Our Business ToolkitHow we run our cloud services business:As a cloud applications consultancy, we have made a commitment to operating 100% in the cloud, making the business location and device independent. With so many applications available it was really hard for us to find the right ones, this list may not suit all business types but it is a list of the tools which we use to run our business on a day-to-day basis and we hope that it will give you a starting point for your selection of the tools most suitable for yours.
At the moment we are still using Windows based PCs, but with our next hardware upgrade we are strongly considering switching to Chromebooks and leaving the world of on-premise software completely behind. It is worth pointing out that many of the apps below are either free or offer free versions. |
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Weebly
Building a website on Weebly is unlike anything you’ve ever experienced. The Weebly drag & drop website builder makes it dead simple to create a powerful, professional website without requiring any technical skills. Over 6 million people and small businesses have joined Weebly to build their online presence. Weebly might not necessarily be suitable for a more complicated website, but for a simple site like this it is ideal. We have integrated the website with:
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Google Apps
Enhance productivity while reducing costs with Google Apps. Google Apps brings to you a host of valuable, cost effective services which will enable you to focus on your core business rather than manage your email and groupware infrastructure. The Apps we find that we use most often are;
- Gmail - Obviously!
- Calendar - Integrated with Nimble CRM and our smart phones for diary management
- Drive - Seamless storage and sharing of files
- Docs - Great for collaborating on documents and spreadsheets in real time
Nimble
Nimble is the world’s first Social Relationship Manager. It integrates all of the major social networks plus Email into one seamless environment. Nimble empowers small businesses to collaborate more efficiently and to listen to, engage with and nurture their community in order to attract and retain the right customers. Nimble is at the heart of all that we do and we have integrated it with;
- Hootsuite and our social media presence on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and Google+
- The forms on this website using Wufoo Forms
- Freshdesk for customer care
- MailChimp for email marketing
- Google Apps for email
- ContactMonkey for tracking of general email sent via Gmail
Wufoo Forms
Wufoo helps anybody build amazing online forms. When you design a form with Wufoo, it automatically builds the database, backend and scripts needed to make collecting and understanding your data easy, fast and fun. In a few minutes you can build a form and start using it right away. Enter information into any of the forms on this website and they automatically end up in our Nimble CRM system.
Freshdesk
Freshdesk is the leading multi-channel cloud helpdesk & customer support software. Provide support wherever your customers are - Email, web, phone, Twitter or Facebook. Freshdesk has deep Google Apps integration for contact sync, support portal Google Analytics, single sign on and Gadgets to even manage tickets from Gmail. Freshdesk lets you support your customers wherever they are with:
- Robust ticket management and intelligent automations, when customers want to talk directly to you
- Integrated community support forums and a separate knowledge base when customers want to talk to each other
- Social support across multiple Twitter accounts & Facebook pages, when customers are talking to the world
Email Survival Kit
Are you getting swamped with the volume of email you receive each day, much of which, if not spam, is just not particularly important? If you want to get your email habit under control, check out these tools which can help you tame the beast! You may not feel quite as important as you once did, but that is a small price to pay for a tidy inbox! We particularly like;
- ContactMonkey - to track the mail we send from Gmail and see when it is opened
- WriteThatName - to automagically update our Google Apps address books (which are then synced with Nimble CRM)
- rapportive - to see information about a person when composing an email to them
- SaneBox - to keep your inbox sane
- Mailstrom - to achieve 'Zero In-box' (and keep it that way)
Asana
Asana project management is an effort to re-imagine how we work together, through modern productivity software. Fast and versatile, Asana helps individuals and groups get more done. Asana offers all the right tools for managing teamwork, light collaboration, and tasks, such as deadline settings, priority and label options and a flexible and nimble work environment.
Join.me
Free instant screen sharing. Get everybody on the same page, when they're not in the same room, instantly. Review documents and designs. Train staff. Demo products. Share Control or just show off - join.me is a ridiculously simple screen sharing tool for meetings on the fly or basic remote support.
Dropbox
Dropbox is a free service that lets you bring your photos, docs, and videos anywhere and share them easily. Never email yourself a file again!
Wave
Small Business Accounting - for Free. Do all your accounting and bookkeeping, quickly and easily, and never pay a penny. Real double-entry accounting that actually makes sense to non-accountants. Send customized, professional invoices, and get paid fast. It's free, no matter how many customers you have, or how many invoices you send.
MailChimp
Send 12,000 email messages to 2,000 contacts every month for free with MailChimp. The drag and drop editor makes it easy to add content and collaborate on emails that fit your brand. Gather information from readers on your signup form, and send them newsletters they care about with segmentation. Access your MailChimp account from any device, and use the iPad app to compose and edit campaigns, even when you're not online.
Skype
Recently purchased by Microsoft, Skype is one of the the most popular video chat and voice calling clients in the world. Using P2P (peer-to-peer) technology to connect you with other Skype users over the Internet, Skype enables you to make free calls anywhere in the world. It offers several features, including SkypeOut calling from Skype to regular and mobile phones worldwide, conference calling and secure file transfer. You can also now share your screen with other users.
