Ten free and fantastic ways to better your business

[mp3]http://wordandmouth.com/audio/free_210909.mp3[/mp3]

Are you harnessing ‘free’? Focused on cost efficiencies, maybe even saving thousands of pounds annually by using complimentary products on the ‘net?

If you’re not, you’re definitely missing a trick. There are so many ways to reach out for new market opportunities with pennies or even just your time. Social media, anyone? And what about all the free software out there to help you control your business better?

SugarCRM provides a free contact management platform with its open source Community Edition. Listen to episode 1 of customergency chat (a podcast from our sister site customergency.com) to find out how Customer Relationship Management could totally transform your business.
Google Docs have all your spreadsheet, word processing, task and note-taking needs sorted.
Socialtext can throw you a microblogging tool for your business of 50 employees or less – gratis!
Twitter can take your business global in 140 characters or less.
LinkedIn will help you network online – with millions of other SMEs across the world.
stock.xchng is packed to the rafters with free images to use on your website.
MusicAlley is great for free music to colour up your broadcasting and podcast shows.
Open Office is a smashing alternative to Google Docs if you want to keep all your data local.
Force.com free edition is a host platform where you can develop applications tailored to your business needs with free support and tutorials.
And SourceForge.net is where you’ll find just about everything else!

All this talk of free stuff whet your appetite? Listen to Chris Anderson’s book Free: The Future of a Radical Price. It might just be the most useful and inspirational book you read this year, covering all manner of exciting opportunities to showcase and expand your business for zero down.

And it’s free!

Got any other free tools to suggest to fellow SMEs? Let us know!

For advice on maximising the effectiveness of any of these fantastic tools and services, drop me a line.

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