Transform your business with new technology that can take your company to the next level. You don’t need to be a tech expert to unlock the potential of these easy to use, but effective tools. There’s a range of cutting-edge online tools that will save you time, boost your business and make a positive impact on the bottom line. Check out our top tech recommendations!

• Make the most of easy-to-use graphic design programs.
• Create professional customer-responsive email marketing.
• Increase efficiency and reward your customers with online payments.
• Sign up for software that will simplify your accounting.
• Make project management easy.
• Get those small but necessary jobs done with efficient outsourcing.

1. Graphic Design

Design your own graphics for print, website or social media with easy-to-use online platforms and apps. Ideal for small businesses – these programs have a range of templates that you can drag and drop to create professional designs for your business.

Canva and Crello are graphic design programs that are easy to use for people who are not graphic designers.

Canva uses drag and drop functionality to easily produce marketing materials, design presentations, social media graphics and more. Founded in Australia, there are tonnes of templates and graphics to choose from.  Find out more at https://www.canva.com/ 

Crello is a free, easy-to-use graphic design editor with 30 different formats and 10,000 free and ready-to-use templates. You can create social media images, ad banners, posters, email headers, and other formats. Try it here at https://crello.com/ 

2. Email Marketing

Get to know your customers and give them the opportunity to keep up with your latest offers and news with a professional email marketing campaign.

Mailchimp is a global platform for marketing automation and email marketing for small businesses. Design and send branded emails to your customer base and gather insights on your most successful campaigns. Easy to use, Mailchimp has built-in analytics so you can see who’s opening your emails, what they click on, and what’s working. See what you can create here at https://mailchimp.com/ 

3. Online Payments

Improve your cash flow, get paid on time and reward your customers for their loyalty with Qantas Points when they pay your invoices online.

B2Bpay can set you up with a branded payment portal within 24 hours, so you can start receiving payments online. Receiving card payments has been found to reduce payment chasing by 61% and improve cash flow in 73% of businesses. You can also reduce manual processing (eg. over the phone) in your business, with no cross-checking bank statements or need to store card details. Find our more and get started here https://www.b2bpay.com.au/billers/ 

4. Accounting

Keep track of accounts with reliable accounting software that will make short work of routine tasks, so you get paid faster and keep on top of your business. With a free trial, you can find out if they are a good fit for your business.

Xero is a cloud-based online accounting software that manages your business finances, from paying your staff to better control of your cash flow. Rated highly for customer satisfaction, Xero is recommended by consumer review and comparison website Canstar Blue, with a five-star rating for ease of use, ease of integration, reporting, value for money and overall satisfaction. You can see Xero for yourself at  https://www.xero.com/au/ 

MYOB offers business management solutions for business to help with accounting, payroll, payments, retail point of sale, CRM and professional tax solutions. Designed in Australia for local businesses, MYOB works with the ATO so you’re always up-to-date. Their software includes quotes, invoices, expenses, payroll, BAS and GST and more. Check out MYOB at https://www.myob.com/au 

5. Project management

Project management can be a challenge for small business, so make it easier with online software.

Trello is a free web-based project management program where you can list all the tasks you need to complete a project, and get a visual overview of what is being worked on and who is working on it.

Trello is very easy to learn and use, so it’s no wonder it’s being adopted by small and large businesses alike. See how it works at https://trello.com/ 

6. Outsourcing

Make short work of small projects that need a quick turnaround or special expertise with outsourcing platforms that can find you the right person for whatever job you need done.

Freelancer.com is an Australian listed company that boasts the world’s largest freelancing and crowdsourcing marketplace by number of users and projects. You can hire freelancers to work in areas such as software development, writing, data entry and design right through to engineering, the sciences, sales and marketing, accounting and legal services. Post job opportunities that require specific skill sets, costs, or scheduling requirements at https://www.freelancer.com/ 

Upwork is a global freelancing platform where businesses and independent professionals connect and collaborate remotely. With the Upwork platform you can interview, hire and work with freelancers and agencies. Upwork analyses your needs then searches the database to find talent that’s a good match. See more at https://www.upwork.com/l/au/ 

Make technology work for you, invest some time looking for the program that fits your requirements and start maximising opportunities and growing your business.