Here are the software platforms, websites, and services we recommend to our entrepreneurs to produce professional quality on a budget.
Not everyone can or needs to build a website from scratch. WordPress can be a lot for novices to the web dev scene. Fortunately, there are great resources to give you a digital footprint for your brand.
Simple drag & drop websites that have professional templates built on a user-friendly platform:
Easy Ecommerce:
Building a professional brand identity with these easy, affordable resources:
Software for design:
Free stock video & photo sites:
Managing and measuring your digital footprint can be incredibly important for when starting and growing your company. Not all startups need this, but many do. In fact, one of the first things Innovation PortAL recommends when launching a new company is to “create your digital footprint,” or to set up accounts on each major social media platform. The important ones: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, and YouTube. Snapchat is also relevant depending on industry; and you should always keep track of newer or niche platforms like TicToc and Twitch. Software that syncs with these social media platforms can make your life easier and can keep a good “cadence” of posts for your digital following. Here are some resources that help:
Sometimes paying for assets or services is worth the money and time-savings. Learning to do everything from scratch can be costly in many ways, so we recommend exploring contracted services through online marketplaces when necessary. These sites also have internal rating systems so that you can get an idea of the quality and reliability of the person or firm you’re working with.
Understanding financial fundamentals is crucial for gauging the viability of your idea or startup. You can’t scale without insight into your venture’s financial wellbeing. Here are tools that make it easy:
Startups seldom need Salesforce right out the gate. It can be like getting a Ferrari for a quick commute. Pick a CRM that is easy to setup and maintain, and make sure that it is useful for your needs. Here are some ones we recommend:
Any software or resources that we missed? We’d love to grow this list over time. Tell us what you use to save time and money while producing better results!