Last Updated on July 15, 2022 by Andrew

As a business owner, having an online presence is essential regardless of your industry. This is even more important if you own a company that only operates online. 

Online business owners face a different set of challenges than entrepreneurs that own conventional companies. 

Fortunately, you can leverage a wide range of software solutions to simplify the entire management process.

In this article, we’ll share our picks for the most important types of platforms for online businesses today.   

12 Types of Software for Your Online Business

The right set of online tools can simplify all your essential company processes and create a productivity-driven culture. 

Here are our picks for the top types of software you need in your online business. 

1. Invoicing and Accounting

One thing that conventional and online companies have in common is that both make and receive payments regularly. The best and most organized way to handle these is through invoicing and accounting software. 

• Suggested Software:  Zoho Invoice, Xero, Freshbooks

2. Customer Relationship Management

Most companies have rotating customer service teams. Keeping a detailed record of all customer profiles and individual communications can help you create a wholesome experience. Customer relationship management (CRM) tools allow you to do exactly that.

• Suggested Software: Bitrix24, Pipedrive, Agile CRM

3. Email Marketing

Email is one of the oldest forms of online marketing. Yet, it remains among the most profitable ways to attract and convert new customers. To develop a successful campaign, you’ll need to implement an email marketing tool with specialized features. 

• Suggested Software: Klaviyo, MailChimp, Constant Contact

4. File Backup and Recovery

There are many reasons why companies can lose access to their records. Some of these can’t be prevented or predicted. So, your best bet is to prepare for the worst-case scenario by implementing a file backup and recovery tool. 

• Suggested Software: CrashPlan for Small Business, IDrive Business, BigMIND Business

5. Content Management

Most online businesses rely on their blogs, pages, or other parts of their sites. If you still rely on your IT team to make small changes, you may face setbacks down the line. In contrast, a content management system or CMS can help you keep your site updated easily 

• Suggested Software: WordPress, Wix, Hubspot

6. Marketing Analytics

Promoting your products through digital channels is very different from traditional means. The good news is that you can use marketing analytics tools to analyze your campaign performance. You can use this information to make changes and get better results from your campaign. 

• Suggested Software: Google Analytics, AHREFS, Voluum

7. Meeting Scheduling and Video Calling

Video calls are a great way to build rapport with and among your team members. But, organizing a good time can be challenging. Plus, not everyone prefers the same video chat app. You can simplify this for your team by acquiring a scheduling and video calling tool for your business. 

• Suggested Software: Google Calendar, Google Meet, Skype

8. Messaging and Communications

Similar to video calls, it’s likely that the different employees in your online company prefer distinct messaging and communication apps. To avoid confusion, make sure to choose a reliable messaging platform that has all the business features you need. 

• Suggested Software: Slack, Facebook Workplace, Telegram (company groups)

9. Security and Privacy

VPNs can help you create a safe environment while you work. These tools encrypt data and help you establish an encrypted connection. Make sure to find out more about VPNs in general or go to the Surfshark download page to get started. 

• Suggested Software: Surfshark, Nordvpn, Atlas VPN

10. Project Management

Even if everyone in your team is self-sufficient, you should make sure to appoint a project manager. This is the person in charge of connecting the different departments. At the same time, you also need to get a project management tool that helps administrators perform tasks more efficiently.  

• Suggested Software: Teamwork, Monday, Basecamp

11. Landing Page Builder

Creating landing pages for paid ads is different from managing existing content. That said, there is no reason why you need to rely on a conventional setup. Instead, you can opt for a powerful landing page builder that allows you to create pages without needing coding skills. 

• Suggested Software: Wix, Unbounce, Squarespace

12. Organic and Paid Keyword Research

Keywords play an essential role in both organic and paid ad campaigns. But, to get accurate results, your online business needs to leverage a powerful research tool. This will help you identify the best keywords and build content around terms that drive traffic. 

• Suggested Software: SEMrush, Google Keyword Planner, Answer The Public

Why Do Online Businesses Need Specific Software?

Online companies rely on remote team members in order to succeed. That said, these digital enterprises have to provide a comprehensive set of quality tools.

Some of the advantages of implementing software designed specifically for online businesses include:

• Higher productivity;
• Lower operation costs;
• Revenue growth;
• Employees who are empowered to solve issues;
• More satisfied customers.

Conclusion

Having the right technology stack in your online business can exponentially boost your chances of success. 

With this in mind, you need to analyze your business to identify your biggest areas of improvement. 

Then, you need to choose the best provider for each type of tool you