Everybody loves “free” – and nowhere is that more true than in the online business world. Here are 7 absolutely free tools and services you can use to help manage and maintain your e-business right now. Plus, these tools are adware and spyware-free, so you never have to worry about them installing useless junk or slowing down your computer!
1. The Google Toolbar - Google’s free toolbar is a must-have addition to any browser. With it, you can immediately check out another site’s Google ranking (called PageRank), tap into market research possibilities using Google Groups and see the latest news in your industry using Google News. You can also see how your competitors are pricing and displaying their products through the “Search Froogle” option – Google’s shopping comparison site. Download it free from http://toolbar.google.com
2. WordTracker Keyword Suggestion Tool – Want to know what people are searching for? Just type a keyword into the WordTracker Keyword Suggestion Tool and you’ll get the first 100 results related to the keyword you typed in. This free tool is great for finding out what people really search for – but keep in mind that results are estimated based on daily search volume, so you’ll get more results for Christmas in December than you would in July. For seasonal searches, keeping this in mind will help you more accurately target your ideal keywords throughout the year. Try it out at http://freekeywords.wordtracker.com/
3. Remember the Milk – A free online organizer and to-do list that reminds you of appointments, tasks, shopping lists or anything else you tell it to. Works with SMS, instant messaging, iPhone/iPod, Google Calendar and it also works offline. A great way to stay organized without cluttering your desk up with sticky notes! Grab a free account at http://www.rememberthemilk.com
4. OnlinePDF Creation Service – Got 15 minutes? OnlinePDF.com will turn your document into a flawless Adobe PDF free of charge. PDFs can be used on both Macs and PCs and are easy and fast to transfer over the web, making them an ideal format for sharing ideas, concepts or reports. You can use the OnlinePDF service to convert Microsoft Word documents, Powerpoint presentations, Microsoft Publisher files, HTML files and many standalone graphics files. Just click the Convert to PDF for Free link at http://PDFOnline.com
5. SurveyMonkey – Create online surveys for free. Stores up to 100 responses at no charge – if you want more than that, a small monthly fee can make it happen. You can ask any type of questions ranging from fill-in-the-blank to checkboxes and radio buttons. A great way to find out what your customers or website visitors think of a certain product or service. Create a free account at http://www.surveymonkey.com
6. YouSendIt - Need to send a big e-mail attachment but your server keeps choking on it? You need YouSendIt. This free service will let you store anything up to 1 gigabyte in size for seven days. Ideal for those large attachments that just won’t fit into an e-mail. Try it at http://www.yousendit.com
7. TrendMicro Housecall – Is your computer acting abnormally slow? Are windows popping up all over the screen from less-than-desirable websites? Do you find questionable programs on your computer and have no idea how they got there? You may be the victim of spyware or adware. To scan your computer for free, go to TrendMicro’s free Housecall online scanning service at http://housecall.trendmicro.com/
Hopefully these tools will help your online business run a little smoother – both on the web and off. Enjoy!
Tags: create pdf, create survey, free web tools, spyware scan, virus scan, web resources
Google toolbar is an essential tool to help build and maintain your online business. I would also recommend the Adblock add on for Firefox that will help your browser moving fast by removing all those pesky ad’s from slowing your browser down.