The last few weeks it just seems like new tools and applications are appearing everywhere. In general, I like the tried-and-true aps, but I thought I’d compile a list of a few that I like here that may be helpful. I think entrepreneurs, small businesses and non-profit organizations alike will appreciate these great marketing tools — especially if they are trying to move beyond a static website as their main marketing tool on the internet.
- Here’s a very easy way to sell your ebook at YouPublish.com, where you keep 50% of the proceeds. You’ll want to make your book into a pdf to distribute it. Works for distributing video, podcasts, as well as books.
- Looking for a way to record your podcast? Have you tried SKYPE recorder at skype.com? What about BlogTalkRadio.com? How about utterz.com (updated 5/27/2011 no longer active link) - great for INSTANT podcasts. With both blogtalk and utterz you use your phone. With skype, you’ll probably need a microphone unless your computer has one built in.
- Want to hold a webinar? Try the free 30 day trial of gotomeeting.com where you send out an email with instructions to your audience how to log into see your computer screen. Then you can take them through powerpoints, word documents, websites, whatever. It’s $50 a month after the first 30 days. Great for longer distance clients too — With the price of gas these days, it would pay for itself with the price of one long distance meeting a month!
- Send an online email newsletter with Constant Contact (I keep calling it by the tea name, forgive me if I slip up!) Easy-to-use templates and easy-to-use email sign-up form code to paste in your website or blog. Again its only the first 30 days that are free, but only $15 a month afterwards.Hey, while you’re here — take a minute to sign up for my e-newsletter! The form is in the upper righthand corner under my photo. Those who read thru the feedreader, click through into Branding & Marketing to enter your email address. I promise I’ll send out an e-newsletter soon!
Let me know which ones you like and which other ones I may have missed. I just found out this morning about YouPublish (thanks Vicki!) and haven’t used it yet, but have used the others. Each one has a minor learning curve.
Your thoughts?
Easy, Fast and F*R*E*E Web2.0 Marketing Tools for Your Business
I thought you were going to list FREE marketing tools? Two of out of the three are only free in the trial periods but afterwards it costs money. The title of your article said FREE.
LOL.
Stephen:
You are so right!! I guess there’s no such thing as a “free lunch”. But you could keep re-signing up for the free trial with free email accounts like gmail, hotmail etc. That’s a pain! Not to mention having to move all your info from each account.
Guess I should have named it FREE TRIAL marketing tools! Ha, ha!
Chris
I personally like Toggl which is a FREE time tracking software download (no marketing trial, just free). You can upgrade for more features of course for a price. But the basic version works just fine for me.
http://www.toggl.com
This is a great topic! Not enough people realize that you don’t have to go out and spend a billion dollars on software to get your business running. If you’re looking for free as in beer software, one of my favorite sites is http://www.osalt.com/. The whole site is dedicated to open source (free) alternatives to commercial software. If you have a specific need, I can help. Feel *free* to contact me.
Rebecca:
A friend of mine swears by toggle for tracking time. I use FunctionFox at work myself, but it’s not free.
thanks for commenting!
Chris
Matthew:
Thanks for adding to the “free” tools discussion!
Chris
Pingback:uberVU - social comments
I’m a Basecamper user and I find Timeneye (it’s a webapp). http://www.timeneye.com
I like Replicon time tracking software is the most hassle free timesheet software - http://www.replicon.com I had ever used and experienced yet.
I really like TimeSheet Reporter (http://www.timesheetreporter.com), which allows you to track time via your Outlook calendar.