With my extensive experience in Online Business & Digital Marketing, comes exposure to a variety of tools. I am a big fan of searching and testing tools for online business.

Hence, I am vocal about it when it comes to any new tools that can help these processes and take business to some new level.

Any work that is performed with bare hands typically consumes a lot more time. This is not construed as a smart way to do any work in today’s time.

Online business tools, apps, software and guides not only increase productivity, but they also increase the amount of work multi-folds. Depending on the tools used and hacks deployed, the work can be maximized up to 10x, 20x and even 100x at times.

Key Takeaway: USR Digital brings you the exhaustive list of tools for online business and digital marketing tools. If you are managing an online business of any size, this is a great starting point. We have listed all the popular or useful resources here. You can read the detailed review as well.

Throughout the website, you will find the mention of these tools. Learn about the techniques and hacks to use them. Their uses in combination with other tools have also been explained with required illustrations.

Guides, Tutorials & Study Materials

How to start a blog?

How to make money online?

How to start an online business?

How to earn passive income?

Managing Productivity & Workflow

We need tools to streamline processes which in return increases productivity. In addition to a pool of human resources we need a host of tools to manage it.

We have tools for everything like managing to-do lists, to record time, making notes, etc. The beauty of these online tools are, they can be interlinked and synced to bring data intelligence. There is no manual intervention at all. 

Here you will find a comprehensive list of such tools for online business that help you manage your day, perform your task based on your priority and stay super productive.

1. Toggl

Among the most utilitarian and popular tools that you would like to use for managing and carrying out regular workflow and productivity tasks include Toggl.

With this tool, it becomes rather easy for you to keep a tab on your team’s plans, how your projects are going on. Also, the versatile tool helps you to make changes in a jiffy.

What’s more, Toggle is instrumental in creating project guidelines conveniently as well as timelines via their state-of-the-art software.

Toggle is the ticket for both startups and large-sized businesses. You can consider using it for eliciting realistic solutions notwithstanding what your business size is.

While at least five users can use Toggl free of cost, it is the ticket for easily managing your employees’ tasks and everyday jobs from anywhere.

Pricing: Free & Paid

2. Evernote

If taking notes has been a hassle for you so far and you want to get your entire work done efficiently, Evernote is the thing designed for you. Evernote is a handy and utilitarian app that is in sync with your all-mobile devices and features browser version too.

Evernote has already been at the cutting edge of note-taking apps for a long time with regards to its functionality. Suffice to say, Evernote is a comprehensive service app that gives a virtuoso performance.

Therefore, it is still the number one choice of editors chiefly. However, Evernote is not the ticket for everyone. The dear price is a distraction for many while the free version is not the thing for maximum individuals.

Despite all the pros and cons, if you are looking for the most helpful and effective note-taking app and you think buying Evernote Premium or Business version is affordable for you, it is a thumbs-up.

Pricing: Free with premium plans starting from $5 to $11 /month.

Project Management

During all these years in agency side business and client servicing, I have really struggled to keep track of tasks, reports and deadlines. Thankfully there are a number of project management tools that helped me stay afloat.

Plus, there is no point in doing a redundant job if it can be automated. Accountability and transparency are two of the major benefits these solutions offer.

1. Asana

Asana is an up-and-coming online task management and collaboration software system that is gripping the attention of maximum industry giants for a variety of engaging reasons.

The highlight of the tool is that it helps users get over email mess by collaborating tasks collectively. With Asana, users can easily keep a tab on all the tasks, coordinate with team members, share pertinent files, etc.

While Asana is a magnet and goldmine for various leading businesses such as Dropbox, Pinterest, Airbnb, Deloitte, the tool helps them attaining prominence progressively.

This is because of the result of the various salient features of project management and group efforts. This has led Asana to be preferred by millions of users from over 195 worldwide countries and is still growing vigorously overseas.

It is a wonderful project management system! It’s great when you have a lot of projects to get done and wonderful for “assigning” tasks to virtual assistants and team members. Super amazing, especially as a FREE tool.

Pricing: Free & Paid

2. Trello

As a startup, if you are exclusively looking for a versatile project management tool offering several uses, Trello is what you need. The tool is very useful in taking managing project notes and creating to-do lists for your workforce.

By taking the help of Trello’s boards, it is very easy to assign tasks to your workforce and coordinate all-important information into one localized place.

One of the typical features of the tool is that it facilitates establishing an editorial calendar for your blog or social media content. What’s more, you can launch blog headlines and assign to your content writers the posts you want them to be created.

Pricing:  Free and Paid

3. Basecamp

Basecamp, also typically dubbed as Basecamp 4, is more than an average project management system and which is why; it is recognized as one of the most sought-after project management software tools.

Without doubt, Basecamp is the thing for everyone having a team and projects to be assigned. The feasible and hassle-free communication it offers is truly a great substitute for long email chains.

Basecamp also facilitates you to create a consistent structure of information flow. The software is just right for coordinating remote teams that need to keep abreast of the most recent company news and projects.

Basecamp independently is a world-class tool and if it is integrated with friendly plugins, it can turn out to be a real productivity powerhouse.

In simple words, the plugins can turn around the work productivity in Basecamp to your satisfaction.

Pricing:  Free and Paid

4. Dropbox

If you are looking to build a lifestyle business, this tool alone can save your life by making your life easier by letting you store the files and giving you access to them anywhere on any device, wherever you are on the go.

After all, perhaps no other file storage and collaboration tool is as popular and effective as Dropbox, the interface is truly one of a kind, as it is fundamentally designed for the present-day workspace to cut down the level of busywork so that you can center on all the specific things you always want.

Another highlight of Dropbox is that it coordinates your entire files in one central place. You can get access to every individual file easily and safely on all different latest smartphone devices anytime and anywhere. No more hassles and delay in getting access to your work.

As a result of having several salient and smart features such as Smart Sync and Showcase, Dropbox facilitates users to store 2 TB (2,000 GB) of files, share work with their team members and clients, and keep a tab on the progress along the way! With Dropbox, everything is so easier than ever!

Pricing – Free

5. Google Drive

This is not only an online storage service but also it is an entire suite of programs ranging from spreadsheets to docs, from simple edits to complex presentations. It is very convenient to use and can be accessed on multiple devices like tablets, android phones, desktops, and laptops.

Google Drive is also ideal for creating surveys, forms, etc.

Although Microsoft isn’t going away any time soon, some of its tools are being overshadowed by online powerhouses. Microsoft Word and Excel have all but been eclipsed by Google Docs and Google Sheets. Google offers fewer features, but the Docs system has more than enough to fill a startup’s needs.

As an online program, multiple employees can work on a single Google Doc at the same. They can add comments, make adjustments, and keep track of previous versions. This easy access to company documents makes it a must-have to improve overall collaboration.

Pricing – Free

Google Docs is one of the most preferred alternatives of top-rated Microsoft Word processing apps for both folks and business users.

The best part of the interface is that it is all the way free to use irrespective of the number of users in your company. The storage capacity the app offers is15 GB, which is truly the thing for storing thousands of text pages content.

On the other hand, businesspersons looking for extra features and storage capacity to maintain a seamless workflow would like consider updating to a premium Google Workspace subscription.

With an affordable $6 per user a month, these plans offer a higher storage limit and additional features, for example, video meetings, customizable business emails, and group-based security policies.

Despite all that is just said, none of these tools is a must if you are happy using the core features of Google Docs.

Pricing – Free and Paid

Website / Blog Creation Platforms

A lot of platforms have come up to make the website or blog creation process easy. From one click install to the custom installation, you can choose from the host of options. Among all of them WordPress is one of the most popular ones because of its simplicity. The customization it allows triumphs all the platforms. Almost all of my websites are built on this platform.

1. WordPress

WordPress is regarded as the number one blog creating platform on the world of the internet. The beauty of the platform is that it is FREE of cost and can be readily customized as per users’ preferences and needs through the world-class support it offers.

Some of the leading websites namely Etsy Journal, TechCrunch, BBC America, Yelp, and many others you can find on the internet are built on WordPress.

Suffice to say, WordPress is the most powerful and superior platform for creating your website or blog. The interface is free to use and exceedingly customizable.

Create an arresting and fully functional and featured website choosing from a host of free and premium themes including a vast range library of plugins.

A supreme and must-have tool for every website owner and aspiring blogger.

Pricing – Free

Website Hosting

Website hosting is one of the most important tools for online business. Almost every business needs this tool when starting an online business. Everyday we see a new website hosting company coming up with promising features and competitive pricing. However, there are few that stand the test of time. I have used them to host most of my websites.

1. Bluehost

– Most reliable and customer-friendly web-host available in the market.

Bluehost is a popular hosting solution that is not exclusive to WordPress sites but also offers WordPress optimized plans and easy installation.

Also, it is one of the providers officially recommended by the WordPress.org team. This means that it will likely be on your list when you are looking for web hosting.

First, it is important to note that Bluehost offers a variety of plans, both general and WordPress specific. In the general category, it provides the full range of Virtual Private Servers (VPS), shared, and dedicated.

In general, Bluehost is on the lower end when it comes to web hosting prices. You will have a hard time finding a cheaper plan to start with, although it may need to be updated, as your site grows.

Pricing – Paid

Review – Read unbiased comprehensive Bluehost review.

2. WP Engine

WP Engine is the perfect choice for those looking for a managed hosting service with many WordPress specific features, qualified server performance and expert technical support.

The technical details related to its administration and installation make the task of bloggers easier, especially those who are just getting started.

If you need excellence in storage, security and support, this is the company you are looking for.

Designed for developers, this company offers ten times faster performance. Its user portal is very efficient in running applications leaving aside the traditional panel.

It also has a database and a resource center that provides very useful tutorials to resolve doubts without having to contact the technical service.

Pricing – Free & Paid

3. InterServer

Founded in 1999, InterServer is one of the few companies that are flourishing at the height of the past two decades. In a fast-growing sector, such as web hosting services, competing with new companies and providing affordable packages, keeping up with high-quality services is the company’s main advantage.

The plans offered are super attractive. Not only are the resources available to develop your website unlimited but also the security offered is one of the most prodigious one in the market.

The company proudly provides its services to freelancers and Fortune 500 companies alike. 24/7 support is one of the strongest aspects of its services, in addition to reliable and fast servers.

For a convenient price, InterServer can provide you with everything you need to develop your project online.

Pricing –Paid

Website Themes

Website themes have come a long way. There are a host of companies and zillions of themes if combined together. However, there are a few that stand apart and meet your requirements. Some of them that I use for my websites have been discussed below.

1. Studiopress/Genesis

Genesis Framework and Themes I use Genesis Framework and Genesis theme for my blog. I designed my first website myself with Genesis. It takes time and PATIENCE to create your own blog.

If you don’t have either of these things, hire someone to do it for you. The Genesis themes have step-by-step tutorials on setting up the theme to look like their example theme. This is for WordPress.org websites like this one. 

Pricing – Free & Paid

Communication & Collaboration

We need a lot of communication and collaboration tools to manage the online business. It is not only limited to online business. Other brick and mortar offices do use them to run their business operation. Some of the popular tools are included below.

1. Skype

Skype, presently owned by Microsoft, is most possibly the world’s most cherished and longstanding communication tool ever since its launch in 2003.

The tool has caused a great sensation in the video conferencing world and the number of its video conference and voice call users is still growing incessantly by leaps and bounds.

Skype comes packed with a raft of engaging and handy features that are simply outstanding enough to impress its users. So, whether you are looking for seamless group video calling, rich text messaging, standard phone calling, Wi-Fi hotspots, live translation, and more, Skype hits the spot.

As of late, Artificial intelligence (AI), in the form of chatbots, is included in the core features of Skype. With more than 300 million worldwide users who specifically use the tool for video conferencing, Skype makes headway to remain the mainstay of the community of video conferencing and voice calling users.

Pricing –Free and Paid

2. Start Meeting

Have a doozy unified communication solution in mind, then you would want to end your search at Search Meeting conclusively. For business users particularly, StartMeeting is a comprehensive tool.

The app stands second to none in terms of audio and video conferences. Additionally, a variety of collaboration tools such as instant messaging and virtual phone (to be added shortly) is sure to provide business users with a brilliant, unified communication solution.

With StartMeeting, you can experience and enjoy unlimited HD audio & video conferencing; screen sharing and drawing; conference recording and playback.

Apart from this, with a streamlined chat tool, you can readily step up from instant messaging to a full video meeting. The tool allows you to store up to 10 GB of cloud storage.

It is very easy to get StartMeeting started. Just download the app, create your account, and you are ready to host your first meeting.

Pricing –Free and Paid

3. GoToMeeting

GoToMeeting is the ultimate video conference tool for SMEs for the reason it is very easy to use and lodge a host of attendees. GoToMeeting is synonymous with gigantic success in the world of online communication. It has a raft of superlative features, for example, HD video conference, recording and dial-in conference lines. 

GoToMeeting is known for offering a variety of services plans that allow individuals ranging from 10 to 2,000 participants in an individual meeting. As many as 25 people can be shown attending conferences in the past with the tool. If you are looking to include over 25 participants, you can still choose which attendees you wish to be on camera at any specified time 

The tool is very easy to install and is not having a steep learning curve, making it the thing for SMEs that typically don’t have the convenience of a full-time IT team on staff.


Pricing –Free and Paid


4. Zoom

The Zoom Cloud meeting application has given a new face to the world of video conferencing. Busy in our daily work schedules, conducting face-to-face meetings is very difficult and quite impossible to manage.

Fortunately, technological advances and developments have effortlessly addressed this problem. With the Zoom Cloud Meeting App, you can connect with people in multiple locations from your laptops and desktops.

The app boasts excellent connectivity, unmatched video quality, and perfectly clear audio functionality. Furthermore, you can also use it to send instant messages and share your screens with other members on the call. It works well on both iOS and Android devices.

Setting it up is very easy. Just visit your Google Play Store or App Store and search for the free download of the Zoom Cloud Meetings app and get connected by clicking the “New Meeting” button. The Zoom cloud meeting app lets you join 100 people at once.

With this incredible piece of technology, you can connect with anyone around the world via their mobile devices, iPhone, iPad, Mac, Windows, phones, Zoom Rooms, and H.323 / SIP room systems.

Pricing –Free and Paid

Email Marketing & Lead Management Software

Email marketing is one of the top ROI generating traffic channels. There are many companies that have created versatile tools to suit the website owner’s needs. The list can be an exhaustive one. Below I have discussed the ones I have used till date.

1. ConvertKit

ConvertKit is an easy-to-use email marketing platform for online creators like bloggers. It helps you with everything from automation to segments, landing pages, and more.


You can also try their software FREE for 14 days. With a client base that spans all industries, ConvertKit’s core mission is to empower small businesses and bloggers, to help them grow their audiences.

Your goal is to capitalize on the subsequent mailing list and ultimately make it easy to convert subscribers into paying customers. To achieve this, it apparently offers a horde of features such as RSS to email automation, Access to A / B tests, Unlimited registration forms with responsive templates, design pop-up forms, including exit intent pop-ups.

Lots of easy integrations with other tools like Teachable, Shopify, etc. and more that supposedly rival even the biggest players like Aweber and MailChimp.

So, if you are a blogger or online creator looking for an effective and easy-to-manage email marketing platform, you should give ConvertKit a try.

Pricing – Free and Paid

2. AWeber

If companies want to grow, they cannot ignore marketing. Fortunately, there are many email marketing tools available to help even small businesses get started. AWeber aims to be the premier email marketing tool for small businesses and entrepreneurs.

Rather than using a third party, AWeber owns all parts of the email delivery system. It seems to be constantly working on updates to stay ahead of the competition. Aweber templates simplify the process of creating visually compelling email marketing campaigns, and the report dashboard tracks the most important basic statistics.

It cannot import contacts from Gmail or other third-party address books, nor does it offer Google Analytics integration. Aweber (which starts at $ 19 per month) is one such option, offering an easy-to-use platform with no hidden surprises.

Pricing –Free and Paid

3. Mailchimp

Mailchimp is a leading email marketing service that provides robust features and technology to reach current and potential customers. This platform helps you manage subscribers and view click-through rates.


Plus, it generates custom reports and tracks your emails. You can use their software to create email marketing campaigns with the intent of sharing information, promoting products, or advising of business news.

It is an integral email marketing tool, which helps you in versatile ways. To be precise, it facilitates you to manage your mailing lists, create personalized email templates, take care of, and automate your entire marketing campaigns.

Mailchimp is therefore an essential tool for enterprises to run and carry out their campaigns like a well-oiled machine. MailChimp has many features to offer for successful email campaigns. Mailchimp also has great plans for small and medium businesses.

In addition to this, it is capable of handling large volumes of emails, making it a decent option for large organizations.

Pricing –Free and Paid

Conclusion

Utilizing the different types of tools for online business, you can launch and manage your online business efficiently.
With these digital marketing tools, you will also feel coordinating your team, touching base with your customers, and handling your business projects is a no-brainer.

If you are looking for more pull of information on how to organize your business, be sure to check out our other content sections we update periodically.

Disclosure of Material Connection: Some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, we will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, we only recommend products or services we use personally and believe will add value to our readers.

The purpose of these links is to benefit you directly. Sometimes it rewards you in the form of discounts, coupons, offers, etc. Cumulatively, you will be benefiting yourself if you go through these links.