If you are a startup founder, you are no stranger to the numerous obstacles and challenges all small business owners face – especially in the current unpredictable socio-economic climate. However, all challenges can be met head-on by those who wish to be successful and you are no different. When you have a solid team and the right support, all you need are the essential startup tools to help your business grow and maintain steady development.

Several easily accessible tools for startups are available that help you reduce your spending and run your business smoothly. However, the key to choosing the right startup tools is knowing what your business will require to sustain and grow. This article will help you find the best startup tools in the market so your business can continue to thrive.

We have compiled a list of some of the best startup tools and resources to help you filter your business’s needs easier and run a successful venture.

Marketing tools for startups

The most crucial aspect of your business is its brand image and a well-thought-out marketing strategy. Some effective marketing startup tools ensure that you take a solution-oriented approach. With the right marketing strategies, your potential customers will only think of your business when they think of that particular product.

1. Google analytics

A web analytics tool, Google analytics allows startup users to track their website visitors and see where the traffic is coming from, and what they are engaging with on the website. If you’re a business with an official website, chances are you’re looking for a startup tool to push people towards visiting your website.

A lot of effort, time, and money is spent on content creation, promoting your startup, and marketing your business. Google Analytics helps ascertain if people are engaging with the content, and if so, which ones.

2. Sumo

Sumo helps collect email addresses and lead information so you can boost your business through this avenue. It offers you several ways to capture and collect the email addresses, such as welcome mats, triggered pop-ups, and smart bars, to name a few.

Businesses often struggle with email collection because these lists are either unavailable without you spending a lot of money, or they require tools that are not easily or cheaply available. However, Sumo offers both premium and free services to its users, and the latter is ideal for most startups.

3. Elink.io

Elink.io is an all-in-one content curation and marketing startup tool that helps business owners like yourself and marketers publish email newsletters, web pages, and embed web connect via web links.

It is one of the most effective tools for startups when it comes to marketing. You can not only convert collections to email newsletters but also export them to popular email websites like Gmail, MailChimp, and other platforms that allow HTML code.

If you can ensure the high quality of your content, Elink.io will do the rest for you, with design and prebuilt responsive layouts while tracking engagement insights on the content shared.

Startup tools for customer support

A strong customer support team combined with the right startup tools is the key to a successful business. A positive experience with one customer will gain loyalty and guarantee more customers through reviews and word-of-mouth recommendations.

1. Zendesk

Zendesk is a great tool for startups that are looking to improve their customer service. It offers excellent custom team collaboration and customer service tools that are designed to improve customer engagement and loyalty.

Zendesk has a messaging feature that helps deliver rich interactive experiences to your customers and connects you with them across your web and social media apps.

2. Groove

Groove is an all-in-one customer engagement platform that helps teams deliver high quality, and customized support. This startup tool aims to collaborate from a shared inbox, and automate customer interactions throughout the web while generating reports and insights.

This startup tool is known for being the simplest help desk to help you focus on personal customer support as your business grows.

3. HelpScout

HelpScout is a customer service platform that promises a balance so your customers are happy with their experience when interacting with your business. It is popular for leveling up team collaborations with a shared inbox, and knowledge base, etc.

Regardless of the number of team members connected to the shared team inboxes, the team is on the same page. It leverages automation to move fast while ensuring that the customers get a customized, personal, and helpful experience.

It also keeps a constant customers inflow by embedding helpful articles on your website.

Startup tools for creative direction

The ideation phase of your startup is crucial to a successful launch. If you do not know how the market works, whom you are competing against, the type of product you are going to sell, or other important business elements, then you will find yourself confused about your business idea.

Here are some basic startup tools that help you get direction.

1. Germ.io

Germ.io is popular for helping businesses manage their concept and ideas. They connect your ideas to a bigger picture so you know what your goal is and how you can market it successfully. They help shape up your business idea enough for you to plan out a marketing plan and administer it accordingly.

It creates actionable strategies to help you reach a point in your ideation where you’re close to launching your business and can successfully answer the ‘why’s, how’s and what of the business. As an effective tool for the startup, Germ.io is available for free but gives you the option of buying a premium membership for an upgraded experience.

2. Squad help

If you have to decide the name of your startup and are struggling with coming up with something that is both catchy and matches the purpose of your business, then Squad Help is the best startup tool for you to use here. It assists you in finding the ideal name for your business and works by launching a context to engage naming experts. These experts guide you through the process of finding the perfect name for your business idea.

You can also explore their premium feature that allows you to go through their list of hand-picked names, compiled thematically, and available for immediate purchase. Through the app is not free, you can avail of it for as low as $200 per contest. There is a great chance you’ll find a name that is perfect for you.

3. Javelin

Javelin is dubbed as a one-stop solution for several startups that are struggling with customer-based development. It helps you identify the needs of your customers and validate new products. This is a platform for innovators who want to measure their product’s market fit with the assistance of their pre-designed surveys.

With Javelin, you’re going to end up saving a lot of time and money, as it directs you towards an end goal with your ideation process. The platform is free to sign up for, but you have the option to go for its premium services as well.

Startup tools: Back-office management support

For a startup to run without any glitches, the back-office operations need to be handled with care.

1. Monily

Monily is an accounting and bookkeeping services provider with expertise in managing and streamlining finances for startups and small and medium-sized businesses. From accounting, bookkeeping, financial reporting, payroll management to offering financial intelligence and CFO services, their end-to-end range of accounting solutions has helped thousands of startups to get their finances back on track and attract investors.

Accounting is a time-consuming task and there are high chances for errors with serious impacts. If you are new to accounting, then Monily and its team of professionals can offer you proactive financial and strategic advice based on the financial health of your business.

2. BambooHR

BambooHR is an all-in-one HR software that caters to small and medium-sized businesses and is vital in helping their employees. It collects and classifies information of an employee throughout their time at a company. This information can help your small business specifically with talent retention, among other things.

BambooHR gives you the time and insight to focus on the people who work for you while making the hiring and onboarding processes easier, thus, building a great organizational culture for the human resources to develop adequately. In short, you can manage your team more efficiently through BambooHR.

3. Zenefits

Zenefits is another tool for startups that helps you with HR solutions, especially as someone who might be new to business operations. They manage your employees with ease through streamlined onboarding and easy PTO tracking.

You will find that both the hiring process and talent retention will be simplified for your workforce while adding excellent benefits to them, such as healthcare plans, commuter benefits, etc.

Takeaway

The article above helps you explore an exhaustive list of startup tools, covering various domains and functions, that will set you up for success. With the right startup tools, you will be able to stay ahead of the curve. It is a fool-proof way to attract investors and get the funding your startup deserves. Good luck!

Farwah Jafri

Farwah Jafri is a financial management expert and Product Owner at Monily, where she leads financial services for small and medium businesses. With over a decade of experience, including a directorial role at Arthur Lawrence UK Ltd., she specializes in bookkeeping, payroll, and financial analytics. Farwah holds an MBA from Alliance Manchester Business School and a BS in Computer Software Engineering. Based in Houston, Texas, she is dedicated to helping businesses better their financial operations.