Free Tech + AI for Simple Brand Management | #BeautifullyStrategic

Carve a balance between life, brand management and growing a business with simple technology switches with powerful results. AI and other tech can feel overwhelming with so many options available. This guide breaks down our favorite, free brand management tools, AI integrations and strategic planning tech so you can get started simply.  Save time, document workflows, and unleash your brand strategyA strategy is a customized process (or combination of proces... More with experienced guidance.

What to Consider Before Choosing Brand Management Tech

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In this article, we’ll explore three essential free salesSales is any set of activities related to selling products a... More tools that every small business executive should consider. By leveraging these tools, you can enhance productivity, save time, and streamline your salesSales is any set of activities related to selling products a... More processes.

What To Consider Before Choosing SalesSales is any set of activities related to selling products a... More Technology

When selecting software for any brand, keep in mind that the best software is the one every team member can embrace and use effectively. Consider:

• The team’s tech comfort level
• The time available for training and onboarding
• Devices and platforms currenlty in use

Start with free options that fit short-term needs and scale up as the brand grows to avoid limits like free trials. Features matter less than usability and adoption, which research shows are key to effectiveness (Harvard Business Review, 2004).​

The Brand Management Tech Trifecta: Foundational Free Branding Tools

Every brand manager—whether managing a small team, leading an art collective, or running a studio—can start with these core technologies in priority order:

1. Cloud-Based Calendar:
   Free, mobile-compatible calendars like Google Calendar allow access anywhere, shared scheduling, and task automation potential. Upgrading to Google Suite adds storage and advanced features.
2. Project Management Software (PMS):
   Tools like Asana offer free team collaboration features, perfect for managing long-term projects. Options like Pipedrive integrate CRM and calendar functions for streamlined brand control.
3. Client Relationship Manager (CRM):
   Managing contacts and relationships is foundational. Start free with flexible tools like Notion or move up to robust CRMs like HubSpot, which integrates with calendars to automate follow-ups and save time.

I make exceptions to this when someone is already invested in another tool or platform that may be more beneficial. For example, an e-commerce shop using Shopify may be better off using its contact or email marketingMarketing is a series of steps used to achieve a sales goal.... More features. Another example would be a team more interested in prioritizing remote communication. In this case, tools like Slack or Google Suite may be more important. 

Getting Started with The Business Tech Trifecta

If you’re not ready to start now, take a moment right now to schedule an hour within the next week or two to complete the following steps:

1. Choose a free, cloud-based calendar

Cloud-based is important so you can use it on the go, share it with your team, and easily automate tasks down the line. Typically, the easiest calendar to access is the one on your phone. So, I recommend connecting it to Google Calendar to integrate other apps later.  Google Calendar is free but you can always upgrade to Google Suite for more storage and other features.

2. Choose a free, cloud-based PMS or CRM that integrates with your calendar. 

As always, start with your highest priority – even if the PMS and CRM tools are integrated. For example, Square lets you manage your team, contacts, and schedule within a single platform but still begin with just one. If you have contacts to organize, start there. If you have a team to set up, start there. If you don’t know and can’t learn what to prioritize, then consult help. Sometimes an objective opinion is all you need.

Then get to know the tool and its features. Most tools have tons of features and integrations so block enough time to train the entire team and batch the training into small digestible blocks. Making time to train the right team member or on the right feature will help get the most out of any tool – free or paid.

Free options have their limits, of course, but they’re a great place to practice when free trials aren’t long enough. A single user (which is typically free) can learn which features are needed. Then determine if the free or premium tool is needed.

For example, not all platforms allow calendar integrations for free. Since Hubspot does, it may move to the top of the list for someone looking to integrate Google Calendar for free. If needed, use this #quicktorial to connect Hubspot and Google Calendar for free:

Managing Your Brand Strategy + Long-Term Projects

Executives ready to manage long-term tasks and projects may want to start with project management software. We recommend Asana to clients for its free team features but prefer tools natively integrated into a client’s CRM.

Pipedrive, for example, released a new project management add-on. While it’s an additional $8/month on top of the monthly subscription, it avoids having to pay for and switch between tools. Pipedrive, and similar tools, also allow you to integrate your calendar so you have a ready-made control center for your brand.

Whichever tool you start with or dive deeper into, be sure to…

3. Block time on your calendar to train and complete the trifecta. 

Even if you’re not sure exactly what those tasks may be, you need time to figure them out.

Seeing your week, month, etc., all in one place allows you to plan around everything from birthdays to professional training.

So use your calendar to make space for training on your app and adding your third app into the fold. There’s no rush and you can also push those dates back, but this way you won’t forget or prioritize other tasks. It will also help build the habit of blocking time for tasks that aren’t events.

Need Help or Training? 

If you have questions along the way, use the chat box below to get in touch. We can help with training for your entire team, get you set up ourselves, or walk you through self-setup. 

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