{"appState":{"pageLoadApiCallsStatus":true},"articleState":{"article":{"headers":{"creationTime":"2016-03-26T14:49:41+00:00","modifiedTime":"2023-08-15T17:51:49+00:00","timestamp":"2023-08-15T18:01:02+00:00"},"data":{"breadcrumbs":[{"name":"Business, Careers, & Money","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/34224"},"slug":"business-careers-money","categoryId":34224},{"name":"Business","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/34225"},"slug":"business","categoryId":34225},{"name":"Small Business","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/34251"},"slug":"small-business","categoryId":34251},{"name":"General Small Business","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/34253"},"slug":"general-small-business","categoryId":34253}],"title":"Five Free, Valuable Online Tools for Managing Your Business","strippedTitle":"five free, valuable online tools for managing your business","slug":"tapping-into-five-free-valuable-online-tools-for-managing-your-business","canonicalUrl":"","seo":{"metaDescription":"No matter whether you’re just starting your own micro-business or you’ve been working for several years, you want everything to run smoothly and cost effectivel","noIndex":0,"noFollow":0},"content":"No matter whether you’re just starting your own micro-business or you’ve been working for several years, you want everything to run smoothly and cost effectively. As a micro-entrepreneur, your focus is to meet your target market’s needs while staying ahead of your competition. These free resources can help you.\r\n<ul class=\"level-one\">\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>Get a free email account for business use.</b> Email is indispensable for communication, marketing, and other pursuits. You can get free email at <a href=\"http://www.gmail.com\">Gmail</a> or <a href=\"http://yahoo.com\">Yahoo</a>, and other providers.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>Try </b><a href=\"http://www.openoffice.org\"><b>Open Office Software Suite</b></a><b>.</b> This powerful suite of business productivity tools includes word processing, spreadsheet, presentation software, and other software programs. The software is free and regularly upgraded and refined by open source software developers.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>Network with </b><a href=\"http://www.linkedin.com\"><b>LinkedIn</b></a><b>. </b>On this site, you can network with other businesses and professionals. You can make lots of valuable contacts, find prospects, and get answers to many of your questions from other professionals and specialists.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>Market through e-mail.</b> <a href=\"http://www.mailchimp.com\">Mailchimp</a> is a free email service to do e-mail distribution and marketing. You can send an email blast for up to 2,000 addresses on your list at no cost, which is perfect for businesses just starting out and needing a good way to manage a list of prospects and customers.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>Use </b><a href=\"http://www.youtube.com\"><b>YouTube</b></a><b>. </b>This popular video platform gives you the ability not only to gain information and news (including lots of free how-to videos on a variety of business topics), but you have the ability to create your own videos (ranging from providing content to doing sales and marketing presentations) at no cost.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n</ul>","description":"No matter whether you’re just starting your own micro-business or you’ve been working for several years, you want everything to run smoothly and cost effectively. As a micro-entrepreneur, your focus is to meet your target market’s needs while staying ahead of your competition. 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You can make lots of valuable contacts, find prospects, and get answers to many of your questions from other professionals and specialists.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>Market through e-mail.</b> <a href=\"http://www.mailchimp.com\">Mailchimp</a> is a free email service to do e-mail distribution and marketing. 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As a certified financial planner, he personally coaches his clients on stock investing strategies. 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Five Free, Valuable Online Tools for Managing Your Business

By: Paul Mladjenovic and

Updated: 08-15-2023

From The Book: Micro-Entrepreneurship For Dummies

Micro-Entrepreneurship For Dummies

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No matter whether you’re just starting your own micro-business or you’ve been working for several years, you want everything to run smoothly and cost effectively. As a micro-entrepreneur, your focus is to meet your target market’s needs while staying ahead of your competition. These free resources can help you.

Get a free email account for business use. Email is indispensable for communication, marketing, and other pursuits. You can get free email at Gmail or Yahoo, and other providers.
Try Open Office Software Suite. This powerful suite of business productivity tools includes word processing, spreadsheet, presentation software, and other software programs. The software is free and regularly upgraded and refined by open source software developers.
Network with LinkedIn. On this site, you can network with other businesses and professionals. You can make lots of valuable contacts, find prospects, and get answers to many of your questions from other professionals and specialists.
Market through e-mail. Mailchimp is a free email service to do e-mail distribution and marketing. You can send an email blast for up to 2,000 addresses on your list at no cost, which is perfect for businesses just starting out and needing a good way to manage a list of prospects and customers.
Use YouTube. This popular video platform gives you the ability not only to gain information and news (including lots of free how-to videos on a variety of business topics), but you have the ability to create your own videos (ranging from providing content to doing sales and marketing presentations) at no cost.

About This Article

This article is from the book:

Micro-Entrepreneurship For Dummies ,

About the book author:

Paul Mladjenovic is a certified financial planner, micro-entrepreneur, and home business educator with more than 25 years' experience writing and teaching about financial and business start-up topics. He owns RavingCapitalist.com and is also the author of Stock Investing For Dummies.

This article can be found in the category:

General Small Business ,