/ tools

The 17 Tools For Starting A New Online Business In 2018

It’s almost 2018. Starting a business nowadays is much easier. With lots of online tools and resources, founders can focus more on their own business, rather than like …building a website or designing a logo. No matter you are bootstrapping your business or having an all-star team onboard, I hope the following list would help you get started much easier.

Brainstorm a business name

Thinking of a business name is hard. Thinking of a business name that has not been registered is even harder. The following website helps generate business name ideas based on a keyword AND their domain availabilities. It comes in handy when you are short of ideas.


Get a domain name

When it comes to domain name, you need a reliable domain name registry. Personally I have been using Namecheap for years. It’s fast, straight-forward, easy to use, highly recommended.


Get an email address

You always need an email address for your business nowadays. G Suite from Google makes it super easy to get yourself a business email like [email protected].

It seems G Suite is having a special offer with Namecheap. You can get $25 Namecheap credit by buying a G Suite plan. (https://www.namecheap.com/apps/application/g-suite-google-apps-for-work-business-productivity)


banner_2-1

Designing a logo for your business takes time and effort. Here is a DIY tool and an outsource platform where you can get your logo done within your budget.

  • Logomaster.ai — A DIY logo maker for founders (US$20 to US$65)
    https://logomaster.ai
    *You get your logo files immediately with this option
  • 99designs — Launch a design contest and receive dozens of designs (US$299 to US$1199)
    https://99designs.com

Build a website

1_y4gHdyyPorpASUVmUlK2Vw

It’s 2018 and you don’t need a web developer to build a website. You can do it yourself. With Wix or Squarespace, you can make beautiful website by a few clicks. There are a lot of professional templates to choose from, and you can edit them very easily.

*Both platform includes free domain for 1 year if you subscribe to their plan


Thinking of e-commerce?

1_cioLO6ZUcjq8rmATQxck7Q

Setting up an e-commerce site was a hassle. Product management and shipping details drive you crazy. You need a flexible yet simple platform that helps you reach your customers. Shopify can do that for you. You can have an online store that looks awesome on both desktop and mobile within a few minutes after registration.

*Oberlo allows you to easily import dropshipped products directly into your ecommerce store and ship them directly to your customers — in only a few clicks.


Or Just a landing page?

1_0izqVJ5RdPMhOfuSrurBSQ

If your business only needs to have a simple website with a email subscription form, MailChimp’s landing page might be your choice. It makes it super easy to setup a simple website and start collecting your customer’s email. It’s best for showcasing a pre-launch product, or running a giveaway campaign.


Web & Mobile prototyping

fluidui

When you try to build a website or mobile app, you might want to start prototyping during the design stage. Using Fluid UI, your team can create beautiful prototype in minutes. It also allows real-time collaboration with your team, which makes it super handy at the early stage of your online app venture.


Marketing video

Making a decent marketing video is hard. It often requires help from a professional team. With GoAnimate, you can easily create your own marketing video to put up on your website.


Manage social media accounts

1_u171hyAj96LhJHMpl79dnw

Managing multiple social media accounts is a big headache. You now have Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, Pinterest, etc to manage. Buffer can help get your team onto the same page and help schedule your content.

  • Buffer (Free to US399 per month, depending on the number of social accounts you have)
    https://buffer.com

Project management

1_t9BmBmryKjPVgIQ3k-da0Q

If you ever need to get your team to collaborate, Trello is a very simple and visual way to management your team’s workflow.


Invoicing

Screen-Shot-2018-05-08-at-11.52.49-AM

When you need to charge your clients and collect money, you'll need an invoice. Using online invoice management software can help you save time in doing so. You can create a beautifully looking invoice by using the following tools.


Look for investment

1_pN1OI1kwo4D71kykB6iTLQ

Here’s a collection of real fundraising decks from famous startups. You might want to take references from them when it comes to your turn.

The above list is brought to you by logomaster.ai — the Logo Builder for Founders.

1_urahWz7uCCDIBQSPTctXNQ

Create your own logo now

Start creating your own logo now at https://logomaster.ai. Use the coupon code LOVEMEDIUM to get a 10% discount on our premium logo package.