5 productivity tools every entrepreneur should have at their disposal

Being an entrepreneur can deliver a great feeling of satisfaction and self-fulfillment, but there are certain things you must do to ensure your success, and being ever vigilant and productive is at the top of the list. Entrepreneurs are successful when they can improve their productivity, organization, and time management skills. There are of course several tools and resources that many entrepreneurs can take advantage of to help them achieve their goals more efficiently, thanks to ever-improving technology and the abundance of useful apps being created every day for such purposes.

However, with potentially thousands of apps to choose from, it can be a daunting task trying to discover which ones might actually be the most effective and well suited to your needs, and which ones are just a waste of time. That’s why we’ve compiled this short list of five productivity tools that have gained a large following and are being used by many small businesses and large corporations alike for improving productivity in a time-effective and cost-effective manner.

1. Google Docs
If you’ve engaged in any sort of business lately, then you’ve probably already discovered and used Google Docs. This always improving suite of mini applications is a great set of productivity tools for entrepreneurs, as it provides everything you need for a virtual office, such as your email, document viewing, sharing and editing capabilities, and integration with other Google apps such as your calendar, video calling, and more. It also offers great project management potential, as team members and employees can easily access documents so long as they have permission, edit them in collaboration, and allow you to view the results within an instant, increasing productivity greatly.

2. Switch.co
An advanced, cloud phone system that can also be integrated with Google Docs, making it a no-brainier for anyone who thinks communication is important (which is everyone). There will be no time lost trying to track down team members or employees who aren’t in the office when you have Switch.co, as the app can reroute calls to any mobile devices, ensuring that you can always reach the intended recipient of the phone call. Additionally, the cloud phone system also enables you to be able to take advantage automated messaging and phone calls, sending SMS messages, and much more. It is a reliable cloud phone system that ensures no time is lost and communication flow is always ongoing.

3. iPhone Reminders
As an entrepreneur, you likely have a million things to take care of each day, and it can be easy to get distracted and forget one or two important tasks. Doing so is of course a real productivity killer as you must typically make up lost time, and work can suffer for it. To remedy this, you can take advantage of the benefits of iPhone reminders, which lets you be aware of all tasks you set throughout the day by alerting you with a buzz and a popup message. You can set your reminders for almost anything, from making an important conference call to mailing a bill to picking up coffee for the office coffee machine. Being on top of all your tasks in a timely manner will definitely serve to improve productivity and efficiency and leave you ample time for other things and tasks.

4. oDesk
Regardless of whether your business sis large or small, it is likely that you have the need for certain services at times, but don’t necessarily want to hire a full-time employee to perform those services. That’s where oDesk comes in—this freelancer marketplace can connect you with all manner of freelancers, which you can hire to perform certain functions such as creating website copy, advertising materials, research SEO keywords, and develop and post social media updates and messages. Using freelancers that have proven themselves to be reliable and productive can be a great boon to your business as well as a cost-effective way of getting the services you need while keeping expenses down.

5. MailChimp
Email marketing has been proven to be one of the most effective online marketing methods in use by businesses, and it is also relatively inexpensive, while resulting in a strong ROI when done correctly. However, not everyone has time to write and develop strong email marketing campaigns, and even freelancers may not always be readily available to provide you with a large email marketing campaign in a timely fashion. That’s why so many businesses and entrepreneurs utilise MailChimp. This handy app is actually quite a powerful email marketing campaign developer and manager tool, enabling you to take advantage of existing email newsletter templates. Using this app, you can also target segments of your contact list and utilize automated features to send emails at preset intervals that you desire, so that you can set it and focus on other tasks.

Of course the tools and resources mentioned above are really just a small sampling of the many other great productivity tools that are available today. However, using some or all of them will no doubt serve to get you well on your way to really improving your productivity and increasing your chances for success. Start with these and then expand to others as your business grows and you find yourself possibly needing tools designed for other specific tasks, such as blog posting, keyword generation, or time management.