There are thousands if not millions of software services and products out there. And they are all literally shouting for your attention. Those with huge marketing may be getting the most attention, not necessarily. There can be enough to worry about when you are starting your business or expanding a new business.
No matter the stage of your business, you will need tools. If you are already using on-demand software you may be battling with the latest functionality or version all together. The biggest question is do you really need that upgrade or functionality? Can you find a free alternative to the software as a service you are about to sign on to. You could save funds as a business if you explore your alternatives. But you don’t want to compromise on quality service so be careful with your choice of product.
The size and scale of your enterprise will, of course, determine your actual requirements, but basically, a small business or a young startup needs:
- Productivity–basecamp.com, CentralDesktop,quickbase, dotproject,joyent
- Social Media–Hootsuite.com, TweetDeck.com, ping.fm, pitchengine.com
- Communication- thunderbird, Fanbridge.com, mightymeeting.com, skype, Teamviewer ,zimbra,
- Collaboration- Box.net, writeboard.com, Socialtext.com, iFolder.com
Others: uservoice.com, suggestionbox.com, Ringcentral.com
