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In this article:\nWhat is a file sharing app?\nHow can file sharing apps or software help your small business?\nBest file sharing apps to try\nIt doesn’t matter what industry you are in, you have likely emailed a file (or several) to an employee (if you have employees), client, or partnering company. Sharing files like forms, articles, photos, videos, and more becomes a hassle when you’re always emailing them back and forth. And some file types aren’t supported by email. \nIn this article, we’ll go over the advantages of using file sharing apps with for small businesses and list some of the best apps to start with. \nWhat is a file sharing app and why do you need one?\nA file sharing app is a cloud-based system that allows you to easily share files with your team online. You can upload most file types to your app of choice and then organize them in a way that makes it easy for your team to access the files they need. \nYou can also share links to specific files or folders with your customers if they need to review a project or presentation before it is published or presented. \nFile sharing apps were designed to make your life easier. So take advantage of that. Find these many benefits of using a file sharing app:\nConvenience of having everything you need in one place\nReduced costs—if you are storing all of your files in the cloud you don’t need as much physical space for hard copies or server space to back everything up\nSaves time to have files online and in a place where you can type a quick query to find what you need\nAdditional security for your files when you choose the right application\nTop file sharing apps for small business\nIf you’re ready to hop onboard with a file sharing app, consider with one of these solutions. You may find that you only need this on occasion and a free app might work great for you. Or you may need advanced security measures and more storage space, in which case some of these solutions offer premium upgrades for an additional cost. \nGoogle Drive\nGoogle Drive is free for anyone with a Google account. Just go to drive.google.com and log in with your free Gmail address. You’ll have access to create and edit text documents, spreadsheets, and slide presentations, and you’ll be able to upload just about any files that you need to store online. \nYou’ll also be able to share files easily and set permissions for whether a person can edit, comment, or view the file that you share. \nOne caveat with the free version is that it only has 15GB of storage. If you’re only storing text documents and spreadsheets, that may work just fine for you and your team (each person can use their own account). However, if you have large file types like videos or hundreds and thousands of files that you need to store, then you may need an upgraded plan. \nWith Google One, you can expand your Google Drive storage space and receive additional benefits. \nPayment plans for Google One:\n100GB: $1.99/month or $19.99/year when paid annually\nThis includes, you guessed it, 100GB of storage, access to Google experts, option to add your family (or team) to the plan, and extra member benefits. \n200GB: $2.99/month or $29.99/year when paid annually\nThis includes 200GB of storage, everything from the first plan, and 3% back in the Google Store. \n2TB: $9.99/month or $99.99/year when paid annually\nThis includes 2TB of storage, everything from the first plan, and 10% back in the Google Store. \nIf your business uses G-Suite, you may already have access to more Google Drive storage depending on your plan. \nMicrosoft OneDrive\nAccess files and photos from any device with OneDrive. With OneDrive, you can also edit and share your files, and it will back up and protect any files that are saved in OneDrive. With Office apps you can also collaborate on documents in real-time. \nMicrosoft has several plans that include OneDrive. The first is their free plan which only includes 5GB of storage. If you need additional storage space, we suggest upgrading to the next plan. \nMicrosoft’s paid plans include:\nOneDrive 100 GB (Personal): $1.99/month\nThis plan provides 100 GB of storage on OneDrive, with no additional features. \nOneDrive for Business Plan 1: $5.00/month per user\nThis plan includes 1TB of storage for each user and requires an annual commitment. \nOneDrive for Business Plan 2: $10.00/month per user\nThis plan includes unlimited cloud storage for each user and advanced security and compliance capabilities. It also requires an annual commitment. \nIf you have either of the Microsoft 365 Business plans, you will have OneDrive available for each user on that plan, too. \nDropbox\nDropbox is great for file sharing and backing up your files in a digital space. It also offers file recovery if you accidentally delete the wrong file and version history so you can rollback to a previous version if you change your mind about an edit you made. \nYou can easily create links to files or folders to share them with other team members or customers for collaboration and review. And it’s easy to create folders and keep your files organized rather than digging through your email to find the right attachment. \nDropbox Basic is their free plan, but it only offers 2GB of storage space. You can certainly start there to test it out, but we’re willing to bet you’ll need more space than that. No worries though, you can always upgrade to a paid plan from Basic. \nDropbox business plans:\nProfessional: $19.99/month\nThis plan allows one user, provides 3TB of secure storage and a few additional highlights:\nSend up to 100GB of files with Dropbox Transfer\nMobile offline folders\nRemote account wipe\nDocument watermarking\nPriority email and chat support\nStandard: $15/user per month \nThis plan must start with at least 3 users, allows 5TB of storage per user, and include collaboration tools. Additional highlights:\nSingle admin login to manage teams\nAdmin console and audit log\nSecure encryptions\nGranular sharing permissions\nPriority email, chat, and phone support\nAdvanced: $25/user per month\nThis plan must start with at least 3 users and allows as much space as you need. Plan highlights include:\nEverything included in the Standard plan\nAdvanced admin controls\nTiered roles for admin\nSingle sign on (SSO) integration\nInvite enforcement\n

Best file sharing apps for your small business

In this article:\nTop local business resources for Houston area \nStarting your own business can be a challenge, but you don’t have to do it alone. There a plenty of local and national business resources that are available to help small business owners like you get started and find success. \nHouston, Texas has tons of local business resources to help you. Take advantage of the organizations near you that have the resources and capability to help take your business to the next level. \nThroughout this article, we’ll give you the top local business resources the Houston area has to offer. You’ll find them broken out into five different categories:\nComprehensive business resources\nBusiness courses and advisors\nFinancial resources\nChambers of commerce\nHiring and employment resources\nComprehensive business resources in Houston\nComprehensive business resources are one-stop organizations that can provide almost everything a small business owner might need.\nThey’ll help you with securing funds for your startup, finding great mentors, direct you to local workshops and trainings, and even provide resources for marketing and employee trainings. \nSmall Business Administration (SBA)\nThe SBA is a national organization that was set up to help entrepreneurs get access to the resources they need to start their business. The SBA will provide funding programs, local workshops, help you find advisors, and more. \nThey also have great information on their website, including a complete business guide with information about market research, how to write a business plan, choosing your business name, how to get the proper licensing, everything about managing your business, and more. \nReach out to your local Houston office for more information:\nHouston District Office
8701 S. Gessner Drive Suite 1200
Houston, TX\nPhone: (713) 773-6500
Website: \nwww.sba.gov\nOffice of Business Opportunity Solutions Center (OBOSC)\nThis center is a resource for new and established business owners looking for some additional assistance. They provide information on local, state, and federal regulations that may affect your business. \nThey also offer no-cost programs and services to help small businesses find success. Some of those services include:\nProfessional assistance with permits, licensing, and fee schedules\nOne-on-one business counseling\nInfo about MWSBE certification\nResources and business planning materials\nContact the OBOSC:\nOBO Solutions Center
611 Walker Street, 7th Floor
Houston, TX 77002\nPhone: (832) 393-0954
Email: obosc@houstontx.gov
Website: \nhoustontx.gov\nBusiness courses and advisors in the Houston, TX area\nYou can find specific classes and advisors to help you grow in the area of business that you’d like to develop your skillset in. Look to these resources to find out what courses and industry advisors are near you. \nSCORE\nSCORE is the nation’s largest network of free business advisors. The Houston office will guide you toward expert mentors that are within your industry and closeby so you don’t have to travel far. You can also low to no-cost workshops near you and gain access to SCORE’s templates and tools. \nSome of the templates and tools SCORE provides include:\nStartup checklist\nBusiness plan templates\nHow to select the right legal structure\nSBA loan program information\nImportant phone numbers\nContact your Houston office today:\nHouston SCORE
8701 S. Gessner Drive #1200
Houston, Tx, 77074\nPhone: (713) 487-6565
Email: scorehouston@gmail.com
Website: \nhouston.score.org\nFinancial resources for Houston area businesses\nSometimes you just don’t have the capital you need to get your dream business started. That’s where these financial resources can help. \nLiftFund\nLiftFund is a nonprofit that helps small businesses secure funding when they might not otherwise have the opportunity to do so. Their services include business and financial training, startup loans for up to $50,000, small business loans up to $1 million, and SBA 504 loan program. \nContact their Houston office:\nLiftFund in Houston
3300 Chimney Rock, Suite 104
Houston, TX 77056\nPhone: 1 (888) 215-2373
Email: houston@liftfund.com
Website: \nhouston.liftfund.com\n\nHouston Business Development, Inc (HBDi)\nHBDi is a nonprofit organization dedicated to financing the growth of small businesses in the Houston area. They seek to contribute to the economic growth of their community by helping entrepreneurs get their start. \nThis organization offers loan programs and borrower services and works closely with banks and commercial lenders to provide bridge financing. \nReach out:\nHouston Business Development, Inc
5330 Griggs Rd
Houston, TX 77021\nPhone: (713) 845-2400
Email: info@hbdinc.org
Website: \nwww.hbdi.org\nHouston chambers of commerce\nChambers of commerce are networks of business owners and professionals that have a common goal of further the economic development of their communities. Most chambers provide networking opportunities with other business owners, local events, marketing resources, publicity, and other resources for small businesses. \nLearn more: \nChamber of commerce basics: what they do and why you should join\nBecome a member of one (or more) of your local Houston chambers.\nHouston Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce\n5100 Westheimer Rd, Suite 200
Houston, TX 77056\nPhone: (713) 666-1521
Email: info@houstonmetrocc.org
Website: \nhttps://business.hwcoc.org/list/member/houston-metropolitan-chamber-of-commerce-houston-480\n\nHouston West Chamber of Commerce\n10375 Richmond Ave., Suite 265 
Houston, TX 77042\nPhone: (713) 785-4922
Email: info@hwcoc.org
Website: \nhttps://business.hwcoc.org/\nGreater Houston Partnership\n701 Avenida de las Americas, Suite 900
Houston, TX 77010\nPhone: (713) 844-3600
Email: ghp@houston.org
Website: \nhttps://www.houston.org/\nHiring and employment resources for businesses in Houston, TX\nIf you’re having a hard time finding the right people to hire for your business as it grows, then you might want to look to one of Houston’s many staffing agencies. They will interview and send you qualified candidates for your open positions. \nFrom most of these places, you’ll be able to hire employees permanently if you feel they are a good fit for your company. \nHere are the agencies we recommend starting with. \nMurray Resources\n800 Gessner Road, Suite 170
Houston, Texas 77024\nPhone: (713) 935-0009
Email: employers@murrayresources.com
Website: \nhttps://murrayresources.com/\nExecuTeam\n2401 Fountain View, Suite 800
Houston, Texas 77057\nPhone: (713) 952-6760
Email: info@executeam.com
Website: \nhttps://www.executeam.com/\n


10 helpful small business resources in Houston, TX

In this article:\nMost important SEO metrics\nFree SEO auditing tools and how they work\nSEO (search engine optimization) is an important part of any business’s online marketing strategy. It’s how you show up on Google, and other search engines. And that’s one of the first places people are looking for your offerings! \nSo, how can you determine if your SEO looks good and what you need to do to improve it?\nFirst, is business good? Are you getting organic leads on a regular basis? If not, then an SEO audit might be in order.\nWhat are the most important metrics to track when it comes to SEO?\nYou can track several metrics to determine if your business is properly optimized for the search engines. It all starts with having a good website (and a Google My Business listing if you have a local business). This is the foundation for helping your business get found online. \nSo, what determines good website health?\nMobile-friendliness\nThis means your website is easy to use across different devices. You can find your way around and have a good experience on your website whether you are on a large monitor or a cell phone. \nPage speed\nPage speed is how quickly your pages load. Most people will leave a website if it takes longer than 5 seconds to load. Ideally, it should take less than 2 seconds. \nPage crawls\nIt’s important that Google and other search engines are able to crawl the pages on your website. This is what helps them get indexed so they can show up in search results. \nOrganic traffic\nOrganic traffic is website visits that come from the search engines. If you don’t have any organic traffic, it’s probably because it’s not showing up in the search engines. \nDomain authority\nThis is a metric that Google uses to determine the strength and trustworthiness of a website. This is a 0-100 scale, with most local businesses falling anywhere between 5 and 35 depending on how much SEO work they’ve done.  \nBacklinks\nBacklinks are links from other websites that go to your website. These are a huge factor in your overall domain authority. The more trustworthy backlinks that you have, the better your domain authority will be, the more opportunities you’ll have to rank in the search engines. \nCitations\nCitations are listings for your business in online directories. Think Yelp, Yellowpages, Google My Business, even Facebook. It is important that each of your citations has the exact same NAP (name, address, and phone number) in order for Google to verify your information with these other directories. \nKeyword rankings\nYour keyword rankings tell you how well your website shows up in the search engines for a particular search query. The higher up you are in the search engines, the more traffic you’ll get to your website. This generally results in more business too. \nTop 10 free SEO auditing tools that can help you track important metrics\nLet’s dive into the free tools that can help you check these metrics and your overall SEO health. \nWebsite auditing tools\nThere are tons of solutions out there that will do a free audit of your website. Most of them will require your email address so they can send you more information about their services or free courses that they offer.\nThese website graders give a general look at your mobile-friendliness, page speed/performance, and SEO potential.\nHubspot Website Grader\nHubspot’s Website Grader will score your website on performance, SEO, mobile, and security. It will break each of those items down in the report to show you how you can improve in each area. \nGo to \nwebsite.grader.com\n to enter your website URL, email address, and get your score. Hubspot will also provide links to free resources that they offer to help you learn more about SEO and managing a website. \n(Image)\n\nNibbler\nNilbbler grades your website on accessibility and mobile usability, experience, marketing, and technology. It then breaks down each of these items to show you any potential issues with your website and how you can make improvements. \nGot to \nnibbler.insites.com\n to test your website. \n(Image)\n\nTools for traffic analytics\nTraffic analytics tools will show you how many people are visiting your website each day, week, or month and where that traffic is coming from. \nGoogle Analytics\nGoogle Analytics has tons of metrics that you can pull, from traffic analytics to user behaviors and demographics. \nFor the traffic analytics side of things, this tool will allow you to filter specific timeframes to see how much traffic you had and where that traffic came from. It will breakdown your traffic by these sources:\nOrganic (from the search engines)\nDirect (people who bookmarked your website or type it in directly)\nSocial (traffic from social media to your website)\nReferrals (from links on other websites)\nPaid (from any paid Google ads that you might be running)\nCheck with your web developer to see if Google Analytics is set up on your website. And if it’s not, make sure it gets done. \nGo to \nanalytics.google.com\n to check your Google Analytics web traffic. \nSemRush\nSemRush will do an overall look at your traffic, backlinks, keyword rankings, and more, but most of these features come with a paid subscription. You can enter your website in for free to get a snapshot of what your monthly organic search traffic looks like though. \nJust go to \nsemrush.com\n, enter your website, and create an account. \n(Image)\n\nDomain & link tracking tools\nThese tools will help you determine what your domain authority is and what your backlink profile looks like. \nMoz Free Domain SEO Analysis Tool\nMoz is a big leader in the SEO world and has developed several tools that professional marketers use every day to monitor SEO and website health. But they also have a few free tools that you can use. One of those is their Domain SEO Analysis Tool. \nThis tool will give you your domain authority, the number of other domains that are linking to your website, how many keywords you are ranking for at a national level, and a spam score for your website. \nJust go to \nmoz.com/domain-analysis\n and enter in your website’s domain name. \nTry comparing your domain to competitors that are showing up well in the search engines to give yourself an idea of how much work you have to do to keep up. \n(Image)\n\nAhrefs Backlink Checker\nAhrefs is another SEO resource that provides several different tools to track a lot of these metrics that we’ve mentioned. Again, a lot of their services are paid features, but they do offer a free backlink checker, allowing you to see how many links you have to your website. They’ll also provide a domain rating. \nThe numbers here will be different from Moz’s Domain Analysis tool because they use different bots to crawl the web, so they might not have all of the same information. \nGo to \nahrefs.com/backlink-checker\n and enter in your website’s domain name to check it out. \n(Image)\n\nLocal SEO & citation checking tools\nThese tools might be the most important for any business that provides local products or services. These will show how well your business is showing up in important online directories and if your information is correct. As we mentioned earlier, it’s very important that your NAP is consistent across all of these directories. \nMoz Online Presence Checker\nMoz again for the win! Moz also has a free tool that allows you to check your citation health and whether or not your business is listed on important citation websites. \nMoz will list the top directories and tell you which percentage of those are correct, incorrect, or missing. And it will provide the information that is listed for your website in each of those directories. \nGo to \nmoz.com/checkout/local/check\n to check your online presence score. \n(Image)\n\nYext\nYext is another tool that provides a similar service as Moz’s Online Presence Checker. They’ll provide a free scan of your citations so that you can see where your business is listed and if your information is correct. \nGo to \nyext.com\n and scroll down to “Are there wrong answers about you in other places?” Then enter in your business information and get your free scan. \n(Image)\n\nKeyword ranking tools\nKeyword rankings tools will help you to know how well your website is showing up in the search engines. If you’re not in the top 10 results for a given phrase, you’re probably not getting a ton of traffic from it. \nMoz Keyword Explorer\nMoz will run a keyword check on your website with their Keyword Explorer. All you do is enter in your website URL, and Moz will generate a list of all of the keywords that you are ranking for on a national level. (Unfortunately, they don’t break this down by cities or states, so you can’t take a deeper dive to see how well you show up locally – but a Google search in an incognito window will show you local results.)\nGo to \nmoz.com/explorer\n to get started. \n(Image)\n\nGoogle Search Console\nSearch Console is another free resource from Google that is amazing. It will breakdown all of your organic traffic from Google so you can see exactly which phrases people are searching that bring your website up in the search results. It will also tell you which phrases result in clicks and traffic to your website. \nAnd, if you export the list of queries that search console gives you, you can see what your position in the search engines is (again on a national level) for each phrase. \nThis is another one where you might need a web developer’s help to get it set up, but once you’re in, this is one you’ll check on a regular basis. \nJust go to \nsearch.google.com/search-console\n to get started. \nAdditional resources to help your business with SEO\nIf you are excited about SEO and want to learn all you can to help your website show up better on Google, then check out these other free SEO tips:\n\nLocal SEO: 15 free tips for better search rankings\n\n\nHow to get more reviews\n \n

87 articles found in “Resources”

Best file sharing apps for your small business

10 helpful small business resources in Houston, TX

10 free SEO auditing tools: Why and how to use them

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