Top Value-Add Technologies

If you’re a founder, executive or entrepreneur no doubt you’ve experienced the anxiety that comes with figuring out what marketing levers to pull and when. There are so many tools out there that it’s easy to get lost in the noise. Is this software worth it? Will this platform actually help grow my online business or will it just waste time? Sound familiar? Don’t worry your fellow founders, marketers, and entrepreneurs are here to help. Here are some experienced-based recommendations on the top value-add technologies to take your brand to the next level.

Easy Bookings > More Valuable Connections

As a business owner, your time is precious. You can’t afford to waste it on tasks that can be easily automated. One such task is booking appointments or calls with customers and clients.

There are a number of software options out there that can automate this process for you, freeing up your time to focus on more important things. Including Calendly, Chili Piper, and others.

When choosing a booking software, look for one that integrates with your email and calendar system, as well as your CRM (if you have one). This will make it easy to keep track of your appointments and ensure that nothing falls through the cracks.

Communicate Better > Build a Better Brand

Effective communication is essential for any business, but it can be a challenge when you have employees working in different locations or time zones. Thankfully, there are a number of tools that can help with this.

Slack is a great option for real-time communication between team members. It’s also easy to use and set up, which is a bonus. There are also a number of project management tools like Asana and Trello that can help teams keep track of tasks and deadlines, as well as communicate with each other about the work they’re doing.

Both of these tools offer free plans that should be sufficient for most small businesses. If you find that you need more features down the line, you can always upgrade to a paid plan.

Slack is my team’s biggest recent value add – it’s a deceptively simple messaging platform that works wonders for internal communication. It’s a medium between email and texting. Slack is professional enough for the workplace but casual enough to maintain agile effectiveness.

• Haley Wood – Founder, The Look.

Connect Better > Grow Your Network

In the past, business networking was all about attending events and meeting as many people as possible. While that’s still a part of it, the landscape has changed quite a bit in recent years.

Now, networking is about connecting the online and offline worlds to create strong, multi-level professional relationships. Enter digital business cards, which offer a cool, effective, and seamless way to exchange info and stay in touch with valuable networking connections

Digital business cards – specifically Popl digital business cards – are a huge value-add…They’ll take your word-of-mouth to the next level.

Stephen Schweickart – CMO, ANGEL RAMOS

Video, the Wave of the Future

To reach a wider audience Video marketing is one of the most effective ways to reach a wider audience and build your brand. Thanks to platforms like YouTube and Vimeo, it’s easier than ever to create and share high-quality videos. For more direct uses of video in marketing and sales efforts, you can use tools like Loom and Vidyard to massively improve your outbound.

If you’re not sure where to start, there are plenty of resources available to help you get started with video marketing. Once you have some videos created, be sure to promote them across your social media channels and on your website. You can also run ads on platforms like YouTube and Facebook to reach an even wider audience.

Organized Social = Consistent Branding

Social media is a powerful tool that can be used to reach new customers, engage with existing ones, and build your brand. But it can also be a huge time sink if you’re not careful.

One way to avoid this is to get organized from the start. Create a social media calendar that outlines when you’ll post what content, and make sure to stick to it. This will help ensure that your social media presence remains consistent, without requiring all of your attention all the time.

You should also consider using social media management tools like Hootsuite or Buffer. These platforms allow you to schedule posts in advance, as well as track engagement and analyze your results.

If social is important to your brand (as it is mine), you may love a social management tool like SproutSocial or HubSpot. Choose a social manager that feels intuitive and helpful. You’ll know – and, when you do, you’ll see more and more the value of organized social media management. It’s an incredible “equalizer” that can help scrappy entrepreneurs maintain consistent online branding without losing their unique elements of fun.

• Tiffany Asamoah – Founder, BOLD Swim

Don’t Forget About Email

Email marketing is often overshadowed by newer marketing channels, but it’s still one of the most effective ways to reach your audience.

To get the most out of email marketing, you need to use the right tools. MailChimp and Constant Contact are two of the most popular options, and they offer a number of features that can help you automate your email marketing efforts and grow your list.

Both platforms offer free plans for small businesses, so you can get started without spending a lot of money. And if you find that you need more features down the line, you can always upgrade to a paid plan.

Project Management Is Key

“Using the right project management tool,” says Cuso Cuts’ Cody Allen, “is critical. Great project management software should be straightforward and easy for your team to use. It should feel like something that helps, not just another system to learn.”

Whether you’re using ClickUp, Asana, or some other popular project and team management system, it’s worth digging in to find to make the right choice for your organization or brand. Then, once you’ve made your choice nurture the system within your company. Set up trainings, talk about the new ways of doing things up, and advocate for organized project management.

Putting It Together | Conclusion

There are a lot of different marketing technologies and tools available, and it can be tough to know which ones to use. But if you want to give your business the best chance of success, its a question worth answering. Start with some of the suggestions here, and you’re on the right track!