Useful Tools & Resources
for Internet Businesses
Here you'll find a list of some useful and (mostly) free or
low-cost sites, links, and tools available online.
OUR #1 PICK: ListMail
is a mailing script used for managing your email lists and newsletters. You install
it on your own server. It allows for unlimited lists, unlimited subscribers,
customization features, scheduling features, and more. It's an awesome &
useful tool that I've been using for years.
Note: you shouldn't restrict yourself to using only free or
low-cost resources. If they fit your purposes, then great -
might as well keep your costs down! But remember that free / low-cost
resources can cost you in other ways: time, money, or aggravation.
Price should be only ONE of the criteria you use in selecting
the appropriate tools for your business.
Credit-Card Processing:
For USD Processing:
For Other Currencies:
Niche and Keyword Research Tools:
Pay-Per-Click Advertising:
Good Place to Find Small Business Help:
Graphics:
- CoolArchive
offers a free (text) logo generator. Play with different fonts, textures, and
colors.
- istockphoto.com is
a great place to get royalty-free stock photos. You buy "credits" that
will allow you to pick & choose web-quality photos, medium-quality photos,
or print-quality photos.
- ClipArt.com offers
(obviously) clipart, photos, fonts, animations, and sounds. If you have
the time, you can find this type of stuff for free. Otherwise this is a
good option.
- GotLogos.com -
clean, simple logos for $25 each.
Tutorial / Help Sites:
- BigNoseBird
- weird name, lots of helpful info including some free scripts.
- Willmaster
offers various CGI scripts, from form handlers, to content automation
and syndication, and more. Many scripts are free. Those that aren't
are very reasonably priced.
- RentACoder is a good
place to get affordable help for programming, website design, graphics
(web and print quality), and more. Freelancers place bids for your
business.
Small Business Funding / Financing:
List Management:
- Recommended! ListMail
is a script you install on your own server. It allows for unlimited lists, unlimited
subscribers, customization features, scheduling features, and more. I use this
script myself for all of my lists.
- AWeber has a good reputation;
they're a "remote" autoresponder service which means you sign onto their
servers to send your messages.
Email:
- As an alternative to Outlook (which is usually targeted by viruses
and the like), take a look at Eudora
or Pegasus Mail.
- Spam driving you nuts? Try MailWasher.
You can blacklist, whitelist, and filter your incoming email prior to
downloading it through your email software.
- For good, free web-based email, go to MailBlocks.
Provides excellent filtering that catches most junk mail while
rarely identifying legitimate email as "spam".
Information on How to Get Free Publicity for Your Business:
(that includes newspapers, magazines, radio and TV!)
Offline Stuff:
- If you need business cards and are on a tight budget, visit
VistaPrint. They offer
a set of free business cards from a limited set of template designs
(you pay shipping, handling, and any upgrades).
- ExtraValue.com
is a great place to find high-quality business cards, web cards,
something they call "snap cards", and other items to
help promote your business.
- CafePress
gives you an easy way to sell t-shirts, mouse pads, ballcaps, and
other items from your very own estore. You create the graphic
that goes onto the products you want to sell. CafePress will
ship the items to the customer.
- Web Decals are a nice
way to get your URL and tagline placed on your car for an
affordable price. Drive around and promote your site! Static-cling
decals are available for easy application and removal.
Miscellaneous Tools:
- Free virus scanner:
Trend Micro's Housecall will perform an online scan (and clean) of your computer.
(you should still have antivirus software that runs continuously on your computer,
such as Norton Antivirus)
- Software firewall: ZoneAlarm
helps to protect your private data, and protect your computer from hackers.
- Get rid of spyware and adware using the free
Spy Sweeper.
- Website content: FreeSticky
offers mostly free (and low-cost) content you can place on your site to add
interest and relevance. Lots of categories, some news tickers available.
- General website tools: With NetMechanic
you can check/fix your HTML, find browser display problems, optimize
graphics, monitor your website, and more.
Note: the search engine and site promotion tools are something
I've never used, nor do I intend to... in my experience, site promotion
just isn't as simple as clicking on a button!
They also offer an area filled with free site promotion articles.
- Personal organizer / word processor:
TreePad. A "lite"
version is available free.
- Protection for digital products:
Digital Vault prevents thieves from
stealing downloadable products sold through Clickbank, PayPal, and 2CheckOut.
|
