Some expenses are unavoidable for your business – utilities, supplies, equipment. Some expenses are avoidable and The Queen of Free is back with suggestions, this time in the areas of productivity and marketing.
My favorite thing is free stuff. I’ll take anything.
Cindy Margolis, Model
Email Marketing
An overwhelming majority of online consumers use email and the main reason they sign up for newsletters and emails is to get discounts. In addition, the return on investment for email marketing is substantial. So, what are you waiting for? Mail Chimp is free for the basic “Entrepreneur” package of 2,000 subscribers and 12,000 emails – enough the get your campaign started or restarted.
Presentations
How many times is the information you need for your screenshot not in alignment – you need to scroll up or down to get it all and print screen just can’t capture it. This problem is solved with Awesome Screenshot, a scrolling screenshot maker. It has an added feature to annotate and highlight various passages and obscure unnecessary information. The Queen loves this one so much, she’s including the video:
Graphics and Stock Photos
Kaboompics (high resolution stock pictures)
Cupcake (common license high-end photography)
Befunky (photo editor, effects and collage maker)
If you’re like us, you’re always on the hunt for pictures, photos and graphics and sometimes Google images just doesn’t seem to understand your search criteria and yields results that just don’t make sense. Kaboompics and Cupcake offer interesting, unique and visually appealing pictures and Befunky has an editor and effects maker that’s easy and easy to get carried away.
Event Marketing, Small Business Sales
Your silent auction or your food truck needs a way to accept credit cards that’s efficient and affordable. The Square Reader hardware is completely free and hooks into your mobile phone. It’s fast to use and your money is deposited fast. Bonus – it can be used offline.
Stats and Analysis
You have your Google Analytics code inserted on your website and blog and yet it’s meaningless because you don’t have the time or patience to analyze the data – sound familiar? Quill Engage will do it for you in the form of a weekly, sensible summary.
Content Marketing
Is your blog tired? Are your enewsletters sad? As much as the information is important, the appearance counts too. Infogram allows you to create those great infographics and PollDaddy helps you craft surveys from your customers or audience that coordinate with your business and brand.
As always, these items are completely free, although some of them offer an upgraded version with monthly or per unit fees. Enjoy and please share your favorite free stuff.
Leisa Chester Weir
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