Recently in Cool Tools Category

Here are some of the online business tools I use daily to make life easier. I wanna know yours, too, so be sure to contribute your faves.

Some of these links are my personal referral links, some are just links to the tool. Enjoy!

Freshbooks.com
This is an online accounting and invoicing tool that allows me to invoice my clients and get paid more quickly. It works!

iContact.com
iContact.com is a contact manager which helps me manage communication with clients, readers, and prospects.
I use it for ezines, announcements, and ecourses via autoresponder. I can also use it for blogging and surveys. Really nice.

AudioAcrobat.com
Audio brings websites to life. I like audioacrobat because it has a ton of functionality and excellent support and training. It makes inserting audio a breeze, also turns you into a podcaster with one or two clicks. Awesome tool.

Basecamp.com
I would be lost without my Basecamp tool. This is my home base for collaboration on projects, sharing files,
and keeping organized. It syncs with Freshbooks, too. Very cool.

MovableType.org
This blog, www.webservantblog.com, is set up with Movable Type. There's a slick new upgrade which I haven't tried yet, but I am hoping to put it to the test soon.

WordPress.org
I have a second blog on WordPress, http://classes.proimpact.com, which I use for class postings and announcements. I like the ease of WordPress and the flexibility and customization it offers.

FeedBlitz.com and FeedBurner.com
These are tools which allow subscribers to sign up to my blog via email. Here's a blog post which compares the two.

FreeConferenceCall.com
I use this service for classes, conference calls, and general kibitzing. It has lots of features. Great tool.

Gmail.com
I love my gmail account. It makes online life so much easier because all conversations are grouped and easily managed. Home run, Google (again).

Google Checkout and PayPal
Google checkout is a slick checkout tool that might be compared to PayPal, only easier to run. I hit a snag with this tool when it was first introduced because it only accepted US Currency, but as of this writing it has expanded to pounds and maybe more international currency. For a rundown on the two, check out this post.

Innoport.com
This virtual office phone system with online fax and voicemail is a treat. I use it to manage phone calls and faxing. Love the call forwarding.

AcuityScheduling.com
I love this tool because it allows my clients to schedule appointments online. It helps me manage my time better and gives clients more freedom.

LinkedIn.com
Social networking and reputation is becoming a really big deal. LinkedIn is just one tool to help you connect with others, contribute, and generally get to know more people. Very cool.

Xoom.com
This is a fabulous tool for exchanging money with international clients and partners. I have found it to be easy to use and reliable.

That's it for now. Remember, I want to know your favorite tools, too. Let me know with a quick comment.

I love google calendar to keep life organized, but lately my list is getting out of hand. I need a better way to prioritize.

Here are some online tools I have been evaluating. Please let me know of cool ones I've missed and let me know what you think about these.

www.rememberthemilk.com
www.todoist.com
www.hiveminder.com
www.xanadutools.com
www.backpackit.com
www.vitalist.com
www.joesgoals.com
www.voo2do.com

I am also considering www.contactoffice.com for calendar and to-do's plus a lot more. Has anybody used this?

Happy task-mastering!

My digital addiction is out of control these days with the availability of so many amazing web applications. Here are some of my favorites.

Hittail
Talk about smart. This web analytics tool from Connor Communications is a goldmine of information about how people find your site, i.e. links, keywords, etc. It will give you suggestions about how to imporve your content based on historical keyword search patterns. Highly recommended.

Vyew
This is a slick Flash-based webinar authorizing tool. It allows you to create powerpoint style slideshows and invite participants to your Vyew room. I haven't scratched the surface with all its functionality, but so far I know I can manage images, create text and objects, allow viewers to interact with tools and chat. There's even a free conference call number for a phone gaggle. Very sleek.

Freshbooks
This isn't the only kid on the block when it comes to online invoicing, but I really like the ease of use and custom features it offers. I have had great response from my clients. It's fast, easy to set up, and I get paid much more quickly. There's a free trial, too.

Icebrrg
Again, not the only player on the field, but this is a great tool for gathering online information via forms. You can use it for a survey, a class registration, whatever. It's easy to use and looks good, too.

I could go on longer, but then you might think I flit from web app to web app all day long and never get anything done. Sheesh. I had better stop writing now so that doesn't come true.

See you next time.

Okay all you bibliophiles, here's the question. How important is the delivery mechanism for your reading habit? In other words, are you a bound book "purist", or do you enjoy the digital word as well? Are you the download-and-print-type (like me), or would you consider an e-reader that looks like a book, feels like a book, and would hold about 80 books at a time?

The reason I ask, is because I've stumbled upon a few e-readers that hold promise. As a producer of e-content I think this is quite a good thing. I'm going to seriously consider one come release time.

The first is the Sony(r) Reader. Check out the goods at Sony's fact page. I like the looks of this gadget, very sleek. You can't buy it yet, rumor has an August 06 release date.

Another to consider is the Iliad by iRex Technologies. This one has a bit more functionality, more the swiss-army-knife type that will accept hand writing and such. The release date is to be announced.

Finally, there's a unit by Bookeen called the Pack Cybook which allows wireless access to broadband internet. Hmmmm. I like that idea. It's available now. Tempting, eh?

As much as I like holding and reading my beloved books, I can't say I like storing them. My bookshelf runneth over. For that reason alone, I'm anxiously awaiting these new arrivals.

Happy reading!

I stumbled across this really cool photo gallery tool created by the folks at Airtight Interactive. Love it. They also have a postcard viewing tool which is equally engaging. Fun. Can't wait to put it to work!

What will they think of next? Check out the online sticky note type website found at Protopage.com. Very cool. You can select design elements and customize the page to your liking, even adding feeds. I'm still exploring.