View a complete list of our favorite and most often used (and NEEDED) online tools for small businesses.
We love sharing the knowledge! Not only have we used the following online tools, but we also teach classes on how to create and use them as well! *Please note the following may include affiliate links.
Our suggested BEGINNER bundle includes:
Web Hosting - GoDaddy
Buy your domain and set up your WordPress site here.
Email Marketing - Mailchimp
Easy to set up email marketing.
PayPal
Onsite or offsite payment options that include credit cards. Easy plugin for WordPress.
Website Hosts & Platforms
This is where you get the domain, have a place to "house" your website and the way in which you design it. Here are the ones we like using.
Dreamhost:
Create subdomains, create emails & setup WordPress or other hosting.
Dreamhost uses a custom-built panel, NOT cPanel.
GoDaddy:
Buy a domain, setup Wordpress or other hosting. Uses a cPanel, easy WordPress installation and WordPress hosting.
Hostgator:
Domains, cPanel, Dedicated Web Hosting, VPS Hosting, CMS, Free SSL, Unmetered bandwidth with prices that come in below most other providers.
Email Marketing
One of the most important elements of a small business. Here are our favorites.
Active Campaign:
Email campaigns, newsletters, drips and automations.
Constant Contact:
Top 5 Email marketing provider, score 9.8, Unlimited emails, email campaigns, newsletters, drips and automations. Free trial, $20/mo or $45/mo both based on number of contacts.
Get Response:
High end platform
MailChimp:
Email campaigns, newsletters, drips and automations.
Shop & eCommerce Payment Platforms
Allow your customers to pay for your products and services.
PayPal
Onsite or offsite payment options that include credit cards. Easy plugin for WordPress.
Marketplaces
This is where you have options to sell your products to other places beyond your own website. Please note that we ALWAYS suggest having your own website first, then add on additional marketplaces that you can then analyze for bestseller point advantage while keeping your brand anchored to an actual website, which builds a strong online reputation.
Alibaba
Leading Chinese B2B trade marketplace, specializing in e-commerce, retail, internet and technology.
Amazon
The most used marketplace around the world, selling all types of products with a personalized shop, most recognized and integrated with other website platforms.
Bonanza
Voted "Best Overall Marketplace" by 50,000 sellers, sell all types of products, ad-free, streamlined, no listing feeds.
Ebay
Offers B2B, B2C and C2C selling, sell almost anything, purchase based on auction bids or "buy it now".
Groupon
American global e-commerce marketplace offering activities, travel, goods and services through discounted pricing.
Jet
An American e-commerce company, similar to eBates, subsidiary of Walmart. **UPDATE** Jet.com was shut down on May 19th, 2020 by Walmart.
Offerup
Local mobile marketplace to buy and sell locally, used for C2C primarily like Ebay, Craigslist and Facebook marketplace.
Walmart
One of fastest-growing 3rd party marketplaces used by businesses for B2B selling, chain of hypermarkets, discounted pricing, competing new and unknown brands with popular brands.
Wayfair
An American e-commerce company for selling B2B for furniture, lighting, cookware, and other home-goods.
Wish
An American online e-commerce platform that facilitates transactions directly from international sellers and manufacturers.
CRM, Funnel & Landing Page Platforms
Keep all your contacts and customers in a revolving, repeat and automated system to keep revenues coming in.
Clickfunnels
Landing pages, funnel pages, sales pages
Screen Sharing, Webinar & Training Platforms
Easily share your screen, conduct online webinars or provide online training with these awesome platforms.
Webinarjam
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"I'm not a web designer and I needed someone who could give me a simple site that I could also manage myself. Start Small Media was beyond what I hoped for in a website design company." ~ Owner, Construction