The good news is that developers continue to create tools to help you run your business more efficiently.
Whether you’re struggling to find more hours in your day, stay on top of your key performance drivers, or understand the impact of your social media, there are tools and apps available to help you – and the good news is, they cost little or nothing! Check out these five tools guaranteed to help any small business run more effectively:
1. Google Analytics
In today’s connected world, it’s imperative for businesses to optimize online & social media to maximize marketing, attract new customers and build loyalty. But are you on top of how well your website actually attracts and retains customers? After investing the time and money on your website, analyzing user experience data is important to ensure customers keep coming back.
One of the most popular ways to do this is with Google Analytics, but you no longer need to log into Google via desktop or laptop. The Google Analytics mobile app allows you to view data on the go, including where your traffic comes from, and even the sex and age of your visitors. This can help you identify how well your site attracts your target customers, and uncover potential new markets. Even better, the Google Analytics app is free!
2. Wave Invoicing & Accounting Software
Managing finances has long been a challenge for small businesses. Study after study has shown that money matters, especially cash flow, is one of the leading causes of business failures.1 Royal Bank of Canada has partnered with Wave, an award-winning cloud based financial management provider to simplify and assist businesses with money matters.2
With one simple sign-on experience from RBC Online Banking for business, Wave helps businesses stay on top of accounting, customized invoicing and receipt scanning for free. And when your business grows, check out the additional paid services for things like bank payments, credit card payments and payroll. For businesses who want customized help, Wave also offers one-time set up services and professional bookkeeping services.
3. Microsoft Office 365
If you’re like many small business owners, you wear many hats – and struggle to find time to get everything done. Getting more done means maximizing your productivity wherever you are. The Microsoft Office 365 mobile apps can help you securely share and edit Word, Excel and PowerPoint files from your favourite devices — whether you’re working at home, at the office or on the go. With plans starting at $10.50 per month per user, it’s a steal.
4. Facebook Business Manager
With a reported 2.07 billion users worldwide, including 239 million in North America, Facebook can be a powerful social media platform for businesses.3 Whether you’re running a brick-and-mortar shop or starting an online business, managing Facebook pages can be a huge time commitment for business owners.
The free suite of Facebook Business Manager apps (available for iOS and Android) gives you the flexibility to manage various Facebook business tasks. You can create Facebook and Instagram business pages, interact with followers, create ad campaigns and monitor how your posts are doing on desktop, laptop, or phone.
5. Evernote
The free basic version and the paid upgrades of Evernote offer time-strapped business owners a valuable tool for organizing and retrieving important personal and professional information. You can access documents, share sales materials, manage projects, set up alerts and receive notifications on your smartphone, tablet and laptop. You can even use the Web Clipper tool to track pages as you browse so you can find them later, regardless of which device you’re using.
Sources
2. http://www.rbc.com/newsroom/news/2017/20171012-wave-smallbus.html
3. https://blog.hootsuite.com/facebook-statistics/
This article is intended as general information only and is not to be relied upon as constituting legal, financial or other professional advice. A professional advisor should be consulted regarding your specific situation. Information presented is believed to be factual and up-to-date but we do not guarantee its accuracy and it should not be regarded as a complete analysis of the subjects discussed. All expressions of opinion reflect the judgment of the authors as of the date of publication and are subject to change. No endorsement of any third parties or their advice, opinions, information, products or services is expressly given or implied by Royal Bank of Canada or any of its affiliates.
