Question:
I’m an entrepreneur with a team of one: myself.
What digital tools and platforms can you suggest to help with juggling operations, marketing, sales, customer service and finances?
A: Thanks for the question — technology continues to brings new tools into the small business toolbox. There are so many powerful tools designed specifically to help small businesses streamline processes, automate repetitive tasks and stay organized. Here are a few:
- Design without a designer: For marketing, products like Canva can help create things like pitch decks, brand kits (for logos, fonts, color palettes), videos and reels, print materials like flyers and website mockups. It can eliminate the need for expensive design software or hiring a designer early on.
- A new kind of ‘business assistant’: Artificial intelligence is no longer just for big corporations. Tools like OpenAI’s ChatGPT can help write email campaigns, summarize meetings, draft blog posts, generate product descriptions and brainstorm marketing ideas.
- Community equals customers: Many business owners underestimate the power of niche (and local) communities on Facebook, which allow you to build a loyal audience, test product ideas, get instant feedback and establish authority in your niche. Focus on conversation and value, not constant promotion.
- Always good timing: Instead of emailing to find meeting times, send your scheduling link with Calendly. Clients pick a time, it syncs to your calendar and reminders are sent automatically. You can redirect them to a custom thank-you page. This turns a simple booking into the beginning of a relationship.
- A track to your audience: Email marketing consistently delivers one of the highest returns on investment for small businesses. Social media algorithms change constantly — but your email list is something you control. Mailchimp, for instance, makes it easy to build landing pages, send automated welcome sequences, segment your audience and track open and click rates.
- See what’s actually working: Many business owners guess what’s driving traffic and sales. Google Analytics shows you things, such as where your website visitors come from and what marketing channels perform. When you understand your data, you stop guessing.
The right combination of tools can save you time, reduce errors, improve customer experience and give you clearer insights into your business performance — allowing you to focus less on “busywork” (yes, that is still important!) and more on growth.
Central Oregon Community College’s Small Business Development Center offers free, confidential professional business advising and a variety of low-cost courses to help entrepreneurs through the business lifecycle. Visit cocc.edu/sbdc to learn more.
About the Expert:
Agatha Ventura is a bilingual business adviser with COCC’s Small Business Development Center. She holds a master’s degree from Tufts University and works in people management in the corporate sector; she supports clients on business starts, marketing and daily operation management.
