30+ Must-have Business and Social Media Tools For Entrepreneurs
By
Helen
Table Of Contents
1. Slack
- What it does: Team chat app
- Type: Communication
- Why it’s awesome: Keeps your team talking without drowning in emails
- Price: Free option available, paid plans from $6.67/user/month
- Cool use: Set up channels for different projects, like “#new-product-launch” or “#customer-support”
2. Trello
- What it does: Visual task boards
- Type: Project Management
- Why it’s awesome: See all your tasks laid out like sticky notes on a wall
- Price: Free option available, paid plans from $5/user/month
- Cool use: Create a board for your product roadmap, with lists for “Ideas,” “In Progress,” and “Launched”
3. Asana
- What it does: Task and project tracker
- Type: Project Management
- Why it’s awesome: Keep everyone on the same page with who’s doing what
- Price: Free option available, paid plans from $10.99/user/month
- Cool use: Manage your content calendar, assigning articles to team members
4. Google Workspace
- What it does: Office suite in the cloud
- Type: Productivity
- Why it’s awesome: Work on docs, spreadsheets, and slides from anywhere
- Price: Starts at $6/user/month
- Cool use: Collaborate on a pitch deck with your team in real-time
5. Zoom
- What it does: Video calls and meetings
- Type: Communication
- Why it’s awesome: Face-to-face chats with your team or clients, no matter where they are
- Price: Free option available, paid plans from $149.90/year/license
- Cool use: Host weekly team check-ins or virtual coffee breaks
6. Hootsuite
- What it does: Social media command center
- Type: Social Media
- Why it’s awesome: Manage all your social accounts from one spot
- Price: Starts at $49/month
- Cool use: Schedule a week’s worth of tweets, Facebook posts, and Instagram pics in one go
7. Buffer
- What it does: Social media post scheduler
- Type: Social Media
- Why it’s awesome: Keep your social feeds active without being glued to your phone
- Price: Free option available, paid plans from $5/month/social channel
- Cool use: Line up your Instagram posts for the whole month in advance
8. Canva
- What it does: Easy-peasy graphic design
- Type: Design
- Why it’s awesome: Make pro-looking graphics even if you can’t draw a stick figure
- Price: Free option available, paid plans from $12.99/month
- Cool use: Whip up eye-catching Instagram stories or Facebook ad images
9. Mailchimp
- What it does: Email marketing made simple
- Type: Marketing
- Why it’s awesome: Reach your customers’ inboxes without the tech headaches
- Price: Free option available, paid plans from $11/month
- Cool use: Send a monthly newsletter showcasing your latest products or blog posts
10. QuickBooks
- What it does: Accounting software that doesn’t suck
- Type: Finance
- Why it’s awesome: Keep your books in order without losing your mind
- Price: Starts at $25/month
- Cool use: Generate profit and loss statements to see if you’re actually making money
11. Stripe
- What it does: Takes payments online
- Type: Finance
- Why it’s awesome: Let customers pay you without the hassle
- Price: 2.9% + $0.30 per successful card charge
- Cool use: Set up a simple payment form on your website
12. Shopify
- What it does: E-commerce platform
- Type: Sales
- Why it’s awesome: Set up an online store without being a tech wizard
- Price: Starts at $29/month
- Cool use: Launch your handmade jewelry line with a professional-looking shop
13. WordPress
- What it does: Website builder and blogging platform
- Type: Web Development
- Why it’s awesome: Create a website that doesn’t look like it’s from 1999
- Price: Free to use, hosting costs vary
- Cool use: Start a blog to share your industry expertise and attract clients
14. Grammarly
- What it does: Writing assistant
- Type: Productivity
- Why it’s awesome: Catch typos and grammar mistakes before your clients do
- Price: Free option available, premium starts at $12/month
- Cool use: Polish your important client emails or website copy
15. Dropbox
- What it does: Cloud storage and file sharing
- Type: Productivity
- Why it’s awesome: Access your files from anywhere and share them easily
- Price: Free option available, paid plans start at $11.99/month
- Cool use: Share large design files with clients without clogging up their inbox
16. LastPass
- What it does: Password manager
- Type: Security
- Why it’s awesome: Remember one password instead of 50
- Price: Free option available, premium at $3/month
- Cool use: Securely share login info with your team without writing it on a sticky note
17. Evernote
- What it does: Note-taking app
- Type: Productivity
- Why it’s awesome: Jot down ideas and find them later, like magic
- Price: Free option available, premium starts at $7.99/month
- Cool use: Capture inspiration for your next product wherever you are
18. LinkedIn
- What it does: Professional social network
- Type: Networking
- Why it’s awesome: Connect with other pros without the cat videos
- Price: Free to use, premium features available
- Cool use: Share your latest blog post to establish yourself as an industry expert
19. HubSpot
- What it does: All-in-one marketing and sales platform
- Type: Marketing/Sales
- Why it’s awesome: Manage your whole funnel from one dashboard
- Price: Free options available, paid plans start at $45/month
- Cool use: Set up automated email sequences for new leads
20. Zapier
- What it does: App automation tool
- Type: Productivity
- Why it’s awesome: Make your apps talk to each other and save time
- Price: Free option available, paid plans start at $19.99/month
- Cool use: Automatically add new Shopify customers to your Mailchimp list
21. Google Analytics
- What it does: Website traffic analysis
- Type: Analytics
- Why it’s awesome: See who’s visiting your site and what they’re doing there
- Price: Free
- Cool use: Find out which blog posts are bringing in the most traffic
22. Ahrefs
- What it does: SEO tools and competitor analysis
- Type: Marketing
- Why it’s awesome: Boost your search rankings and spy on competitors
- Price: Starts at $99/month
- Cool use: Find keywords your competitors are ranking for that you’re missing
23. Mention
- What it does: Brand monitoring
- Type: Marketing
- Why it’s awesome: See what people are saying about you online
- Price: Free option available, paid plans start at $29/month
- Cool use: Catch and respond to customer complaints on social media
24. Calendly
- What it does: Appointment scheduling
- Type: Productivity
- Why it’s awesome: Let people book time with you without the back-and-forth
- Price: Free option available, paid plans start at $8/month
- Cool use: Allow clients to easily schedule consultations with you
25. Wave
- What it does: Free accounting software for small businesses
- Type: Finance
- Why it’s awesome: Keep track of your money without spending money
- Price: Free (pays optional fees for payment processing)
- Cool use: Create and send professional invoices to clients
26. Audible
- What it does: Audiobook platform
- Type: Education
- Why it’s awesome: Learn new skills while stuck in traffic
- Price: $7.95/month for Plus, $14.95/month for Premium Plus
- Cool use: Listen to business books during your commute
27. Upwork
- What it does: Freelance marketplace
- Type: Human Resources
- Why it’s awesome: Find talented people to help with specific projects
- Price: Free to join, service fees apply
- Cool use: Hire a graphic designer for your new logo
28. Fiverr
- What it does: Freelance services marketplace
- Type: Outsourcing
- Why it’s awesome: Get small tasks done quickly and affordably
- Price: Free to join, service fees apply
- Cool use: Get a voice-over for your explainer video
29. Squarespace
- What it does: Website builder
- Type: Web Development
- Why it’s awesome: Create a slick website without coding skills
- Price: Starts at $12/month
- Cool use: Build a portfolio site to showcase your work
30. Salesforce
- What it does: Customer relationship management (CRM) platform
- Type: Sales
- Why it’s awesome: Keep track of all your customer interactions in one place
- Price: Starts at $25/user/month
- Cool use: Track your sales pipeline and forecast future revenue
31. Todoist
- What it does: To-do list and task manager
- Type: Productivity
- Why it’s awesome: Never forget a task again
- Price: Free option available, premium at $3/month
- Cool use: Organize your daily tasks and prioritize your workload
32. FeedBlitz
- What it does: RSS and email marketing
- Type: Marketing
- Why it’s awesome: Turn your blog subscribers into email subscribers
- Price: Starts at $1.49/month
- Cool use: Automatically send your latest blog posts to subscribers’ inboxes
33. Zendesk
- What it does: Customer service and support ticket system
- Type: Customer Service
- Why it’s awesome: Manage customer inquiries without losing your mind
- Price: Starts at $49/agent/month
- Cool use: Set up a help desk to efficiently handle customer support requests