Aug 26 2024
Are you planning on starting up your own company and are interested in what applications you should be using? You’ve come to the right place. We have put together our guide on six different applications that every new business should use. From having a dedicated email software solution to a secure internal communication program, there are many software out there that will help you run your business. Each has its own unique selling points and will help you in different ways.
When it comes to deciding which ones to choose, it’s important you do your own research and put a pros and cons list together - the last thing you want to do is over-subscribe to software when you don’t necessarily need them. The best way to look at each application is to decide on whether it will do a job for you and quicker than you can do it, therefore saving you time and money. For example, a CRM system will certainly save you time and money, as it will keep track of your sales, increase your profitability, improve customer retention and more.
Keep on reading for six applications we recommend you use.
One of the most vital elements of running a business is communication. You need your staff to be able to speak to each other easily and efficiently while also keeping it secure. Statistics have found that over 50% of employees use WhatsApp for work which can breach organizational compliance and open your business to security breaches. With a secure internal communication tool, you can ensure conversations are kept secure and don't need to worry about important data and information being hacked or stolen.
Your CRM system is another highly important application for your business and is what keeps everything working as it should do. Put simply, a CRM system is a 'customer relationship management' system which helps you to automate and organize everything to do with your customers. This includes things like collating and sorting their orders, having their information stored on file and seeing all the different steps in the purchasing process. Having a good CRM system is vital for your business to run as smoothly as possible.
While you might think you can sort out your own numbers, particularly if you have just started up a business, the truth is that finances can soon get very messy. Not only do you need an accounting software so you know what’s coming in and going out, but also to remain compliant. When you are dealing with customer details and also needing to file a tax return, you want to be able to show that everything you’re doing is legit, above board and that your numbers all make sense and add up to what they should. There are a range of accounting softwares out there, including Zero and Quickbooks, it’s down to you to have a look and see the ones that you think work best for what you want.
As a business, you need to know your important files and documents aren’t going to get lost. Which is where a backup tool is needed. There are many ways to backup your files and folders, including Google Drive and OneDrive. Using these you can categorize and sort out your important documents, lock files that you don’t want to be easily accessed and you can also access them anywhere. This means it’s easier than ever for employees to work remotely, or for you to access them from any device as long as you have the passwords and credentials required to login.
A newsletter is a vital tool when it comes to marketing your business and bringing in business both old and new. Whether you have subscribers already or are in the process of gathering a media list, there are many things you can do to really make it an effective way of appealing to your audience. Newsletters can be used to send out things such as offers to your customers, to let them know of information and alerts that you want them to be aware of such as a flash sale or a new product you are launching. You can also use it to let them know if a subscription is expiring or if there is something that needs doing to their account. Some of the most popular newsletter tools include MailChimp, Outlook and others.
As well as the above, you want to have a good design software that you can use. This could be for editing campaigns for your social media, for making marketing materials such as posters and for editing and creating newsletter templates. There are a host of design software applications out there you can make the most of, including Photoshop, Venngage, Indesign, Canva and Envato. Again, the one you choose depends on your budget, your experience and capabilities and how often you’re going to be using it. It also depends if it will be used by one person or a whole team.
These are just a few applications that are really important for any business to add into their tool kit. As a business you want to do all you can to be as efficient and effective as possible and this is a great way to tick all those boxes. As a new company it can feel a bit overwhelming with so many things to use and know about, but this guide should help you to get started and find out what works. It can be a good idea to see if any of the above offer a free trial so you can give it a go and see if there are any particular ones that work best for you and if there are some that perhaps aren’t as useful as you may have thought previously. What are some top applications you can recommend? Let us know in the comments below, we’d love to hear from you and get inspired!
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