at home with this series.
So today, i will be dealing with internet marketing strategies for beginners. Now what is internet marketing? Internet marketing is simply the art and science of finding and keeping customers using the internet as a medium.
Internet marketing for beginners is somewhat of an oxymoron. This is because while in theory the concepts behind internet marketing might be quite simple, executing effective internet marketing strategies can be extremely difficult. This can even be tough for those who are quite experienced in the world of Internet marketing, not to talk of the newcomers.
With this in mind, this article will attempt to explain the concept of Internet marketing for beginners and will outline some basic strategies which can help a business owner to launch his own Internet marketing campaign. We will cover concepts such as creating a website, placing banner ads, sending out e-newsletters, orchestrating an email marketing campaign and optimizing your website for search engines.
Now why do you need to market your business on the internet?
You see the internet is a huge network of computers linked together in a world wide web and behind each computer is al least a potential customer. The internet connects nothing less than 3 billion individuals across the globe. That makes it a really huge market place.
Now how does this affect your business?
Take a moment to reflect on the answer to these questions. What if your business competitor is marketing on the internet and you are not? That means his business will have access to 3 billion potential customers. What will be the difference between both of you? This article will answer these questions and examine some subtle ways you can begin marketing your small business on the Internet.
One of the most basic strategies to marketing your business on the internet marketing is to create a website. If you don’t have a website or have a poorly designed website you should consider creating or re-designing a website to adequately market your products. If you do not have experience in web design, there are a number of software packages which make it simple for those with no design experience to create a functional website. However, hiring a web designer is worthwhile because he can work to create a website which is attractive, functional and suitable to your products and series. He can also help you include more advanced features on your website.
Having a live website means there is the potential for curious internet users to access your website. You may not be actively marketing your website but you may still find that your website generates interest in your products despite the lack of promotional endeavors; this is a form of passive marketing.
Below are Basic Overview Of Internet Marketing Strategies You Can Apply When Marketing Your Business On the Internet. I will be ripping each of them open as we go further in this Internet marketing series:
Banner Ads:
Banner ads are another popular option for advertising/marketing your business on the Internet. Banner ads are advertisements which typically appear along the top of a website but it may also include smaller ads in other locations. Banner ads typically include graphics and text which entice Internet users to click on the advertisement. Once a user clicks on the ad, they are directed to your website. This type of advertising can be very effective when care is taken to place the advertisements on high traffic websites which attract an audience who may have an interest in your products.
Sending out e-newsletters:
Sending out e-newsletters is also a part of the numerous effective Internet marketing strategies we have. E-newsletters are essentially emails which may contain a variety of information including informative articles, useful quizzes, relevant advertising or any other information which is deemed worthwhile for the recipients of the e-newsletter. The importance of these newsletters is that they can be used as marketing tools which are not viewed by the recipients as an advertisement. One way to do this is to incorporate links or other soft sale approaches into the copy of the e-newsletters. However, care should be taken to keep these references minimal so the e-newsletter is not viewed as spam.
Email marketing campaigns:
Email marketing campaigns can be another successful aspect of an Internet marketing campaign. Email marketing essentially involves sending out emails to a group of individuals who may be interested in your products and services. Care should be taken in sending out these emails to avoid sending emails which are unsolicited and will be viewed as spam. One way to do this is to only send out the emails to users who have requested inclusion on an email mailing list. Another way to do this is to provide value in the emails as opposed to just including advertisements. This can be done by offering relevant advice in your emails and other useful information which may be of interest to the recipients of the email.
Participating in Discussion Boards or Forums:
Savvy small business owners realize the importance of participation in industry related message boards/forums to create an interest in their products and services, establish themselves as knowledgeable about the industry and offer a link to their own website even if it is in the signature line of their posts. However, even business owners who do not realize this may already be inadvertently enjoying the benefits of Internet marketing which result from message board participation just by doing something they enjoy and may be doing as a form of leisure activity.
Search Engine Optimization:
Finally, optimizing your website for search engines is a critical aspect of an Internet marketing campaign. Search engines rank websites according to quality and relevance for particular search terms. Many Internet users appreciate the effort by search engines and use these search engines to find the best websites on a particular subject.
This means the Internet users are likely to only visit websites which rank well with search engines. Therefore if your website is not high ranking, you are not likely to generate a great deal of traffic from Internet users who use search engines to find relevant websites. Top ranking websites are likely to obtain the most traffic from search engines and all websites falling on the first page of the search engine results will likely enjoy some degree of success in improving their traffic.
At this stage, i believe the word ‘beginner’ has been removed from your neck. I officially welcome you to the world of internet marketing. Till i come your way again, fasten your seat belt and prepare for the accelerated growth of your business.
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