5 Essential Free Tools for Running a Successful Online Business

When we set goals, it is essential that we have a system in place that actually supports us in meeting that goal. This is the essence of SMART goals:

👉 Specific  👉 Measurable 👉 Achievable 👉 Realistic 👉 Timely 💥

Even when we work through each step of the acronym, and have a goal that sounds good on paper, unless we take the next step in actually implementing a proven system that supports the goal, it will remain on the piece of paper (or in my case - colour coded spreadsheet 😉) it is written on.

Quite often, at least in the early stages of business, the system can be a really simple one. We don’t need to invest in fancy online tools in order to get the task done. ✨

For example, if your goal is to start and grow a mailing list, your system is to regularly invite people to sign up and to share newsletters that people want to read. And so this is where you want to put your attention, with a mailing list provider that fits the bill. Rather than a more complex paid one where you then have to invest significant time and attention in learning a lot of functionality that you don't really need. 💌

I have done my fair share of investing in things I don’t really need, and they were not the things that moved my business forward in the way I thought they would! So here is my tried and tested round-up of my 5 favourite FREE tools for running an online business:

1, Google Drive: for file storage and sharing

I did not find Google Drive super-intuitive to pick up when I first came across it. I would save a document in what I thought was a sensible location, only to never be able to find it again! Now, I don’t know whether I’ve become more savvy, or Google has updated things, but either way I LOVE Google Drive as a file storage platform. It’s easy to use on the go and access from anywhere. It’s an easy way to share documents and templates with clients, so that they can then download and save their own version. I’ve done this both for 1:1 clients and for group programmes that I have run. There is also the ability to create a wide range of document types, including Google Sheets which has very similar functionality to Excel.

2, Mailerlite: for mailing list

I’ve heard a lot of people struggle to find a mailing software that they like to use, even when it comes to paid versions. I have always used Mailerlite and gotten on really well with it. I find it easy to use, with lots of functionality for creating email templates, scheduling emails in advance and creating an automated sequence of emails. It’s free up to 1,000 subscribers and pretty competitively priced after that.

3, Canva: for graphic design

If you haven’t tried Canva before, be warned 😂 It has the potential to be a complete time sink of creative delight! I’ve not come across any other online tool like it, although I’m sure they exist. It has templates for every sort of online, and offline graphic that I have ever wanted to create. You can create Facebook headers, website banners, Instagram posts and as I found out recently, invites for my son’s third birthday! There is also a paid version which I have tried. It has a range of handy features that I found make it a bit slicker to use, but doesn’t actually give much extra functionality.

4, Calendly: for online scheduling

Calendly is a fab way to avoid the inevitable back and forth email sequence when you are trying to arrange a get together with someone. In the free version you get to create one ‘event type’ and sync it to two of your online calendars - for example, you can sync it with your Google Calendar and ical. You can also override these with custom settings for your availability if you prefer. Not only is Calendly really handy as a business owner, but I really like the user experience too. If I have to reschedule an appointment, it’s really handy just to be able to go and do it only Calendly, without having to kick off the email back and forth all over again.

5, Hemmingway Editor: for writing

This is one that I dip in and out of. I find it particularly useful when I’m writing long pieces of text that I want to make as clear and concise as possible. It’s like having your G.C.S.E. English teacher in your pocket! It highlights text where you’ve used too many filler words, made sentences too long, or not been bold enough in your conviction. It should also come with a warning for perfectionists (yes, me too!) because there is also the potential to over-edit so much that it no longer sounds like you. And this is the reason I dip in and out. I generally use it to pick up some themes and then go off and just keep those in mind as I write.

Let me know if you’ve already used any of these and what you think. Or if you have any others of your own to share, I’d love to know in the comments below. Also to say that these are my top five of many so if you have a particular online task that you’d like a recommendation for, comment below and I’ll be happy to help you out!