There’s nothing quite like the excitement of owning your own business. But it also involves plenty of challenges you need to understand and be prepared to handle. Identifying these challenges is the first step to getting solution to any problem you might encounter in your business.

Business experts have provided different business solutions and some of them can be found on the internet. This article provides some insight into different ways you can get solution to your challenges in business.

• What are some Common Small Business Problems?
• What are some Steps to a Complete Business Solution?
• How do you Solve Business Problems?
• What is the Biggest Problem Facing Small Business?
• What’s the Biggest Problem in most Offices Today?
• What are some Business Solution Software?

What are some Common Small Business Problems?

Here are five common small business problems and suggestions for how to deal with them.

1. Insufficient Capital or Cash Flow

By far the biggest hurdle faced by start-ups and other small enterprises is money. Too many times, entrepreneurs don’t start out with enough capital. Start-up costs often exceed budget. When starting out, get multiple bids for large-ticket items and always set up a contingency reserve for possible cost overruns.

Read Also: 5 Ways to Break your Business Free from Botnet Bondage

The other factor is cash flow. It’s easy to be overly optimistic when projecting a break-even point. Be careful about forecasting unrealistic sales figures, or cutting your operating budget too thin. Many experts suggest having enough cash on hand to sustain the business for two years, at a minimum.

2. Failure to Plan

All too often entrepreneurs “fly by the seat of their pants.” Unfortunately, many of these businesses become casualties before they get very far off the ground.

If you want to succeed, you’re going to have to treat your small business in much the same way that larger, successful companies treat theirs. Have a strategic plan with your vision, goals, and some market analysis.

Develop a business plan with a detailed budget, cash flow and break-even analyses. These don’t have to be long, narrative documents. In fact, you can create most of what you need with a few flowcharts, mind maps, project charts, and other business strategy diagrams.

But don’t cut corners in your research and analysis. It’s easy to get anxious about your new venture and overlook the difficulties you will face. Take your time and create well thought-out plans. Dealing with and planning for tough issues in advance will be a huge step toward your ultimate success.

3. Not Getting Expert Advice

You will pay a little more for a lawyer and a CPA to get your business established than if you do it yourself. But this isn’t replanting the flower bed in the front yard. Mistakes can be extremely costly. Good professionals will more than pay for themselves over time and you’ll sleep better knowing that you have things set up properly.

4. Time Management

A plan is only good if you stick to it. That requires managing time well. Now, managing time well doesn’t mean packing so much into your calendar that you can’t possibly get it done.

Pick and choose what’s important, focus on the critical stuff, and get it done. Little things will fall through the cracks. Let them. If they’re really important, they’ll come back up.

Use tools to help you, such as Gantt charts or Kanban boards. The visual displays make it easy to quickly decide on important tasks and follow them through to completion.

5. Resistance to Change

Whether your company is a start-up or has been around for 100 years, innovation can be a frightening thing. But change is real. Don’t get stuck in archaic ways of doing things. Embrace a culture of forward thinking. Be open with your staff about changes taking place in your organization, as well.

What are some Steps to a Complete Business Solution?

1. List your problems

Here’s a technique called The Power of Negative Thinking, from Barbara Sher’s Wishcraft. Get a friend and give him a pad and pen. Launch into a standup comedy routine. That’s right. Stand up. Talk loudly. Complain. Bitch and moan. The theme is: Here’s what’s wrong with my business. Have your friend write down every complaint.

Once you’ve bemoaned your business’s biggest issues, you have a list of the problems in your business, and you’ll feel better, too.

2. Pick one

So now you have a list of problems. But you can only fix one at a time. So pick one.
How? Well, try this. Which problem:

• Is killing your business?
• Is driving you nuts?
• Looks like an easy place to start?
• Can you fix yourself, with little or no help?
• Will bring in, or save, the most money?

Answer any of those questions. Pick one; then get moving.

3. Fix the right problem

If a doctor gave you heart medicine for a stomach problem, you’d be mad. But in business, people fix the wrong problem all the time.

Shortness of breath–a lung problem–can be caused by heart trouble. Skin rashes can be caused by allergies. The key to fixing the right problem is to realize that the symptom is in one place, and the cause is in another. This is true in our bodies and our businesses.

If sales are bad, don’t push your sales people harder. Fix the mistake in marketing. The key to being your own consultant is to think like a physician, an engineer and a troubleshooter: If this is the symptom, then where’s the problem? 

A business works like a set of gears, and all businesses operate more or less the same way. In every business, you’ll have to address these issues:

1. Know your target market: Who would benefit from your product or service?
2. Reach your customers: Use advertising, promotion or networking to meet your customers where they already are. Show them their pain. Show them your product or service is the solution.
3. Bring your customer to your store or website.
4. Persuade your customers to buy your product.
5. Deliver the goods.
6. Collect testimonials and referrals. That brings you back to step 3.

Follow that cycle over and over.

4. Diagnose before solving

So you’re ready to fix the right problem. But are you sure you know the solution?

There’s a great way to get to the bottom of a problem. It’s called the “Five Whys?” Take a problem. Ask “Why is this happening?” five times.

For example, projects often run late:

Why did the project run late?
We didn’t know all that we would need to do. We ended up having to do a lot more work at the last minute, and we missed the deadline.

Why didn’t you know what you needed to do?
We didn’t sit down and write up a plan. We just got to work.

Why didn’t you write up a plan?
We didn’t think it was worth the time.

Why didn’t you think it was worth the time?
We were running late after delays on other projects, we got started late and just thought we had to get to work.

Why were you running late on other projects?
Because we didn’t sit down and write up a plan, and missed our deadline.

Now we have the answer. Project after project, each one with no plan, each one ran late. The solution: Take time to plan each project, and write down the plan. For a small project, that may take an hour. But that one hour of planning will save 10 hours of work.

The rule behind this is called the 1:10:100 rule. Every hour of good planning saves 10 hours of work, or 100 hours of mess that you have to clean up afterward.

So name the problem and put it in front of you. Ask “Why?” five times. Come up with a solution that will permanently prevent the problem. You’re ready to go–almost.

5. Get the expertise you need

Before we commit to a solution, we need an expert to check our work.

You can find a cheap expert to cut down on costs, but who wants to go to the lowest bidder for heart surgery? If this is your business, be willing to pay for the expertise that will solve the problem correctly, and solve it forever. Pay once for the best, instead of paying for a fix that breaks again and again.

So how do you hire an expensive expert cheaply?

It’s simple. Do most of the work yourself. Most of us experts spend most of our time asking you what your problem is until you give us a clear answer. Then we waste more time persuading you to do what will work.

Skip that part. Do the work of defining the problem and understanding possible solutions yourself. Then hire the expert for a second opinion. That takes very little time and costs very little money. But it ensures you’re on the right track.

6. Make the Solution Stick

Make your solution stick. If you set up something, plan how to maintain it, and be ready to pay what it costs.

For example, if you see training as the solution, don’t just train your current team. What if someone leaves? Write instructions, and build training into your process of hiring new people. Whatever your solution, make sure it will last a lifetime.

You solved the right problem the right way, permanently. Now you’re making more money, and life is easier.

What’s next?

Another problem. And another. And another. And every time you solve a problem, you put more money in your pocket each month–forever.

How do you Solve Business Problems?

Entrepreneurs who are great problem solvers within any business are the best prepared to solve their customers’ needs effectively as well. In fact, every business is about solutions to customer problems – no problems, no business. Problems are an everyday part of every business and personal environment.

Thus it behooves all of us work on mastering the discipline of problem solving. Here is a formula from Brian Tracy, in his book “The Power of Self-Discipline” that we believe will help entrepreneurs move up a notch in this category:

1. Take the time to define the problem clearly. Many executives like to jump into solution mode immediately, even before they understand the issue. In some cases, a small problem can become a big one with inappropriate actions. In all cases, real clarity will expedite the path ahead.

2. Pursue alternate paths on “facts of life” and opportunities. Remember, there are some things that you can do nothing about. They’re not problems; they are merely facts of life. Often, what appears to be a problem is actually an opportunity in disguise.

3. Challenge the definition from all angles. Beware of any problem for which there is only one definition. The more ways you can define a problem, the more likely it is that you will find the best solution. For example, “sales are too low” may mean strong competitors, ineffective advertising, or a poor sales process.

4. Iteratively question the cause of the problem. This is all about finding the root cause, rather than treating a symptom. If you don’t get to the root, the problem will likely recur, perhaps with different symptoms. Don’t waste time re-solving the same problem.

5. Identify multiple possible solutions. The more possible solutions you develop, the more likely you will come up with the right one. The quality of the solution seems to be in direct proportion to the quantity of solutions considered in problem solving.

6. Prioritize potential solutions. An acceptable solution, doable now, is usually superior to an excellent solution with higher complexity, longer timeframe, and higher cost. There is a rule that says that every large problem was once a small problem that could have been solved easily at that time.

7. Make a decision. Select a solution, any solution, and then decide on a course of action. The longer you put off deciding on what to do, the higher the cost, and the larger the impact. Your objective should be to deal with 80% of all problems immediately. At the very least, set a specific deadline for making a decision and stick to it.

8. Assign responsibility. Who exactly is going to carry out the solution or the different elements of the solution? Otherwise nothing will happen, and you have no recourse but to implement all solutions yourself.

9. Set a measure for the solution. Otherwise you will have no way of knowing when and whether the problem was solved. Problem solutions in a complex system often have unintended side effects which can be worse than the original problem.

People who are good at problem solving are some of the most valuable and respected people in every area. In fact, success if often defined as “the ability to solve problems.” In many cultures, this is called “street smarts,” and it’s valued even more than “book smarts.” The best entrepreneurs have both.

What is the Biggest Problem Facing Small Business?

From lack of capital/cash flow to difficulty navigating federal regulations, here are the 7 most common small business problems and some likely solutions.

1. Lack of Cash Flow

You can never have too much – but you can certainly have too little when it comes to money. In fact, nearly 67 percent of current small business owners reported a lack of capital as a top challenge, according to Guidant’s State of Small Business report.

What’s more, in an Inc. article titled “Entrepreneurs Share Their Biggest Challenges in Growing a Business” one entrepreneur even notes, “Typically entrepreneurs have easy access to capital when they do not need it and have a more difficult time when they need it the most.” So what’s a cash-strapped entrepreneur to do to avoid this pitfall?

The solution: There are plenty of solutions out there to help existing business owners access additional capital. Maybe it makes fiscal sense for you to try 401(k) business financing, an alternative yet increasingly popular choice for many entrepreneurs.

With this funding vehicle, you can use your eligible retirement funds for your business and not incur any tax penalties or additional debt. Or maybe a more traditional business loan from the Small Business Association could help. They offer up to $5 million in capital for new and existing businesses with low-interest rates.

If you don’t want or need to go the financing route, there are a few guidelines you can implement to keep more of your hard-earned cash in your pocket. An Entrepreneur.com article titled “How to Better Manage Your Cash Flow” cites a few simple tips such as projecting cash flow for the year, quarter and even the upcoming week so you know where you stand.

Additionally, you can improve your receivables by giving incentives to clients who pay you on time, taking deposits from new clients and requiring credit checks for non-cash customers. Applying a few of these tips should help you stay out of the red and in the black.

2. Marketing and Advertising

The world of marketing can seem overwhelming when you don’t have a marketing degree. And 28 percent of small business owners agreed that marketing and advertising is the second biggest challenge for their small business. But it’s crucial to the success of your business or franchise, so how can you prepare yourself to tackle this challenge?

The solution: It’s okay if you aren’t a whiz when it comes to posting on social media sites like Twitter or Instagram or writing website copy — rest assured, there are plenty of people who are. Seek out their assistance, and don’t feel bad doing it. Remember, your specialty is starting and running a successful business, and that is no small feat in itself.

But if you do choose to take on marketing and advertising in-house, make sure to brush up on best practices. Tons of resources exist, such as the marketing news and topics section on Entrepreneur.com, where you can find relevant how-to articles and videos to help you spread the word about your business – and drive new sales.

Guidant’s Senior Vice President of Marketing even wrote a comprehensive overview of business marketing in a blog titled “6 Tips for Getting Started in Small Business Marketing” that offers examples of productive marketing strategies businesses can use to generate sales at a minimal cost.

3. Managing Your Time

If you’ve ever felt like the clock was on fast forward, you’re not alone. Our survey respondents ranked time management as the third biggest challenge (at 24 percent) of being a small business owner.

From constant interruptions, such as emails, phone calls and instant messages, to busy meeting schedules and last-minute deadlines, distractions abound. Not to mention many entrepreneurs end up performing multiple job functions. It’s no wonder time is an issue. So what can you do to combat the numerous time drains in your day?

The solution: Take back your time. Books and classes that offer in-depth solutions are plentiful, but a couple of smart strategies can get you started pretty quickly. In an Entrepreneur.com article that differentiates between “clock time” and “real-time,” the author states that “Time flies or drags depending on what you’re doing. Two hours at the Department of Motor Vehicles can feel like 12 years. And yet our 12-year-old children seem to have grown up in only two hours.”

The point is you want to take that concept into account when planning out your schedule. Start tracking the time you spend accomplishing tasks versus the wasted time on unproductive thoughts or conversations. Then manage your time to eliminate those lost minutes.

Many business owners also find it helpful to book time with themselves so they can focus on priority projects and put up a ‘do not disturb sign’ to avoid distraction (that includes not answering emails or phone calls). If you need additional tips, the Small Business Administration has created a comprehensive guide to time management, with helpful resources such as worksheets and sample time management plans.

4. Performing Administrative Work

Bookkeeping and payroll may not fall at the top of your favorites list, but you will need to make time for them to keep those talented employees around. Approximately 24 percent of small business survey respondents cited administrative work as a real challenge in their daily operations.

The solution: In a similar vein as marketing and advertising, you can (and may want to) hire outside companies or bookkeepers to perform your payroll and bookkeeping duties for you. The author of the article, “Why A Personal Assistant Should Be Every Entrepreneur’s First Hire” on Forbes.com agrees, noting you should “spend as much time as possible using your unique strengths on your highest leverage activities.” Administrative work likely doesn’t fall in this category.

Also, when you’re dealing with payroll and bookkeeping, you’re dealing with federal and state laws so you need to be vigilant in your work. Hiring an outside resource (or even an internal employee who’s an expert) can take the task off your list so you’re not wasting time teaching yourself. If you want to get an idea of what’s involved in accounting or bookkeeping for a business, the Small Business Administration provides a guide to basic payroll.

5. Hiring and Retaining Top Talent

Hiring a few employees is simple, right? It certainly can be – the prospect may interview well and you may quickly and easily settle on a salary that works for everyone. But it can also unravel just as quickly if that employee decides to quit or if you can’t seem to fill a particular position.

According to a our State of Small Business survey, 22 percent of business owners found employee recruitment and retention to be a big struggle of owning a business. In a recent blog, staffing firm Robert Half suggests that “employee retention and employee job satisfaction should be high on every organization’s list of priorities.” 

Countless reasons exist for employees not wanting to work for you or leaving a job, some of which are in your control and others that are not. But even if you can’t change all of the circumstances, you can control how you navigate the situation.

The solution: Whether it’s your first or fifth hire, make sure you provide a well-rounded package when it comes to salary and benefits (more on this in the next challenge). You want to be competitive in your industry so you can attract top-notch talent – and keep your current employees content and productive.

Robert Half also suggests providing recognition and reward systems such as gift cards or an extra day off as well as fostering teamwork and mentorship programs and promoting a culture of work-life balance within the company. Promote from within whenever possible (and appropriate), and cultivate open communication between yourself and your employees.

6. Providing and Managing Benefits

Ah, benefits – everyone needs them, but who isn’t baffled by the details? From medical insurance to paid time off (PTO), the fine print seems endless. That said, benefits are critical to hiring and keeping top talent as we mentioned above, so make sure either you become well acquainted with the rules, or you find someone who can do this for you (a benefits specialist or attorney).

It could even become a legal matter if you make an error, so it’s important to your business to spend the time and money now to get it right. In fact, about 13 percent of small business owners believe managing and providing benefits to employees is a challenge for their business, so let’s look at a solution.

The solution: Find out what types of benefits your employees are eligible for. You can do this with Entrepreneur’s “The Basics of Employee Benefits” article. It clearly details which ones are optional and which ones are required. In general, jury duty, military time off and voting are required by law.

You’ll also need to be prepared to provide retirement and disability benefits and comply with the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA). As previously mentioned, you may want to bring in either a legal or benefits counsel to help you due to the complex nature of some of these, and because laws also change frequently.

7. Navigating State/Federal/Government Regulations

Similar to benefits, red tape rules when it comes to state, federal and government regulations, which are another concern of out small business survey respondents. And these regulations also are subject to change, which you’ve probably noticed in the news. Additionally, the industry you’re in as well as the state you work in will also dictate rules and regulations.

The solution: If you haven’t yet decided on the structure of your business, you’ll want to do that first. Examples include a Limited Liability Corporation (LLC) or sole proprietorship, and each has its pros and cons.

Now that you’ve taken a look at these seven challenges of business ownership, remember that they are just possibilities – you may encounter one, two or none at all. So get out there and realize your dream of owning your own business or franchise – you’re ready!

What’s the Biggest Problem in most Offices Today?

No matter what industry you work in or how big or small your business is, every workplace will face internal and external challenges such as lack of integrity and regulatory changes. Overcoming these challenges is what separates those companies that become successful from the companies that fail.

So if you want your organization to succeed, here’s a look at the biggest challenges faced by modern workplaces and how to overcome them.

Internal challenges

1. Problems with colleagues

Whether it’s employees, managers or the boss, the workplace can be filled with people who don’t communicate well or they harass or discriminate others. There are also colleagues who are slackers, bullies, gossipers, troublemakers, whiners, complainers, saboteurs, or backstabbers.

These can cause misunderstandings, distrust, anxiety, and stress. They can also affect productivity, performance, mood, morale, reputations, and employee/management relationships.

Solution: You can overcome this challenge by promoting equality and teamwork, asking for and giving feedback, addressing negative attitudes and behaviours, and so on. This will result in a happier, more collaborative and engaged workforce, which can lead to increased productivity, retention, and success.

2. Unwillingness to acknowledge problems

Employees often approach problems from the same perspective, and so as new issues arise, they risk not acknowledging them, or at least not recognizing them as problems. And a business that won’t recognize problems won’t be able to solve them, hindering them from finding success.

Solution: Businesses can overcome this challenge by being open to adopting new perspectives to help shift mindsets and see other points of view. You should also ask solution-driven questions. This way, you’ll be able to recognise problems when they arise and, in turn, your business can keep moving forward.

3. Lack of integrity

Everyone wants to be successful in their career and will do anything to get ahead. For example, they could cut corners, omit information, lie and steal, or deceive others. These practices destroy the trust between people and, without trust, the business cannot compete effectively and it will fail.

Solution: Praise and promote behaviour that promotes working together, as opposed to working for yourself. This does not mean that all efforts need to be for only the team’s benefit as a whole, but rather making sure that employees see the value of helping and building trust with each other. With trust between team members, your business can compete effectively and become successful.

4. Ineffective training and development programs

Training and development programs may not work due to hectic employee schedules, a geographically dispersed workforce, different learning habits, lack of engagement, irrelevant training, and high costs. This results in inadequately trained employees, which can lead to poor job performance, increased stress, higher turnover, as well as lost time, money, and customers.

Solution: You can overcome this challenge by tailoring your training and development programs or by providing micro-credentials. Micro-credentials offer a more personalized, efficient, and cost-effective way to ensure your workforce is keeping their skills relevant and certified. Effective training and development programs enable your organization to upskill its workforce, innovate, compete successfully, and deliver tangible business growth.

External challenges

5. Uncertainty

Uncertainty in the global economy and credit markets, about what competitors are doing, and about how new technology will affect the business can lead to a short-term focus and people not getting anything done. Companies end up making short-term plans instead of long-term plans, but failing to plan 5-10 years into the future can destroy the company’s value.

Solution: You can overcome this challenge by balancing the need for a more reactive, short-term focus with the need for informed, long-term strategies. This will help improve employees’ confidence in the business, and provide a long-term outlook and strategy to address economic doubts.

6. Regulatory changes

Regulatory changes can affect business decision-making. For example, companies may face demand from customers or shareholders to become more ‘green’, changes to corporate tax rates, or increased costs due to new carbon taxes.

Solution: You can overcome this challenge by understanding the regulations and government policies in your industry and their implications for your business, and by developing the necessary skills to deal with them. Understanding the law and its implications will enable your business to make intelligent decisions.

7. Fear of globalisation

Globalization is on the rise, with many companies now entering new markets, which can be threatening for businesses with a traditionally local focus now having to compete with international companies. Companies that aren’t operating on an international scale can feel at risk as a result, and may even be left behind as the marketplace evolves.

Solution: You can overcome this challenge by understanding foreign markets and cultures, recognising disruptive competitors, and maintaining global awareness, even if your business operates locally. This can help broaden your industry knowledge, which can help you keep up with or even surpass your competitors.

8. Technological advancements

Technology continues to advance at a rapid rate, and a competitor might wait for the next-generation tech, which could just be one year away and then use it to their advantage. But being that competitor also has its risks. It can be hard to master the company’s current technology and stay informed about emerging technology at the same time.

Solution: You can overcome this challenge by creating a long-term technology strategy while staying flexible enough to take advantage of unexpected technological developments. This’ll allow you to gain the upper hand over your competitors.

What are some Business Solution Software?

Running a small business is serious business. You need the right tool for each job if you’re going to be efficient and effective in the way you carry out your operations. A lot of little things go into the efficient operation of a small business, no matter what industry it is in. Fortunately, small-business owners and managers have the advantage of living in the glory days of technology, where software for every business need exists.

You still need to wear a lot of hats as the business owner, but different types of business software can help you do the job. Look at the possibilities in this business software applications list.

Types of Accounting Software

QuickBooks

QuickBooks is a comprehensive accounting software suite with all the modules you need to carry out the accounting functions of your small business. It is familiar and a staple in many small businesses. The catch is that QuickBooks must be purchased and installed on your office network.

Xero

Xero is also a complete and robust software suite for all your business accounting needs. The major difference between it and QuickBooks is that everything is hosted in the cloud, which means you don’t have to download or install anything on your office computers, and you can access it from any location with an internet connection.

FreshBooks

FreshBooks accounting software is comprehensive and is designed primarily for small businesses in the service industry.

Wave

Wave has the unique advantage that it is entirely free. It offers lots of functionality, including invoicing, bookkeeping, payroll and much more.

Website Building Software

WordPress

WordPress powers more than half the world’s websites, so it is a proven option for those who want to build a robust and adaptable website that can be improved with time. You can choose from thousands of themes, both free and premium, that give your website a unique and professional look.

Squarespace

Squarespace is a comprehensive web-building tool that enables you to create stunning websites with professional themes.

Shopify

Shopify is built to cater specifically to e-commerce businesses that want to build a complete online store. With this service, you build your entire store on the Shopify platform and handle everything from marketing and payment options to shipping on the platform.

Payment Transaction Software

PayPal

When it comes to online payments, PayPal is the largest platform in the world. With it, you accept payments made through the PayPal and credit card payments for your online store. The payment platform handles everything from security and processing to compatibility issues.

Stripe

Install a checkout plug-in on your online store with Stripe so that you can take advantage of the various payment forms the platform supports.

Types of Marketing Software

HubSpot

HubSpot is a full-fledged marketing suite that offers all kinds of packages, including customer relationship management (CRM), sales, and much more to help you build a robust marketing platform for your customers.

InfusionSoft

InfusionSoft is automation software that handles both your sales and marketing as well as various CRM tasks including lead gathering and conversions.

Marketo

Marketo is an all-inclusive marketing package that handles and automates just about everything, from the management of leads to email marketing.

Email Marketing Software

AWeber

Design unique email marketing campaigns and automate them with AWeber. It includes integration with sites such as WordPress for even more versatility.

MailChimp

MailChimp is an email marketing campaign creation and automation service you use to customize your campaigns and integrate them with Shopify and other e-commerce platforms.

Constant Contact

With Constant Contact’s drag-and-drop model, you use templates in conjunction with automation and real-time reporting to create effective email marketing campaigns.

Social Media Marketing Software

TweetDeck

Stay on top of everything going on at Twitter with TweetDeck. Use it to create hashtags and searches and also to get alerts when new content is generated on the site.

Buffer

Buffer is a creation and scheduling tool used to create engaging content that is then posted on social media platforms such as Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest.

Hootsuite

Hootsuite is an all-in-one social media marketing tool for listening in on what’s hot and what’s not on social media and creating and scheduling your content for posting on all social media sites. It includes reporting functionality for analyzing your social presence on the fly.

Advertising Campaign Software

OutBrain

Use OutBrain to reach more people through pay-per-click (PPC) campaigns on some of the largest sites on the internet, including CNN and Forbes.

AdWords

Create search marketing campaigns for text-based searches with AdWords. You are in full control of the ad expense because the marketing campaign is dependent on your budget. You can pick keywords that you want to bid on and decide on the precise targeting parameters for your ads.

Bing Ads

Use Bing Ads to create search marketing campaigns for the Bing search engine’s results pages, which gives you high value for your money.

SEO and Content Marketing Software

Moz

Moz is a powerful tool that navigates the world of online paid advertising and search marketing simply and effectively.

Contently

Contently helps you with your content marketing by generating and executing content on your behalf through the help of freelancers.

SumoMe

SumoMe provides powerful web analytics that help you to optimize your landing pages, boost your social shares, and build email lists for your email marketing campaigns.

Customer Service Software

SalesForce

SalesForce has plenty of functionality, including automation and productivity features, to help your customer service team ace it at making your customers feel valued.

Zendesk

Zendesk is a comprehensive tool that gives you a powerful help desk solution that not only allows you to provide better customer service to your customers but also delivers data on customer engagement that you can use to improve your customer service.

Communication and Messaging Software

Skype

Skype is a video and audio calling tool as well as a messaging platform. Your team can use it to keep in touch with one another and your customers through many channels, including VoIP, landline and mobile calls.

Slack

Slack focuses on team communication and collaboration by forming specific channels that cater to particular departments and projects.

Project Management Software

Basecamp

Basecamp is a powerful productivity app that allows the entire team to collaborate on a project with extra functionality such as file and document sharing, to-do lists and messaging.

Trello

Trello is another productivity app that goes above and beyond what is expected. With this tool, you can create team boards with lists and cards based on team projects or individual projects, give each a deadline, and cross them off as they are completed.

Productivity and Notekeeping Apps

Evernote

Evernote makes it possible to remember everything you need to do in one digital notebook. If you love taking paper notes, then you’ll love Evernote.

Read Also: Marketing Cloud Software

Boomerang

Use Boomerang to take full control of your inbox so that the most important messages are always easily accessible when you need them.

Document Management Software

Google Drive

Document management software is among the most common computer programs used in offices, and you can do it all in one place with Google Drive. Create and store all types of documents, including slide presentations, spreadsheets, and word documents in the cloud where you can access them from just about anywhere.

Office 365

Microsoft’s full office suite provides a way to create, edit and store in the cloud any Microsoft format document, including Word, Excel and PowerPoint. Then, you can access it from any of up to five devices.

DropBox

DropBox gives you the opportunity to collaborate on files, share them, store them, and back them up in the cloud. The files are all automatically synced across all your devices.