Every day more and more entrepreneurs are building successful businesses using the internet. There is an abundance of opportunity online and depending on the venture, there is often less cost and risk involved when compared with traditional businesses. There is also a wealth of resources available to help the online entrepreneur to run a business more effectively and more profitably, and we list many of those resources here. Feel free to leave a comment with your feedback and your recommendations of other resources.
Communications / VoIP
The internet brings great opportunities to do business all with people from all around the world, and fortunately there are also a number of resources to help with the communication that is necessary. The resources here will allow you to communicate inexpensively with others:
1. Skype - Free calls over the internet to other people on Skype for as long as you like.
2. Vonage - Leading provider of VoIP internet broadband telephone services.
3. Gizmo - Low cost international calling and free calls to users on Yahoo Messenger, Google Talk, Windows Live users and SIP networks.
4. Vonics Digital - Plans start at $12.99 per month lowest price available in the market.
5. VoipBuster - Free program that uses the latest technology to bring free and high-quality voice communications to people all over the world.
Data Backup
Anyone that has important of sensitive information on their computer needs to have a system in place for backing up the data. For online entrepreneurs a loss of data could be tragic. These resources will give you a number of options from which you can choose the one that is best for you. Backing up your hard drive can be done quickly, easily, and automatically:
1. Mozy - Industry-leading solution for online backup.
2. Intronis - Online backup solution with remote computer data backup software.
3. Carbonite - Unlimited online backup for one flat fee.
4. Data Deposit Box - Your source for online backup, and secure online data backup.
5. Athena Backup - Automatically backup your home computer files with Athena Backup.
6. Data Protection Services - Secure online backup services, free trial!
Invoicing
If you are sending and tracking invoices to customers, you may be able to save some time and make the process more efficient by using a program that is specifically designed for this purpose. These resources can help the organization of your invoicing and they can allow you to have more time to spend on what you do best:
1. Bamboo Invoice - Simple, Open Source, Online Invoicing.
2. FreshBooks - Online invoicing and time tracking service.
3. Transcepta - Electronic invoicing solution.
4. Blinksale - The easiest way to send invoices online.
5. InterlinQ Solutions - Providing a daily job report, time sheets, job tracking, construction reports and mobile billing.
6. Bill My Clients - Easy way to create and send invoices and bills to your clients.
7. Billing Orchard - Online electronic billing software application.
8. 2nd Site - Secure invoicing service w/ online invoice payment & online employee timesheets.
Financial Management and Accounting
Many online entrepreneurs and small businesses do not have the need to use an accounting system that is as complex as that of a larger business, but every business needs to have organized and accurate financial records. These resources will provide you with everything you need and can easily be used by anyone:
1. Intacct - Delivers ERP software as a service to small and midsize companies.
2. QuickBooks Online - Accounting Solutions for professionals and businesses.
3. Xero - Slash the hours you spend every week on accounting administration.
Time Management and Project Management
Time management is critical to achieving maximum productivity. In order to improve that time management of your business, try some of these resources. I think you will see that the resulting organization and efficiency will have a noticeable impact on the results of your work:
1. Google Calendar - Free online shareable calendar service.
2. Vitalist - Web based task manager designed to work with Getting Things Done (GTD).
3. Backpack - Personal and small business information management, intranet, and to do list organizer.
4. Basecamp - Web-based tool that lets you manage and track projects.
5. Goplan - Online project management app.
6. Copper Project - Project Management Software.
7. Side Job Track - Web-based job tracking, invoicing, reporting & project management software.
Contact Manager
Online entrepreneurs typically have a very large number of contacts that they need to keep track of. These programs are specifically created to help you effectively manage your contacts. If you could use some improvement in this area, try some of these resources:
1. Big Contacts - Web Based Contact Manager for 2 to 2000 People.
2. Highrise - Shared contact manager.
3. BatchBook - Easy-to-use contact management system.
4. Relenta CRM - Small business CRM software.
5. Oprius - Sales and Contact Management Software for Independent Sales Consultants.
6. PipelineDeals - CRM made simple - $15/User/Month.
Hiring Freelancers
At some point you may have a need to hire freelancers of some type. Fortunately, there are plenty of resources online to help you find freelancers and identify the right one for your project. All of the websites listed here will allow you to search for freelancers according to your needs:
1. Elance - Outsourcing to Freelancers.
2. Guru - Free service helps you find freelancers, get free quotes, and get your project done.
3. SmarterWork - Top small business services marketplace.
4. Contracted Work - Work Jobs Freelance Search.
5. oDesk - Global service marketplace for small and medium sized businesses.
6. Get A Freelancer - Freelance programmers and web designers.
7. BizReef - Online Services platform.
Online Reputation Management Tools
Reputation management is a very hot topic online right now. As an entrepreneur, your reputation can have a serious impact on your success and you have a need to monitor your reputation and to make sure that what is being published is true. There are a variety of resources that can help in different ways:
1. claimID - Free, easy way to manage your online identity.
2. Google Alerts - Email updates of the latest relevant Google results.
3. Yahoo Alerts - Free, personalized notification service.
4. Technorati - Real-time search for user-generated media.
5. FindMeOn - Manage your circles of friends, family, colleagues and others.
6. myOpenID - Secure OpenID provider.
Accepting Payment
If you are taking online payments from customers or clients, you will need a way to make that happen. There are a number of different options, and the details of each can vary a good bit. Take a look at these options and see which is best for your situation:
1. PayPal - World renowned.
2. Google Checkout - Google’s way to send and receive money.
3. Neteller - Online payment solutions.
4. Moneybookers - Cheaper way to send and receive money worldwide.
5. iKobo - Pick up your money at over 1000000 Visa ATMs.
6. CheckFree - Provides financial electronic commerce services.
Shopping Carts
E-Commerce sites that are selling products to customers will need some type of shopping cart. There are a number of open source options listed below, as well as a number of other options. Hopefully you will find one that is well-suited to your needs:
1. Zen Cart - Free, user-friendly, open source shopping cart system.
2. osCommerce - Free online shop program.
3. AgoraCart - Free shopping cart.
4. OpenCart - Open source PHP-based online shopping cart system.
5. Ubercart - Open source e-commerce suite.
6. X-Cart - Shopping cart software & PHP ecommerce solutions.
7. NetSuite - Integrated web-based business software suite.
8. ZNode - ASP.NET shopping cart.
9. Fortune3 - Ecommerce Shopping cart software.
10. Network Solutions - Robust, customizable Ecommerce online shopping cart software.
11. Kick Start Cart - Business professionally over the Internet.
12. Secure Delivery - The best digital download management site on the net!
Social Networking
Social networking sites can help entrepreneurs to find potential partners, get advice from other entrepreneurs, network with others around the world, and to simply get some exposure for their profile. Each networking site is a little bit different. You’ll never have the time to use all of them effectively, so find a few that have potential to help you the most and be actively involved:
1. PartnerUp - Find business partners, opportunities to get involved in businesses.
2. Cofoundr - Cofoundr is a private community for entrepreneurs.
3. Fast Pitch Networking - Business Networking Social Network for Business Professionals.
4. Killer Startups - Reviewing new startups.
5. Konnects - Business technology focus groups and networking events.
6. LinkedIn - Strengthens and extends your existing network of trusted contacts.
7. Ryze - Business Networking.
8. StartupNation - Provides real-world business advice to people who want to start a business.
9. Startupping - Community resource created for Internet entrepreneurs.
10. UpSpring - Business networking.
11. Ziggs - White pages and free people search for professionals.
Finding Funding
Many entrepreneurs will need some type of funding for their ventures. If this is the case for you, these resources may be helpful. Locating potential funding sources can be a bit easier be taking advantage of the resources that are available:
1. GoBigNetwork - Angel investor network/venture capital.
2. Fundability - Puts your company in front of qualified and interested investors.
3. Find That Money - Formidable presence in consumer finance.
4. Venture Deal - Venture capital database.
5. American Capital Advance - Fast Business Loans.
6. Financing: Where to Find It
CPC Revenue
One of the most common ways to make money with a website is through cost per click programs like Google AdSense. While these programs are not a good fit for some sites and for some audiences, they have proven to effective for many:
1. Google AdSense - Google’s CPC Network.
2. Yahoo! Publisher Network - Yahoo’s CPC Network.
3. ABC Search - Get paid per click by ABC.
4. AdBrite - Webmasters can buy and sell text ads based on their site’s topic area.
5. Chitika - The leading merchandising network for bloggers.
6. Bidvertiser - Pay per click advertising.
7. Kanoodle - Distributes results to a large network of other search engines and search box providers.
8. Clicksor - Effective online advertising technology.
9. Kontera - Advertiser and Publisher Solutions.
CPM Revenue
CPC isn’t the only option for monetizing a website through advertisements. By choosing a CPM program you will be compensated for impressions rather than clicks. Here are some of the choices that are available:
1. ADSDAQ - A new advertising exchange.
2. ValueClick Media - One of the largest and most effective online advertising networks.
3. AdDynamix - Full-spectrum interactive provider delivering ad management.
4. Morning Falls - Online advertising solutions to advertisers and publishers worldwide.
5. CPX Interactive - Online ad network.
6. BurstMedia - Internet advertising network.
7. Casale Media - World’s fastest growing provider of online media solutions.
8. Tribal Fusion - Focused on high quality sites with targeted content and significant reach.
9. BrightRoll - Video advertising.
10. Adtegrity - Internet Advertising Solutions.
每天都有越来越多的创业人士使用互联网成功创业。网上有巨大的商机,电子商务在某些行业相对传统商务而言,成本更低风险更小。网上还有丰富的资源可用来帮助线上创业者更高效地运作和获利,在此我们列出了其中好些资源,欢迎留下评论和反馈,以及你对其它资源的推荐。
通讯工具/网络电话
互联网带来了与世界各地人们合作的巨大商机,好在同时也提供大量的资源以帮助期间必要的沟通。这里有让你不必花费很多便能与于他人沟通的工具:
1. Skype – 互联网上的免费电话,与其他Skype用户通话,想谈多久就谈多久。
2. Vonage – 宽带电话业务的领军
3. Gizmo – 国际长途超低价,免费呼叫雅虎即时通、Google聊天工具、MSN用户以及使用SIP协议的网络电话。
4. Vonics Digital –最低12.99美元包月,市面最实惠套餐。
5. VoipBuster – 免费软件,使用最新科技,免费与世界各地的人士进行高质量的语音通话。
数据备份
任何一台存有重要敏感数据的电脑都需要有数据备份系统。数据丢失对于网络创业人士或许是可怕的。以下提供几个解决方案,你可选择最适合自己的。备份你的硬盘原来可以做到如此迅速、简单、自动化。
1. Mozy – 行业领先的联机备份方案。
2. Intronis – 联机备份方案,使用远程计算机数据备份软件。
3. Carbonite – 无限量联机备份,只需定期支付一笔固定费用。
4. Data Deposit Box – 联机备份的好手,安全的线上数据备份。
5. Athena Backup – 自动备份你的家用电脑.
6. Data Protection Services - 安全的联机备份,免费试用!
发票
如果你需要提供发票给客户,使用特别为此设计的软件能使流程更高效,使你能节省一些时间。以下资源能帮你进行发票管理,使你有更多时间来做最擅长的事情。
1. Bamboo Invoice – 简单,开源的联机发票系统。
2. FreshBooks –提供在线货品计价和即时追踪服务
3. Transcepta – 电子发票解决方案。
4. Blinksale – 联机发送发票的最简方案
5. InterlinQ Solutions –提供工作日志、工时表、任务跟踪、工程报告和移动记账。
6. Bill My Clients – 轻松创建并发送发票、账单给客户。
7. Billing Orchard – 联机电子记账软件。
8. 2nd Site – 提供安全的发票服务,包括联机发票支付和雇员工时表。
财务管理和会计
许多网上创业者和小公司不必使用像大公司那样复杂的会计系统,但每家公司都必须有严谨准确的财务记录。以下资源为你提供你在财会管理方面所需的一切,任何人都能轻松使用。
1. Intacct – 为中小型企业提供ERP(企业资源规划)软件。
2. QuickBooks Online – 面向专业人士和企业的会计解决方案。
3. Xero – 大幅削减你每周花在会计管理方面的时间。
时间管理和项目管理
时间管理对于取得最高生产效率至关重要。不妨试用以下工具来改进你公司的时间管理。我想你会发现,由此带来的组织效率会对你的工作结果产生明显影响。
1. Google Calendar – 免费的线上可共用日历服务。
2. Vitalist – 基于Web的任务管理器,以David Allen “尽管去做”(Getting Things Done ,GTD)的原则设计。
3. Backpack – 提供个人或小型企业信息管理、局域网、计划清单管理方案。
4. Basecamp – 基于Web的管理工具,可管理、跟踪项目。
5. Goplan – 联机项目管理应用应用程序。
6. Copper Project – 项目经理软件。
7. Side Job Track – 基于Web的任务跟踪、发票管理、报告和项目管理软件。
联系人管理
网上创业者普遍有相当大数量的客户需要保持联系。以下方案特别为你高效管理联系人而设计。如果你希望在管理联系人方面有所改进,可以试试:
1. Big Contacts – 基于Web的联系人管理,适用于2~2000个联系人。
2. Highrise – 共享的联系人管理。
3. BatchBook – 易用的联系人管理系统。
4. Relenta CRM –小公司客户关系管理软件。
5. Oprius – 供独立销售顾问使用的销售及客户管理软件。
6. PipelineDeals –轻松客户管理 – 单用户每月15美元。
雇用自由职业人
某些时候你会需要雇用某类自由职业人。幸好网上有足够的资源来帮助你找到适合你项目的人手。下列网站会让你找到合意的自由职业人的:
1. Elance – 自由职业人外包。
2. Guru – 免费为你找到自由职业人,免费估价,从而你能完成项目。
3. SmarterWork – 最热的小企业服务市场。
4. Contracted Work – 人才交易、合同工搜索引擎
5. oDesk – 全球服务市场,针对中小型企业
6. Get A Freelancer –(自由职业者)程序员和网站设计人员
7. BizReef – 联机服务平台
网络信誉管理工具
信誉管理目前是网上最热的话题。作为创业人士,信誉对于你的成功至关重要,你必须时刻关注,确保网上公布的关于你信誉的信息是真实的。有多种资源可以以不同的方式来帮助你:
1. claimID – 免费、易用的互联网身份管理.
2. Google Alerts – Google快讯,将最新的监视主题搜索结果发至电子邮箱。
3. Yahoo Alerts – 免费的个性化通知服务。
4. Technorati – 实时搜索用户自创多媒体。
5. FindMeOn – 管理你的朋友圈子、家人、同事和其他人。
6. myOpenID – 提供安全的OpenID 。.
收款
如果你的客户选择线上支付的方式,你需要相应的解决方案。备选方案是不少的,且各有千秋。看看以下列举的,选择最适合你的。
1. PayPal – 世界知名。
2. Google Checkout – Google 自己的收付款方式。
3. Neteller – 在线收付款解决方案。
4. Moneybookers –更便宜的全球收付款。
5. iKobo – 可在1000000多家加入Visa国际的自动取款机( Visa ATM)上收款
6. CheckFree – 提供电子商务服务。
购物车
在线交易的电子商务网站需要某种类型的购物车。以下提供多种包括开放源代码解决方案在内的备选,但愿你能找到最适合你需要的:
1. Zen Cart – 免费、容易操作的开源购物车系统。
2. osCommerce – 免费的在线购物电脑程序。
3. AgoraCart -免费的购物车。
4. OpenCart – 基于php的开源在线购物车系统。
5. Ubercart – 开源电子商务组件。
6. X-Cart – 购物车软件& php电子商务解决方案。
7. NetSuite – 基于Web的软件套件集成。
8. ZNode - ASP.NET购物车。
9. Fortune3 – 电子商务购物车软件。
10. Network Solutions – 稳定、可自定义的电子商务线上购物车软件。
11. Kick Start Cart – 提供专业电子商务服务。
12. Secure Delivery – 网上最好的下载工具!
社区网络
社区网络可以帮助创业者找到潜在合作伙伴,同时获取其他创业人士的建议,且接交世界各地的人,最简单而言,也能提高自己的知名度。每个社区网站都有些不同。你绝不会有时间把它们每个都弄熟,找到最有潜力帮你的,然后积极参与即可。
1. PartnerUp – 寻找业务伙伴和合作机会。
2. Cofoundr –企业家们的私人社区。
3. Fast Pitch Networking – 商界专业人士的社区网络。
4. Killer Startups – 考察新兴公司。.
5. Konnects – 商业技术访谈小组及社交活动。
6. LinkedIn – 巩固并拓展你现有的可信任交际圈子。
7. Ryze – 商业社交。
8. StartupNation – 为打算创业的人士提供实用生意经。
9. Startupping – 为互联网上的创业者而建的社区资源。
10. UpSpring -商业社交。
11. Ziggs – 免费个人信息搜索引擎,可搜索专业人士的联系方式。
筹集资金
许多创业者都需要某些类型的资金。如果你有此需要,以下资源或许能助一臂之力,充分利用它们,寻找潜在资金来源将会容易些。
1. GoBigNetwork – 天使投资/风险投资
2. Fundability – 将你的公司展示给有资质且感兴趣的投资者。
3. Find That Money – 提供强大的个人贷款。.
4. Venture Deal – 风险投资数据库。
5. American Capital Advance – 快捷商业贷款。
6. Financing: Where to Find It 融资渠道
CPC网络广告
常用的靠网站赚钱的方式之一就是通过点击一次收取佣金(cost per click, CPC)的网络广告,比如Google AdSense。虽然这些模式对某些网站和浏览者来说未必合适,但事实证明对许多应用者而言还是有效的。
1. Google AdSense – Google的CPC 网络广告。
2. Yahoo! Publisher Network – 雅虎的 CPC网络广告。
3. ABC Search – ABC让你点击即有佣金。
4. AdBrite – 网站管理者可根据本站主题范围投放文字广告。
5. Chitika – 博客写手们的主导商业网络。
6. Bidvertiser – 按单次点击付费的网络推广方式。
7. Kanoodle – 将需要网络推广的内容放到大量搜索引擎或搜索栏的结果列表中。
8. Clicksor – 管用的网络广告技术。
9. Kontera – 供给广告商和出版商的解决方案。
CPM网络广告
CPC不是网络广告赢利的唯一途径。选择按每展示一千次收费的网络广告(Cost per Thousand Impressions, CPM), 你靠展示次数而非点击次数来收取佣金。以下是可选的资源:
1. ADSDAQ – 新式广告交易平台。
2. ValueClick Media – 全球最大最高效的网络广告商之一。
3. AdDynamix – 提供全方位、交互的网络广告管理。
4. Morning Falls – 为全球广告商和出版商提供网络广告解决方。
5. CPX Interactive – 网络广告联盟。
6. BurstMedia – 互联网广告联盟。
7. Casale Media –全球发展最快的网络媒体解决方案供应商。
8. Tribal Fusion – 倾力打造内容针对性强影响力大的高质量网站。
9. BrightRoll – 视频广告。
10. Adtegrity – 网络广告解决方案。