Philadelphia, PA - Startups in the Philadelphia area recently smashed funding records, raising a whopping $8.1 billion in 2021. Just a few amazing Philly-based startups that captured investors’ attention included a company that tells you what your baseball cards are worth. Another new startup has developed a technology that wirelessly and remotely monitors patients’ lung sounds and patterns.
Yet another new business invites users to pay a monthly subscription fee to use a vehicle instead of buying it. Although some Philadelphia startups are attracting millions in investment, others are microbusinesses costing around $300 to start. These startups need to think on their toes and rely on free and low-cost tools for tasks such as administration, organization, and digital marketing. Bearing in mind that the vast majority of startups rely on Google Docs and cloud storage, what available tools can take their business to the next level?
Paperpile for Citations and References
Philadelphia now holds the 28th spot in a list that includes over 275 startup ecosystems worldwide. The status reveal an impressive momentum that combines diverse talent, innovation, and investor activity. If you are an upcoming entrepreneur who seeks to take advantage of current investor interest, it is vital to pitch your idea in a clear, succinct way. If your business plan or new proposal has in-text citations and a reference section, then alphabetizing your sources is key. Instead of writing each citation and reference individually, use a tool like Paperpile, which allows you to insert citations with just one click and create a fully formatted reference list, practically simultaneously.
FreshBooks Invoice Template for Google Docs
If you are new startup and you want to stay on top of your invoicing, then FreshBooks is a good place to start. This piece of software provides you with an invoice template Google Docs allows you to customize, download, and send in a matter of minutes. Software like this has various template choices, which are compatible with Word and Excel, and which can also be downloaded as PDFs. Having access to different templates is key because your business may require you to charge by hour, amount, item, or other relevant categories. The structure of your invoices should reflect the products or services provided clearly and professionally.
Sorted Paragraphs
If you have a list of contacts, products, or services, and you wanted to access them quickly or make sure that no names are doubled up, get your hands on the Sorted Paragraph Add-on. It will instantly sort long lists from A to Z, and it takes just four seconds to do so. This tool is especially useful for long lists that you need to share with clients and refer to often.
Google Analytics and SEO Tools
Any savvy startup will prioritize their website, investing in digital marketing strategies such as SEO, pay-per-click, content marketing, and even influencer marketing via social media. It is vital to see how your website stacks up, how many conversions it brings, and what your audience behavior is like. Google Analytics enables you to view your strong and weak points, so you can adapt your strategy and take data-driven decisions. Another tool you can use simultaneously is Google Marketing Platform, which allows you to place Google Ads, see how they are faring, understand your audience’s browsing patterns, create surveys, and more.
Google Trends and Google Keyword Planner
You can also analyze trending keywords via Google Trends. The latter shows how often a keyword is used to make searches in a particular area. It will help understand what your specific audience is looking for and help you identify new keywords to include in your content. Google Keyword Planner will tell you how easy or difficult it is to rank for your chosen keywords and tell you the cost per click for your list of keywords.
Google for Startups
This tool isn’t just for Google Docs, so consider it a bonus tool. The mission of Google for Startups is to create a diverse, including, thriving community comprising savvy startups from across the globe. It boasts over 50 coworking spaces and accelerators, spread over 125 countries. Its Google for Startups Campus offers programs, which provide upcoming entrepreneurs with classes, information, and the chance to connect with like-minded individuals. Just a few current programs that are transforming the work of startups include the Growth Academy in Europe (providing workshops, mentoring, and networking opportunities), the Black Founders Fund (offering cash awards to black-founded startups), and Startup School (offering training on topics like digital marketing and business strategy).
Depending on the industry you are working in, there are so many tools that can make a difference to the way you organize and run a business. Some tools are based on tasks like administration, while others are more focused on SEO. Regardless of the tools you choose, go beyond the Docs platform and look into how Google tools like Google for Startups can help you learn and form vital synergies that may be a true watershed in the success of your business.
