Last updated Mar. 12, 2023 by Charles Zemub
As you grow your brand, you’ll want to ensure that you’re taking advantage of all the great apps that can help your business run more efficiently.
We’ve compiled a list of 13 small business apps we use daily here at Trello HQ. These are our go-to tools for growing our company, keeping track of important tasks, staying organized with calendars and reminders even finding new customers on Twitter.
Trello
Trello is an excellent tool for managing projects and tasks. It’s also a fantastic way to organize your business, with features like boards for different projects and work areas, columns for organizing functions within each panel, and cards to represent each task.
It’s also an excellent collaboration platform that lets multiple users access the same board simultaneously (and add their notes or comments).
It even has Slack integration, so you can track what’s happening in your Trello board right from within Slack.
Pocket is a news reader and content curation tool that allows you to save articles, videos, and web pages later. Pocket’s clean interface makes it easy to find content that interests you, but the natural beauty of the app is its ability to save items from your email inbox.
The pocket was created by Mozilla, a nonprofit organization that develops open-source software and promotes openness on the internet.
The app works on iOS and Android devices and desktop computers (via their browser). If you save an item from within Pocket itself, it will automatically sync across all your devices so that nothing is lost.
Square
Square is a payment processing app that allows you to accept credit card payments on your mobile device. Square offers a free card reader, and it’s easy to set up.
If you’re starting and aren’t sure you’ll need a more extensive hardware solution (such as an iPad or tablet), the square could be the perfect choice for your small business.
Slack
Slack is a team communication tool that helps your business run more smoothly. It’s easy to use, free for small teams, and great for collaboration.
Slack uses drop-down menus and quick replies, so you don’t have to keep switching windows or chat rooms as much.
You also can post links directly into Slack conversations, which makes it easier for people on your team to read them without having to click through several different links in Google Chrome or Safari first.
Since Slack has been around since 2013 (the year before Facebook acquired WhatsApp), it has a lot of available features, even if they aren’t apparent at first glance:
- A Mailbox feature lets users share links via email address rather than having their emails clutter up their inboxes (or spam filters)
Canva
Canva is a free online graphic design tool that allows you to create graphics for your blog, social media, and marketing materials.
This is great if you don’t have any design skills but need to make creative images for your small business.
The best part about Canva is that it has templates and fonts available, so you can customize the look of each graphic to fit your brand.
You can add text to their library templates and images or use your photos. There are even downloadable fonts, so you don’t have to worry about creating them yourself.
If you’re on mobile devices, there’s also an app available.
Trello
Trello is a free, easy-to-use project management app that helps you organize your projects and tasks. Trello is excellent for both personal use and team collaboration.
You can use it to track progress on individual tasks, organize yourself during a project, or collaborate with your team members to ensure that each person has what they need from others at their disposal.
In addition to being simple and easy to use, Trello is also incredibly flexible: there are many ways for users to make changes based on their needs and preferences, as well as how they want their board set up.
For example, adding labels allows you to filter information by categories (like whether something was completed).
Google Calendar
Google Calendar is one of the best tools for managing your schedule, and it’s free. You can create events, add reminders and manage multiple calendars with ease.
Google Calendar can be used on the web, iOS, Android, and desktop applications like Outlook. The best part about Google Calendar is that everyone in your organization can use it even if they don’t have an account.
Feedly
Feedly is a tool that allows you to organize and read the news. The app syncs with your favorite blogs, websites, and podcasts to create a seamless experience of keeping track of all your favorite sources.
It’s also great for finding new blogs, websites, or podcasts to follow based on your interests and preferences.
Survey Monkey
Survey Monkey’s free survey software is an excellent way to get customer feedback. So whether you want to know what your customers think about your products or services, their marketing efforts, their website, or any other aspect of their business, Survey Monkey has a tool for the job.
Google Drive
Google Drive is a cloud storage service that allows you to access your files anywhere. It’s a great place to store documents, spreadsheets, and photos and can even be used for collaboration.
Google Drive allows you to easily share files with others so everyone can work on the same thing simultaneously.
Gmail: Free Email Service from Google
Zoom and UberConference
Zoom and UberConference are video conferencing apps that can help you connect with others in your business.
Zoom: This is one of the best options for small businesses because it’s easy to use, extremely affordable, and allows recording meetings.
Various features, including screen sharing and whitewhiteboardinge great for collaborating on projects in real-time.
UberConference: While there is no free version of UberConference, it’s still an exceptional tool for businesses looking to do online meetings or presentations.
You can have up to 25 participants at once (or more if they upgrade), and all attendees can see each other live on their computer screens. At the same time, they talk over the phone or video chat via a web browser, with no need for additional equipment like headsets or cameras.
IFTTT (If This Then That)
- Use IFTTT to save articles to a folder in Evernote automatically.
- Use IFTTT to text when you are late to a meeting.
- Use IFTTT to save articles to a folder in Evernote.
Clear Straightforward Time app and Flat Tomato TimerApp for Pomodoro Technique Users
Clear Focus TimerApp and Flat Tomato TimerApp for Pomodoro Technique Users
Many apps can sync with your tomato timer if connected to a smartphone via Bluetooth if you’re tomato timer user. (And you should have one) The two best apps for this are Clear Focus TimerApp and Flat Tomato TimerApp.
Best free apps for small business owners
While there’s no shortage of apps to help you run your small business, a few are free and easy to use. For example, if you’re looking for more customers, Yelp is a great option.
With the app, you can post photos of your business and add information like hours of operation and your customer service phone number.
The Shopify app will allow you to manage your inventory and sales from your phone if you have an online store.
The PayPal app lets you send and receive payments instantly—it’s ideal for when you’re in the middle of a meeting or on the go.
And if you’d like to track how much time you spend on different tasks throughout the dTimelymelyTimelygreat way to stay organized.
Apps for online business startup
The apps below are tools that can make running your online business a little easier, and you’ll find them invaluable in starting your business and creating a solid foundation for it.
Hoot suite is a great way to quickly get your content out to several social media sites simultaneously, which enables you to manage multiple social media accounts in one place.
It functions as a dashboard for social media activities and eliminates the need to log into each site separately. This saves time and allows you to simultaneously engage with your audience across many social media platforms.
You should also have Google Analytics, and Google Drive set up. Google Analytics gives you valuable insights into the traffic and engagement on your website, while Google Drive is an easy way to share documents with relevant parties.
Set up a Google account, go to Google Analytics, and create a new property under which all your websites will be grouped.
Follow the prompts until you’ve added all your sites and verified that they have been successfully integrated into the analytics account.
Once this is done, you can use Google Analytics to monitor how people engage with your site: how much time they spend on it, what pages they view, which links they click on, etc.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I help my small business grow?
You want your business to grow and thrive as a small business owner. But while it might seem like the natural order, growth doesn’t always happen independently.
You have to work at it. To get your business growing, start by looking inward. Take a hard look at what you’ve already got going for you.
Are you doing everything you can to take advantage of your current resources? For example, if you’re already getting much foot traffic, are you putting up signs and flyers in other shops nearby?
Have you thought about building a brand identity? If you have done enough to market your identity? Do people know who you are? If not, how are they supposed to find out?
With your current operations in mind, explore new ways to leverage them. Brainstorm ways to get more people in the door—and keep them coming back.
If there’s one thing we’ve learned from analyzing thousands of businesses on our platform, no two small businesses are alike; what works for one might be ineffective for the next.
So when brainstorming ideas for growing your business, don’t be afraid to embrace the creative aspects of your work and think outside the box.
How do you attract customers?
Some people believe advertising is the best way to attract customers. However, some studies have shown that advertising can adversely affect business. There are four main ways to attract customers.
Bargains and discounts can be a great way of attracting potential customers. The key here is to make sure that your prices are reasonable.
You want to be competitive with other companies in your area but not so competitive that you are hurting your business by selling at prices that are below cost.
Also, it’s essential not to cut your prices too much – if you do this, you might as well be giving the item away for free since you’re giving up profit. It isn’t easy to make money when your expenses are close to or equal to your income.
Skilled marketing includes all forms of advertising, from newspaper ads and billboards to direct mail and social media campaigns.
Again, ensuring you aren’t spending more than you should be on marketing efforts is essential.
How can I promote my business?
There are many ways to promote your business, but the best way to start is to ensure you’re prepared.
Having a great product or service is only one part of the equation. You must ensure the people you want to reach can find you when seeking your offer.
The first thing you should do is ensure your business has a strong online presence. Then, if someone searches for something that you sell, they should be able to find your website.
If they click on it, they should see a clear description of what your business does, who you are and why you’re qualified, and contact information so they can get in touch.
Make sure your site has all the information that someone would need if they were considering hiring someone like you—be specific about what services you offer, how much it costs, and when the work will be finished.
To help people find you, write blog entries about common problems and how your expertise can solve them—make sure the first paragraph talks about how long it took to solve the problem once you were hired.
Then link back to your website so everyone who reads it can learn more about how to reach you. Building these kinds of relationships with potential
Which is the best social media app for marketing?
You might be disappointed if you’re looking for one social media app that will cover all your marketing needs. Why?
Because each platform has its strengths and weaknesses, Twitter is great for reaching people who love to read, but Instagram is perfect for sharing photos of your products.
While both platforms can help brands grow, they will attract different people with different needs and interests.
While Twitter and LinkedIn are great for connecting with other professionals, Instagram is where more casual users hang out.
On Twitter and LinkedIn, your posts might get lost in a sea of other content requiring much more effort. Plus, followers on those platforms tend to be more established business people and professionals—the kinds of folks who need to know about your business or industry before reaching them.
But Instagram? It’s where users want to be entertained by high-quality images and videos—and they want it right now.
That means you get more visibility when you post on Instagram than on other platforms.
And the long-form text you include can go unnoticed because no one wants to stop scrolling through their feeds to read.
What app can I use to advertise?
There are many ways to promote your app. Of course, one of the best ways is through social media, but you might want to think twice before using Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram.
It’s essential to consider your app’s content and who your target audience is. For example, if you’re targeting families, an app that features a lot of profanity or adult themes isn’t appropriate for these platforms.
However, other platforms cater to this type of content and can help you reach your target audience much more accessible.
Tinder is an excellent platform for advertising since it’s used by millions of people daily.
If you want to advertise on Tinder, it’s best to create an account for yourself as a company and reach out directly to Tinder to discuss advertising opportunities.
Other platforms that might be appropriate include Reddit and Discord.
The key is researching the potential channels before using them to ensure they suit you and your app.
How do I advertise my small business locally?
When running a small business, standing out in a crowd can be challenging.
That’s why we’ve come up with some ideas for how you can advertise your small business locally and draw new customers in.
Put up posters around town.
Ensure you have your business name and contact information on everything you hand out.
Please send letters to people in other businesses in your area to let them know what you have to offer.
Set up a table at a local fair or festival to get more exposure.
Get the word out by handing out fliers or making phone calls.
Summary
Now that you know how many benefits small business apps can provide, it’s time to act. So, use these apps today and see how they can help you grow your business.
Be more productive with a CRM, save time with an invoicing app, and use a project management tool to organize tasks and keep track of progress.
I hope you found this list of small business apps helpful. These are my favorites, but I’m sure there are many more out there that would be great for your business.
If you have any questions or comments about any of these apps, please feel free to reach out and let me know.
