Starting or improving a business requires the right tools to streamline your workflow and drive business growth. In this article, we present 10 types of apps that are crucial for startups. These apps cover various aspects of business operations, from productivity to design, marketing, customer management, accounting, and more. Let’s explore these essential apps for startups!
Enhance Productivity with a Productivity Suite
To handle administrative tasks efficiently, you need apps that can manage emails, provide cloud storage, and offer productivity tools. The two leading productivity suites in the industry are Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace. Choosing between them can be challenging, as each has its own strengths and weaknesses. To make an informed decision, read our detailed comparison of Microsoft 365 vs. Google Workspace. Additionally, our video comparison of these platforms can help you determine which one suits your needs best.
Simplify Graphic Design with a Design App
Visual elements play a crucial role in business branding. To create a strong brand identity, logos, and consistent design assets, you’ll need a user-friendly design app. Our top recommendation is Canva, which provides access to customizable design templates, royalty-free videos, stock photos, and graphics. Canva offers both a forever free version, packed with features, and a premium version with over 600,000 templates. Take advantage of our exclusive 45-day free trial of Canva Pro and read our detailed Canva review to learn more about the app’s features and pricing.
Establish an Online Presence with a Website or Online Store
Having a website is essential for any business. For portfolio or brochure websites, Squarespace is an excellent choice due to its reasonable pricing, easy setup, attractive templates, and included support. If you prefer more control over your site’s aesthetics and functionality, WordPress is a viable option, although it requires a steeper learning curve and may necessitate hiring a developer.
For online stores, embedding a PayPal button is not sufficient. Platforms like Ecwid, designed to add e-commerce functionality to existing sites, can help transform your website into a fully functional online store. If you’re on a budget, Wix offers affordable ecommerce features. To determine the right platform for your business, check out our Squarespace review, Squarespace vs. WordPress comparison, and our informative tutorial videos.
Harness the Power of Email Marketing
Building a large, high-quality email list is vital for business growth. Dedicated email marketing tools are essential for capturing email addresses, managing mailing lists, creating newsletters, automating communications, and tracking results effectively. Excel spreadsheets and Outlook are inadequate for this task. Consider using specialised email marketing tools that provide a fantastic return on investment and allows for wider content distribution, enhancing brand awareness and SEO. Take advantage of our free Business Growth E-Kit to access excellent tools for growing your business.
Streamline Customer Relationship Management (CRM)
CRM stands for Customer Relationship Management, and it refers to cloud-based software that helps manage and track business relationships with leads and clients. CRM apps enable capturing, organising, and analysing leads, tracking communications, allocating tasks, managing the sales pipeline, and handling customer inquiries via support ticketing systems. Using Microsoft Excel for CRM purposes is not recommended. ClickUp, an advanced collaboration and Project Management tool, offers a free and highly functional CRM feature. HubSpot also provides a functional free version of its CRM tool. Capsule and Nimble are other cost-effective CRM options worth exploring. Choose the CRM tool that best suits the nature and complexity of your business.
Simplify Financial Management with Cloud-Based Accounting Tools
Cloud-based accounting apps offer superior financial management compared to Excel spreadsheets. These apps integrate with your bank account, import transactions in real time, generate branded invoices, produce detailed reports, and provide in-depth analysis of company finances. They also make tax preparation easier. Consider using industry-leading cloud-based accounting apps like Xero and QuickBooks. Hiring an accountant or bookkeeper who works with cloud-based accounting apps can further streamline your financial management.
Improve Website Performance with Keyword Research Tools
To enhance your website’s performance and rank higher in search results, conducting keyword research is crucial. Keyword research tools help you identify popular search terms and optimise your content accordingly. By publishing content that aligns with users’ search queries, you can attract more organic traffic to your website.
Streamline Project Management
Efficient project management is essential for accomplishing tasks, especially when working with multiple stakeholders. Trello is a simple and free project management tool that employs a card-based to-do list system, enabling easy organisation and collaboration. Invite team members from within and outside your organisation to collaborate on projects.
Leverage AI Content Creation Tools
Content marketing is a key strategy for audience growth and sales. AI-powered tools can assist in generating ideas, creating content outlines, and even writing long-form content on your behalf. ChatGPT is a popular AI chatbot that serves as a useful digital assistant for content creators. Other AI content creation tools include Google Bard, Jasper AI, and GrowthBar. Explore these tools to enhance your content marketing efforts.
Optimise Social Media Management
Managing multiple social media profiles and analysing their performance can be challenging. All-in-one social media management tools like Hootsuite simplify the process. With Hootsuite, you can manage all your social media accounts in one place, schedule messages, measure campaign performance, and assign tasks to your team. Alternative options to consider are Sendible and Buffer.
By utilising these essential apps for startups, you can significantly enhance your workflow, increase efficiency, and drive business growth. Choose the tools that best align with your business needs and goals to achieve success in the competitive startup landscape.
