Every business I started began with a budget of 0$.
As a resourceful and frugal person, I would spend hours scouring the web for free stuff. And I've found plenty of tools you can use to grow your business for free.
After hundreds of free trials and test-runs, these are the best tools I've used:
Hemingway
All writers that I know recommend Hemingway. Its free version works as a better Grammarly, and it’s the best editing tool I know and use.
Hemingway's most interesting useful feature is its readability scale which tells you the grade level of your writing and helps improve the clarity and simplicity of your writing.
But if you are writing to impress a college professor, Hemingway will slap you across your face with red and yellow flags (just a heads up).
My writing process goes something like this:
Google Docs first draft ➡️Hemingway edits ➡️ChatGPT edits ➡️Revise final draft
Pros
Improves clarity and readability, both underrated aspects of writing
Flags passive voice, weakeners, and hard to understand sentences
Kills jargon and straightens out your grammar
Overall a great and easy-to-use reference tool and editor
Cons
It flags you with red and yellow marks that crumble your writing ego (I'm not kidding)
It doesn't tell you how to fix your mistakes, only that you suck at writing
Not effective with academic essays where complex vocabulary and explanations are needed
ChatGPT
It hurts to think of people who create ideas and conduct research by themselves. We aren’t living in the stone age, and two brains are better than one– especially when one of them is ChatGPT.
My favorite feature on ChatGPT is the custom GPTs. They act as personal consultants in whatever niche you need advice in and give solid information back to you. There are marketing GPTs, fitness coach GPTs, and even relationship GPTs.
These GPTs provide more personalized and specific feedback than all the chatbots I've tried. On top of that, it's all free with the limitation of a certain number of prompts a day.
(You can always use a spam account for more prompts if needed 😏)
Pros
Great at generating ideas, content, and plans.
Free custom GPTs offer specialized knowledge and feedback
Great for conversations and asking questions (a better version of google)
Cons
Sounds to generic at times
It doesn't tell the best solution so take everything with a grain of salt (whatever that means).
Canva
For anything visual–graphics, logos, thumbnail– Canva is my go-to tool. Use Canva instead of hiring a web designer or using an expensive software like Adobe Illustrator. Tweak the fonts, colors, and layout to make your design look custom.
And yes, I actually DO use the tools that I recommend *cough cough
Pros
Very easy to use while maintaining a professional look for your business
Has thousands of templates for everything--pitch decks, flyers, graphics, logos, etc.
Free version is powerful enough for small businesses
Cons
Design might look to simple and "canva-y" if you don't customize the features
Not the best for complicated designs (Adobe Illustrator is better, but absurdly complex).
Beehiiv
Beehiiv is a great platform to create newsletters/blogs. The essential features are free until you monetize or expand your business.
It provides easy-to-use templates for website builders and formats for your emails.
Pros
Designed for newsletter growth with recommendations and referrals
Ease of use and a sleek new dashboard
Free (duh) unlike most newsletters
Cons
For advanced customization you have to upgrade
Doesn't have as much automation so it isn't great for huge funnels (Convert Kit is better in this regard)
Google Docs/Drive/Slides
Google is the all-in-one productivity giant.
Everything Google syncs seamlessly. Don't underestimate google because it’s free and easy to use. I actually prefer it over Notion because it’s cleaner.
Also, Google Docs released a new feature I love called document tabs. You can create different sections within the same document to improve organization.
Pros
Real-time and easy collaboration with anyone
Auto-saves everything and is always reliable
Seamless for brainstorming, planning, and creating whatever you need
Cons
Not feasible for design-heavy creation (but you can always use Canva).
Not ideal for anything complex but the simplicity is what I like
Bonus! Reddit
I know. Reddit isn’t considered “a tool” to grow your business. But it is an invaluable source of information you should use.
Reddit is a goldmine of unfiltered comments and rants.
People come in masses to write down their pains, insecurities, and everything else they want to complain about. Which ironically, makes it the perfect place for understanding your audience. Thus, Reddit the biggest, cheapest, and most underutilized focus group platform.
Go onto subreddits (specific categories within reddit) where your target market is commenting and copy their words in your offer. Extract their pain points and objections and use their words in your marketing copy.
Pros
Conversations about your target market so you can go into their shoes
Uncovering pain points, objections, and exact language your customers use
Authentic and unpolished responses that they wouldn't say to you in-person or in a focus group
Cons
Easy to scroll and waste 2 hours "understanding your target market"
A cesspool of complaints and ungrateful comments that could ruin your mood
Conclusion
Nothing in life is free, but those tools (and my newsletter 😏) are the closest thing to it. Use them and they will be more than enough to get and keep your business running.