10 Essential Online Business Tools to Achieve Growth

10 Essential Online Business Tools to Achieve Growth

As a business owner, achieving growth and success is a must. You must incorporate various essential online business tools to achieve skyrocketing growth quickly. Proper work management tools and effective web development can significantly grow enterprises.

Business management software is a must-have for handling multiple activities simultaneously. Managing too many activities simultaneously is only possible with work management tools like Proof Hub and Timely.

Business tools are various software essential to perform business functions properly and effectively. Marketing tools are also necessary to promote a business through email and banners.

Social media marketing is necessary in today's online world, where most people are available online. It is done via Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram platforms. Business tools provide a platform for performing business functions effectively.

Online Business Tools Essential to Achieve Growth:

1. Website Development Tools

The company's website is the primary source for customers to find products and services. It is essential to update everything on companies' websites compulsorily. It is an online business tool to achieve skyrocket growth.

Along with the company's website's effectiveness, it must also be mobile-friendly. The company's website has to provide all the necessary updates the buyer requires.

Web development should be safe for customers and always available without technical issues. Security is also the prime concern for customers. They must ensure the security of your website against hackers.

Along with the website, its page loading speed should be quick and optimised for use by search engines through relevant keywords. There are many website platforms from which companies can choose to create their websites, like WordPress and HubSpot.

The choices abound, from robust frameworks like WordPress and Joomla to versatile platforms like Wix and Squarespace. Tailoring functionality with HTML, CSS, and JavaScript remains pivotal, while advanced libraries and preprocessors enhance efficiency and productivity. Integrated development environments (IDEs) such as Visual Studio Code and Sublime Text streamline coding workflows.

Moreover, responsive design and accessibility considerations redefine user experiences. Embracing these tools fosters creativity and ensures scalability and adaptability in an ever-evolving digital landscape, enabling developers to construct compelling and user-centric websites.

• Visual Studio Code – Visual Studio Code is a paragon among modern code editors, a versatile tool empowering developers across the spectrum. Its intuitive interface marries simplicity with robust functionality, fostering a seamless coding experience. It morphs to suit diverse programming languages and developer preferences with a cornucopia of extensions and customisation options.
• Sublime Text – Beyond its intuitive interface, Sublime Text's strength emanates from its extensibility. Through Package Control, users access a vast repository of plugins and extensions, tailoring the editor to suit their specific needs. Whether it's language support, version control, or UI themes, the vibrant ecosystem fosters a personalised coding experience.
• Atom – GitHub's open-source text editor that's properly brilliant for collaboration. Right, this one features real-time editing, allowing your team to work on the same file simultaneously. The package ecosystem is massive, with over 8,000 add-ons that'll sort out everything from syntax highlighting to Git integration. Thing is, it's been discontinued by GitHub, but the community's still maintaining it.
• Brackets – Adobe's free editor that's dead good for web designers who want to see changes instantly. Look, the live preview feature connects directly to your browser, so you can see CSS changes as you type them. It has an extract feature that pulls colours, fonts, and measurements directly from your PSD files. Saves you a lot of time when converting designs to code.
• WebStorm – JetBrains' premium IDE that's worth every penny if you're serious about JavaScript development. The debugging tools are absolutely mental, and the code completion is so good it's almost like having a senior developer looking over your shoulder. It handles Node.js, React, Angular, and Vue.js seamlessly. Costs about £129 a year, but it pays for itself in saved debugging time.

2. Business Task Management Tools

Tools are required to manage business tasks and track their productivity time. We must keep track of the number of hours employees work and measure their productivity. There are business tools to measure it and keep all the files in a single place:

• DeskTime – Time management and productivity tracker:

The DeskTime dashboard is used to check your productivity time at work. It works in the background and lets you check the duration of your work. It is a productivity tracker for employees and a time calculator for tracking work hours. One can decide when to turn off the work based on the number of hours worked through a DeskTime calculator. The app provides exact details of hours worked and overtime completed, and it also helps maintain a work-life balance by reminding you to take lunch and coffee breaks.

• ProofHub – ProofHub is a centralised platform that consolidates all work in one place. Teams remain sorted with their work by keeping it in a single place, and they can even track their everyday work and visualise their performance. It is a business management software that consolidates all business-related tasks on a single platform. It gives easy access to work when stored in one place.

Assigning tasks to employees can be done in this single place, and their performance can be seen from the work performance stored on this software. A team can also chat and share work on this single software. The number of files can be shared among employees through this tool. One can ping others for updates on work so that things are done on time.

ProofHub's Gantt charts let you visualise project timelines like a proper project manager. You can drag and drop tasks to adjust deadlines, and it automatically updates dependent tasks. The time tracking feature accurately records the time each task takes, which is brilliant for pricing future projects accurately.

Custom workflows in ProofHub enable you to set up approval processes that align with your business's actual workflow. Team members get notified when it's their turn to review something, and nothing falls through the cracks. The reporting dashboard shows you who's overloaded and who's got capacity for more work.

• Asana – This free project management tool supports up to 15 team members without incurring any costs. The project templates are extremely useful, especially for recurring tasks such as content publishing or client onboarding. You can switch between list view, board view, and timeline view depending on how your brain works best. The search function finds anything in seconds, even in projects from months ago.

3. Search Engine Optimisation

Business success requires its quick appearance on search engine result pages.  SEO is the art of ranking your webpage higher in search engines.

Using proper keywords related to your content can make your page easily discoverable through SEO. Ranking your website high in search engines can increase the traffic to your website. Increased traffic can lead to more sales for your business. SEO is the optimal way to drive business growth.

Your webpage content must meet your client's requirements, and the SEO tool selected must be compatible with your content management system.

From Google Analytics to SEMrush and Moz, the array of SEO tools caters to diverse needs, aiding in content refinement, link building, and overall site health.

Embracing these tools fosters informed decision-making, giving you a competitive edge in the online sphere. As technology advances, leveraging these resources becomes pivotal for businesses aiming to thrive in the digital realm, unlocking growth and success.

• Google Analytics – At its core, Google Analytics tracks various metrics, from the number of visitors to the site's performance across different platforms. Its intuitive interface provides comprehensive insights, including audience demographics, acquisition sources, and user engagement patterns. With this data, businesses can fine-tune their strategies, optimise marketing campaigns, and tailor content to resonate with their audience.
• SEMrush – SEMrush provides in-depth analytics and insights into website traffic, keyword research, and competitive analysis. Its robust suite of tools allows users to identify lucrative keywords, track their rankings, and fine-tune their SEO strategies. Additionally, it reveals valuable insights into competitors' strategies, enabling businesses to make informed decisions and stay ahead in the market.
• Moz – Moz's suite of features encompasses keyword research, link building, site audits, and more, providing invaluable insights to enhance your website's visibility and overall online presence. By leveraging Moz's comprehensive analytics, businesses can pinpoint high-performing keywords, understand competitor strategies, and optimise content for higher search engine rankings.
• Google My Business – Free local SEO tool that's absolutely necessary for any business with a physical location. Your Google My Business listing appears in local search results and Google Maps, often above the regular search results. Keep your opening hours up to date, respond to reviews promptly, and post regular updates about your business. Photos of your premises and products get 42% more direction requests than businesses without photos.

Local keyword targeting involves naturally incorporating your city or area into your content. Instead of just “web design services,” use “web design services in Manchester” or “Birmingham web designers.” Citation building involves getting your business name, address, and phone number listed in local directories, such as Yelp, Thomson Local, and industry-specific sites.

Review management can make or break your local SEO. Google shows businesses with higher review scores more often in local search results. Encourage satisfied customers to leave reviews, and always respond to negative ones in a professional manner. Even a simple “Thanks for your feedback, we'll look into this” shows you care about customer service.

4. Communication Tools

For success and growth in business, communication tools are essential to connect with every member who is part and parcel of your business on a single platform. It's an easy way to communicate information to everyone working in collaboration with companies. Some popular communication tools are:

• Slack – A platform for team communication that shares voice messages and sends audio and video files to the team. It brings the team to one platform for communication among all team members. This app enables team members to chat and share their views on projects and updates. It can even be used to assign tasks to team members through messages. It allows for file sharing, chatting, and video calls. But this app is more expensive than other communication forms.
• Calendly – It's a booking application used to schedule events. It enables customers to book their own appointments. One can link Calendly with their calendar and fix meetings. Different events can be organised with Calendly, which allows for rescheduling and setting up reminders.
• Zoom (video communication) – Zoom is a communication platform that enables video and audio calls, and well chat functionality. It also allows for screen sharing and the sharing of any critical document. It supports recording any meeting for clients and sharing it later. Through this, up to 1,000 members can be called into a meeting. One must download the Zoom app on their phone or use a web browser and log in by creating their account.
• Microsoft Teams – A Proper, comprehensive communication platform that integrates with Office 365 like a dream. You can edit Word documents, Excel spreadsheets, and PowerPoint presentations directly in the chat without needing to download files. The channel system keeps different projects organised, and the meeting recording feature automatically generates transcripts. File sharing is unlimited, and everything syncs across your devices instantly.
• Discord for Business – Originally built for gamers, but it's brilliant for building communities around your business. The voice channels allow team members to drop in and out of conversations naturally, much like walking over to someone's desk. You can set up different servers for various client projects, and the bot integrations can automate numerous repetitive tasks. It's free for most features, with paid plans starting at £8 per user monthly.

5. Business Marketing Tools

Business marketing tools are crucial for success. Businesses need to use several online marketing tools to attract more web traffic and convert it into possible leads. Providing customers with positive sales experiences will motivate them to make more purchases in the future.

Some of the tools that can be used in marketing are:

• WordPress – Business owners can use WordPress for their web development. Content management systems can be used for website creation without requiring technical knowledge, which saves a significant amount of money when hiring a specialised web developer, as it can be done quickly. Building a website can lead to growth in sales. WordPress sites can do enough marketing for your business. People in business owe their development to the one open-source WordPress system.
• Canva – Canva is a graphic design software that enables you to create web banners and images for the public, helping to market your business. It's an easy-to-use platform that enables you to create graphic designs to promote your business. It helps to create marketing brochures, business cards, and presentations to showcase growth in your industry. Canva drives traffic to your business through its content marketing, including banners and pamphlets. The traffic is converted into potential leads through the marketing of posters created using Canva. It has over 1000 design templates that can be used to develop companies' logos and banners.
• GIMP – Free photo editing software that's almost as powerful as Photoshop. Look, it's got a steeper learning curve than Canva, but once you get the hang of it, you can create professional-quality graphics without monthly subscription fees. The layer system works similarly to Photoshop, and there are hundreds of free tutorials available on YouTube. Perfect for businesses that need advanced photo editing but can't justify Adobe's monthly costs.
• Figma – Web-based design tool that's become the industry standard for UI/UX design. The collaboration features are mental, with real-time editing and commenting that make client feedback actually manageable. You can create interactive prototypes that work like the real thing, which is brilliant for testing ideas before you build them. The free plan covers most small business needs, with paid plans starting at £12 monthly.
• Unsplash – Free stock photography platform with over 3 million high-quality images. All photos are released under the Unsplash licence, which means you can use them commercially without attribution. The search function actually works well, and you can download images in different sizes optimised for web or print. Way better than using random Google images that might get you into copyright trouble.

6. Social Media Marketing

Social media is undoubtedly a powerful and popular medium for increasing the popularity of your business. Nowadays, many businesspeople use social media as their only online platform to promote their business. Posting several ads and showcasing products on social media helps the business gain popularity among its customers.

Sharing client reviews through social media leads to a surge in business sales. It helps promote businesses of all sizes. People discover a lot of products through online platforms like Facebook and Instagram. Social media marketing is a continuous way to promote your business. A single post on social media doesn't give your business recognition. One has to do this rigorously.

It's a place to communicate with potential customers about your products and services. One can promote their brand and its products through various social media influencers. Social media influencers are individuals who have gained recognition and fame across multiple social media platforms. Influencer's word: Potential customers trust influencers to make purchasing decisions from any business.

We have social media management software known as Sprouts Social, Buffer, and BuzzSumo:

• Sprout Social – One can manage all their social media posts and accounts through Sprout Social. All accounts, including Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube, can be managed through this one place. It helps to manage your social media presence. Social media management involves creating and publishing content on social media platforms. You can even track your journey by reviewing analytics data on this.

It manages social media using its intelligence tools and all client conversations through Sprout Social to achieve business results. Manage social media accounts by posting relevant photos and videos, monitoring audience comments, and encouraging them to like, share, and subscribe to your posts for improved visibility among clients.

• Buffer – Buffer simplifies content distribution by allowing users to create and schedule posts for platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, and more, all from a single dashboard. Its intuitive interface and customisable scheduling options enable users to optimise posting times, ensuring maximum reach and engagement with their audience.
• BuzzSumo – One of BuzzSumo's key features is its ability to provide valuable insights into content performance across various platforms. By leveraging its search capabilities, marketers can uncover trending topics, assess their virality, and gain a medium understanding of audience preferences. This information is a compass, guiding content creation and distribution strategies for maximum impact.
• Hootsuite – A Comprehensive social media management platform that handles all your social channels in one place. The scheduling dashboard lets you plan weeks of content in advance, and the analytics show you which posts actually drive engagement. Team collaboration features mean multiple people can work on your social media without stepping on each other's toes. The free plan covers three social profiles, with paid plans starting at £49 monthly.

7. Email Marketing for Business Growth

Business growth requires customers, which necessitates effective communication with them at the right time through the most suitable channel.

When used correctly, email can yield better results and significantly contribute to business growth. Most brands still prefer email as a means of communication for their products, services, discounts, and offers.

Emails should be sent to people who are already your customers or are interested in your brand. Sending emails to anyone about your product would be a good use of time. Mailchimp, Omnisend, and GetResponse are email marketing tools that can help promote your business.

• Mailchimp – Mailchimp runs email marketing campaigns by emailing customers based on their purchase behaviour and on a survey basis. An email can be sent to more than 1000 people at the same time. It connects with the customers and maintains long-lasting relationships with them. Personalised emails are also shipped according to chat interactions with customers and based on data collection and survey responses.
• Omnisend – Omnisend, a dynamic marketing automation platform, revolutionises how businesses engage with their audience. This all-in-one solution caters to the diverse needs of modern marketers, offering a comprehensive suite of tools designed to optimise customer communication and drive conversions.
• GetResponse excels in email marketing, offering intuitive features to create, send, and track email campaigns. Its drag-and-drop email editor simplifies the design of visually appealing newsletters or promotional emails. The platform's automation capabilities enable users to set up intricate workflows, allowing for targeted and personalised communication based on subscriber behaviour.
• ConvertKit – Email marketing platform designed specifically for creators and small businesses. The automation workflows are straightforward to set up, with visual automation builders that make sense even if you're not technically inclined. Subscriber tagging allows you to segment your audience based on their interests and behaviour, enabling you to send relevant content to the right people. The landing page builder integrates seamlessly with your email campaigns.
• ActiveCampaign – An Advanced email marketing platform that combines email marketing with CRM features. The automation capabilities are sophisticated, allowing you to create complex customer journeys based on website behaviour, email engagement, and purchase history. Behavioural tracking shows you exactly how subscribers interact with your emails and website, providing you with data to continuously improve your campaigns.

8. Document Management for Business Growth

Effective document management is crucial for business growth, as it enhances communication, streamlines workflows, and boosts productivity. Document collaboration should be centralised, and factors such as ease of use and security features are crucial. It should meet your business growth objectives. Some popular document management tools are Google Drive, Loom, and Dropbox.

• Google Drive is a cloud-based storage for various documents, files, and business presentations. It organises all the records in different folders. One can create, edit, and share the document with anyone in Google Drive. The changes made can also be easily tracked and making document management easy.

Multiple members can access the document simultaneously, and even more than one can edit it at the same time. It allows for different versions of changes made, and one can even revert to the previous version of the document. It protects documents by having different settings and permissions.

• Loom – Loom is essential for video demonstrations, providing various tutorials and explaining complex documents with complete, detailed instructions. Loom is best used to synchronise video messages. It creates one video to explain everything and then provides separate videos.

It allows for a recording screen or your camera. It is easy to use and works on all devices, including tablets, PCs, and mobile phones. Clearly demonstrating your product's features is essential for driving business growth.

• Dropbox Business is also a cloud-based storage solution. The app can be installed, or a web browser can be used for cloud-based file storage. It's also easy to use for collaboration of various photos, videos, and documents and allows for sharing.
• Microsoft OneDrive for Business – Cloud storage that integrates perfectly with Office 365 applications. You can edit Word, Excel, and PowerPoint files directly in your browser without downloading them. Version control keeps track of all changes, and you can restore previous versions if someone makes a mistake. The security features include two-factor authentication and encryption that meet business compliance standards.

9. Customer Relationship Management Tools

CRM is crucial for all businesses. To achieve growth, it's essential to manage customer relationships effectively. CRM software allows businesses to manage their vital relationships with vendors, clients, and all other contacts.

As a technology, CRM maintains all customer data and manages customer requirements in a central location. It works repetitive sales to a single client; CRM identifies new prospective customers and results in sales growth.

Some of the CRM tools are:

• HubSpot – HubSpot is a free CRM tool. It manages company sales and identifies prospective customers. This helps determine future prospective clients for business. HubSpot communicates with clients through emails, calls, and chat processes. It can be used for 1 million contacts. You can use another CRM as your business grows.
• Zoho CRM – Zoho CRM has a user-friendly communication interface. It can manage an extensive customer database. This provides a better customer experience through better customer service by resolving all their issues. A better customer experience improves business efficiency, increasing future sales and driving business growth. It handles multi-level marketing at different places. It also has an AI interface known as Zia AI. Zia AI provides predictive analysis.
• Zendesk – Zendesk provides customer service support. This software uses AI to solve issues like pro. Zendesk support is based on real customer service experience and interactions. One can reach the customer service desk through the app, and the Zendesk bot helps resolve issues. One can get multi-channel support through it.
• Salesforce – an Enterprise CRM solution that's properly comprehensive for larger businesses. The customisation options are endless, letting you tailor the system to match your exact business processes. Automation capabilities handle routine tasks, such as lead assignment and follow-up emails, automatically. Third-party integrations connect with virtually every business tool you're already using, from accounting software to email marketing platforms.
• Pipedrive – Visual CRM designed specifically for small businesses that focus on sales pipeline management. The drag-and-drop interface makes it dead easy to move deals through different stages of your sales process. Sales reporting reveals where deals are getting stuck and which team members are performing the best. The mobile app allows you to update deals and add notes, even when you're out meeting clients.

10. Account Management Tool

Accounting is the backbone of every business. Keeping all the books and accounts updated can run smooth business operations and avoid any problems in the future. Account updates are necessary for business success.

Several digital accounting tools are available for small businesses and start-ups to maintain accounting books and fulfil financial requirements.

• QuickBooks – Most small businesses use cloud-based software to maintain invoices and track inflows and outflows. QuickBooks helps prepare financial and tax reports at year-end.
• FreshBooks is an accounting software designed for small businesses, enabling them to run efficiently and securely. FreshBooks helps business owners spend less time doing accounting work and can contribute their time to other essential tasks. It can track various expenses online and provide accurate accounting data and reports.
• Xero – Cloud-based accounting platform that's brilliant for small to medium businesses. The bank reconciliation feature automatically matches your bank transactions with your accounting records, saving hours of manual work. Inventory management tracks your stock levels and automatically updates when you make sales. Third-party app integrations connect with over 800 business apps, from e-commerce platforms to payroll systems.
• Wave Accounting – Completely free accounting software that's perfect for freelancers and small businesses. The invoicing system enables you to create professional invoices and automatically sends payment reminders to clients who are late with their payments. Receipt scanning uses your phone's camera to capture and categorise expenses automatically. Basic reporting provides profit and loss statements and balance sheets, all without any monthly fees.

It's clear from above that the business content is essential. It must be well-built and demonstrated through the website. The business grows when it is identified through digital marketing and social media marketing.

More traffic to the business, more leads, more sales, and hence skyrocket growth. Documents must be well managed through Loom, Google Drive, and Dropbox.

Everything is synced in one place for easy access and sharing. So that nothing is lost. Customers are the kings of growth and success for a business. Customer service support is necessary through HubSpot and Zendesk, two online business tools. One needs to incorporate the above tools for business growth and success.