16款有助於提升工作效率的工具

Productivity is the name of the game for entrepreneurs. The good news is that there are thousands of amazing software applications out there, designed to make your life easier. The bad news is that you don’t have time to try thousands of software applications. Which ones are worth your time?

創業者之間競爭的本質在於效率。好消息是，如今市面上已經有了好幾千種優秀的應用軟件，能令我們的生活變得更加輕鬆，但是你不可能有足夠的時間把這幾千種應用都試上一遍。那麼，哪些應用值得你花時間試用一下呢？

In this post, we’ll take a look at 16 software applications that I use almost every day — and discuss why you should too.

本文列舉了16種我本人幾乎每天都會使用的應用軟件，我還將在本文中討論爲什麼你也應該使用它們。

Project management.

項目管理類

1. Asana.

1．Asana

You’re a busy person. At times, it all can feel overwhelming. Asana is a cloud-based project management software that helps you keep it together. (Trust me, I’ve tried them all.) Flexibility is built into Asana’s architecture. Each “task”, or “subtask”, can be associated with a larger “project” and “department.” In addition, you can even assign recurring tasks to yourself or team, which makes life so much easier. Stop trying to remember all the things you’re supposed to do and let Asana structure your life.

你是個大忙人，經常會覺得事情多得忙不過來。而Asana是一款基於雲計算的項目管理軟件，它能夠幫你把各項工作統籌起來。（相信我，我試用過所有類似軟件。）靈活性是Asana軟件架構的一大特點，每個“任務”或“子任務”都可以與一個更大的“項目”和“部門”聯繫起來。另外，你還可以爲自己或你的團隊設置週期性任務，從而使你的工作生活更加輕鬆。因爲你不必再去記住所有要做的事，大可放心讓Asana安排你的生活。

2. Google Docs

2. 谷歌文檔

Many entrepreneurs already have a Gmail address, but not every ‘trep knows about the power of Google Docs. By utilizing Google Docs, you can instantly create shareable documents, spreadsheets and presentations that can be updated by any team member with an Internet connection. Take that “track changes”!

很多企業家已經有了Gmail郵箱地址，但並不是每個企業家都知道谷歌文檔(Google Docs)的強大用途。利用谷歌文檔，你可以即時創建可分享的文檔、工作表和演示文稿。更重要的是，團隊的每名成員都可以通過網絡更新這些文檔。好好使用它的“修訂”功能吧！

Staffing

人事工作類

3. oDesk&Elance

3. oDesk&Elance

oDesk and Elance (now in the process of merging) are freelance marketplaces, which allow you to quickly identify, engage and hire freelancers from all over the globe. Need a website developer or content writer? Don’t hire an employee; instead, work with a freelancer. At last count, there were more than 1 million freelance contractors available via these marketplaces.

oDesk和Elance（兩家公司正處於併購流程）是兩個自由職業者市場，你可以在上面迅速找到、聯繫並聘請到全球各地的自由職業者。需要一個網站開發員或內容寫手？不必僱傭一名全職員工，招募一名自由職業者就可搞定。活躍在這兩個市場上的自由職業者多達100餘萬人。

4. Outsourcing placement services.

4. 外包就業服務

If you do much hiring of freelancers, you’ve probably considered outsourcing the outsourcing. There are several great services that can help, each with varying business models. For example, Bolton Remotewill build your team with vetted, offshore contractors. Another provider,Hubstaff, starts with your project in mind and then matches you with project specialists. Using an outsourcing placement service will save time instead of trying to do the recruiting yourself. These firms typically offer free recruiting and placement services but take a cut of the hourly rate.

如果你的確需要招募很多自由職業者來爲你打短工，那麼你或許考慮過，乾脆把服務外包流程也外包出去。市面上有好幾家不錯的公司從事這樣的服務，每家都有不同的業務模式。比如，Bolton Remote公司能爲你組織起一支經過審查的離岸承包商隊伍。另一家提供商Hubstaff會評估你的項目，然後爲你匹配合適的項目專家。使用就業外包服務可以節省你的時間，從而讓你不必自己從事招募這一套流程。這些公司一般提供免費的招聘和就業外包服務，但是會從計時工資中抽取一定提成。

Sales & Marketing

銷售與市場類

5. Google Webmaster Tools.

5．谷歌網站管理員工具

Everyone knows about Google Analytics, but are you using Google Webmaster Tools? As a marketer, I view Webmaster Tools as one of the most important free tools at my disposal. You want to get found on Google, right? Why not listen to what Google is telling you via Webmaster Tools?

差不多人人都知道谷歌的分析工具Google Analytics，但是你是否用過谷歌的網站管理員工具(Google Webmaster Tools)？作爲一名營銷人員，我認爲谷歌的網站管理工具是我用過的最重要的免費工具之一。你肯定想讓自己公司的名字出現在谷歌搜索結果之中，對吧？那麼爲什麼不聽聽谷歌網站管理員工具教給你的訣竅呢？

6. Google Adwords Keyword Planner

6. 谷歌搜索廣告關鍵詞規劃工具

How are your competitors getting found online? Google Adwords Keyword Planner helps you answer this question. The word “Adwords” may give some ‘treps pause, as it sounds like you will have to purchase advertising. Not true. Google has made its Keyword Planner tool available to anyone with a Google account (you must first click through the Adwords entry portal). Use the Adwords Keyword Planner to see what keywords are generating the most search volume in your niche and identify opportunities to capture traffic.

競爭對手在網上的表現如何？谷歌的搜索廣告關鍵詞規劃工具會幫助你解答這個問題。“搜索廣告”這個詞可能會令有些企業家望而卻步，因爲它似乎會要求你買廣告位。但事實並非如此，只要有谷歌賬號，任何人都能使用這個關鍵詞規劃工具（不過你首先必須點擊Adwords的進入端口）。然後你可以使用關鍵詞規劃工具來看看在你從事的領域中，哪些關鍵詞會吸引最多的搜索量，然後找出吸引流量的機會。

7. WordPress CMS

7. WordPress CMS

Sure, all of the hosting companies offer a basic CMS (content management system). But do they offer the flexibility that you need to get found online? Probably not. WordPress is an open-source CMS that you can install, customize and continuously optimize. You will likely need someone with development experience to help with set up, but once the template is installed, you’re probably smart enough to publish content without any assistance.

的確，所有的託管公司都提供了一個基本的CMS系統（內容管理系統），但它們是否具有足夠的靈活性，確保你的顧客能在網絡上找到你？大概不能。WordPress是一個開源的CMS系統，你還可以選擇定製或持續優化。你可能需要某個有開發經驗的人幫你安裝，但一旦安裝完畢，你八成不需要任何幫助就能自己發佈內容了。

8. Amazon’s Self-Publishing Tools

8. 亞馬遜的自助出版工具

Always wanted to be an author but not sure where to start? Have you considered self-publishing? Thanks to Amazon, you can. Kindle Direct Publishing allows you to get the word out via e-books, CreateSpacehelps you develop a print edition and ACX is the audio publishing division. I’ve used all three to develop my book.

你是否一直有一個作家夢，但又不知道從何着手？那麼你是否考慮過自助出版呢？感謝亞馬遜，這種想法已經成爲可能。亞馬遜的Kindle Direct Publishing工具可以讓你自行製作電子書，CreateSpace能夠幫助製作紙質書籍，而ACX則是有聲電子書的製作部門。我在出書時曾使用過這三款軟件。

9. HitTail

9. HitTail

Deciding what to blog about can become time consuming. HitTailanalyzes the data in your Google Webmaster Tools account and makes recommendations for long-tail words to write about. In addition, HitTail has a network of skilled writers who can create the content for you.

寫博客有時也很浪費時間。HitTail會分析你的谷歌網站管理員工具裏的數據，然後推薦你寫一些“熱門詞”。另外，HitTail還有一個熟練寫手組成的網絡，可以幫助創建博客內容。

10. Copyscape

10. Copyscape

If you outsource any or all of your content writing, you need to make sure your content is original. Paste content into Copyscape’s analyzer tool, and you’ll instantly know whether the content is original.

如果你想把內容寫作工作的一部分或全部外包出去，那麼你首先要確保你獲得的內容是原創的。你可以把內容粘貼到CopyScape的分析工具，然後就能立刻知道這些內容是否爲原創。

11. MailChimp

11. MailChimp

Effective email marketing involves more than occasionally blasting out a newsletter. To build an effective email marketing strategy, you need a tool packed with functionality. MailChimp seems to be the best system out there, offering elegant, intuitive newsletter templates, advanced list segmentation features and marketing automation capabilities.

要實現有效的電子郵件營銷，可不只是偶爾發一封電子文宣郵件那麼簡單。要想構建一套有效的電子郵件營銷戰略，你需要一個功能齊全的工具。MailChimp似乎是市面上最佳的此類系統，它提供了各種典雅直觀的電郵廣告模板、先進的分段功能和營銷自動化功能。

12. Zoho CRM

12. Zoho CRM

If you’re looking for a free CRM system, Zoho is probably the one for you. Why? It comes down to the integration possibilities. For example, Zoho integrates with JotForm and Unbounce simply by adding your API key. This means that within seconds, web leads will automatically be sent to your CRM. Pretty powerful for being free.

如果你在尋找一個免費的客戶關係管理系統，Zoho或許正適合你。爲什麼呢？因爲它提供了集成的可能性。比如只需添加你的API密鑰，就可以輕鬆與JotForm和Unbounce集成。這意味着只需要幾秒鐘的時間，銷售線索就可以自動發送到你的CRM系統。對於一款免費軟件來說，這已經非常強大了。

Time Management

時間管理類

13. iPhone Reminders

13. iPhone 提醒

I formerly had an Android device (even though I have had a MacBook since 2009 – weird, I know). After switching this summer, I quickly realized the power of iPhone “Reminders.” Each time a reminder is due, your iPhone buzzes and displays a pop-up. You can snooze it or mark as completed. In addition, you can set up recurring reminders, which are perfect for remembering to mail estimated quarterly tax payments, renewing subscriptions, running payroll and other things you tend to forget.

我以前曾有過一款安卓手機（儘管2009年以來我一直用的是MacBook筆記本電腦，這種搭配挺詭異的，我知道）。自從今年夏天換了iPhone以後，我馬上意識到了iPhone“提醒”的力量。每次有提醒事項時，iPhone就會振動起來，然後顯示一個彈出窗口，你可以暫停它，或者把它標記爲已完成。另外你還可以設置重複提醒，用來提醒你郵寄每個季度的稅單、更新訂閱、領薪水等容易忘記的事再好不過了。

14. Google Calendar

14. 谷歌日曆

You may already use Google Calendar, but are you using it wisely? Here’s a secret: only put stuff on your Google Calendar that will actually happen at that date and time. Use iPhone Reminders to remember things that are not time-sensitive (down to the hour or minute). Following this strategy will help you stay more sane.

你可能已經在使用谷歌日曆了，但你使用的方式是否正確呢？告訴你一個祕訣：只要把在那個日子和那個時候會真正發生的事情記錄在谷歌日曆上就行。同時利用iPhone提醒記住那些時間敏感性不太強的事情（即不是那些精確到小時和分鐘的事情）。遵循這一戰略有助於你保持更清醒的狀態。

Everything Else

其它

15. WeTransfer

15. WeTransfer

Need to send gigantic files (up to 2gb) quickly? Try . You don’t even have to create an account. I use it almost every day.

需要快速發送大到2GB的大型文件？不妨試試。你甚至不需要建立賬戶，我幾乎每天都用它傳文件。

16. Zapier

16. Zapier

The average entrepreneur uses dozens of cloud-based software and apps. Zapier connects your online life and helps you build new functionality. The best part about Zapier is that you don’t have to be an API wizard to use it.

每個企業家平均會使用十幾個雲軟件和應用。Zapier可以把你的網絡生活聯繫起來，幫助你構建新的功能。Zapier最好的一點就是，你甚至不需要懂API就可以使用它。

With the right tools in place, you’ll find yourself more productive and efficient.

有了正確的工具，你就會發現自己的工作生活變得更加高效。（財富中文網）