12 Great Web 2.0 Services For Your Business
by Yolandi Janse van Rensburg on 18/01/10 at 8:50 am
1 comment
I can’t even imagine a small business existing without using the web. Even the smallest possible business would at least use email. Well, seeing how the Internet has evolved, we are now lucky enough to include a few more services to our list of Web 2.0 startups that will really change the way you do business.
Focus takes a look at 12 services that help small businesses operate more efficiently and inexpensively. In their article Focus names three services for different areas in business such as expense traking and money management; collaboration; invoice and billing; and organising. Here’s a quick summary of the services Focus mentions:
Expense Tracking & Money Management
Mint helps you to synch your bank accounts, extract your financial data and sort it into charts and graphs that will enable you to make better informed decisions.
InstaCalc is a free calculator that can handle everything from addition and subtraction to calculus and generate results in any number of easy-to-read charts or graphs.
This is an all-purpose money management service but, it’s also a community of small business owners and entrepreneurs that discuss financial advice and strategies amongst each other.
Collaboration
Basecamp is a full-service product management platform, permitting teams to enumerate tasks, set milestones, and leave a documented record of all progress (or lack thereof) on any given project.
- Campfire
This is a collaborative chat platform intended for use side by side with Basecamp. Unlike instant messaging services, Campfire was built from the ground up with business chat in mind. Features include secure, password-protected chatrooms for discussions with clients or employees as well as secure one on one chats.
This service works by replacing awkward phone calls and web chats with interactive “webinars”, where each party can not only speak verbally, but also see what’s on the other party’s computer screen in real time.
With Meebo.com, you can sign in to every IM service imaginable, from AIM and Yahoo to Facebook and Google Talk simultaneously. One interface, one window.
Invoicing & Billing
This service automates and records every invoice you send out. Ideal for freelancers and service businesses, Freshbooks can be set up to invoice on set intervals, eliminating the need to juggle different payout dates mentally.
Sidejob Track offers you everything from customizable invoices and the ability to invoice by project total or percentage increments.
Organization
On a single screen, you can maintain several calendars (say, work, exercise, family) demarcated by different colored labels. Best of all, Google Calendar lets you get an update on upcoming tasks via SMS text message, no matter where you happen to be.
- Neptune
The application for individual businesspeople is Neptune. It’s a simple, no-frills system that contains your desired tasks, e-mails you a reminder in the morning, and allows you to store documents pertaining to the tasks you enumerate.
Thanks Focus for this sufficient list of services. I guess those who still choose to ignore it will have to learn the hard way. Remember, if you’re not using it, you’re competitors probably are.
Yolandi Janse van Rensburg writes about social media, marketing, life and, of course, cars. We say “of course” because Yolandi is nuts about anything on 4 wheels and runs Autofemme, a blog about cars. Our Ideate sub-editor is also the Heavy Chef girl at World Wide Creative. You can follow her on Twitter @Yolandi_JvR View more articles by Yolandi Janse van Rensburg.
Tags: small business, Web 2.0
Andy
Feb 28th, 2010
Mint is a great one, though it’s not available to people in South Africa.