That’s why we’ve put together a guide spotlighting five affordable CRM solutions that pack a punch without punching a hole in your budget. These gems offer a range of features to fit various needs without costing an arm and a leg.

Whether you’re running a cozy little startup or steering a larger company in need of hefty features, our curated selection caters to every type of business. From small business owners looking for an easy peasy setup to enterprises on the lookout for substantial capabilities, this guide aims to clear the fog and help you navigate the CRM maze with confidence.

Overview:

1. Zendesk

A Top Pick for Data Visualization

If you’re on the lookout for a CRM that makes understanding your data a breeze, Zendesk should be on your radar. Its knack for simplifying data with intuitive visualization tools has won it fans among those looking to stretch their CRM budget further.

Main Features:

• Data Visualization: Dive deep into your business metrics with Zendesk’s Team Plan, which offers everything from customizable dashboards to detailed reports on deals, leads, and more, helping you make sense of your data effortlessly.
• Contact Management: Keep your contacts in check with powerful management tools. Whether it’s importing data or exporting it for further analysis, Zendesk has got you covered.
• Marketing Tools: From crafting the perfect email with its design editor to automating your marketing workflow and keeping tabs on visitor activities, Zendesk equips you with the tools to elevate your marketing game.

Cost Information:

• Got a startup? Zendesk rolls out the red carpet with a six-month free trial just for you.
• Team Plan pricing starts at a manageable $19 per user per month, with no cap on users and 2GB of storage each.

Zendesk’s Team Plan is chock-full of features but keep in mind that it might not cover all bases, especially if you’re looking for the most advanced marketing and customer service tools.

Learn more about Zendesk

2. Zoho CRM

A Comprehensive Solution for Businesses

Part of Zoho’s impressive lineup of SaaS tools, Zoho CRM really stands out. It’s loaded with features that hold their own against big names like Salesforce, making it a fantastic choice for businesses big and small.

Key Features:

• AI-Powered Analytics: Zoho CRM comes equipped with Zia, an AI-driven analytics engine that identifies sales trends and anomalies, offering valuable insights for your business.
• Customizable Interface: With Canvas, a user-friendly drag-and-drop editor, you can tailor the CRM interface to meet your specific needs.
• Smooth Integration: If you are already a user of Zoho’s other products, incorporating Zoho CRM into your existing workflow is hassle-free.
• Gamification: The platform also includes gamification features to motivate your sales team and enhance performance.

Cost Overview:

• The pricing for Zoho CRM starts at $24 per user per month, when billed annually.

While Zoho CRM packs a punch with its features, it’s worth noting there’s a bit of a learning curve. And just a heads up, the most advanced features are reserved for the higher-tier plans.

Learn more about Zoho CRM

3. Salesforce

A Leader in Comprehensive CRM Solutions

When it comes to CRM, Salesforce is pretty much the gold standard, especially for businesses that are a bit larger and looking for something robust. Its comprehensive toolkit, ease of integration, and the ability to customize pretty much anything makes it a favorite.

Key Features:

• All-in-One Functionality: Salesforce provides a holistic CRM solution, featuring a user-friendly design, customizable options, and robust reporting tools.
• Smooth Integration: Its core offering, the Sales Cloud, can easily integrate with other Salesforce modules like Marketing Cloud for email automation and Einstein Analytics for AI-driven business insights.
• Customization Flexibility: Salesforce enables advanced workflow automations and approvals, allowing businesses to fine-tune their operational processes. Sales teams can assign specific members to individual deals.
• Data Reporting and Forecasting: The enterprise plans offer sophisticated reporting and predictive analytics, app development, full sandbox environments, and external system integrations through web services APIs.

Cost Overview:

• The pricing for Salesforce starts at $25 per user per month.
• Be aware that Salesforce’s upper-tier plans can become costly, especially as pricing is per user.

While there’s no forever-free option, Salesforce does roll out the red carpet with a 30-day free trial that asks for neither credit card details nor software installation.

Learn more about Salesforce

4. Insightly

Streamlined CRM for Growing Businesses

Designed with growth in mind, Insightly CRM helps businesses flourish by streamlining customer relationship management, cutting down on manual tasks, boosting efficiency, and driving up profits.

Key Features:

• Optimized Customer Pipeline: Insightly specializes in creating a robust customer relationship pipeline for your business.
• Flexible Selling: With Insightly, you can manage sales activities from any location and on any device, offering unparalleled flexibility.
• Data-Driven Sales: The CRM tool offers real-time insights into your sales processes, enabling informed decision-making.
• Project Management: Insightly ensures timely and seamless project delivery through its effective project management tools.
• Smooth Integration: Insightly integrates smoothly with the applications you use daily, boosting productivity and operational efficiency.
• Automated Workflows: The platform enables you to model and automate various business processes, reducing manual workload and increasing overall efficiency.

Cost Overview:

• Plus Plan: Priced at $29 per user per month.
• Professional Plan: Priced at $40 per user per month.
• Enterprise Plan: Priced at $99 per user per month.

Each plan is tailored to fit different sizes and needs, with specifics on records, storage, and emails available on Insightly’s site.

Learn more about Insightly

5. Vtiger

All-in-One CRM for Comprehensive Business Management

Imagine a tool that handles everything from managing your contacts to automating your marketing, all while keeping your team connected. That’s Vtiger CRM for you, offering a suite that’s as comprehensive as it gets.

Key Features:

• Comprehensive Contact Management: Features like engagement scoring, custom lists, tagging, and optimal times for contact are included.
• End-to-End Sales Management: Vtiger supports multiple pipelines and currencies, and offers features such as sales forecasting, sentiment tracking, and automated lead assignment.
• Streamlined Support Operations: Includes functionalities like knowledge base, case assignments, and a dedicated customer portal.
• Automated Marketing: Includes capabilities for email campaigns, auto-responders, and robust tracking metrics.
• Vast Integration Options: Compatible with numerous platforms like Google Suite, Office 365, QuickBooks, and various digital signing and payment systems.

Cost Overview:

• Free Tier: Allows up to 10 users and 3000 records. Includes basic features for contact and sales management.
• Professional Plan: Priced at $30 per user/month (annual billing) or $42 per user/month (monthly billing). No user or record limits. Includes advanced features.
• Enterprise Plan: Priced at $42 per user/month (annual billing) or $58 per user/month (monthly billing). No user or record limits. Includes all features of Professional plus additional advanced features.

Learn more about Vtiger

More on CRM Tools

Looking to dive deeper into the CRM universe? Check out these hand-picked resources for more insights:

• Best CRM Tools for 2023: Your ultimate guide to the crème de la crème of CRM platforms to watch this year.
• Top CRM Tools to Boost Business Growth: A selection of the finest CRM systems designed to propel your business growth.
• CRM for Startups: A specially curated list of CRM solutions perfect for the startup ecosystem.
• CRM with WhatsApp Integration: Discover CRM platforms that integrate seamlessly with WhatsApp for smoother communication.
• CRM with Facebook Messenger Integration: An exploration of CRM tools that mesh well with Facebook Messenger.
• Pipedrive CRM vs. HubSpot CRM: A side-by-side comparison of two front-runners in the CRM space to help you choose wisely.

These resources are packed with unique insights to guide your decision on the perfect CRM system that aligns with your needs.

Conclusion

Finding the right CRM tool involves more than just watching the price tag. It’s about discovering a system that supports your business’s growth effectively. With options like Zendesk, Zoho, Salesforce, Insightly, and Vtiger on the table, each brings its own set of features suited for various needs and budgets.

So, whether you’re all about customization, keen on AI-driven analytics, or looking for easy project management, there’s a budget-friendly CRM solution waiting for you.

The post 5 Affordable CRM Tools for Businesses (2024) appeared first on Hongkiat.

But as the legendary Biggie Smalls once said, “more money, more problems.” This is a universal challenge for entrepreneurs. Yet, despite the well-known difficulties, entrepreneurs, freelancers, and creatives constantly chase more (because they’re inherently ambitious). This explains the abundance of online resources dedicated to enhancing work productivity. Everyone is eager to discover how to accomplish more without the added stress.

Stress is the antithesis of productivity. Hence, to achieve more, we must understand what stress is, identify when it happens, and learn strategies to eliminate it.

Stress Has No Place Here

Stress begins as a thought in our minds before manifesting as a sensation in our bodies, suggesting that experiencing stress is, to some extent, a choice, even though it often doesn’t feel that way.

Contrary to common belief, there actually is enough time in a day to accomplish all that we set out to do. The real issue arises in that window from 12 PM to 4 PM when emails flood in, phones ring off the hook, and visitors constantly interrupt. It’s during these hours that time seems to evaporate.

Remember the tranquility of the morning when interruptions were scarce? That’s when handling an additional two tasks seemed effortless. Your mind was serene, and your productivity peaked. Mastering your thought process is key to achieving this level of calmness throughout the day.

What we’re aiming for is a state of relaxed alertness, a serene focus where you’re fully engaged and “in the zone,” free from any feeling of being overwhelmed. Here’s how to achieve it.

Say “No”

Sounds easy but in reality, not many people have learned to refuse others. When you’re doing something, focus on it 100%, don’t multitask and don’t think about other stuff. By all means, don’t allow other people to interrupt you.

The cost of an interruption comes from the fact that our brain takes time to readapt to the context of a problem, so while you might be thinking you’re solving multiple problems simultaneously, you almost always end up chasing two rabbits and coming up empty-handed. That’s not to say that multitasking is wrong.

We’ve said it before, multitasking is usually wrong (here’s Science backing us up). Even doctors advise against it. David Mayer, a cognitive scientist had this to say to Entrepreneur Magazine about multitasking:

"Einstein was not multitasking when he was dreaming up the special and general theories of relativity."

Selective Multitasking

But the fact is, as an entrepreneur or freelancer you aren’t rewriting the laws of physics.

Multitasking is a skill which has its benefits but as a rule of thumb, you can’t apply multitasking to creative work, or to writing and email while talking to someone in accounting at the same time. Each task takes turns grabbing your attention and decision-making so what you’re actually doing is losing time since you are neither writing nor communicating at your best.

Multitasking works for simple, repetitive tasks; tasks that are straight-forward, mechanical, and don’t require creative thinking e.g. data entry, copy pasting data, skimming through notifications or newsletters etc. When faced with the possibility of multitasking, do what requires your attention first, then multitask the rest of the simpler tasks.

Pre-think

Barbara Corcoran, founder of the Corcoran Group, said it best:

"The productiveness of any meeting depends on the advance thought given the agenda, and you should never leave a meeting without writing a follow-up list with each item assigned to one person."

She’s right! We lose tons of time by going to meetings and brainstorming sessions unprepared. Whether it’s a client, associate or employee appointment, take the time to review beforehand what you’ll discuss and what you’re inclined to decide. Visualize a potential solution on your own. You’ll be suprised to find how little help you actually need from the other person.

Imagine what they’ll say in response to your opinions. Run an inner role-playing dialogue. You could do this in your car, on way to work, at the gym or when relaxing. You’ll end up looking like you always know your stuff and your meetings will be shorter.

Another important point is choosing your meetings carefully. Use phone calls, WhatsApp, Skype, smoke signals or radiowaves. Anything to maximize your time by traveling less. Here’s what Business Magnate Mark Cuban had to say about that last one:

"Meetings are a waste of time unless you are closing a deal. There are so many ways to communicate in real time or asynchronously that any meeting you actually sit for should have a duration and set outcome before you agree to go."

I use Skype to talk to my girlfriend in the kitchen. Try it, it’s fun. Make sure you have an understanding girlfriend first.

Carry a Tech Sidekick

The hardest working man in Social Media, Gary Vaynerchuk says:

"I carry my laptop with me everywhere. If I have any downtime during the day, I’ll jump on my computer and answer e-mails."

I encourge you to carry a device with you at all times. It could be a smartphone, laptop or tablet… it doesn’t matter.

What matters is what you can do with it, things like:

Write down Everything

Jot those ingenius ideas down as they come in. Summarise meetings on your sidekick. Conclusions, follow-ups, contact persons… we all forget the useful stuff, so this is a briliant trick to save time in the future. Plan your next day on it. Write down what you want to accomplish. Adjust accordingly the next day.

Observe yourself with it.

Study your circle. There is no magic formula here. Alternate the hours and see if you feel more productive. Find your rhythm. Here’s one extreme formula from Business Guru Jordan Zimmerman:

"Cut down on sleep. Why would you sleep when it’s time to live? Sleeping isn’t living. You sleep when you die. I get up at 3:30 every morning and I’m at the gym by 4. Then I ride 25 miles on my bike before breakfast. Being in shape is what gives me energy."

Be Organized

Save and categorise your work for reuse later, especially if you’re a freelancer or entrepreneur. Your teachers and parents were right. You need to keep things clean and organised. It helps a lot.

Change the working environment

This very article is written from a coffeeshop. I write, plan, consult and even do accounting this way. I usually do this when I feel I can’t work anymore. Switching your enviroment can do wonders for your productivity. Entrepreneur Barbara Corcoran agrees to:

"Go outside. All the big ideas are on the outside. You’ll never have a creative idea at your desk."

Feel Guilty

I know I’ll upset a lot of "positive thinkers" with this one. And it is indeed pretty hard to admit, but feeling guilty about wasting my time is one of the top reason I was able to overcome my circumstances and create a better life for myself. It’s such a rooted habit now that I have trouble taking time off and relaxing.

That’s the bad part but I can live with that. The good news is feeling guilty about the time spent not working makes you richer. The trick here is that the feeling should be genuine. Here are a few exercises to help you create this state:

Count your blessings

Realize most of them were given to you for free (your body, mind, people you love, soul, youth etc). Then realize that all your blessings, whatever they may be for you, will go to waste if you don’t maximize their potential through hard work.

Think about the food you’re eating

Think about how much effort and work was put into your daily nutrition. People had to plant, wait, hope, work, harvest, hunt and kill for you to get your daily chicken rice. The dollars spent on that food surely don’t cover the effort. What are you really giving back to society in exchange for your food?

People Work While You Sleep

Think about the people you’re competiting against, half way across the world. They work while you sleep. Then, realize that no matter how young you are, you are not immune to the very same end which awaits everyone (death). The only thing that really matters is how well you’ve lived your life, what you’ve accomplished and created for you and others. Do you feel you’ll be remembered correctly yet?

An Exercise In Guilt

Close your eyes. Remember a time when you felt really guilty and ashamed about something. Relive that: see, hear and feel what you felt. Imagine that feeling as a current rotating inside your body. Then, while keeping the current rotating, remember a time when you pointlessly wasted your time. Feel the guilt and the shame coming from the current. Practice this exercise 2-3 times a week.

In order for any of these exercises to really work, you need to put some effort in them. Really think and visualize with each, and you’ll find yourself more productive than you ever thought.

Ready To Go

That’s it. Those are the less-known secrets to productivity. Now, if you’ll be able to be smart about the meetings you take, refuse some, refuse interruptions while working, multitask only repetitive tasks while carrying a laptop and feeling guilty, there’s no conceivable reason you won’t be a multi-millionaire entrepreneur or freelancer.

If the entire process seems too hard, that’s because it sometimes is. In order to be extraordinairy, do extraordinary stuff.

The post How to Counter Stress and Create Productivity for Entrepreneurs appeared first on Hongkiat.

This is where online courses, such as those on Udemy, can be a game-changer. We’ve sifted through the myriad of courses offered on this platform to handpick 20 essential courses, divided into four key categories. These courses are designed to transform your web development business from a mere dream into a thriving, profitable enterprise.

Site note: To get the best deals on these courses, consider installing Honey in your browser. It automatically finds and applies discount coupons for you.

Working with Aggressive People

Learn to navigate the challenges of workplace aggression with this comprehensive course. It delves into handling various types of aggressors, including verbal assailants, dirty diggers, hotheads, and more.

The curriculum focuses on enhancing communication, conflict resolution, and coping strategies. Participants will engage with video lectures, case studies, and quizzes, gaining insights into managing both overt and covert aggression.

Designed for a 2-hour completion, this course is a valuable tool for improving daily interactions.

Course fee: $64.99

Management Skills Certification Course

Targeted at new managers, entrepreneurs, and seasoned professionals, this course offers a deep dive into modern management skills. It integrates AI tools like ChatGPT and Claude, focusing on leadership, productivity, and effective communication.

Updated in November 2023, the course covers digital communication, negotiation, personal productivity, and macroeconomic management perspectives. With 5 hours of video, assignments, and articles, it’s a comprehensive resource for enhancing management capabilities, complete with a certificate of completion.

Course fee: $119.99

Time Management: How to Build a System of Success

Enhance your productivity and organization skills with this 90-minute guide to time management. The course introduces a personalized system focusing on Organization, Prioritization, Action, and Review. It includes practical tools and resources like worksheets and Excel templates, blending theory with actionable steps.

Ideal for anyone seeking to revamp their approach to time management, this course offers a unique blend of theory and practice for achieving long-term success.

Course fee: $19.99

Accounting and Finance for Bankers – A Comprehensive Study

Perfect for banking professionals and JAIIB Examination candidates, this course offers an in-depth look into banking-specific accounting and finance. Covering topics from Business Mathematics to Banking Operations, it’s structured for self-paced learning with video lectures and lifetime access.

This course is an essential tool for anyone in the banking sector aiming to advance their career or for students aspiring to enter the banking industry.

Course fee: $49.99

Basics of Business Finance

Designed for beginners, this course provides a solid foundation in business and financial analysis. It’s ideal for those without a finance background and covers basic accounting, financial statement analysis, and financial modeling using Excel.

Taught by experienced Wall Street investment bankers, the course spans 23 videos over 4 hours. It’s perfect for professionals, students, and anyone interested in investment banking, consulting, entrepreneurship, and more, offering key insights for job interviews and a practical grasp of corporate finance.

Course fee: $64.99

The Complete Introduction to Accounting and Finance

Targeted at entrepreneurs, startups, and small business owners, this course demystifies accounting and finance. It offers an engaging approach to understanding basic accounting principles, financial reporting, budgeting, forecasting, and beyond. The curriculum extends to capital raising, IPOs, and exit strategies.

Spanning over 12 hours, it’s an exhaustive exploration of business finance, perfect for those seeking a comprehensive grounding in these fields, regardless of previous knowledge.

Course fee: $109.99

Basics of Economics a Complete Study

Perfect for finance and accounting professionals, this course lays the groundwork in economics. It underscores the synergy between finance, accounting, and economics, exploring topics like economic problems, demand theory, and demand elasticity.

Designed for self-paced learners, it’s an excellent resource for professionals and students in these fields, aiming to impart a fundamental, yet thorough, grasp of economics and its practical applications.

Course fee: $89.99

Finance Boot Camp for Entrepreneurs

Led by Lili Balfour, an advisor for companies raising over $200 million, this course is a treasure trove for entrepreneurs. It offers a 30-day plan to secure funding, covering pitch decks, crowdfunding campaigns, financial modeling, and funding strategies.

Tailored for entrepreneurs eager to learn financial planning and capital raising, it focuses on practical, actionable strategies.

Course fee: $39.99

Facebook Marketing: A Step-by-Step to Your First 1000 Fans

Designed for individuals and small businesses, this course is a guide to growing a Facebook page organically. It teaches how to optimize a Facebook account for maximum engagement, attract genuine fans, understand the Newsfeed Algorithm, and employ advanced strategies to increase likes.

With 3.5 hours of video and extra resources, it’s ideal for those aiming to build a significant Facebook presence, targeting over 1000 real, niche-specific followers.

Course fee: $69.99

Internet Marketing Classroom

Rated 4.4 out of 5, this extensive course caters to both novices and experienced marketers in the realm of internet marketing.

Covering website setup with WordPress, SEO, traffic generation, and monetization, it spans over 60 hours of content, including 54.5 hours of video and 28 downloadable resources. It’s the go-to course for mastering every aspect of internet marketing, from website creation to revenue generation.

Course fee: $64.99

Create Your Agency, Step-by-Step

Sean Marshall’s course offers a detailed roadmap for entrepreneurs eager to launch their own internet marketing agency. It delves into acquiring your first client and establishing a profitable venture from the start.

Key highlights include strategies for finding and hiring staff, managing your business remotely, and leveraging tools for growth and scalability. Ideal for those familiar with basic business and internet marketing concepts, this course is geared towards building a sustainable, location-independent enterprise.

Course fee: $69.99

The Complete Public Speaking Certification Program

Designed for individuals at all skill levels, this course is a deep dive into public speaking and presentation excellence. It covers audience engagement, managing nervousness, mastering body language, content creation, and effective visual aids. The course is structured to empower learners to captivate audiences, organize content effectively, and present with confidence.

With 4.5 hours of video and numerous resources, it’s an invaluable asset for anyone seeking to leave a lasting impression through their presentations.

Course fee: $64.99

Public Speaking Masterclass

Dr. Roy Naraine’s course is a comprehensive journey into enhancing your public speaking and presentation skills. It focuses on creating professional speeches, understanding body language, and making a memorable impact.

The course goes beyond verbal communication, emphasizing dynamic and energetic non-verbal cues. Ideal for anyone, especially business professionals, looking to become a master presenter, it instills confidence, fearlessness, and charisma.

Course fee: $49.99

All you need to know about… Presentation

Grzegorz Wisniewski’s course is a step-by-step guide to conquering presentation skills. Perfect for those new to public speaking, it introduces a 10-step method for creating and delivering compelling presentations.

The course covers content organization, performance improvement, and audience engagement, catering to various audiences, from students to professionals. It transforms presentations into enjoyable and impactful experiences, enhancing career and business communication skills.

Course fee: $49.99

Entrepreneurship and Business Life Coach Certification

Joeel & Natalie Rivera’s course is a complete toolkit for aspiring business and entrepreneurship life coaches. It equips coaches to support clients in various entrepreneurial stages, from start-ups to business expansion.

The course encompasses business idea clarity, goal setting, overcoming challenges, and focusing on profitable outcomes. With 11 hours of video, 6 articles, and 70 resources, it’s ideal for those aiming to guide entrepreneurs or small business owners towards successful ventures.

Course fee: $119.99

How to Raise Venture Capital

Guided by J. Skyler Fernandes, a renowned Powerlist 100 VC, this course is an essential resource for startups aiming to craft persuasive investor pitch decks. It delves into the intricacies of securing venture capital, leveraging Fernandes’ vast experience in the field. Entrepreneurs will gain insights into effective pitching strategies and access resources like the acclaimed “Best” Startup Pitch Deck.

This course is a must for founders and entrepreneurs preparing to venture into the challenging world of venture capital funding.

Course fee: [Fee not provided in the content]

How to Start A Business From Business Idea

Alex Genadinik’s course is a thorough guide for budding entrepreneurs on transforming a business idea into a reality. It offers a complete roadmap, from inception to independence as your own boss. The course features an interactive class project, expert advice, and over 10 funding strategies.

It’s designed to ease the entrepreneurial journey, helping identify profitable niches and crafting effective business plans. Ideal for those ready to make confident business decisions and embark on their entrepreneurial path with solid support and guidance.

Course fee: $109.99

Mastering Your Industry: Competitors, Products, & Suppliers

This comprehensive course is tailored for entrepreneurs, managers, executives, students, and employees eager to deepen their industry knowledge. It provides a detailed approach to analyzing competitors, products, and suppliers, key elements for business growth. The course encompasses industry analysis, competitive landscape, supplier identification, and insights into distribution channels and target markets.

Featuring real-world expertise from professors and successful entrepreneurs, along with practical exercises, it’s ideal for anyone starting or growing a business, or refreshing their industry acumen.

Course fee: $89.99

Start & Operate Your Own Successful Office Cleaning Business

This course is a practical guide for those looking to launch and manage a profitable office cleaning business. Led by an industry expert with 25 years of experience, it provides insights into securing contracts, pricing strategies, and marketing. Covering crucial aspects like equipment selection, office setup, invoicing, and professional cleaning routines, it’s ideal for anyone seeking financial independence or a significant income boost.

The course includes a wealth of resources, sample documents, and ongoing support, catering to both newcomers and experienced professionals in the cleaning sector.

Course fee: $99.99

Discover, Validate & Launch New Business Ideas with ChatGPT

This entrepreneurship course is a comprehensive guide for those aspiring to innovate in the business world using ChatGPT. It walks learners through identifying, evaluating, and launching new business ideas, utilizing ChatGPT’s capabilities. The course covers prompt engineering for startups, idea brainstorming, customer testing, and marketing plan creation.

Packed with practical examples and over 100 ChatGPT business prompts, it’s perfect for anyone interested in startups, technology, and entrepreneurship, whether starting a new venture or innovating within an existing corporation.

Course fee: $69.99

The post Top 20 Udemy Courses for Entrepreneurs (2024) appeared first on Hongkiat.

Today, users are demanding an all-in-one experience in their mobile devices, including apps for purchases, finance, music, movies, sports, healthcare, games, news and communication. This encourages the creation of new apps or added functions on existing ones. The mobile development market is expected to reach $44.3 trillion by 2027.

In a highly competitive environment, startups want to build attractive mobile apps fast and launch promptly while saving time and resources. The mobile technologies market offers a wide range of free and paid tools to facilitate development and empower the user experience.

Instruments such as low code, templates, IDEs, APIs, integrations, chatbots, forms analytics, etc., can help accelerate development, create a smooth and friendly workflow, and improve UI/UX.

AI-driven Chatbots

A combination of natural language processing and machine learning technologies helps to ensure human-like interactions, personalized responses and continuous learning for chatbots.

Smart bots drive sales and serve as customer support in social media and mobile commerce apps, in banking and the telecommunications sector. Using chatbots means users don’t need to wait hours for a response and can take action faster.

AI-chatbot builders with an intuitive point-and-click interface make it easy to create your chatbot. To that end, they offer conversation templates appropriate for various use cases and industries and also allow creating custom conversation flows.

Furthermore, such chatbots can be integrated with your back-end systems, e-commerce platforms, CRMs, CMS, order and inventory management systems, payment platforms and other third-party systems.

LivePerson

LivePerson is a conversational AI platform for conversation management and automation all in one. An Intent Manager suite allows you to analyze all conversations and consumer behavior and identify pain points. Based on this data you can evaluate your bot’s efficiency and improve the chat.

• Platforms: iOS and Android.
• Plans: Free trial, starting from $40/month.
• Language support: 44 languages.

REVE Chat

REVE Chat has an AI chat API and mobile SDK that can be customized to your business needs. The AI chatbot allows you to send in-app messages as well as voice and video messages, and share screens. You have easy access to chat log and communication analytics to analyze conversation flows and adjust your communication strategy.

• Platforms: iOS and Android.
• Plans: free trial, starting from $49 per month.
• Language support: 23 languages.

GENESYS

GENESYS is an AI-powered engagement platform for client support and sales agents for low-code development. If a conversation goes beyond the chatbot’s abilities, it will be automatically transferred to an agent. An intent miner suite enables analyzing of conversations and in-app interactions to improve dialog and the customer experience.

• Platforms: iOS.
• Plans: pricing upon request.
• Language support: 49 languages.

Mobile Payment Gateways

Users want to make payments directly in apps. Wallet integration allows one to carry out and process transactions reliably and securely. Don’t forget that any payment service must be compliant with PCI-DSS. In this case, the payment gateway is a perfect solution that meets all security standards.

Payment forms can be customized to fit the design of your app. Also, such tools can generate monthly reports on all the financial activities of your users.

PayPal

PayPal is a sophisticated solution for businesses, available in more than 200 countries with support for 25 currencies. It can be set up easily, and you don’t need advanced technical knowledge. What’s good for users especially is that they can just snap a check with a camera phone and be listed. PayPal supports split payments and has a simple invoicing process.

Fees:

PayPal charges 2.9% plus $0.30 per transaction.

Stripe

Stripe is a popular online payment tool, available in 44 countries with 135 currencies supported, including Bitcoin. It supports Apple and Android Pay and recurring payments and can be integrated with social media payments. If you make changes in the payment function, all credit card data can be transferred to a new gateway.

In general, this is a flexible solution with easy-to-integrate API that can be customized to your needs. However, there is one critical point – industry limitations. Stripe doesn’t work with high-risk companies, such as financial and legal services, intellectual property companies, gambling companies, etc.

Fees:

Stripe charges 2.9% plus $0.30 per transaction.

Square

Square offers a feature-rich payment processing all-in-one system. It is available in a few countries with support for 6 currencies, but it accepts offline payments. Users can receive payment reminders thanks to its integration with the calendar.

Square supports both Apple Pay and Android Pay.

Fees:

Square charges 2.9% plus $0.30 per transaction.

Predictive Analytics

Predictive means the use of machine learning, natural language processing and data mining algorithms. Gathered data can be utilized to help make predictions about user behavior and for planning strategy and improvements to your app.

Add or remove features, change layouts and colors, take all necessary actions to enhance the interface and create a user-friendly experience.

Predictive analytics brings value to social media platforms, dating apps, mobile commerce, entertainment apps, and on-demand apps. Based on data on engagement and previous behavior, users can get personalized recommendations on locations, activities, products, services, movies, music, and profiles.

UXcam

UXcam analyzes users’ interactions with each screen of your app and detects crashes, rage taps, UI freezes and other hidden UX issues. Sessions are video recorded and can be replayed and segmented anytime. With custom dashboards, you may build app conversion funnels to determine key points, group events, and measure the effect of implementing new features. To enhance UXcam capabilities, it can be integrated with third-party services.

• Platforms: iOS and Android.
• Plans: Free plan available. Paid plans upon request.
• Compliant with: GDPR, SOC 2, PCI, CCPA, HIPAA.

Data.ai

Data.ai was formerly App Annie, rebranded after AI was introduced to its analytics platform. It now provides a product line. Data.ai ConnectPlus collects data from app stores, user acquisition platforms and ad networks. You don’t need any API or SDK to use it. A unified dashboard displays downloads, revenue, usage, and advertising.

With Data.ai Intelligence, you may analyze mobile markets across categories, segments and countries. It has a data-driven keyword search and a feature for automated monitoring of app reviews.

The platform allows you to create user profiles through demographic and behavior metrics. All of this data is aimed at helping to boost downloads and adjust your marketing strategy accordingly.

• Platforms: iOS and Android.
• Plans: Paid plans upon request.
• Compliant with: GDPR, CCPA.

AppsFlyer

AppsFlyer assists with marketing campaigns while strictly following customer privacy law. Its AI engine enables campaign optimization and outcomes prediction. Predictive insights are based on the first metrics of user engagement and anticipated value. The algorithm calculates correlations and shows aggregated behavior rates.

You may forecast retention rate, cost, ROAS, ARPU, etc. for your campaigns. To make things easy, the AI engine is synchronized with Apple’s SKAN, directly transferring all the data to it.

• Platform: iOS.
• Plans: Paid plans upon request.
• Compliant with: GDPR, CCPA, PIPL (China), APPI (Japan), LGPD (Brazil).

Internet of things (IoT) App Integration

IoT has great potential in mobile development for various industries. IoT mobile apps can be used in healthcare, logistics, e-commerce, education and more. Integration brings the benefit of flexible data transmission to mobile devices.

For example, users may have remote control over home devices or car systems. Medical devices can track patient indicators and send them directly to a doctor for analysis and recommendations.

Core elements of any IoT application are remote data collection, connection of components, secure connectivity and continuous communication. There are various types of IoT platforms that can help to prototype and deploy your mobile app.

Blynk

Blynk is an IoT platform as a service for solutions in the area of smart home products, complex HVAC systems and agricultural equipment. The tool is an example of a low-code platform that doesn’t require deep technical knowledge. All your data will be secured with a private cloud server.

Moreover, Blynk allows for historical device data storage of 12 months as well as raw data storage. Alexa and Google Home support makes it a good solution for smart home products. With the app localization feature, you can set alarms and notifications.

• Supported Languages: C++, C#, JavaScript, Python.
• Plans: Has free version.Paid plan starts from $6.99/month.

OpenRemote

• Supported Languages: Groovy, JavaScript, JSON or Flow rules object model.
• Plans: Free, under AGPL v3 license.

OpenRemote is an open-source IoT platform for solutions in the area of home automation, healthcare, public spaces, commercial buildings, energy management and crowd management. One can build custom apps to fit your business needs using a library of web components and APIs. It suggests various hosting options, a.k.a. cloud hosting, Edge gateway Docker images and hosting on-premise.

OpenRemote is more of a technical solution, which requires developers’ skills. Therefore, it has a manager interface, where non-technicians can analyze data and create automation rules. The geofencing feature also allows you to set alarms and send notifications.

Low-code

The vast majority of low-code platforms for mobile development on the market are affordable. On one hand, they can help save time and resources and launch the first product version faster. On the other hand, this can be tricky.

When choosing a platform, you have to take into account a lot of factors: budget and licensing, cloud support, the possibility of integrations, scalability and maintainability, collaborative IDEs and more. Non-technical persons can handle the development using templates, preconfigured modules, logic and connectors. Therefore, low code platforms capabilities are limited. You will not be able to customize and expand your app.

Handing your projects over to a professional team allows you to cover these potential issues. While the app is under development, you can do other important things, like marketing and strategy planning. At the same time, with Collaborative IDEs, you can track each step of the process and give timely feedback.

Some examples of low-code platforms includes Thunkable, BuildFire, and OutSystems.

The post 11 Mobile App Development Tools for Startups (2024) appeared first on Hongkiat.

An effective email marketing campaign is crucial for enhancing the visibility and recognition of your business’s products and services. This direct marketing approach yields immediate responses upon reaching your targeted audience.

Understanding the Value

In an era of intense business competition, organizations employ only the most impactful promotional strategies, and email marketing is at the forefront. Its adaptability makes it a standout choice in our rapidly changing business environment.

Email marketing’s cost-effectiveness is a significant draw, offering an affordable solution that integrates seamlessly with existing marketing frameworks at any scale, including international operations.

This form of online marketing enhances efficiency, condenses communication to be brief and direct, and allows for real-time engagement with clients and customers.

Advantages of Email Marketing

Email marketing, when done correctly, complements other marketing efforts and offers numerous benefits, including:

Cost Efficiency

Email marketing eclipses traditional marketing channels in cost efficiency. While print ads and physical marketing materials come with hefty expenses, email marketing offers a dynamic and budget-friendly alternative that’s easy to update and execute.

Worldwide Reach

The global nature of the internet means email marketing can reach people anywhere, anytime, without geographical barriers. It’s an invaluable tool for a worldwide marketing strategy.

Personalization and Segmentation

Email marketing allows for a personalized touch, helping to foster a deeper connection with recipients. It also enables segmentation, allowing marketers to tailor messages to specific groups for a more targeted approach.

By segmenting audiences, your marketing messages can be more personalized and relevant, increasing engagement and effectiveness.

Measurable Outcomes

Email marketing’s success can be measured and analyzed through various tools, providing insights into click-through rates, conversion rates, and how visitors navigate your site. This data is crucial for assessing the effectiveness of campaigns and making informed adjustments.

Rapid Response

Compared to traditional marketing, email marketing generates quicker responses, often within a day or three, with the highest engagement typically seen on the first day, offering a stark contrast to the slower pace of direct mail responses.

User-Friendly

Both sending and receiving emails are straightforward, making email marketing a user-friendly option that doesn’t require extensive resources or technical know-how to implement.

6 Strategies for Effective Email Marketing

To ensure your email marketing campaign hits the mark, it’s essential to employ strategic practices. Below are six tips to enhance the effectiveness of your email marketing efforts.

1. Set Clear Campaign Goals

Defining the objectives and targets of your campaign is crucial before launch. This foresight ensures you maximize the campaign’s impact.

Typical goals for email marketing include bolstering customer loyalty and eliciting a direct response. Plan accordingly to align your strategy with these objectives for better outcomes.

2. Commit to Ethical Practices

Avoiding the pitfalls of spam filters is crucial for email marketing success. As spamming became prevalent, email providers implemented filters, creating challenges for marketers.

Addressing this, savvy marketers emphasize ‘permission-based’ strategies to maintain customer trust and loyalty. Gaining consent isn’t just ethical; it’s effective.

Entice customers with valuable offers like discounts, exclusive content, or newsletters in exchange for their permission. Remember, the allure of ‘free’ can be powerful. Utilize it to build relationships and then introduce your products or services. This approach not only curbs spamming concerns but also fosters lasting customer loyalty.

3. Embrace the Opt-In Method

Incorporating an opt-in feature is a fundamental and ethical approach to executing email marketing. Opt-in forms are not only best practices for ethical conduct but also enhance campaign effectiveness.

Many organizations opt for ‘double opt-in’ procedures, where after an initial subscription, a confirmation email is sent to verify the subscriber’s intent. This method significantly reduces spam complaints and builds a foundation of trust and respect with recipients.

4. Craft Your Message Carefully

Crafting your email is a crucial step. Keep these pointers in mind for an impactful message:

• Ensure the subject line is attention-grabbing and clear.
• Keep content clear and concise, adhering to the ‘inverted pyramid model’—most critical information first.
• Understand that web readers skim content, so get to the point quickly and maintain relevance.
• Remember to include essential elements like the ‘to’ and ‘from’ lines, offer details, and a clear call to action.
• Conclude with a signature that includes your contact information, company details, and an opt-out link.

5. Test Your Message

Testing different elements of your email ensures effectiveness. Experiment with fonts, imagery, and layouts to find what garners the best click-through rates. Use this data to refine your approach for maximum engagement and results.

6. Cultivate and Maintain Your Email List

A well-maintained email list is vital to campaign success. Regularly update and segment your list to ensure messages are targeted and relevant. Periodically remove unengaged subscribers to keep your list fresh and responsive. Remember, a quality list is more valuable than a lengthy one.

Wrapping Up

Email marketing stands as a mature, widely adopted method for business engagement and promotion. Its cost-effectiveness, ease of implementation, and significant impact make it a staple in the marketer’s toolkit.

Far from supplanting other marketing methods, email marketing serves to enhance and complement them effectively. A strategic, well-executed email campaign can expand your customer base and deepen existing customer loyalty.

Regular, valuable communication from your brand reinforces its value, especially when customers benefit from your advice. While inherently low-risk and potentially high-reward, the true success of email marketing lies in strategic planning and adept execution, leading to higher success rates for your business.

The post Email Marketing: Tips to Do it Well appeared first on Hongkiat.

The term “entrepreneur” has its roots in the French verb entreprendre, which means “to undertake.” Delving even further back into the Sanskrit language, the word anthaprerna translates to “self-motivation.” These etymological origins perfectly encapsulate what an entrepreneur is: a self-motivated individual who willingly takes on responsibilities that extend beyond themselves.

Understanding the Essence of Entrepreneurship

Being an entrepreneur isn’t about amassing wealth or wielding power. Many entrepreneurs feel uncomfortable when they find themselves in a position where they have to manage others or relocate their office to a high-rise building. This discomfort stems from the entrepreneurial spirit, which thrives on resource constraints and the innovation that such limitations inspire.

Harvard Business School Professor Howard Stevenson offers an insightful definition of entrepreneurship:

“Entrepreneurship is the pursuit of opportunity without regard to resources currently controlled.”

This means that entrepreneurship involves embracing your current circumstances while visualizing a brighter future, irrespective of your present conditions. Adding a keyword here, it’s about assuming moderate risks to achieve that vision.

Entrepreneurship isn’t a selfish endeavor. As business magnate Richard Branson eloquently stated in his LinkedIn article:

“…to me, being an entrepreneur simply means being someone who wants to make a difference to other people’s lives.”

Therefore, an entrepreneur also aims to improve the overall quality and standard of life in society. What mission could be more noble than that?

The Noble Path of Entrepreneurship

An entrepreneur contributes to society by creating jobs, advancing scientific knowledge, and solving pressing global issues. True entrepreneurs are not merely focused on their personal gains. While everyone aspires to improve their lives, entrepreneurs intentionally or unintentionally enrich not only their own lives but also the lives of countless others.

The Concept of Meta-Entrepreneurs

Although spiritual leaders, inventors, and philosophers do add value to people’s lives, they are not entrepreneurs in the strictest sense. Their contributions are often theoretical rather than practical, and thus, their work doesn’t directly improve the quality of life for others.

These individuals are better described as meta-entrepreneurs. They provide invaluable guidance and knowledge for future generations of entrepreneurs. For example, the philosopher Socrates, as a meta-entrepreneur, may have indirectly influenced greater societal changes than any single entrepreneur could have.

Meta-entrepreneurs lay the informational groundwork that entrepreneurs can utilize to add tangible, practical value to society. However, it’s crucial to distinguish between the two: an entrepreneur is the practical embodiment of the theoretical principles put forth by the meta-entrepreneur.

Entrepreneurship: Beyond a Mere Job

One could argue that any individual who performs their job with dedication and skill is adding value to society. Professions like doctors, educators, and even politicians do contribute to enhancing the quality of life for the community.

However, these professionals cannot be labeled as entrepreneurs. They don’t assume the responsibilities of others and operate within the boundaries of their respective professions. They have jobs and follow rules – rules often established by entrepreneurs or meta-entrepreneurs.

Entrepreneurship is not a job. An entrepreneur sets up the framework for improving both their life and the lives of others. Media mogul Ted Turner encapsulated this idea well:

“My son is now an ‘entrepreneur.’ That’s what you’re called when you don’t have a job.”

Do You Qualify as an Entrepreneur?

The answer depends on the context. If you’ve built a family and ensure its members are responsible, contributing citizens, you could be considered a “social entrepreneur.” However, in the economic sense, you’re an entrepreneur only if your business meets at least one of the following criteria:

• It creates jobs.
• It delivers valuable products or services.
• It generates wealth for more than just yourself.

Interestingly, you can’t claim the title of entrepreneur if you once owned a business that either went bankrupt or was sold. Being an entrepreneur is more than a job title; it’s a continuous state of being. You either embody entrepreneurship in the present moment, or you don’t.

Steps to Becoming an Entrepreneur

If you’re not currently an entrepreneur, you might be wondering what it takes to become one. According to billionaire Richard Branson, all you really need is a compelling idea and a zest for life:

“When I started with Student Magazine, I didn’t even know what an entrepreneur was. I was simply passionate about protesting against the Vietnam War and having some fun in the process. If that meant becoming an entrepreneur, then so be it.”

Is it truly that simple? Yes, absolutely.

The Importance of Dreaming Big

Entrepreneurship is essentially a journey to realize your dreams. While I often get labeled as a serial entrepreneur, I don’t necessarily identify with that term. I believe that the moment you label yourself as an entrepreneur, you risk losing your drive and ambition.

As previously mentioned, entrepreneurship isn’t a job or a title; it’s a continuous state of chasing your dreams. It’s about wanting to turn those dreams into reality, which is why you need to be an entrepreneur.

To conclude, I’ll share this inspiring quote from the legendary Walt Disney:

“All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them.”

The post What It Takes to Call Yourself a Real Entrepreneur appeared first on Hongkiat.

Contrary to common perception, external elements are seldom the primary reason for business failure. The key lies in your choices and your actions. The prosperity of your startup depends on your ability to find the ideal equilibrium between involvement and autonomy in your business activities. It’s akin to maintaining a healthy romantic relationship: being either too possessive or too indifferent can both lead to disappointment.

Striking the right balance is vital for your business. To guide you through this journey, here are seven pitfalls that every entrepreneur should avoid.

1. The Pitfall of Over-Specialization

Many people mistakenly think that entrepreneurs should specialize in a single area, much like certain insects. Robert A. Heinlein, in his book Time Enough for Love, expressed a contrasting view:

For example, ants make poor mentors for entrepreneurs. An ant unquestioningly obeys its leader (the queen) and lacks the ability to think outside the box or innovate. While ants are efficient at carrying heavy objects, they are not entrepreneurial by nature. They are engineered to excel in a designated role for the collective good of their community.

Avoid mimicking ants.

Champion Adaptability

Heinlein’s viewpoint implies that humans, particularly entrepreneurs, should be adaptable. An entrepreneur should not only be capable of executing various tasks but should also excel in areas such as market research, administrative tasks, process optimization, and even graphic design. Adaptability is crucial.

An entrepreneur is a true master of many skills.

Successful entrepreneurs understand that excessive specialization can be an obstacle. They adopt a balanced strategy by not overly concentrating on a single domain, but rather taking a comprehensive view of all crucial aspects of their business.

2. The Hazard of Excessive Enthusiasm in Business Ventures

It’s natural for entrepreneurs to be swept up in the thrill of a new endeavor. Much like the honeymoon phase in relationships, everything seems perfect at the outset. You may believe you can juggle your current job and a new startup, but this is often a symptom of excessive enthusiasm.

Attempting to launch multiple businesses at once is a surefire way to fail. The cornerstone of business success is total dedication. As previously discussed, being a master of many skills within your own enterprise is essential.

Do you truly think you can effectively manage multiple startups? The wise course of action is to dive into a new venture only after your current one has stabilized, has been operational for at least three years, and has matured beyond the startup phase. Therefore, start modestly and concentrate on nurturing one business at a time.

3. The Fallacy of Passion as the Ultimate Objective

The notion of passion is frequently romanticized in literature, quotes, and articles. However, the practical reality is different. Astute entrepreneurs don’t blindly chase the abstract concept of passion. The fact is, industries are either profitable or not, irrespective of our personal preferences. Opportunities for business extend beyond our passions.

The real question to ponder is: Is it worthwhile to follow your passion at the expense of potentially more lucrative and faster-growing industries?

Don’t Be Misled by Passion

You might counter, “If Steve Jobs succeeded, why can’t I?” The point is not that he was superior; it’s that genius doesn’t guarantee wealth.

Remember, the world doesn’t solely require impassioned visionaries; it also thrives on logical choices made by shrewd entrepreneurs. As Benjamin Franklin aptly stated:

I agree with Joshua that you should develop passion for the startup you’ve logically selected. Make this decision after investigating the most promising sectors. A well-considered industry choice significantly enhances your likelihood of success.

4. The Dangers of Emotional Involvement in Business

Your enterprise is fundamentally made up of people: team members, collaborators, and customers. Success hinges on your ability to be pragmatic in your interactions with them.

Entrepreneurship entails leadership. Leaders leverage human resources to meet organizational objectives. If someone is underperforming, it’s your duty to implement changes. This may involve letting go of employees, terminating longstanding client contracts, or even pursuing legal action against partners. Business is not a realm for the emotionally fragile.

Finding the Equilibrium

Beginner entrepreneurs often form personal connections with staff and clients, which can adversely affect the business.

People are attracted to strength and seek a leader to look up to. You must fulfill that role. While it’s acceptable to occasionally reward your team, don’t allow personal bonds to impair your professional discernment.

As always, balance is key.

5. The Perils of Excessive Control in Leadership

You can’t be omnipresent, nor can you be omniscient. Your triumph depends on your team’s capabilities. Opt for team members who can function autonomously, eliminating the need for incessant supervision.

Over-controlling tendencies often arise from neglecting the principle of emotional detachment. If you find it difficult to part ways with underperforming team members, you risk squandering valuable time and resources, thereby jeopardizing your enterprise.

Strategies to Counter Over-Control

To sidestep the pitfalls of excessive control, consider implementing the following strategies:

• Invest in staff development programs
• Instill confidence in your team
• Delegate tasks effectively
• Engage your team members in a meaningful manner

If these approaches don’t yield the desired results, you might consider hiring a specialized manager to supervise your team. This would allow you to concentrate on overseeing that particular individual. Are you up for the challenge?

6. The Hazards of Overexpansion: A Lesson from the Gaming World

If you’re unfamiliar with the meme “All Your Base Are Belong To Us” from the game Zero Wing, it serves as a warning for both gamers and business owners. Let’s delve into why.

Building multiple bases in a game without adequate planning can result in losing them all. The same logic applies to business. The journey from $0 to $100,000 is fundamentally different from scaling from $100,000 to $1,000,000.

Moreover, the leap from 1 million to 10 million dollars introduces its own set of unique challenges.

Regrettably, numerous entrepreneurs overlook this. They quickly secure loans to establish new branches upon tasting initial success, often leading to setbacks.

Rapid expansion can be harmful. A single error in managing a branch can have lasting adverse effects on your entire enterprise.

Control Your Expansion Speed

Scaling your enterprise is an art. Approach it cautiously, similar to how you would in a relationship. Conduct thorough research before making significant decisions. Here are three essential steps to ponder:

1. Begin Modestly

Avoid investing in an extravagant office and a large team immediately. Different cities exhibit varied consumer behaviors. Start small, as you did in your hometown, and allow the business to grow naturally.

2. Seek a Younger Version of Yourself

Until cloning becomes a reality, find a younger, driven version of yourself to manage the new location. Allow them to work remotely initially and scale up only when sales are evident.

3. Embrace Digital Management

Employ tools like Skype, Dropbox, and TeamViewer to oversee your business from afar. These tools are often more budget-friendly than regular travel. Even traditional enterprises can gain from contemporary management methods.

7. The Dangers of Unquestioningly Heeding Advice

Aspiring to be an entrepreneur? Exercise caution when accepting advice, even mine. It’s crucial to adapt and rely on your intuition.

No one can offer a guaranteed blueprint for success due to the myriad variables in the world. You need to formulate your own tactics and establish your unique voice.

In Short, Be Your Own Guide

Experience remains the most effective instructor. While advice is plentiful, it can’t substitute for hands-on experience. Listen to others, but make your own judgments. Even if you encounter setbacks, the lessons learned from your actions will be invaluable.

Lead with your vision, and others will follow.

The post The 7 Mistakes Entrepreneurs Must Avoid and Strategies to Dodge Them appeared first on Hongkiat.

In the modern era, technological advancements like airplanes have given us the ability to travel faster than the fastest bird. Similarly, strategic planning allows us to explore even the most inaccessible parts of the ocean. The aim is not perfection, but rather, continuous improvement. In the business world, this principle is key to effective marketing.

Why Marketing Is Crucial

Marketing plays a pivotal role in business success. Traditional marketing strategies focused on showcasing a product’s strengths and benefits to attract potential clients. However, in today’s saturated market, this approach is no longer sufficient.

Nowadays, everyone is both a consumer and a provider. What distinguishes you is your ability to subtly showcase your expertise without overtly stating it. This nuanced method not only captures attention but also elicits emotional engagement, thereby drawing clients to you.

Weakness 1: Time Constraints

Expertise is highly valued by clients. I’ve started to delegate some coding tasks to platforms like oDesk and Fiverr, where there is fierce competition in various freelance fields such as coding, design, and video editing.

Despite this, clients are often willing to pay more for genuine expertise. Being an expert implies that your time is limited, which can actually work in your favor. Use your part-time freelancing and limited availability as a unique selling proposition.

When you apply for a job, highlight that your time is a valuable asset. Stress that you are committed to efficiency and will not squander either your time or the client’s. By working diligently and swiftly within the scope of the job, you can turn what may seem like a limitation into a compelling advantage.

Weakness 2: Deficiency in Specific Skills

Confidence is often mistaken for arrogance, especially among experts. However, a balanced mix of confidence, honesty, and self-assurance can be advantageous. For instance, if you lack expertise in a particular skill, you can turn this into a strength by being forthright yet confident.

Consider the following example:

“While my Java skills are limited, I believe I can develop a streamlined, robust app. My experience with VB Studio equips me to create innovative solutions, such as unique coding patterns, that a specialized Java programmer might overlook. Are you open to a non-traditional approach for your app?”

Would you consider hiring someone who presents themselves in this manner? I certainly would.

Belief in your own capabilities is crucial for convincing others. In today’s digital age, acquiring specific skills is easier than ever. Platforms like Udemy offer a plethora of courses to help you become an expert in almost any field.

Weakness 3: Inexperience

Recognizing your lack of experience in a specific area is the first step towards improvement. If you’re new to a freelance platform and have no ratings or job history, it’s crucial not to underestimate your capabilities.

If you’re applying for a job where you lack direct experience but understand the objectives, try to relate your other work experiences to the task at hand.

For instance, if you’re a freelance writer venturing into Photoshop design, you can discuss how your writing skills are transferable to design. Be candid about your lack of ratings, but emphasize your strengths.

Here’s a sample letter of intent:

“I’m eager to design your website using Photoshop. Although I don’t have job experience or ratings on this platform, I possess the necessary skills for this project. My fresh perspective will enable me to create a custom site that meets your business needs.”

“Being new to this platform, I bring a fresh approach without the constraints of rigid thinking. I’m adaptable and willing to meet your specific needs.”

“Here’s why I’m qualified: I have previously worked as a writer for… and completed…”

Proceed to list your writing achievements to further bolster your case.

Weakness 4: Operating as a Small Entity

Being a small company or even a solo entrepreneur is not a drawback; it’s an opportunity. As a smaller operation, you have unique advantages, such as:

• Providing individualized attention to each client
• Delivering faster and more personalized customer service
• Offering competitive pricing due to lower overhead costs
• Being agile and innovative

Make sure to highlight these benefits when communicating with potential clients. Many people today prefer smaller companies because they often feel overlooked by larger organizations that can’t offer personalized service.

When you’re a small operation personally managing client relationships, these issues are mitigated. Make your clients feel valued and special. However, be cautious as your company grows; rapid expansion could lead to a decline in the personalized service your clients have come to expect.

Conclusion

In summary, your online presence – be it your profile on freelancing platforms, your personal website, or your mobile app – should be meticulously crafted. Any perceived weaknesses can be repositioned as unique benefits. Adopting this strategy is crucial for effective marketing and personal growth.

The post Transforming Weaknesses into Strengths: A Guide to Personal and Professional Growth appeared first on Hongkiat.

Startups are intriguing because they often bring new technologies to the forefront. However, achieving success in the startup arena is far from easy. It requires dedication, long working hours, and a holistic strategy that includes product development, coding, marketing, and organizational planning. Despite the hurdles, the potential rewards are incredibly gratifying.

In this guide, we’ll delve into a range of practical steps for successfully launching your startup. Whether you’re already part of a team working on a product or an independent professional considering a new endeavor, these tips will help you realize your entrepreneurial dreams.

Formulating a Robust Concept

Launching a successful tech startup begins with a well-conceived concept. This could be anything from an innovative website or mobile application to a hosting solution or system management tool. The more comprehensive your initial plan, the less complicated the subsequent stages will be.

We recommend making a list of advantages and disadvantages for each potential concept. For example, if you’re thinking about a community-focused social platform, you might want to concentrate on features that connect people within their local areas. This unique angle could differentiate you from existing platforms.

It’s crucial to have a thorough understanding of how your product compares to others in the market. Use a bullet-point list with accompanying explanations to aid in the ideation phase.

Keep in mind that competition is unavoidable, but it’s also a catalyst for innovation. By learning from the failures and limitations of others, you can create a product that not only grabs attention but also delivers genuine value. This iterative approach is vital for your startup’s success.

Building a Strong Team

Initiating a startup as a solo entrepreneur may seem appealing. You might believe you can manage all aspects alone, particularly if you’re targeting moderate growth. However, as your startup gains momentum, you’ll quickly realize that the workload becomes overwhelming for a single individual.

The CEO typically oversees daily operations, but you’ll also need additional team members for roles like customer service. Essential positions also include a web designer or frontend developer for online presence, as well as experts in marketing and branding.

Allocate Roles Aligned with Objectives

At first, you may be inclined to assign roles based on personal preferences. However, it’s more efficient to align roles with your startup’s primary goals. In the dynamic environment of a startup, multitasking is standard. The sooner you form a cohesive team with a strong work ethic, the quicker you’ll achieve profitability.

Remember, the strength of a team lies in its quality, not its size. If your startup is tech-centric, finding the right talent may take time. However, even small teams of 2 or 3 committed individuals can attain success. Effective collaboration and persistence are key.

Developing Your Product

Having a robust idea and a skilled team is essential. However, the initial significant challenge is creating your first product. This stage can be demanding and time-consuming, but the goal is to go to market as swiftly as possible.

Avoid launching a product with subpar code or malfunctioning features. Yet, don’t hold back waiting for perfection before releasing a beta version. An early launch can help establish your brand and garner initial support.

Consider X (formerly Twitter) as an example. It debuted in 2006 as a much simpler platform than its current version. Over time, features like direct messages, @replies, and media support were added. They didn’t wait for a flawless product; they launched and refined based on user feedback.

So, think globally but act incrementally. Concentrate on accomplishing one or two significant tasks daily. Don’t hold off for perfection; view the initial months as a testing phase for collecting user insights.

Focus on User Experience

Product development is an ongoing process. Post-launch, your team will shift its attention to bug fixes and potential feature additions. This is a stage where many startups falter, becoming entangled in endless design modifications.

Maintain a focused approach to product development. Implement changes that will genuinely enhance user experience and contribute to your business goals, rather than succumbing to individual whims.

Effective Pitching and Marketing Strategies

If the startup ecosystem fascinates you, you might also be interested in the world of finance. This often includes seeking angel investors and venture capital to fuel your innovative ideas. Your startup could potentially become the next industry disruptor.

Although funding for tech startups is increasingly available, it’s not a surefire route to success. Don’t base your startup’s success solely on obtaining initial funding. Y Combinator is an excellent example of entrepreneurs joining forces to secure capital and scale their ventures.

Effective pitching doesn’t require elaborate presentations. Consider crafting concise summaries of your product that can be delivered in timeframes like 30 seconds, 1 minute, 3 minutes, or up to 5 minutes. Structuring your thoughts is vital for establishing robust business relationships and staying updated on marketing trends.

Digital Marketing

No matter your startup’s focus, online marketing is an invaluable asset. The internet provides a quick avenue to generate interest and establish your brand. Begin by creating social media profiles that resonate with your brand’s ethos.

Effective marketing targets individuals who have interests aligned with your product. Consider promotional activities on industry-related forums or bulletin boards. Alternatively, partner with blogs and smaller websites for product reviews.

Don’t restrict your marketing tactics. Form a small team to brainstorm creative strategies. Experimentation can significantly enhance your online visibility.

Establishing a Clear Mission

Many startups begin without a well-defined mission, and that’s acceptable. Companies often refine and adjust their objectives based on customer feedback. Being adaptable and open to change is indicative of effective leadership.

While it’s impossible to chart your startup’s entire trajectory from the outset, you can create a flexible roadmap. Be ready to modify your approaches as you progress.

While profit is crucial, it shouldn’t overshadow your core values. If you derive satisfaction from creating tech solutions, continue in that direction. The startup landscape offers priceless learning opportunities.

For additional insights, visit Quora, a rich source of information on startup culture and fundraising. Clearly define your startup’s mission to attract individuals who share your vision.

Final Thoughts

Starting a startup goes beyond merely creating a basic website. Your goal should be to address a specific problem that resonates with a broad audience. Tech startups hold the potential to transform how we communicate and connect.

Success is never guaranteed, and many startups encounter hurdles. However, the knowledge and experience you gain are invaluable assets. An early start enhances your likelihood of long-term success.

The post A Guide to Successfully Launching Your Startup appeared first on Hongkiat.

As a business owner, it’s crucial to understand that customers’ decisions are influenced by their social and psychological needs. Sometimes, your product might not meet these needs, and the customer won’t buy it, even if they were initially drawn to it.

Take, for example, middle-class shoppers looking at high-end, luxury items. Their buying decisions are often influenced by their social circle – friends, family, colleagues – people whose opinions they value. So, as an entrepreneur, your challenge is to figure out how to make this work in your favor.

1. The Impact of Peer Opinions

Have you ever asked a friend for their thoughts before splurging on a high-end item or a tech gadget? Purchasing a new smartphone isn’t the same as picking up a jar of jelly from the store.

For tech-related purchases, you’re likely to seek advice from someone more tech-savvy to determine if it’s a good investment. This is a perfect example of how peer opinions, or “reference groups,” can sway a consumer’s decision.

This influence of reference groups is even more pronounced among shoppers in developing or under-developed countries. A customer might genuinely like your product, but if someone whose opinion they value doesn’t approve, they might not buy it. In these cases, the customer’s decision-making power is undermined.

Turning the Tables

To counteract this, some companies create their own reference groups and encourage people to join. This strategy indirectly influences consumers’ purchasing decisions. Entrepreneurs can also introduce referral programs, where customers receive discounts for referring others.

This approach can help neutralize external influences on the customer’s decision-making process. The discounts provide a justification for the customer to make their own decisions, regardless of others’ opinions, leading to a purchase based on their personal preferences.

2. The Power of Brand Loyalty

Many consumers have a strong attachment to specific brands. This loyalty can be so intense that they’d choose to wear their favorite brand’s T-shirts for business meetings, rather than switching to formal shirts from other brands. Even when presented with equally good alternatives, their devotion to a single brand can stop them from exploring other options.

This strong brand preference is a key factor in why some customers might appreciate your product, but still hesitate to invest their money in it.

Especially for entrepreneurs in developing countries, this brand loyalty can pose a significant challenge. Consumers often stick to brands they’ve known for a long time, even when presented with a wide array of new choices. They prefer the familiarity of known brands over the uncertainty of trying something new.

Turning the Tide in Your Favor

Traditional advertising methods like billboards may not be effective in this scenario. Your products are up against industry giants who have staked their claim and won’t easily yield to a new competitor. As an entrepreneur, you might need to create a strategy to highlight the unique benefits of your product.

One effective approach could be partnering with an established brand. This strategy is popular among many manufacturers as it makes their products easier to sell. The partnership doesn’t necessarily have to be with a brand in the same industry.

The goal is to leverage the established brand’s recognition to introduce your product to the market, making consumers more open to your brand.

3. Embracing Simplicity

The lifestyle of your customers can greatly influence their buying habits. For instance, those who lead a simple life often stick to what they know and avoid experimenting with their purchases. They view shopping as a chore rather than a pleasure, preferring to invest their time and energy elsewhere.

These individuals typically only buy what they absolutely need and stick to products they’ve been buying for years, within a price range they’re comfortable with. They perceive trying new products as a financial risk and are unlikely to be swayed by traditional advertising methods like billboards, radio, or TV.

Turning Simplicity into Opportunity

To appeal to this group, consider launching a comprehensive promotional campaign that encourages them to try your products. Offering enticing discounts, free samples, or discount vouchers can pique their interest and make them more open to trying something new.

If your product proves to be effective and isn’t significantly more expensive than what they usually buy, there’s a good chance they’ll switch over. In this way, you can turn a simple-living consumer into a loyal customer.

4. Fixation on Social Prestige

Some individuals place a high value on their outward appearance and the company they keep. They view their attire and product choices as a reflection of their societal standing.

This mindset is why luxury items like fragrances, beauty products, and watches often employ famous faces for promotion. If your product doesn’t align with their perceived social prestige or isn’t marketed as such, it won’t catch their attention. These individuals often move in celebrity circles and are highly status-aware.

These consumers prioritize brand recognition over product quality. They focus on how a product looks and whether it can boost their social standing. For instance, they might purchase a car that they only drive once a year, finding more satisfaction in simply owning such a vehicle.

Making it Work in Your Favor

The solution here is straightforward. If your product doesn’t cater to their specific needs, there’s no use chasing their approval. Instead, focus on marketing your product to your intended audience and invest your energy in selling to those who are genuinely interested.

5. The Role of Pricing

The price tag on your product can greatly influence a customer’s decision to buy it. Even if they adore what you’re selling, they might hesitate to purchase if it’s too costly. As a business owner, it’s crucial to understand that your product’s price can significantly affect its market performance. However, this doesn’t imply that you should slash your prices dramatically to draw in more customers.

For everyday necessities, price might not be a big deal for shoppers. But when it comes to luxury items, customers tend to be more cautious and considerate.

This category includes things like high-end fashion, televisions, or other expensive electronics and gadgets. Shoppers often factor in price before making their final choice. If your product exceeds their budget, they’ll probably choose a more wallet-friendly option.

Making Pricing Work in Your Favor

As business owners, it’s important to know who your customers are and tailor your marketing strategy accordingly. Keeping your prices competitive is also key. If you believe that your product’s quality surpasses that of others in your category, you might choose to keep your prices higher.

However, you’ll need to invest in a comprehensive advertising campaign to make your product stand out. Keep in mind, shoppers can be very selective, and if your product isn’t showcased effectively, you might miss out on potential market share and business opportunities.

The post 5 Reasons Your Products Aren’t Selling (An Entrepreneur’s Perspective) appeared first on Hongkiat.

The challenging economic conditions of 2023, including rising interest rates, inflation, and supply chain disruptions, continue to exert a significant impact. Consequently, companies’ budgets remain under pressure. Outsourcing development continues to be a cost-effective method for implementing digital strategies that steer businesses in the right direction.

Outsourcing can help manage evolving needs and ensure timely adjustments and resilience. In many instances, development teams can be hired for weeks instead of months, leading to overall cost savings. Furthermore, outsourcing facilitates the quick and efficient location of relevant resources.

Key Takeaway

Distributed Teams

Today, software companies can reap the benefits of distributed teams, with members located in different countries. It has become standard practice to have the headquarters in one country and the team in others. This arrangement is achievable without sacrificing efficiency and while still maintaining processes in compliance with high security standards.

Developers often choose countries with flexible labor laws. As executives strive to find an optimal balance between cost and quality, outsourcing to countries with lower-cost yet high-quality experts can be a viable solution.

Distributing the team across various locations also reduces the risk of a complete project shutdown in the event of unforeseen circumstances and disruptions. Outsourcing enables the reallocation of technical expertise and skills, thereby maintaining a certain level of stability.

Software Outsourcing Factors and Countries

Software development outsourcing rates vary based on location, skill level, experience, English proficiency, and project duration. For instance, expertise in AI and Data Science tends to be more costly. Language barriers can exacerbate communication issues, increase the likelihood of errors, and potentially slow down the project. Significant cultural differences can complicate team integration, further impacting project progress.

It’s crucial to consider government policies and political stability in the outsourcing country, including taxation and employment regulations. Critical or extreme situations could result in loss of communication with the offshore team, leading to unexpected downtime and delivery delays.

Both client companies and outsourcing firms can benefit from business hubs and special economic regimes. Numerous countries have invested in the tech sector and established favorable conditions to attract technology companies.

Such opportunities can be found in countries like Poland, Georgia, and Kazakhstan. These benefits enable outsourcing companies with a distributed system to offer lower rates while still providing highly competent developers.

Generally, regions and countries have specific reputations in software development concerning expertise, time zone, communication, cultural differences, and rates. Costs in each country also depend on the economic level, currency exchange rate, and local wages.

For example, Eastern Europe is recognized as a region with hard-working, talented, and skilled developers. It boasts high-quality standards for projects, flexible labor laws, a relatively low cost of living, and tax benefits for software development.

The Annual World Competitiveness Rating by IMD measures the ability and readiness of an economy to explore and implement digital technologies, leading to transformations in business and society.

The Coursera Global Skills Index analyzes skill proficiency at both regional and country levels.

The EF English Proficiency Index ranks countries based on the proficiency of English language skills among adults.

Poland 🇵🇱

Software development in Poland is recognized for its high quality and affordability. The country boasts the largest pool of tech talents in Eastern Europe. The technology industry in the country is developing rapidly, thanks to the high-quality education in the field of software engineering. Global companies such as Microsoft, Google, Oracle, Cisco, and Intel have research and development centers in Poland. Numerous international IT conferences are held in the country.

Clutch lists 1,148 software development companies in Poland, specializing in domains such as finance, business services, e-commerce, information technology, healthcare, consumer products and services, manufacturing, retail, and telecommunications. They offer extensive technology expertise, including web and mobile development, cloud, IoT, AI, and Big Data development.

• Rates: $25-$99 per hour (based on Clutch)
• IT Hubs: Warsaw, Krakow, Wroclaw, Katowice, Gdansk, Gdynia, Sopot, Lodz, and Poznan.
• EF English Proficiency Index: 13 out of 111 (very high)
• Coursera Global Skills Index: 20, with an overall skill level in technology at 92%, and 80% in data science.
• Top Programming Languages: JavaScript, Java, Python, PHP, TypeScript, C#, SQL, ASP.NET.
• Top Frameworks and CMS: React, React Native, Node.js, Vue.js, Angular, .NET, Spring MVC, WordPress, Django.

Eastern Europe

(Including countries like Kazakhstan 🇰🇿, Georgia 🇬🇪, Armenia 🇦🇲, etc.)

These countries have earned their status as software outsourcing destinations due to reforms that have improved business conditions and the overall environment, legislation, and higher education supporting technological innovation. The salary rates here are lower than in other Eastern European countries. While developers often have moderate English proficiency, they possess strong technical skills.

There are over 150 software development companies in these regions listed on Clutch, specializing in sectors such as finance, information technology, business services, and healthcare.

• Hourly Rates: Ranging from $25 to $99, as per Clutch data.
• Major IT Hubs: Tbilisi and Batumi in Georgia, Almaty in Kazakhstan, and Yerevan in Armenia.
• EF English Proficiency Index: Ranked 45 out of 111, indicating moderate proficiency.
• Coursera Global Skills Index: Ranked 32, with an overall skill level of 82% in technology and 49% in data science.
• Top Programming Languages: JavaScript, Java, PHP, TypeScript.
• Top Frameworks and CMS: React, React Native, Node.js, Laravel, .NET.

Estonia 🇪🇪

The Baltic countries, including Estonia, are seen as one of the most economically stable regions for IT outsourcing in Europe. The country has a high level of digital solutions implementation, and legislation that ensures data security and smooth business activity.

Estonia is the birthplace of many startups and generally has a favorable business climate. Global companies like Microsoft and SAP have research and development centers here. Estonia hosts international events for developers and startups.

Clutch lists 153 software development companies in Estonia, specializing in domains such as e-commerce, business services, finance, information technology, healthcare, and retail. They offer web, mobile, and cloud development.

• Rates: $25-$99 per hour (based on Clutch)
• IT Hubs: Tallinn and Tartu.
• EF English Proficiency Index: 26 out of 111 (high)
• Coursera Global Skills Index: 42, overall skill level in technology 62%, 75% in data science.
• Top Programming Languages: JavaScript, Java, Python, PHP, SQL, TypeScript.
• Top Frameworks and CMS: React, React Native, Node.js, Vue.js, Angular, Django, WordPress.

India 🇮🇳

India is renowned for its vast population of developers proficient in various programming languages, its lower rates, and flexible government policies. However, there are certain drawbacks, such as potential miscommunications and a lower quality of development. Concerns related to data protection and privacy also exist. Given the multitude of companies, selecting one that can assure high-quality service is not a straightforward task.

There are 4,270 software development companies from India listed on Clutch, specializing in domains such as e-commerce, information technology, business services, consumer products and services, finance, healthcare, education, and retail.

• Rates: $25-$49 per hour (based on Clutch)
• IT Hubs: Bangalore, Hyderabad, Chennai, Mumbai, Kolkata, Ahmedabad, Delhi, and Chandigarh.
• EF English Proficiency Index: 52 out of 111 (moderate)
• Coursera Global Skills Index: 68, with an overall skill level of 46% in technology and 26% in data science.
• Top Programming Languages: PHP, JavaScript, SQL, Java, Swift, Python, ASP.NET, AJAX, C#, Kotlin.
• Top Frameworks and CMS: WordPress, Angular, Node.js, Laravel, React Native, React, .NET.

Cyprus 🇨🇾

Cyprus is striving to create an innovative tech environment and an investor-friendly business climate. The country is home to numerous startups and divisions of international tech companies such as NCR, Amdocs, Microsoft, and SAP. To address its tech-talent shortage, the country is attracting specialists from other countries and enhancing its educational offerings.

Clutch lists 23 software development companies in Cyprus, specializing in finance, ecommerce, healthcare, and information technology.

• Rates: $25-$99 per hour (based on data from Clutch)
• IT Hubs: Limassol, Larnaca, Nicosia
• Coursera Global Skills Index: The overall skill level in technology is 67%, and 60% in data science.
• English Proficiency: 76% of the population is able to speak English.
• Top Programming Languages: JavaScript, Java, PHP, C#, and Python.
• Top Frameworks and CMS: React, React Native, Ruby on Rails.

USA 🇺🇸

The USA is a leader in all global IT and digital rankings. The country is full of tech talent and maintains high standards for software development, including data privacy and security standards. The high rates are a result not only of high quality but also of high taxes. It’s worth mentioning that you can find developers in the US with lower rates. Some companies have their legal entity in the country but have a team distributed in other locations, and their rates are set in accordance with this.

The USA has the largest number of software development companies represented on Clutch, totaling 5143. These companies specialize in various domains such as business services, finance, information technology, healthcare, ecommerce, consumer products and services, education, and retail.

• Rates: $25-$199 per hour (based on Clutch)
• IT Hubs: Austin (Texas), Dallas (Texas), Raleigh (North Carolina), San Jose (California), Charlotte (North Carolina), Seattle (Washington), San Francisco (California), Atlanta (Georgia), Huntsville (Alabama), Denver (Colorado), and others.
• English: No language barriers.
• Coursera Global Skills Index: 29, overall skill level in technology is 43%, and 54% in data science.
• Top programming languages: JavaScript, PHP, SQL, Python, Java, C#.
• Top frameworks and CMS: WordPress, React, React Native, Angular, .NET.

Final Words

Choosing the right software development partner can be quite a challenging task. Here are some basic steps to select a vendor:

1. Collect Basic Information: Gather details such as the official name of the company, its business structure, date of foundation, headquarters and development locations, number of employees, certifications, and the contact person.

2. Study Their Previous Experience: Do they have cases in their portfolio from your business domain that solve similar problems? What international standards do they adhere to?

3. Understand Their Project Management and Delivery Process: Investigate how they organize project management and delivery. What development methodologies and tracking systems do they use?

4. Review Client Feedback: Study reviews and references from existing and former partners and clients. Websites like Clutch can be a good source for this information.

5. Compare Vendors: When choosing from a number of vendors, compare their rates, pricing models, technology stacks, and average timeframes.

As a first step, you need to define your business needs and ensure that the developers possess the required competencies. These may include skills in cloud solutions, legacy code modernization, UI/UX design, and web and mobile development.

The post Outsourcing Software Development – Which Country Offers the Best Developers? appeared first on Hongkiat.

These sophisticated platforms are tailored to optimize team dynamics, featuring advanced options such as automated task prioritization and real-time progress tracking. By integrating these tools, teams are equipped to maintain clarity and structure in their operations, driving them towards the successful realization of their projects.

In this blog post, we’ll be highlighting the top 5 AI-powered team management tools available on the market and how they can help your team work smarter, not harder. Let’s dive in.

1. Wrike

Let’s start with Wrike, which we’ve previously discussed in one of our articles. Wrike’s Work Intelligence is a technology that helps businesses work more efficiently by automating routine tasks, improving communication, and simplifying workflows.

It equipped users with the ability to prioritize the most important work by automatically sorting tasks based on urgency. This means you, as the user, always have a to-do list focusing on your most important work.

Another benefit of Wrike’s Work Intelligence is its ability to identify patterns and risks that may impact your projects. By analyzing data and providing AI insights, Wrike can help you prevent delays, optimize resources, and complete projects on time.

The tool also allows you to create your own digital assistant by using voice commands to delegate tasks and manage projects. You can give Wrike commands using your mobile phone without opening the app first, saving you time and streamlining your work.

And finally, Wrike’s AI can help you generate subtasks quickly and easily. By analyzing your project plan or meeting notes, it can create a parent task and break it down into actionable steps with subtasks. This feature can take your ideas from rough notes to successful completion in just seconds.

PROS

CONS

Learn more about Wrike

2. SmartSheet

Next up, we have Smartsheet. It is a cloud-based project management platform that provides various tools to manage tasks, allow team collaboration, and provide reporting to help businesses manage and automate their work processes.

Aside from that, it also allows teams to create and customize their own project workflows, assign tasks, set deadlines, and track progress in real-time.

According to this article, Smartsheet has recently been using AI tools such as ChatGPT and DALL-E to help customers eliminate manual tasks and be more efficient and creative. Also not long ago, the company acquired Converse.AI, a UK-based pioneer in the field of intelligent bots for business automation.

PROS

CONS

Learn more about SmartSheet

3. ClickUp

ClickUp, the project management tool, has recently announced its new AI tool – ClickUp AI – which aims to help users save time and become more productive. ClickUp AI includes various functions such as content creation, idea generation, and writing assistance.

With the content creation function, users can quickly generate email messages, and blog posts and overcome writer’s block in seconds. The AI tool is designed to streamline the content creation process, allowing users to create quality content in less time.

The idea generation function serves as a brainstorming partner for users, helping them generate as many blog post ideas as they need. The AI tool can also help elevate users’ writing skills by providing suggestions and assistance in creating clear, concise, and compelling content. Additionally, the tool can instantly extract action items and insights from meeting notes, saving users the time and effort of reading through lengthy summaries.

At present, ClickUp AI has not been made publicly available. Interested users can join the waiting list by submitting their email addresses to be notified when the tool is released.

PROS

CONS

Learn more about ClickUp

4. Ayanza

Ayanza is a tool for businesses to manage their projects and tasks, and collaborate with their teams. It can assist businesses in creating goals, tracking progress, collaborating with team members, and planning strategies, among other things.

To enhance the effectiveness of this system, Ayanza employs generative AI in areas such as content writing and brainstorming among team members. Ayanza is accessible via web and mobile apps, but it does not currently support desktop apps for Mac and Windows.

Learn more about Ayanza

5. Notion

Last but not least, we have Notion AI, a new expansion by Notion with the aim to enhance writing, editing, and overall productivity. It offers a couple of useful features to help users work faster and more efficiently.

For example, it has the ability to summarize notes for both individuals and team members, eliminating the need to switch between note-taking apps and AI tools. Additionally, it can also analyze meeting notes to generate the next steps in real-time, making it easier to stay on track and productive.

Another feature of Notion AI is its capability to improve writing skills. It fixes spelling and grammar mistakes and translates given content into multiple languages, i.e, Japanese, Spanish, and German. It also allows users to edit their content’s voice and tone, enabling them to sound like anyone they want. Moreover, Notion AI can also help make the content shorter or longer, depending on the user’s needs.

Notion AI is accessible to all users and can be activated through simple prompts such as pressing the space bar, highlighting text, and selecting “Ask AI.”

PROS

CONS

Learn more about Notion

The post 5 Best AI-Powered Team Management Tools (2024) appeared first on Hongkiat.

If the employees are investing too much time in any task, it may cause delays in the project and cost overruns too. Therefore, time-tracking plays a crucial role in discerning employees’ time, productivity and bandwidth so that appropriate strategies can be formulated to enhance their productivity and minimize resource wastage.

In this blog, we shed light on how time-tracking impacts employee productivity in any organization.

What is Time-tracking?

Time-tracking is the process of tracking and recording how much time an employee spends on which task and project. It also provides a picture of team productivity, time distribution across tasks and projects, the progress of the project, etc.

Earlier, time-tracking was done via traditional paper timesheets, but it came with several limitations and drawbacks. Now, modern time-tracking solutions have largely replaced these paper sheets, overcoming their limitations while providing additional capabilities like managing productivity levels.

How Time-tracking Improves Productivity?

Here are some of the ways time-tracking can help with improving productivity:

1. Provides Data for Analyzing Productivity

Time-tracking maintains a record of employees’ time and work done daily. The project manager can utilize this data to evaluate various details like employees’ bandwidth and time utilization, employees who are procrastinating their work, which employees are more productive and which ones take more time to complete tasks, etc.

Armed with this information, project managers can spot where productivity is lagging behind so that smarter decisions can be made to improve the productivity and efficiency of employees.

Moreover, employers can overview which department is spending how much time on which project and whether the time utilization is worth it or not. This analysis helps them develop a strategy that is profitable to their organization.

2. Productivity Level Comparisons

A time-tracking software provides a 360-degree view of everyone’s contribution to the team. This data is helpful for project managers to identify those employees who are putting in extra effort and working overtime to meet the project’s goal. Managers can publicly recognize their efforts or reward them for motivating other employees to be more productive.

Similarly, if managers find employees taking more time to accomplish similar tasks, they can ensure relevant training or guidance is provided in order to enhance productivity and efficiency.

3. Smarter Task Allocation

One of the most challenging jobs for any manager is to assign the right tasks to the right person according to their bandwidth and availability. time-tracking provides clear visibility into every employee’s bandwidth and time utilization. Equipped with this data, managers can correctly assign tasks without overburdening their employees.

In addition, time-tracking also gives an estimate of employees’ capacity, allowing managers to distribute tasks across the workforce more efficiently.

4. Identification and Prevention of Distractions

Irrespective of how dedicated employees are, distractions are bound to arise, leading to lower productivity. These may come in the form of attending unnecessary meetings, requests for ad-hoc tasks, long break hours, etc.

Distractions disrupt the focus of employees, which may cause their current tasks to be delayed or even derailed. With the help of time-tracking software, managers can identify the causes of distraction and, therefore, can mitigate the issue by outlining a proper roadmap.

5. Elimination of Bottlenecks

Bottlenecks can arise at any time over the course of a project for a variety of reasons. These bottlenecks can end up causing delays down the road as tasks are often interconnected. With the help of a time tracker, project managers can look for any bottleneck or roadblocks in a specific task that needs more time and address it proactively.

6. Keep Focus on Priorities

A time tracker gives an insight into which employee is working on which task and for how long. The project manager can look into whether the tasks they are working on are of high priority or not.

For example, an employee may dedicate a good deal of time to a task that can be insignificant. Therefore, with the aid of a time tracker, employers can reevaluate and redefine their priorities, which can contribute to higher productivity.

7. Ensure Mandatory Breaks

Breaks are important to boost employee morale, as it helps gain balanced emotional health and de-stress at the workplace. Failing to avail of sufficient breaks during working hours can negatively impact employees’ productivity.

This is where the time tracker comes in, as it enables blocking appropriate breaks at the right interval. These breaks will prevent burnout and mental exertion, which are said to be the top causes of low productivity.

8. Support Better Focus Levels

When employees have clarity about which priority tasks they have to work on, along with other low-priority tasks in the pipeline, they can better focus on their work and can efficiently manage their time to accomplish them.

Time-tracking is helpful in identifying the priority or urgent tasks that need to be done first, which helps them better concentrate on their tasks.

9. Keeps Procrastination at Bay

The problem of procrastination is so timeless and usually happens when employees are overburdened with unpleasant tasks or face ambiguity regarding which tasks are of high priority.

However, it has been observed that most employees are more driven to complete the work when they are provided with milestones, as it gives them a feeling of personal accomplishment.

Thus, project managers can set milestones and micro-goals in different phases of the project with the aid of a time tracker. This way, employees can work more productively to meet goals and can beat procrastination as well.

In addition, some tracking software comes with an automatic notification feature that sends the schedule overrun notification if the schedule lags behind.

10. Prevents Employees from Multitasking

When employees are loaded with multiple tasks together, they start multi-tasking to complete them all simultaneously. However, frequently switching from one task to another can degrade productivity. This can further disrupt concentration and increases the chances of errors too.

Time-tracking gives an insight into if the employees are frequently switching tasks, and with the aid of this information, project managers can evaluate and prioritize their tasks accordingly.

11. Improved Project Planning

One of the most challenging tasks of project planning is estimating the time individual tasks may take. However, time trackers retain the historical data of previous projects.

Managers can leverage this data to estimate the time requirements for future projects since the wrong estimate can result in missed deadlines, cost overruns, and overburdening the team with multiple tasks that can hamper their productivity.

3 Great Time-tracking Apps

Replicon

Replicon is a time-tracking software that offers many AI-powered automated functionalities. It integrates with over a hundred popular productivity and project management apps, including Asana, Slack, Zoom, etc.

It features flexible timesheet capture that supports all types of employees in different roles. The software also helps verify, analyze, review and apply the right workflows for producing accurate timesheets.

Bonsai

Bonsai time tracker tool offers features to make your workflow easier and more efficient. It has an easy and straightforward interface that centralizes your timesheets. It also lets you manage tasks, track billed hours, and create and send client invoices.

Indy’s time tracker

Indy is a reliable tool to track your working hours on projects and helps you get paid. You can start or pause recording your work hours with a click and organize your tracked work sessions. There’s also an option to add the hours to your invoices to get paid for your work.

WebWork Time Tracker

WebWork is an employee monitoring software that helps employers track the progress of remote teams through screenshots and reports. You can get reports as timesheets or statistics that you can easily export in different formats.

Moreover, you can automatically monitor employee attendance, monitor particular app usage, among projects, and chat with your team. The tool is available for Windows, Mac, and Linux as well as for Android, iOS, and the web.

Conclusion

As improved productivity and higher efficiency levels are the keys to successful on-time project deliveries, investing in a robust time-tracking system can be enormously beneficial to any organization. Time-tracking can help organizations better manage their employees’ time and uncover missed opportunities to improve their productivity levels.

The post How Does Time-tracking Impact Employees’ Productivity appeared first on Hongkiat.

Fact is, it is so crucial that companies spend billions on advertisements around the world to develop a marketing campaign just to achieve a successful brand awareness.

Every day we see millions of messages and catchphrase everywhere from print media to online advertisements. Though, there are some slogans that we know by heart but a many of them have come and gone that we hardly ever noticed.

What is it about an advertising slogan that catapults it into fame? Aside from having outstanding brand recall, they have a positive “X” factor that makes us look twice, think thrice and delight the imagination of their target markets and characterize their products in original ways.

According to the book "Creative Advertising" by Charles Whittier: "A slogan should be a statement of such merit about a product or service that is worthy of continuous repetitive advertising; is worthwhile for the public to remember; and is phrased in such a way that the public is likely to remember it."

Guidelines to creating great slogans:

1. Identification. A good slogan must stay consistent with the brand name either obviously stated or strongly implied. It’s better to include the name of your business to it.
2. Memorable. Some of the best taglines or slogans are still being used today, even though they were launched several years ago.
3. Beneficial. Reveal your purpose and benefits of the product by conveying the message in consumer language. Turn bad into good. Suggest the risk of not using the product. Create a positive feeling for the consumers.
4. Differentiation. In an overcrowded market, companies on the same industry need to set themselves apart thru their creative and original tagline or slogan.
5. Keep it simple. Use proven words and short keywords. One word is usually not enough.

65 examples of great slogans:

Imax

Volkswagon

Blogger

Mac Pro

Harley Davidson

Calvin Klein

Google

Survivor TV Series

Canon

Johnnie Walker

Matchbox

Reebok

3M

United Negro College Fund

Marks & Spencer

Federal Express

Nikon

Red Cross

Playstation

Porsche

Disneyland

Fortune Magazine

Holiday Inn

Ajax

Adidas

Haagen-Dazs

Yellow Pages

IBM

Abbey National

Kodak

McDonalds

Hallmark

De Beers

Levi’s

Nike

Nokia

Tag Heuer

Sony

News Statesman

Subway

Electronic Arts

Olympus

Vodafone

Maxwell House

Clairol

Aston Martin

Burger King

Visa

Coca-Cola

M&M

Jaguar

AT&T

Kentucky Fried Chicken

L’Oreal

United Airlines

Diesel Jeans

Metropolitan Life

Nintendo 64

Dixon

Ebay

General Electric

Du Pont

The National Lottery

Energizer

Slogans of Top Advertising Agencies

J Walter Thompson (JWT)

"Time is the new currency"

JWT is one of the largest advertising agencies in the United States and the fourth-biggest in the world. It is one of the key companies of Sir Martin Sorrell’s WPP Group and is headquartered in New York. (wiki) Top clients: Ford, HSBC, Unilever, Nestlè, Vodafone. (visit website)

DDB

"Co-creation"

DDB is a part of Omnicom Group Inc the advertising holding company with the highest revenue in the world, at US$12.69 billion, according to Advertising Age’s agency rankings of April 2008 founded in Manhattan. (wiki) Top clients: Volkswagen, Capital One, Epson, Exxon Mobil, Harvey Nichols.

Leo Burnett

"Creating ideas and building brands that truly matter to people"

A part of the French group Publicis. Its clients include McDonald’s, Coca-Cola, Walt Disney, Marlboro, Maytag, Kellogg’s, Tampax, Nintendo, Philips, Samsung, Visa, Wrigley’s, Hallmark, Allstate Insurance, Procter & Gamble and others. It has 97 offices in 84 countries. (wiki) (visit website)

M&CSAATCHI

"Brutal simplicity of thought"

An international advertising agency network formed in January 1995 by the brothers Maurice Saatchi and Charles Saatchi after they were ousted from the advertising agency group Saatchi & Saatchi which they had founded in 1970. (wiki) Top clients: Heinz, Porsche, GlaxoSmithKline, Halfords, RBS Group. (visit website)

Saatchi & Saatchi

"Nothing is impossible"

Global advertising agency network with 140 offices in 80 countries and over 6,500 staff. It was founded in London in 1970 but now headquartered in New York. (wiki) Top clients: The Labour party, T-Mobile, Sony Ericsson, Carlsberg, Visa.

Bartle Bogle Hegarty (BBH)

"When the world zigs, zag"

British advertising agency, responsible for some notable advertising campaigns of the last 30 years. The company was founded by John Bartle, Nigel Bogle & Sir John Hegarty in 1982. (wiki) Top clients: Audi, Levi’s, British Airways, Lynx, Vodafone. (visit website)

TBWA

"The disruption agency"

International advertising agency whose headquarters are in Midtown Manhattan, New York City, United States. The company’s name is formed by the initial of each of it’s four founders. (wiki) Top clients: PlayStation, Apple, Nissan, Galaxy, Müller. (visit website)

Ogilvy Group

"To be most valued by those who most value brands"

International advertising, marketing and public relations agency based in Manhattan and owned by the WPP Group. The company operates 497 offices in 125 countries with approximately 16,000 employees. (wiki) Top clients: Ford, American Express, IBM, Barclays, BT. (visit website)

RKCR/Y&R

"Brand energy"

Top clients: Marks and Spencer, Lloyds TSB, Bacardi, Land Rover, Oxfam. (visit website)

Wieden + Kennedy

"Creating strong, provocative relationships between good companies and their customers"

Independently owned American advertising agency best known for its work for Nike, Honda, Coca-cola and Starbucks. Founded by Dan Wieden and David Kennedy on April 1, 1982, in Portland, Oregon, it is one of the largest independently-owned advertising agencies in the world. (wiki) (visit website)

Euro RSCG London

"Contagious ideas"

London-based integrated advertising agency. It is part of the Euro RSCG Worldwide network which has 233 offices located in 75 countries throughout Europe, North America, Latin America, Asia Pacific and the Middle East. (wiki) Top clients: The Conservative Party, Citroë*, Evian, Yakult, Peugeot.

WCRS (Aegis Group)

"A brand’s best friend"

Aegis’s services include market insight and communications strategy, through digital creative execution and website design and build, to media planning and buying, brand tracking and marketing analytics. Top clients: BMW, Sky, Abbey, Weetabix, 118 118. (visit website)

Read Also:  20 Clever & Creative Bus Ads That Make You Look Twice

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While you can hire freelancers from various networks like Upwork, the quality is often a gamble. If you’d rather not take that chance, read on for 20 design tools perfect for entrepreneurs and marketers on a budget.

Ready to take the plunge? Let’s get started with these cost-effective design solutions!

Wix

Your One-Stop Web Development Platform

Wix is a cloud-based platform for website development. It allows complete customization, making it easy to build anything from a business site to an e-commerce portal or a personal blog. And the best part? You can start for free.

What sets Wix apart is its user-friendliness. You don’t need any prior web development experience to create a professional-looking website. The sites you build are SEO-friendly, optimized for mobile devices, and can be integrated with features like online booking or e-commerce.

Getting started with Wix is a breeze. Simply pick a domain name, choose from hundreds of templates, customize your chosen template with a drag-and-drop editor, and publish. You can also use Wix’s SEO tools to increase site traffic and boost your online presence.

Cost Breakdown:

Wix provides free hosting and a variety of templates. If you require additional features, premium plans range from £4 to £21 per month for websites, and £15 to £27 per month for business and e-commerce sites.

Visit Wix

Creative Market

A Treasure Trove for Designers

Creative Market is a hotspot for designers looking for inspiration. The platform offers a wide array of design resources, from templates and icons to Photoshop add-ons and 3D elements.

The “Simple License” offered here covers both personal and creative uses of most items. What’s more, every week they offer six free resources. Sign up for their newsletter to stay updated on these freebies.

Cost Details:

Browsing through Creative Market is free and the items for sale are reasonably priced. Additionally, loading your account with $100 or $200 will earn you 10 or 22 free credits, respectively.

Visit Creative Market

Adobe Color CC

The Ultimate Color Tool

Formerly known as Kuler, Adobe Color CC is the go-to tool for color schemes. Whether you’re struggling with color choices or simply don’t have the time to start from scratch, this tool has got you covered.

The idea is simple. Use the color wheel to pick the perfect color palette for your project. You can choose up to five harmonious colors based on predefined rules.

For those short on time, the tool also includes an “Explore” tab that features ready-made schemes from other users. You can copy, edit, and save these into your own library.

One of the best features of Adobe Color CC is its integration with other Adobe products. You can import your new color theme directly into Illustrator, Photoshop, or InDesign. An Adobe account is required to maximize the utility of these themes.

Cost Breakdown:

Adobe Color CC is completely free to use, as is the Adobe account needed to make the most of its features.

Visit Adobe Color CC

Freepik

The All-in-One Design Resource

Freepik serves as a comprehensive platform for those dabbling in design. Based in Spain, the site offers a wealth of icons, vectors, and even photos, making it a one-stop-shop for all your design needs.

You can combine it with Pexels, Pixabay, or any of the numerous free stock photo providers to elevate your projects.

Cost Information:

Freepik offers up to 60 free downloads a day. However, proper attribution to Freepik is required for the files you use.

Visit Freepik

Pablo

Buffer’s Social Media Design Tool

Pablo, a free tool by Buffer, allows you to create and share visual quotes across your social media channels. With seamless Buffer integration, your social media management becomes a breeze.

This tool automates the design process, offering pre-selected quotes and images. You can also upload your own backgrounds and customize them with effects like contrast and blur.

Cost Breakdown:

Pablo is a free tool with no hidden charges.

Visit Pablo

Pexels

High-Quality Images for Free

Pexels is a treasure trove of high-resolution images that are perfect for any project. All photos are covered by the Creative Commons Zero (CC0) license, allowing you to use them for both personal and commercial projects without attribution.

Cost Summary:

Pexels is free, but you’re encouraged to make a small donation via PayPal to support the platform’s hosting capabilities.

Visit Pexels

Visme

Your Go-To for Visual Content

Visme’s presentation maker is a game-changer for businesses looking to enhance their communications and presentations. With a plethora of professionally designed templates and a myriad of design elements, Visme makes slide creation a breeze.

You can enrich your visual content by using stock photos, stock videos, vector icons, and more. Insert your brand’s colors and fonts for a cohesive look.

The versatility of Visme extends beyond presentations. You can also create infographics, social media designs, marketing materials, and other types of visual content. The business plan is priced at $29/mo (billed annually).

Visit Visme

Instapage

The Landing Page Maestro

Instapage is a go-to choice for landing page creation, boasting over 250,000 users worldwide. This platform offers an array of templates that you can customize to fit your brand’s unique identity.

Customize your page with your logo, message, and other brand elements to make it truly yours. You can even A/B test different page versions to find the most effective layout for your audience.

Pricing Options:

While Instapage offers a free plan, it comes with limitations, such as the absence of a mobile-responsive feature. The paid plans—Basic ($29/month), Professional ($79/month), and Unlimited ($179/month)—offer a more comprehensive set of features, making it a valuable investment for your online presence.

Visit Instapage

Canva and Canva Pro

Design Simplified

Canva is an excellent tool for startups or individuals looking for an easy way to create visually stunning content. Whether you’re crafting social media posts or event invitations, Canva’s drag-and-drop interface simplifies the design process.

Canva Pro takes it to the next level, allowing for brand kits, template customization, and sharing capabilities. Easily maintain brand consistency with preset colors and fonts.

Price:

The Canva Pro subscription is priced at USD 12.95/month or USD 9.95/month if billed annually. Additionally, individual paid images can be purchased, often at discounted rates when bought in bulk.

Visit Canva

WhatTheFont

Font Recognition Made Easy

WhatTheFont is an ideal tool for those who lack design skills but wish to emulate a designer’s touch. Simply upload an image containing text, and the tool will identify the font used.

Once you have the font name, you can find it on various font repositories like FontSquirrel, Google Fonts, or 1001 fonts.

Price:

WhatTheFont and most font repositories are free to use. However, make sure the font you select is also free for commercial applications.

Visit WhatTheFont!

Coolors.co

Effortless Color Generation

Coolors.co is a top-notch color generator designed for ease and accessibility. Whether you’re a seasoned designer or a newcomer, Coolors offers a range of features to help you find the perfect color scheme.

The platform includes HEX codes, adjustable color components, and toggles for brightness, temperature, hue, and saturation, making it incredibly flexible and intuitive to use.

Price:

Coolors is a free-to-use tool, accessible to all.

Visit Coolors.co

Design Seeds

The Artistic Approach to Color

Design Seeds offers an alternative perspective on color generation. Founded by an artist who appreciates the nuanced art of color selection, the platform provides hand-crafted color palettes for those seeking something more emotionally resonant.

Each palette is created with meticulous care in Illustrator, often paired with an inspiring photo. The HEX codes are provided, making it easy to integrate these carefully curated palettes into your own designs.

Price:

Design Seeds is free to browse, though the founder offers freelance services for those seeking customized solutions.

Visit Design Seeds

Pixlr

The Free Photoshop Alternative

If you’re looking for a cost-effective way to create logos and graphics without committing to Adobe’s subscription model, Pixlr is worth checking out. This free online photo editor offers a user-friendly interface that closely resembles Photoshop, making the transition to this tool relatively seamless.

It’s not just the UI that’s impressive; Pixlr also offers a variety of file-saving options, including the ability to save files as TIFF, which will come in handy for future design work.

Price:

Pixlr is free to use, both on desktop and mobile, although the mobile version is still under development.

Visit Pixlr

BeFunky

Your One-Stop-Shop for Photo Editing and Design

BeFunky goes a step beyond conventional photo editors by offering a comprehensive suite of creative tools. Whether you’re creating a collage, editing a photo, or designing graphics, BeFunky has an interface tailored to each activity.

The platform provides a rich array of resources including icons, templates, and fonts. It’s an ideal solution for a wide range of projects, from event invitations to infographics.

Price:

BeFunky’s basic tools are free, but to unlock its full potential, including an ad-free experience and premium templates, a Pro account is available for $4.95/month or $24.95/year.

Visit BeFunky

Freebbble

Your Source for Free Dribbble Content

Freebbble serves as a curated hub for free design resources available on Dribbble, the popular showcase site for professional graphic designers. Whether you’re after fonts, icons, or templates, Freebbble has neatly categorized them according to license and resource type. However, it’s advisable to double-check the license terms with the original creator before using any free resource.

Price:

Freebbble is a completely free platform that aims to make high-quality design resources more accessible.

Visit Freebbble

Easel.ly

Visual Content Marketing Made Easy

In the age of decreasing attention spans, Easel.ly provides an intuitive platform for creating infographics and other visual content to engage your audience. The platform offers a range of templates, objects, and images, making it a one-stop solution for your visual content needs.

Price:

Although Easel.ly is free to use, it comes with limitations on the number of images and fonts you can use in each infographic. However, its Pro plan, priced at $3 per month, offers extended features and customization options.

Visit Easel.ly

UXPin

Your Gateway to UX Design and Prototyping

If you’re contemplating diving into the world of UX design, UXPin is a comprehensive platform for prototyping apps and websites. It features a user-friendly dashboard, collaboration tools, and resources for easy prototyping, making it ideal for beginners and professionals alike.

Price:

UXPin offers multiple pricing tiers, starting from $19 per month. While it provides a wealth of free learning resources, a subscription is necessary for full access to its design capabilities.

Visit UXPin

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