Even if you’ve been running your home inspection biz for several years, chances are that a few simple things could make your life much easier. These easy peasy tools can save you time and money with minimal hassle.
The first step in changing up your web presence is admitting that your site could use some work. The next is trying a new approach. Even if you’re not a master programmer or designer, SquareSpace offers pre-made templates that allow you to drag images you love, drop them in place, and customize to your heart’s content. Yes, there are lots of companies out there offering the same basic product, but what sets SquareSpace apart is how well the service allows you to tailor templates to exactly your needs and allow you to see how your site will appear on devices of different sizes. If you’ve already got a strong blog presence, that’s great. Import content directly from WordPress, Tumblr, Blogger, or any of your social media networks in a snap. Free trials are available here. Packages start at $16 a month for business sites.
If you have a substantial web presence, you may want to know what people really think of it. This service recruits an audience and provides user feedback on how well future clients can navigate your site. Results are delivered within an hour and include video testimony of users explaining how and where they got stuck on your site.
Tap Inspect will back up all of your home inspection reports, but for financial records, marketing documents, and everything else you need to run your business, make sure there’s a copy. Carbonite offers uber-cheap cloud storage for as low as $5 per month, letting you save all that’s near and dear for the cost of one cup of fancy coffee. A double bonus is that you can try it for 15 days for free.
A strong social media presence is a must for many modern inspectors. HootSuite takes the daily interruption aspect out of updating your company’s Facebook, LinkedIN, Google +, FourSquare, Twitter, Tumblr, Youtube, or other social media accounts. Organizing all of your social media platforms into one dashboard, HootSuite offers both the ability to write your posts in advance and automatically disburse them over time as well as analytics that track how well you’re reaching your intended audience.
TaskRabbit isn’t a business tool per se, but it’s mighty handy in a pinch. This errand-running service allows you to list anything you need done—seriously everything from accounting work to grocery runs—then have someone in your community pick up the job. You also get to name your own price, which is useful for odd jobs that don’t come with a going rate. Perfect for jobs that only need to be done once in a while, the service could save you from hiring someone part-time. You provide gigs that directly benefit your community, they provide an easy way to reduce your to-do list, everyone walks away happy.