When running a business as an introvert, you might be facing some unique challenges that other entrepreneurs you know don’t have to deal with. This can include feeling drained from communicating with clients, delegating work to your team, and more. But, one of the best parts of doing business in today’s industry is that online business tools allow introverts to thrive.
The challenge is finding the right one for you and your business.
If that’s the case for you…you’re in luck! We’ve done the research for you.
There are a number of excellent online business tools available that will help you organize and manage every aspect of your business. In this blog post, we are going to look at all the best options. And to help you navigate the post, we’ve broken the tools up into different categories. Just click whatever category you want to get started with below.
Online Business Tools Categories
Best Project Management Tools
Are you struggling to stay on top of all your projects? Do you want a place you can keep all your tasks organized? Then you will love a project management tool.
Some of the main features you want from a project management system include:
- task management
- scheduling
- assign to team members
- communication features
- integrations
- automations
- reporting
- time tracking
Here are some of the best ones!
Asana
This project management tool helps you keep track of tasks, coordinate team members, and collaborate on projects. It has a simple and intuitive interface that allows you to break projects down into tasks and subtasks and assign them to team members.
Trello
This tool allows you to create boards and fill them with cards to represent tasks, goals, ideas, and more. You can assign cards to team members, add due dates, and attach documents.
Monday
Monday helps you keep track of tasks, projects, and deadlines. It allows you to create visual project plans and assign tasks to team members. You can also get visual progress reports and in-depth analytics to monitor your team’s progress.
Airtable
Airtable is best for organizing data and tracking progress. It has a spreadsheet-like interface that allows you to create custom databases to track projects, tasks, and more. You can also create forms and automated workflows to streamline your processes.
Teamwork
Teamwork allows you to create tasks and assign them to team members. You can also get detailed reports and analytics to monitor your team’s progress.
Todoist
Todoist is another great tool designed to help you keep track of tasks, projects, and deadlines. It allows you to create tasks and assign them to team members.
Podio
Podio is an online work platform that helps you to manage projects, tasks, and communication with your team. It allows you to create custom workspaces and apps to perfectly fit your team’s needs. You can assign tasks, track progress, collaborate on projects, and even create automated workflows and notifications.
*Note – All of these have free plan options.
Best Collaboration Tools
Whether you need to be able to connect with people on your team, your contractors, or even your clients, collaboration tools make it so much easier. Especially when you can integrate them with your project management system.
Here are our top collaboration tool picks.
Slack
This team messaging app makes it easy to communicate with team members in real-time. It allows you to create channels for different topics, direct messages, and private groups. You can also integrate Slack with other tools like Asana and Trello.
Miro
Miro is an excellent tool for visually brainstorming, mapping out projects, and creating plans. It is easy to use, highly visual, and allows for collaboration in real-time.
Ryver
River is perfect for remote teams, allowing for tasks to be assigned, tracked, and discussed in one central hub.
Zoho
Zoho is an all-in-one suite of business tools, so you can use it for everything from project management to customer service.
Flock
This is a great messaging platform that makes it easy to chat, share files, and keep your team in sync.
Best Communication Tools
As much as I recommend trying to keep as much of your communication as possible in one hub, such as a project management system for better organization, sometimes you need a different contact method. This can include video conferencing for meetings, voice messaging, etc.
If this is something you are looking for in your business, then you will love these online business tools for improved communication.
Voxer
Voxer is an app that allows users to communicate via text, audio, or video messages. It also provides features such as group chat, voice-to-text, and file sharing. Plus, it’s free to use which is great for small businesses who are on a budget.
Zoom
Zoom is an easy-to-use platform for video conferencing and online meetings. There are limitations to the free version so you may want to consider a paid plan for your team.
Skype
Skype is a popular communication tool that allows you to chat, make calls, and even Skype video chat with up to 25 people. Plus, it’s free to use and you can share files with your contacts.
Free Conference Call
Free Conference Call is perfect for small businesses that need to host regular meetings and conferences. It allows up to 1,000 participants, and you can record the sessions for future reference.
Whereby
Whereby is most convenient for small teams. It allows up to 4 people to join a video call, and it also provides features such as screen sharing and chat. Plus, it’s free!
Microsoft Teams
Microsoft Teams is trusted by small and large companies alike. It allows up to 250 people to join a meeting, plus, it combines workplace chat, video meetings, file storage, and application integration into a single platform. It also allows users to participate in group conversations, set up private channels for specific topics, and even share files and documents.
Go To Meeting
Go To Meeting allows up to 150 people to join a meeting, and it provides features such as video conferencing, file sharing, and chat.
Best Document Tools
If you use documents in your business and want a way to access them online so that you can get them from anywhere and share them with your team or clients, then you should consider using a cloud-based document tool. Here are our top picks!
Google Docs
Google Docs is a free, web-based word processing program from Google. Users can create, edit and collaborate on documents from anywhere which is really useful for teams. And there are hundreds of features that make creating your documents easier than ever.
Evernote
Evernote is a powerful note-taking app that helps you capture ideas, projects, and tasks in one place. It can be used to store and organize notes, images, webpages, audio, and more. It also has collaboration features, allowing you to share notes with others in real-time.
Bit.AI
Bit.AI is a cloud-based document collaboration platform that enables teams to create and store documents, collaborate in real-time, and securely share content with external partners. It works with popular integrations such as Google Drive, Dropbox, and Slack.
Best File System Tools
If you’re working alone, using the file system on your computer is great. But once you need to start sharing documents with contractors, your team or clients, it’s much more time-effective to use online file systems instead. Here are the two most popular options.
Which one you use will likely depend on the other tools you use. For example, if you use Google sheets for documents and Gmail for emails, then Google Drive makes the most sense. But if you use Microsoft, then OneDrive will make more sense.
Dropbox
Dropbox is a file-hosting service that allows users to store, access, and share files online. It is available for Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, and iOS devices and the free version that allows 2GB of storage.
Google Drive
Google Drive is a cloud storage service that allows users to store and access files online. It is available for Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android devices. Google Drive offers 15GB of free storage and the ability to purchase additional storage.
OneDrive
OneDrive is also a cloud storage service where you can upload all of your documents, files, photos, etc. You can download it as an app on any device or use it in a web browser. You get 5GB of storage for free, and then you can get more with one of their paid plans.
Best Networking Tools
As a business owner, networking is incredibly important. However, in-person networking can be very overwhelming for introverts. Thankfully, there are more ways than ever before to network online. Here are the top online business tools you can use to network your business.
LinkedIn is hands down one of the best platforms for networking. This is the go-to platform for professionals all over the world. This gives you endless opportunities to network with people in different industries, positions, and so on.
This social media platform is also widely used by professionals and allows you to connect with other professionals, build your network and even find jobs.
Related Read: How To Market Your Home-Based Business – 10+ Awesome Ideas
Best Document Signing Tools
Everything from contracts to financial documents, having a signing tool that you can use to sign documents digitally can be very handy. That’s where these online business tools come in.
DocuSign
Dropbox Sign (formerly HelloSign)
Both of these options allow you to send documents for signature and download them for safe keeping. However, there are some limitations with the free options. So, be sure to look at the different features of each to see what will work best for your business.
Best Password Tools
As you add more tools to your workflow, you will inevitably have more passwords to remember. This is where a password protection tool can come in very handy. Here are some of the best ones on the market.
LastPass
Keeper Enterprise
Zoho Vault
Each of these offer encryption, auto-filling, and more! And they offer free subscriptions, perfect for small online business owners.
Best Email Management Tools
Do you regularly contact your leads via email? If you do, then you should consider using an email management tool. This gives you a way to store contact information and automate your emails. Here are the best email automation tools you can use.
Mailchimp
This email marketing platform is free to use, however it does have some limitations. You can see all the different features on the pricing page. But, overall, this is a great tool that allows users to create email campaigns, track activity, and manage subscriber lists.
MailerLite
Similar to Mailchimp, Mailerlite is an email marketing tool that allows users to create automated campaigns and manage business email lists. You can also create forms and workflows for automations. They also have a free option as well as paid upgrades that can make your email marketing even better.
ConvertKit
ConvertKit is very user-friendly and is best known for their workflow features. Users can create automated campaigns, segment their contact lists, sell digital products, and more. However, it is a paid tool, so you will need to be mindful of that.
Active Campaign
Active Campaign is the most expensive email marketing tool on this list, but it offers a lot of features that can really help you streamline your business. It is well-known for being able to personalize a customer’s journey, great if you are trying to turn your leads into customers or clients.
Best Accounting Tools
No business is complete without having some accounting tools in place to help manage cash flow of the business. And doing this manually is very time consuming. Thankfully, there are many online business tools that can make this process so much easier. Plus, they can integrate with other tools to make your monthly bookkeeping easier than ever, saving you money with your accountant. It’s a win-win.
Wave
Wave is an online accounting tool built for small business owners such as freelancers, self-employed entrepreneurs, consultants, and contractors. It offers invoicing, income and expense tracking, banking and bookkeeping, payroll, and accepting payments. Wave’s accounting software, invoicing software, and US banking software are free.
Honeybook
Honeybook is an online business tool that helps small business owners manage their clients, projects, and payments. It helps streamline client onboarding, invoicing, and payments so that business owners can focus on other business tasks.
Freshbooks
An online accounting software designed to help freelancers, entrepreneurs, and small business owners manage their finances. It has an easy-to-use interface for tracking expenses, sending invoices, accepting payments, and managing taxes.
Zoho Invoice
This online invoicing and payment software for managing invoices, payments, and billing information with tools for managing customer relationships, tracking expenses, and creating reports.
Quickbooks Online
QuickBooks Online is the most widely used accounting software with tools for tracking expenses, creating invoices, accepting payments, and managing payroll. It also allows users to create detailed reports for better financial insights.
You can’t go wrong with any of these tools. But I recommend choosing one that integrates well with your other online business tools.
Best Website Builders
If you need a website for your business, then you should consider using a website builder. These make it so easy to build a website that you could have one up and running in just a few hours.
There are however a few different options to choose from.
WordPress
WordPress, one of the most popular website builders in the world, is an open source website builder that is incredibly versatile and powerful. You can create virtually any type of website with WordPress, from simple blogs to complex e-commerce stores.
With that being said, these can take a little bit longer to set up if you are a beginner. But trust me, it’s worth the time as you will be able to do so much more with your website. Plus, these websites typically cost less to host yearly.
Wix
Wix is a cloud-based website builder that has a range of features designed for creating professional-looking websites. It also offers a range of hosting options and is easy to use, even if you don’t have website building experience.
And their drag and drop page builder will help you get your website set up in no time. This is a great option for beginners who don’t want to learn WordPress at this time.
Squarespace
Squarespace is also a website builder that allows you to create beautiful websites with easy drag and drop design tools. Plus, they have numerous website options for ecomerce stores.
Kajabi
Kajabi is an all-in-one platform that enables you to create, market, and launch websites, blogs, online courses and membership sites. It has a range of powerful features, including automated marketing tools, analytics, and more. However, it is the most expensive on this list.
If you want an all-in-one tool for your website, email marketing, and so on, then Kajabi is a great option.
Best Tools For Time Tracking
As an online small business owner, you might be feeling like the one thing you don’t have enough of is time. And I feel your pain! That’s where a time tracking tool can come in very handy.
Tracking how your time is spent will help you better price your products and services, set time goals for your team, and more. Here are the best online business tools to track your time.
Toggl Tracker
Toggl Track allows users to easily log the time they spend on each task. It offers detailed reports and analytics to help users understand their time usage and make improvements. They also offer an app making it easy to track the time from your phone, tablet, etc.
Timescape
Timescape is a time tracking tool that allows users to log time, set and track goals, and manage projects. It also offers features such as invoicing, analytics, and notifications when tasks have been completed.
Related Read: 10 Best Productivity Tips For Working Remotely
Best Misc. Tools For Small Business Owners
Lastly, we have a few miscellaneous online business tools that can be incredibly helpful for introverted business owners.
Descript
Descript is an audio and video editing platform that lets users create, edit, and collaborate on audio and video projects with a simple drag-and-drop interface. It integrates easily with other online business tools and even has transcription features.
Canva
Canva is an online, cloud-based design software that is great for all your graphic design projects. This can include business cards, brochures, social media posts, eBooks, and so much more.
They also have templates you can use and edit to suit your brand, stock photos, and more.
Creative Market
Whether you’re looking for themes for your website, graphic design elements, fonts, etc., Creative Market is the place to look. As an entrepreneur, you can buy so many things here that will help you manage and grow your business.
Toggl Plan
Toggl Plan is a versatile online project management and scheduling software that helps teams plan tasks, set milestones, track progress, and collaborate.
Google Forms
Google Forms is a free online survey and quiz creation tool offered by Google. It allows you to create forms that can be used to collect information from the people who respond to them.
I hope that this list of free (and paid) online business tools has helped you choose a few that can help you run your business even better as an introverted entrepreneur!
Read Next:
10 Best Productivity Tips For Working Remotely
5 Things Introverts Need To Know Before Starting A Home Business – Entrepreneurship For Introverts
How To Market Your Home-Based Business – 10+ Awesome Ideas
