This is a Guest Post by Artiatesia of Artiatesiadeal.com. She assists Solopreneurs and Small Businesses with their web & graphic needs and has been featured in 50 BOSS Members to Follow on Twitter. You can follow her @ArtDeal.

I am a freelance web/graphic designer and I’m always on the hunt for new methods to help me run my business. I have learned a long time ago that your business won’t grow if you aren’t willing to invest in yourself. I saved my money to purchase my laptop and design software I needed to help me with my studies. It cost me over $2000 but I wouldn’t be able to do the design work I love doing if I didn’t have the equipment. Yes, it’s a lot of money but I’m still using that same computer and software five years later.


I know the economy is not as great as it once was and running a small business you have to count ever penny you get. However, you have to spend a little to make a little (or a lot). With the Internet and Social Media you can find tons of tools to help you start your business on a shoestring budget and be successful.

E-Junkie is just one of the latest tools I have incorporated into my business. Before signing up for the services, I’ve made a few purchases from others who use E-junkie for their eBooks. So after doing some research I made the leap to selling my design services/products through them as well. I was able to figure out things out in no time and launch my store with two products. The $5 a month subscription as already paid for itself. I love what E-Junkie is providing its users. It’s not only easy but also affordable. It’s the best $5 I have ever spent.

Here are some other tools you should look into:

Smartphones: Whether its a BlackBerry, iPhone, Andriod, etc, the things you have do with your smartphone is beyond great these days. It will definitely come in handle running your business while away from the office. One of my favorite apps is the Gmail App that allows me to read my email on the go.

Tungle.me: Tungle.me is a great scheduling tool. No more worrying about double booking meetings or figuring out time zones. It’s great for individuals and companies. People can schedule a meeting with you based on your or team availability through a link or widget without ever signing up for the service. You can even sync it with your exiting calendar.

Social Networking Sites (Linkedin, FaceBook, Twitter) – You never know where you will find your next client or sale. They could be within your networking circle already and you just don’t know it. If you aren’t active on these sites, pick one and try it out. If you find that your target market is on Twitter focus on Twitter. If it’s Facebook, start a fan page for your business to connect with potential customers/clients.

Remember, there’s nothing better than investing in your business. It will go a long way.

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