Tools for Entrepreneurs: Stay Ahead of the Competition
Great businesses are built on equally great ideas, that challenge the current paradigm and bring new products and services on the market.
However, being an entrepreneur takes a lot more work than just coming up with marketable ideas! Not that we want to diminish the importance of this step, but all successful entrepreneurs agree that the biggest challenges are met in the implementation phase.
Besides dealing with time constraints, close-to-impossible tasks, and daily crisis, you also must take into account the power of competition. Competitors can be a huge motivational factor, but without the right approach, they can also crush any promising new endeavors.
So, for your project to succeed, you must find the shortest and most efficient way from idea to well-established business.
Luckily, there are plenty of tools to help you stay as focused as possible, and below we listed the most-recommended ones by fellow entrepreneurs.
#1: Chat Collaboration Tools
It’s crucial to stay in touch with your team and make sure all your instructions reach the right members. However, team members should also be able to chat with each other in separate chat rooms, so various projects won’t overlap.
There are several tools that do a great job when it comes to separating chat tasks, but Slack is the one that does it quite nicely. The app works on both desktops and mobile devices, and it allows you to create all sorts of discussion threads, depending on the type of work you want to chat about.
This way, you don’t have to waste time with emails and keeping track of each email thread.
#2: Keep Projects Organized
Organization is the key to a smooth-running operation, but it can be difficult to keep track of several projects at once. The task increases in difficulty when you have different teams running different projects.
Luckily, there are some high-end project management tools you can use to make sure everything is running smoothly. For instance, Trello is a free project management tool that lets users create cards (one card can be assigned to a project) and then assign checklists, documents, and comments as needed.
Another recommended tool is Monday.com, where users have more flexibility when it comes to assigning projects and tasks to specific members.
#3: Improve Skills
Given that new ideas and competitors can show up every day, the only way to stay ahead and ensure your project has the upper hand is by constantly improving your skills and the ones of your team.
Now, due to the development of e-Learning platforms, this is not a difficult task. You just need some determination to stick with the online courses you choose to take.
For instance, an online business course is ideal for a new entrepreneur who is looking to learn as much as possible about the business environment. Moreover, some members of your team could benefit from sales training while others could sharpen their programming skills.
Since there are so many courses to choose from, the only limitation comes from your willingness to improve and build new skills.
#4: Presentation Tools
If you’re looking for investors or new partners, you will need to pitch your business idea in a way that’s appealing and interesting.
Since visuals are of crucial importance when it comes to communicating information in a simple and effective manner, you will need the support of powerful presentation tools. Most entrepreneurs recommend Canva, a tool that offers free access to several design tools that can be used to create gorgeous slides, magazine templates, and even PPC and social media ads.
Another tool that came highly recommended is Google Slides – the new and improved version of PowerPoint presentations.
#5: Email Tools
Whether you like it or not, the email is still the most potent marketing tool in our quiver. The email address represents the gateway to our customers’ attention, so make sure to use it wisely.
Most businesses use marketing automation platforms that send customized emails according to users’ interaction with the site or a landing page. However, these platforms may not work for a starting business, which is why tools like MailChimp and others are ideal.
Wrap Up
The list of tools can easily go on, but the idea remains the same. An entrepreneur must know how to manage their time and resources in order to focus on the things that matter for productivity and growth.
By delegating repetitive tasks to specialized tools and using available resources to improve the workflow, you create a better, more motivational work environment.
Oli Kang
Oli is a working mum who has a passion for teaching and all things educational. With a background in marketing, Oli manages the digital channels and content at Courses.com.au