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Authors and entrepreneurs often ask me what tools I use to run my business. Today I thought I’d share some of the easiest, most effective online tools I’ve found. These valuable resources for entrepreneurs and small to mid-size businesses are among my personal favorites to grow your business.
These economical solutions hail from some of the smartest entrepreneurs around, and have been vetted and used by my technical team.
Bookmark this page and check back. We’re adding to this list often as we discover and test new resources for you.* Feel free to share this article and share the knowledge.
Valuable Resources for Entrepreneurs
Tools to Build & Manage Sites
Hosting
Bluehost - Fast set up, cost-effective, and excellent customer service. One-stop shopping for domain name, hosting, and WordPress or Weebly. Set up a site in minutes. (So easy even a right-brained author can do it!) This site is hosted there, and I’ve moved other sites over, too.
GoDaddy.com - Ease of use, frequent discounts, and great customer service makes this a favorite for many folks.
WordPress Blogs & Websites
WordPress - The most versatile way to set up a blog or site. Bluehost has a direct WordPress set up. This is what I use. (Note: WordPress.org allows ads, WordPress.com is limited.)
DIYThemes - Easy to use WordPress themes. The home of the popular Thesis theme.
JustAddContent - Just like it says, all you add is content. Simple to use, good support.
Mailing Lists
AWeber - A simple, yet powerful, tool to manage your email lists. What the pros use; it grows with you. Easy to use!
OptinSkin - Easily embed opt-in forms on your website or blog with style.
MailChimp - Easy to use, with a free option.
Social Media
SocialOomph - This is the tweet scheduler I use that saves me hours a week, and builds my Twitter following. And I love their new redesign. Social media tasks were killing me until I discovered this gem. Also schedules blog posts.
ManageFlitter - An incredibly easy way to follow and unfollow, find out who is inactive, and gain statistical insights. Founder Kevin Garber dropped in for lunch one day (all the way from Sydney), and I have to say, what a super guy! Great customer service. A tool I can’t live without. The Pro plan is great for individuals, for business, go Business. You’ll shave hours a week off of your social media guru’s time. (Mobile still needs a little work–sorry Kevin!)
HootSuite - A good scheduler, one that I’ve used in the past, too. Many people swear by this one. Good for teams to use. Can use with Facebook (Groups and Pages), Twitter, Google+, Foursquare, and LinkedIn. Works with mobile (iPad/iPhone, Android).
Handy Tools
Dropbox - Can’t live without this! Access documents anywhere. Great for writers! One of the most valuable resources for entrepreneurs around.
99designs.com - Need a logo, banner, or ad designed? Crowdsource designs in as little at 24 hours. A design you love, or 100% of your money back. Love this site.
Elance. – Post your job or find work today. If you need freelancers to help build sites, create logos, handling marketing, write content, or set up email newsletters, etc….or if you’re looking for a little extra work yourself, this is a great resource.
Incorporate.com. - Makes forming your company easy. LLCs for all 50 states, and c-corp incorporation. Click through on this site for $50 Off The Essentials Package at Incorporate.com.
SEO
Market Samurai – Ever try to make heads or tails of Google Keywords Tool, now known as the Keyword Planner? I spent hours trying to crack the secret code until I discovered this handy tool to determine the right keywords to generate more of the right traffic. Surprising, to say the least. Videos step you through it. Improved my ranking five-fold in a short period of time.
Promotion
Publicity
PRWeb: Download free expert guide to writing great online news releases plus get 25% off your first news release - Create instant publicity, online visibility & increase your web traffic with this easy online tool. Set up a free account, or pay for additional exposure. My team and I have used this for years, and it keeps getting better.
HARO - Help a Reporter Out is a free service that connects journalists with experts. I’ve booked interviews with major magazines and news sources using this.
Unique Article Wizard - If you’re curious about marketing through articles, here’s a good service that can raise your exposure and ranking. Sign up for the free 30-day trial.
Self Publishing
Publishing
CreateSpace: - Set up your book here, and publish on Amazon U.S. as well as international Amazon sites when the client places the order. Can also order print-on-demand copies at wholesale prices as you need them. Decent royalty structure. This is what I used to publish Scent of Triumph, and they did a beautiful job. No more books in the garage!
Audible - Turn your book into an audio book. Click for free 30-day membership, plus a free audio book.
Learning Center
Training
Organize your life with FranklinCovey. Get organized! The original daily planner I began using years ago. Created by Stephen Covey, bestselling author and forward thinker.
Harvard Business School - List of valuable resources for entrepreneurs from my alma mater.
Everything You Should Know - Arielle Ford is the amazing PR force behind some bestselling authors, including Tim Ferris (4 Hour Work Week), Jack Can field (Chicken Soup for the Soul), Deepak Chopra, and Marianne Williamson. A top-notch course for people who are investing in a long-term, multifaceted writing career.Get her free book here: How To Start Writing Your Book: Bestselling Authors Reveal Their Secret Systems.
Books
Some of my favorite books and resources for entrepreneurs and authors:
The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. Covey – Excellent business classic that every entrepreneur should read. Covers self-mastery, proactive behavior, and beginning with the end in mind.
The 4-Hour Work Week: Escape 9-5, Live Anywhere, and Join the New Rich by Tim Ferris – Chock full of resources and ideas. The section on idea (muse) testing is worth the cost alone. I gave one to each of our kids.
The $100 Startup: Reinvent the Way You Make a Living, Do What You Love, and Create a New Future by Chris Guillebeau – Stumped? Dozens of easy startup ideas.
The Lean Startup: How Today’s Entrepreneurs Use Continuous Innovation to Create Radically Successful Businesses by Eric Ries - How to test your ideas before committing funds, and so many more valuable resources for entrepreneurs.
Have some favorite tools or books you’d like to share? Add them to the Comments section, thanks!
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About this author: Jan Moran is a serial author and entrepreneur. She founded Scentsa, a touch-screen technology sold to Sephora in a venture capital deal. Her self-published novel was bought by St. Martin’s Press (2014). Sign up for Rich Ideas, her new program for entrepreneurs. She’s a Harvard MBA, native Texan, and lives in San Diego, California.
(*In the spirit of full disclosure, some have affiliate links embedded, which is how we pay the people who help us run this site and share the knowledge. There is no additional fee to you. Thank you for helping to support the team!)
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You're reading Valuable Resources for Entrepreneurs – Best Online Tools, originally posted on Jan Moran - Smart & Stylish: Ideas and books to enrich your lifestyle. and copyrighted by Jan Moran.
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