4 Tools Every Business Should Be Using
Managing and growing a business is a huge responsibility. It’s a typical reflection of the saying, “nothing good comes easy. Determining the right tools to use in enhancing business operations is another hurdle many entrepreneurs try to avoid.
This is mostly because choosing the wrong tool could also have severe effects on the company’s performance. Instead of trying to figure it out, many stick to the traditional methods of doing business. The good news is that that various business solutions facilitate a smooth workflow and customer satisfaction. In this article, we’ll outline four of these tools.
1. Background Checking Tool
When recruiting new employees, it’s essential to conduct reference checks for each new applicant’s detailed background. It’s common knowledge that applicants largely glorify information in their resumes. No doubt, they do this to give themselves a competitive edge in the job application process.
Although a person’s past may not always be a credible source of information when judging their character, it’s very relevant to ensure your business’s integrity. This is because wrong decisions have lasting effects. And so, to conduct a thorough background check on your employees, you could run their contact information, first name, and last name on Google. Or, for more stringent checks, ask for their fingerprints by the sheriff’s office, county courthouse, and any other law enforcement office.
Alternatively, you can look up mugshots online on sites like GoLookUp. The site has millions of U.S public records. You can conduct basic background checks or run more stringent checks on court records, criminal and arrest records, police reports, inmate details, federal prison reports, felony charges, and recent arrests— if there are any.
2. Marketing Tool
Marketing is a key part of business development. Going through the distribution of advertising content through various marketing materials like direct mail, brochures, websites, social media, etc., can be hectic. Although, to a large extent, using billboards, flyers, business cards, and newspapers can be useful in brand awareness, tools like MailChimp, HubSpot, Hootsuite expedite the process of reaching your target audience, especially in digital marketing.
If you prefer to go down the traditional route and market your business using flyers or brochures, keep in mind that they must have a professional look. Custom pocket folders can help on that front. Companies like The Mines Press offer a range of custom branded business materials. You’ll find pocket folders, presentation folders, business cards, flyers, brochures, booklets, custom report covers, labels, catalogs, and more.
3. Accounting Tool
As humans, we sometimes tend to be affected by uncontrollable situations that affect our moods and perceptions. And although unintended, such dispositions often involve the collection, management, and interpretation of financial data.
Making sure your business’s financial records are accurate can sometimes be a burdensome task. Since one misplaced number could destroy your company depending on the error’s gravity, no mistakes are allowed. So, for the sake of due diligence and to ensure precision in your financial records, you could try accounting solutions like QuickBooks, Zoho Books, FreshBooks, and Sage.
4. Project Management Tool
It’s easier to manage affairs when you work for yourself and don’t have employees to supervise. However, if you have employees, you might need a little help to adequately assign tasks, supervise multiple projects, and ensure service speed. On that front, project management tools like Trello, Asana, WorkZone, and JIRA could help you achieve this.
These tools help you balance company resource allocation and effectively schedule and manage time. You can also quickly and easily communicate with your employees, and you’ll also have access to real-time reporting on a central platform. This ultimately enhances customer service and improves consumer satisfaction.
All in all, the above-listed tools will ensure a smooth and efficient workflow.