We have put together a small list of Startup and eBusiness Resources which will get you going quickly. These are some of the more recognized online tools and service brands.
Online Design Service
99designs – Description: logo/web design Competitive bid site to create custom logos, graphics, company names
Online Meeting Software
Any Meeting – Description: Free online meeting software.
Dropbox – Description: free and paid file storage and synching application.
This short list features some of the best in there category and some have thousands of users ranging from micro businesses to fortune 500 companies. More recommendations can be seen at our Pomalift Startup Resources page. Since we are continually developing, testing and researching more online software tools, if you have some recommendations send us a tweet or leave a comment below and we may add your link to our list.
If you are running an ebusiness you will likely have many tasks, todo’s, lists and so on. To effectively manage all the activities we have researched and tried many online project management tools to help with workflow.
Since communication is key in our company culture we found that a good easy to use project management tool was essential to keep everyone on the same page as well just keeping our own tasks organized.
We found Trello. Check it out.
Let us know what you think. We are building a best tools for ebusiness. Should we add this to the Pomalift Top Tools for eBusiness list?
The internet has provided potential business owners with opportunities to start their own enterprise with minimum set-up fees, the ability to work remotely, and the chance to connect with potential customers around the globe. Below are a selection of business models entrepreneurs and organizations are using to earn money online.
Advertising
The advertising business model is compatible with a range of services, from blogging and email, to apps, software and IM programs. Business models based on advertising can either utilize advertising services, like Google AdWords, or create and distribute the adverts themselves. Organizations earning money by selling advertising space on their website might also earn revenue from other ventures, for example selling products, however, advertising and sponsorship comprise the majority of their income.
Brainient (www.brainient.com) is a start-up that specializes in video advertising. Their software enables their clients to produce interactive videos, and add code to their website which tracks user behavior and provides visitors with targeted video adverts.
Affiliate
Affiliate business models are similar to advertising, except they carry a lower financial risk for the seller. Instead of earning an upfront fee, an affiliate partner’s payment is commission-based: it is usually determined by the number of clicks or sales referrals from the partner to the merchant website. The success of this business model depends on the partner website’s ability to market the businesses or products they are advertising to their visitors.
Woot (www.woot.com) has successfully leveraged the affiliate business model. Each day, the website sells one product at a discounted price, however they only have a limited number to sell, so impress a sense of urgency upon visitors.
Co-working is a style of work where you can share a work environment but still operate independently. Many of those using co working facilities are independent contractors and work-at-home professionals.
Co-working finds its origins from nomadic Internet entrepreneurs that found a need to separate themselves from the isolation of the home offices by working in cafes and coffee shops. Co-working offered an alternative to working alone with the benefit of being able socialize or collaborate with other like minded and working lifestyle, oriented people.
The trend is possibly because the growing development in startups and independent professionals themselves. This could be from the fact that the very nature of our work is changing. Or it could be, that good future prospects of employment are lacking in certain industries, and many are choosing to start working for themselves.
Co-working for Independents and Start-ups
Co-working helps solve the issues that home-based professionals face. It is also redefining the way independent professionals work.
For Startups co-working offers a sense of community, consistency and possibly just a routine to the daily work challenges of building a new business. The spaces that are rented out by co-workers foster a sense of collaboration, openness and accessibility.
The benefits of Co-working are several:
Co-working allows professionals the flexibility of a short-term monthly price or in some cases just a daily fee. This benefit alleviates workers feeling tied to a desk or certain office. If two workers’ personalities don’t mesh, they can normally find another desk area to work.
Google Docs
This is the one we use. It works well, it’s SAAS, and best of all its Free!
The Board of Innovation
Offer a paid tool kit, consulting and workshops. Model themselves as a kind of eye on innovation and startups around the globe.
The Business Model Generation
Offers a Business Model Canvas, template to help you to describe, design, invent, and pivot (pivot is a mod new buzz word of young startups today) your business model. They sell a guide and an Ipad App.
Lean Canvas
Offers a Business Plan template of sorts very similar to the Business Model Gen Canvas. You need to buy the book..
Lean Launch Lab
Based on the Business Model Canvas by Alexander Osterwalder. It’s a paid beta lab right now. They plan on launching the product in January.
The Plan Cruncher
This is pretty cool and quick. It takes you through 8 click of a button no brain steps from Idea – Revenue to Generate plan. Of course you have to provide your email and other info to get the PDF. I wouldn’t submit anything here(product, service or idea) that you consider to be awesome. Hey, until you have your Ip (intellectual property tightened up) you should be somewhat cautious of submitting to open sites.
The Startup Tool Kit
An online scratch pad using the same template originated by Alexander Osterwalder. You need to register to keep your model.
The information superhighway is rapidly becoming the shopping destination of choice for millions of net savvy buyers who prefer searching for items online rather than standing in line at brick and mortar stores. An e-commerce business is a store that exists exclusively on the Internet. Launching your own e-commerce business allows you to sell products or services of your choosing, be your own boss, reach a worldwide clientele and avoid the expense of renting office space. Successful e-commerce businesses begin with careful planning. Developing a business plan and researching your options are key to avoiding e-commerce financial pitfalls and operating an online business that thrives.
1.Determine What you plan to offer
Determine the type of products or services that will offer you the greatest chance of successful sales in your online business. Decide this by researching the merchantability of individual products and services similar to those you plan to market in your own e-commerce store. Notice trends, making sure there is a demand for the items or services you plan to sell.
2. Build a Budget
Calculate the potential cost of launching your online business and determine if you will require additional funding. If you need a business loan, be sure to shop around and compare various interest rates. Educate yourself about federal grants available for individuals starting small businesses.
When you are brand new to the world of online business, most likely you are really confused on where to start. You need so many things and there is so much you need to do. However, software and particular online services are some of the things you really can’t go without. Here are 10 resources you can’t do without:
LibreOffice. No matter what kind of online business you are into, you will hardly be able to make it without an office package. If you already have a license for Microsoft Office, this is fine but if you don’t, paying for it now is probably the last thing on your mind. Actually, you don’t have to because you can get the free open source office package called LibreOffice and use it for most of your tasks.
WordPress. If you are in online business, you can’t go without a site. WordPress is a great choice to power your site because it is free, feature-rich, reliable, and popular. Alternatively, you can get another CMS/shopping cart, like Joomla or Drupal, if they appeal more to you than WordPress.
Google Docs. Online collaboration is much easier with Google Docs. You can use it for sharing documents online with your clients and employees.
Google Apps. Google Apps is another cool solution from Google and it can be the platform for your email server. It offers free and paid accounts, so when your business grows, you can upgrade your account to include more capacity.
Fresh Books. If you have clients, and hopefully you will, you will need to invoice them. Paypal offers invoices but only for your Paypal payments. Since you will be most likely accepting payments via other channels as well, you need a more complete solution, such as Fresh Books. It also has a free and a paid version. [read more…]
Since this is our first post I will just reiterate our core vision for the company. We will have lots more content and resources very soon. Please visit us again in a week.
PomaLift is small online marketing investor group, focusing on delivering great new startup technology to the marketplace. Our group has a background in internet marketing, investments and finance. Our objective is provide startup resources and services for new technology and then deliver these products to the marketplace using internet marketing combined with strategic partnerships. If you have an exciting new idea related to the medical or health field contact us for more information on how we could help you develop your early stage startup systems, funding and marketing for your product.
There is much interest in the business of 'doing business' online today. Pomalifts mission is to create clarity and solutions for those on the path to find a way of generating an income on the internet.
We don't just provide technology, that alone does not bring results. We help set a blueprint and system foundation for building a successful eBusiness.
We have put together a small list of Startup and eBusiness Resources which will get you going quickly. These are some of the more recognized online tools and service brands.
