7 web tools every startup needs

inc.com
/>needs.html?cid=em01018week40
7 Web Tools Every Start-Up Needs
Whether you're just starting up or need a way to manage existing operations, these tools have
you covered.
shutterstock images
My inbox is constantly cluttered with announcements about the latest newf angled Website that
will change how we all do business. Some of them, like the inbox fixers I wrote about in my recent
magazine column, really do help.
But there are a bevy of sites that have stood the test of time and gained a foothold with many
entrepreneurs. If you just started a company, or you are looking to beef up your arsenal of sites to
help with daily operations, these seven tools deserve a look.
1. ZenDesk
This customer service engine seems to pop up everywhere, which makes sense: It's used by about
20,000 companies and 65 million users. You can integrate the service into your own site, so when a
cust omer has a complaint and support issue, you can track the ticket. Best part: The service works
through multiple channels like Facebook, Twitter, and on mobile devices.
2. FreshBooks
I'm a big fan of FreshBooks because it seems to understand how real businesses work. Instead of
offering a cheaper alternative to QuickBooks Online, this service includes features small
businesses need, like a way to generate an estimate on services (branded with your logo). Then,
when you send out the estimate, the customer can go to Freshbooks and approve (or request
changes to) the estimate.
3. MailChimp
MailChimp is more than just a way to send out an email newsletter. You can import your contacts
and creat e email marketing campaigns, but the real power is in tracking your success. For example,
you can see who has opened your newsletters, and then decide to target those customers for a
more aggressive campaign. The service also integrates with business dashboards like GeckoBoard
that offer a snapshot of your campaign's performance, including details such as how many people
left your newsletter unopened.
4. Google Analytics

Still using a simple hit counter your ISP loaded for you automatically? That can tell you a simple
count for visits, but Google Analytics goes much further. You can find out how long people are
staying on your site (that measures engagement) and see which pages are getting the most
traction.
5. Sprout Social
Most small companies understand how important it is to "Tweet" their own horns about company
services and major news. Sprout Social makes this much easier. In a previous column, I wrote about
how the service won me over because I could see a history of my Twitter success and send
tweets to multiple accounts at the same time.
6. Shopify
Even if you do not sell a physical product, you might consider offering something to customers
anyway, even if it is just a branded T-shirt or a coffee mug. (Note to the dissenters: Homestar
Runner, a online gaming and cartoon site, still makes most of its money from selling T-shirts and
other gear.) Shopify is one of the best e-commerce options and integrates with many other Web
services.
7. GeckoBoard
I mentioned how MailChimp int egrates into GeckoBoard. Well, Geckoboard (and similar dashboards
like GoSquared) is valuable in its own right. It's a business dashboard that shows site traffic levels,
Salesforce success, MailChimp campaigns, and many other data metrics. You can run the site in a
tab and see, at a glance, how your entire company is doing. (By the way, I'm also keeping my eye
on Domo, another business int elligence tool that is geared for bigger companies but might work
for start-ups. Domo is in in bet a right now and not sharing too many details yet.)
John Brandon is a contributing editor at Inc. magazine and writes the Tech Trends
column in every issue. He also writes the Tech Report column for
Inc.com. @jmbrandonbb