I love that Gen Z always finds a way to make things fun.
6 small-business freebies
Savvy small-business owners and team managers, this one’s for you. It seems like every business software platform I’ve used takes five months and at least $50,000 to get up and running. So, that’s why I found some tech tools that can help you today. Oh, and they’re all free!
Grow your sales
🔍 Boost your web traffic: Most SEO and keyword tools are pricey, but Neil Patel’s UberSuggest has a free tier, so you can get more people to your website without spending a dime. You’ll see keyword volume, your keyword competitors and even seasonal trends.
- How to use it: Their free reports allow you to brainstorm headlines using key phrases people search for online regularly. You can also analyze your competitors’ websites, see what keywords they’re using and even steal their tactics! Sneaky smart.
👍 Get help with social media: Use ChatGPT. Yeah, there are specialized tools for social, but this is the best I’ve found. You can use it to generate captions for individual posts or come up with campaign ideas based on content from your website or blog.
- How to use it: The trick is to train ChatGPT to sound like you or your brand. Just include examples from other social media accounts you like or previous posts of yours that have performed well in your prompts!
🚘 Test-drive something flashier: If you’re skeptical about going all in on a larger solution, software platforms like NetSuite let you test-drive it for six months before you buy. One of my radio listeners increased their profits by 17% in about two months!
- How to use it: Think of NetSuite like QuickBooks on steroids. You can use its in-depth dashboards and expense tracking to improve your bottom line.
Scale your team
📈 Train new hires: Try Scribe. It uses talk-to-text to turn your existing processes into step-by-step guides. Onboarding new folks is a pain, and documenting your processes saves a ton of time. Plus, it reduces your risk of losing historical know-how if an “A” player leaves your company.
- How to use it: Turn on Scribe’s recorder and walk through your instructions, and it’ll automatically create an onboarding doc you can share with your team. Scribe has some handy templates, too. The free version is pretty darn good, but if you want features like custom branding, you can always upgrade to a paid account later.
⚡ Automate daily tasks: Zapier’s basic automation platform is free and can help you cut down on mindless data entry. It also helps your different systems “talk” to each other, even if they don’t have built-in integrations. You don’t have to know any code, either. Super handy.
Still using QuickBooks? 3 reasons it's time to switch
What powers your business? Maybe you’re thinking of people or technology. For almost all of us, the honest answer is data.
Data is king, from customer information to the files we access daily. Financial records are no exception, and you need the right tools to manage yours correctly.
Small-biz smarts: When you have contracts with different companies and vendors, you’ll never remember those dates. Create a shared work calendar that gives everyone who needs it notice when a contract is renewing. Pro tip: Build in time in case you have a 30- or 90-day out.
🗺️ “Sofa King: Our prices are Sofa King low!” I’ll never forget when I saw that on a sign in Los Angeles. Own a biz? There’s a better way to get someone’s attention! Google Maps just added a bunch of options to make it simpler to get your business noticed and verified. Just upload a utility bill, a picture of your storefront or insurance documents. Follow the step-by-step instructions here.
Sick of QuickBooks? 3 accounting and budgeting software options
You shouldn’t do some things alone as a business owner, like managing your budget. Sure, you could try, and you very well may succeed. But it can take a lot of time and might cause a huge mess later on.
That’s why tons of people use QuickBooks to help with their budgeting. If you haven’t heard of it, QuickBooks is a popular small business accounting software. Most people utilize it because it’s versatile and easy on the wallet — but so are a lot of other programs you could be using.
3 secrets to building a successful business
Chasing your passions can be scary because it comes with many risks. When I was 25, I left behind a job that paid $150,000 a year so I could help people understand media and technology. Since then, I’ve flourished — and I’d like to teach you three essential tips for starting a business.
Want to make money podcasting?
Trying to start a podcast? Kim chats with the guy who started the very first podcast about podcasts. Now he’s helping creators grow their shows and make money.
Want to grow your small biz on social? Instagram Reels and YouTube Shorts are now better than TikTok (paywall link) for growing your audience. In 2023, brands spent 700% more on YouTube Shorts creator partnerships than the year before. Gotta go where the money is!
Have a Yelp page? Businesses that include their hours, phone number, website and a photo on Yelp get 7.6 times more pageviews per month. Dang. Log in and make sure yours is up to date!
The web is dying ☠️
Remember where you heard it first. With AI saving a click over to a website, it’s only a matter of time until we say RIP to surfing the web.
Fake business grants are on the rise: Red flags: You got it without applying, they contacted you on social media, and/or you’ve never heard of the “federal agency” behind the grant. They may also ask for upfront payments, say the funds can be used for “anything,” and then ask for personal info you already sent in your application. Watch out.
Get a FREE job post: Do you need to hire at your business? It’s tough. I’ve had great success finding really wonderful, hardworking people on LinkedIn. You can post a job for free right now using my link.
Founded in 1964, the nonprofit SCORE organization has over 11,000 volunteers ready and willing to help you take your small business — or career — to the next level with free, expert mentoring and resources.
Small-biz boost: Amazon is giving over $250,000 in grants to small businesses that earn less than $1 million per year. Plus, it’s rolling out a new Small Business Success Studio — think free tutorials on loan applications and website optimization. Applications close May 24.
We may receive a commission when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.
Get help for your business: Forget sorting through tons of resumes. I use prescreening questions to qualify applicants. Talk about a timesaver! Get one free job posting now using my link at LinkedIn.com/kim.
Small-biz tip: Getting the right domain is an important part of settling on a name. Check for a site name across different top-level domains (think .com, .net., .biz) and see how much they cost at iwantmyname.com.
Best AI tools to create ads, write sales emails, A/B test products and more
Being a small-business owner or employee generally means you wear many hats. Believe me, I know. I’m a national radio show host, saleswoman, marketer, negotiator, strategist, mentor, analyst … I could go on.
That’s why I’m always on the lookout for things that make managing all those roles — for me and you — a little easier. We’re deep enough into the AI revolution that the tools aren’t just gimmicks. They’re actually useful.
Stop missing video meetings: Use this secret Google Calendar setting
Video meetings are practically unavoidable — and missing a call is just as bad as not attending an in-person meeting. Since they’re virtual, though, they’re easy to forget. Those days are over with this secret setting: Google Calendar daily agenda feature.
5 things you need to know before Google Analytics changes
What’s the secret to a successful website? Although effective user interface (UI) and good web design are important, you should also use data metrics to optimize your site’s potential. Here at the Komando HQ, we trust Google Analytics to give us a bird’s-eye view of how our site is doing.