If you’re looking to start a business, or if your goal is to take your business to the next level, you’re probably thinking about how to do so without exhausting financial resources. Luckily, crafting a startup marketing strategy and tapping the right growth-hacking tools can help you achieve your goals. 

Meta CEO and founder Mark Zuckerberg once said, “I think a simple rule of business is, if you do the things that are easier first, then you can actually make a lot of progress.”  

The truth is, you can’t do everything (including the easier things) on your own. In fact, it might be best to outsource the trivial tasks – and by outsourcing, we do not mean you have to hire an agency or a virtual assistant. Instead, you can rely on software platforms, apps, and other tools that can help optimize, automate, and improve every working part of your business, including customer service, time management, recruiting, communication, and more. 

There are a plethora of options out there, with new products and services launching every day. In marketing functions alone, there are at least 8,000 apps available, including GitHub and MailChimp. Here is a breakdown of some other categories: For communication, Slack, Trello, or Asana can help teams effectively communicate and manage project flow. QuickBooks and FreshBooks can help with accounting and bookkeeping. There are also Customer Relationship Management (CRM) tools like Salesforce that help manage customer relationships. Ready to hire? BambooHR can streamline the human resource processes. 

But how do you know which tool will work for your business? Here are some helpful startup tools that can help streamline your business operations in 2024. The key is to always tailor your tool selection to your specific business requirements and industry. 

1. Slack (Slack.com):  This is the classic team collaboration tool for keeping everyone engaged and productive. This messaging app enhances communication and collaboration among your team members through direct messages and categorized group chats for specific teams.   

2. Design Better (designbetter.co): Meet the digital whiteboard that’s transforming the way design teams work together. With clients like Airbnb, Google, Pinterest, and Indeed, Design Better also provides FREE handbooks to help your startup succeed – like Remote Work for Design Teams, Business Thinking for Designers, and the Design Leadership Handbook.  

3. HubSpot (HubSpot.com): Hubspot is a CRM tool that also includes a website-building software. Utilize its marketing, sales, and customer service tools for an all-in-one growth platform.  

4. Google Analytics (analytics.google.com): To grow as a business you need to better understand your customers. What makes them click and buy on your business website? This tool analyzes website traffic to help you make informed decisions and optimize your online presence.  

5. Visme (Visme.co): Create anything with Visme – the all-in-one marketing and design platform to stand out from the crowd with beautiful engaging on-brand content. Create documents, data visualizations, social media graphics, videos, and wireframes on Visme, all for free!  

6. Trello (trello.com): Sometimes chats and long email threads won’t cut it. Streamline project management and keep your team organized and on track.  

7. Mailchimp (mailchimp.com): Create beautiful newsletters that speak to your brand. In addition to design, this platform helps you execute effective email marketing campaigns to reach and engage your audience.  

8. Keyhole (Keyhole.co): Social Media analytics made easier with Keyhole – the all-in-one social media analytics tool that lets you analyze multiple profiles, brand mentions, campaigns, and influencers instantly. Monitor what people are saying about your brand, follow the latest trends, and optimize your social media strategy all in one place.  

9. TrackingTime (TrackingTime.cohttps://processdriven.co/): If you’re on a small team with big to-do lists, consider TrackingTime, a turnkey solution to manage your company’s operations by tracking time, monitoring projects, complying with requirements, and so much more. You can even sync TrackingTime with the apps you use everyday, like Excel, Google, and Slack!  

10. Zendesk (Zendesk.com): Not all small-scale businesses can hire a full-time customer service team or call center. This platform provides excellent customer support with a centralized helpdesk and ticketing system.