5 free business tools I love that will streamline the heck out of your business

by JaneMay 5, 2021OBM, Productivity0 comments

There may be affiliate links in this post, meaning I may receive a commission if you purchase something through a link. However, please be assured that I only recommend products I have personally used and love!

If you know me, you’ll also know that when it comes to productivity, I’m a bit of a tech and business tool junkie. I’m a sucker for any programme or system that promises to shave off time in my busy day. Streamlining my processes and creating simpler, more efficient workflows are central to what I do and luckily for my clients, I get to share all of these wonderful resources with them so they can feel the benefit too, without the expensive and disruptive trial and error process.

Here I’m reviewing the 5 business tools that are my pick of the crop. (full disclosure – some of the links below are affiliate links and I may receive compensation from the provider if you decide to sign up to their service)

ClickUp

If you’re managing multiple teams or projects, ClickUp could be the cloud-based project management tool you’ve been searching for. Suitable for all sizes of business in any industry sector, its main features are designed to aide collaboration and communication across teams. I use it for my own task management and I’ve set up accounts for several of my clients. They love the fact that I can set tasks and assignments within defined projects and assign due dates and alerts to keep them on track. No more whip-cracking (well, maybe a little bit!) You can also integrate a huge range of other apps and tools, such as email providers or your CRM so everything really is in one place. The basic plan is free and 83% of users rate it as ‘excellent’ on Trustpilot. Click here to give ClickUp a try

2. AirTable

If you’re looking for a highly customisable app to help organise just about anything in your business, then Airtable could be for you. It’s effectively the lovechild of a Spreadsheet and a database. Now if those two terms send shivers down your spine, please don’t fret. The simple and user-friendly interface is visually appealing and more intuitive than a spreadsheet. It can be used for SO many tasks. Some reviews have commented that there’s actually too many possibilities with this tool, but if you know what you need to achieve you can definitely make it work for you. I’m getting a lot of enquiries for at the moment from business owners who need to keep track of product sales, production timelines and launch planning. Check out the range of templates you can pick from here to get started.

3. SmarterQueue

There are regular social media scheduling tools, then there’s SmarterQueue. I signed up about 12 months ago and honestly, it’s been the quickest win for my business. We all know showing up on social media is essential in our digital age but HOW many hours have I spent scheduling and re-scheduling posts? Too many is the answer! Designed to keep your content flowing, almost on auto pilot, SmarterQueue takes the stress and frustration out of content creation, especially if you’re posting to multiple platforms several times a day. They claim to save users over 8 hours per week and I’d say that was about right. Use this link to get yourself a free extended trial.

4. Dubsado

I recently got to the tipping point in my business where I had so many enquiries coming in, I was struggling to keep track. Fanfare please as I introduce my new best friend, Dubsado! If you’re a service-based business, you’ll know and understand how important it is to create a pleasant customer journey. Dubsado does that with bells on. With the option to white-label your own customer experience, this powerful automated CRM tool will take your new leads from the initial enquiry and on-boarding stages, right through to invoicing with everything you need to run your business in between. This is business automation at its finest and I love it! See if you’ll love it too via this link.

5. Shift

Billed as ‘the workstation for productive people’, Shift is for those who need to streamline their online accounts, apps and workflows. I was accumulating quite a hoard of log-in details for my clients – I often have an email account for each of their businesses and multiple platforms I need to access throughout the day. You can imagine how my browser would end up looking; it was shocking and confusing! Shift allows me to easily switch between accounts and platforms, all from one easy to navigate window and no more annoying logging in and out. The basic account is free and you can expect to pay over $99 per year for the Teams version. Try it out with a free trial here.

I hope you’ve found these reviews helpful! I’d love to hear from you if you tried a business tool from this blog and how you found it. If you need any support or advice on finding the best business tools to help your business be more productive, please book in a coffee chat here.

And for more great tips and advice, don’t forget to sign up to my fortnightly newsletter Latchgate Latest NOW!

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Are you a female business owner who has achieved great success, making six figures or more? Congratulations! Building a thriving business is no small feat and we usually achieve this while balancing all the other commitments at home and family. However, as your business grows, you may find yourself overwhelmed, time-poor, and stuck in the day-to-day operations. It’s time to shift your focus from the weeds and start scaling your business smartly. In this blog post, we’ll explore the importance of strategy sessions, the dangers of getting stuck in your business, and how working with an Ops expert can ensure your business can scale efficiently and sustainably.

Strategy Sessions: The Backbone of Smart Scaling

Strategy sessions are crucial for the growth and expansion of any business. These sessions provide you with an opportunity to step back, assess your current position, and chart a clear path forward. Here’s why strategy sessions are important:

Setting Clear Goals: Strategy sessions allow you to define SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound) goals for your business. By setting clear objectives, you’ll have a roadmap to guide your decisions and actions. (More on roadmaps later)

Aligning Resources: During strategy sessions, you can evaluate your available resources and identify any gaps or areas that need improvement or more time. This alignment ensures that your resources are effectively allocated to support your business goals. I often see people in roles that are not being managed and are wasting time and money for the business owner.

Identifying Opportunities: Strategy sessions help you identify new opportunities for growth, innovation, and expansion. By exploring different avenues, you can make informed decisions on how to best position your business in the market. Talking this through with someone outside of your organisation is really important and makes the conversation much more impactful and new ideas and thoughts always come up.

Getting Your Head Out of the Weeds: The Danger of Being Stuck

As a busy business owner, it’s easy to get caught up in the day-to-day operations. However, continuously working in the weeds can hinder your business’s growth potential. Here’s why you can’t keep getting stuck in your business:

Limited Perspective: Being immersed in the day-to-day tasks restricts your ability to see the bigger picture. It’s essential to gain a broader perspective by stepping back and assessing your business as a whole.

Lack of Innovation: When you’re constantly firefighting and handling operational challenges, there’s little time left for innovation. Scaling your business requires fresh ideas and creative solutions, which can only be fostered by taking a step back from the daily grind. I know first hand how difficult this is and even I spend time out of my business (usually a lovely spa hotel) to think about new ideas and products. My best ideas come when I am not at my desk and usually out walking.

Missed Opportunities: By being stuck in the weeds, you might miss out on potential growth opportunities. Whether it’s forging strategic partnerships, exploring new markets, or implementing efficient systems, these opportunities can significantly impact your business’s success.

Working with an Ops Expert: Scaling Smartly

To ensure your business can scale smartly, it’s crucial to work with an Operations (Ops) expert. Ops experts specialise in streamlining processes, optimising systems, and restructuring teams to make your business more efficient and sustainable. Here’s how an Ops expert can help:

Accountability Support: An Ops expert provides the much-needed accountability that keeps you on track with your goals. They help you stay focused, prioritise tasks, and ensure that your business is moving in the right direction.

Implementation Support: Scaling your business involves making changes and implementing new strategies. An Ops expert can support you throughout the implementation process, ensuring a smooth transition and minimising disruptions.

Efficiency and Sustainability: Ops experts have the expertise to identify bottlenecks, streamline processes, and optimise your business operations. Their insights and recommendations can significantly improve efficiency, saving you time and resources while ensuring long-term sustainability.

Success is not just about hard work. Scaling your business smartly requires a strategic approach and a willingness to step back from the day-to-day operations. Strategy sessions provide the foundation for growth, allowing you to set clear goals, align resources, and identify opportunities. Avoid the dangers of getting stuck in your business by gaining a broader perspective, fostering innovation, and seizing growth opportunities. Lastly, working with an Ops expert can provide the necessary support and expertise to streamline your operations and ensure your business can scale efficiently and sustainably. Only certain people love the back end of businesses, you need to find your partner to your creative genius mind to make a great team, then you will see your business fly! Remember, smart goals save you time and pave the way for your business’s continued success.

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