The latest information from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) reveals that there are 28 million small businesses across the U.S. and those companies are responsible for roughly 54 percent of all sales each year (providing 55 percent of all jobs, too).
These businesses occupy every imaginable vertical (retail, construction, medical, entertainment, etc.) and bring an immense amount of value to the economy.
For many, however, Web success eludes them and for good reason: Business owners are more interested in running their companies than spending countless hours optimizing their digital presence. Who can blame them? It is time consuming and expensive; fortunately, there's a better way and that's courtesy of some very specific business software solutions.
The problem is that many in the software industry treat each and every one of these enterprises the same, forcing a one-size-fits-all solution on businesses that in effect pay for functionality they may very well never use.
Today's content management systems are most certainly impressive from a technological standpoint but the guy who hangs drywall isn't the least bit interested in optimizing for the customer experience. He wants a solution designed for him, not one that he needs to design to fit his company's needs.
Website Magazine took a somewhat different approach to this edition of its Top 50 rankings. Instead of profiling the solutions that can be modified for every type of enterprise, this month, those solutions that cater to one specific type of enterprise are the focus. Readers will find the top software solutions for the Web-based management of membership-based organizations (e.g. nonprofits), construction firms (e.g. general contractors), churches, salons or any group hosting offline events (like a theater company). If you operate in one of these verticals, let this list serve as a guide to those solutions that have long provided an effective way to build a digital presence and run an enterprise simultaneously.
Of course, no month at Website Magazine would be complete without publishing a big list of the leading technology solutions. Our editors have profiled a list of software solutions to run a small business on the Web at wsm.co/runbiz15.
MEMBERSHIPS:
- ChamberMaster.com
- ActiveNetwork.com
- WildApricot.com
- ZenPlanner.com
- ClubExpress.com
- Z2Systems.com
- YourMembership.com
- MemberClicks.com
- MemberZone.com
- PersonifyCorp.com
CONSTRUCTION:
- Procore.com
- Co-Construct.com
- Aconex.com
- e-Builder.net
- Newforma.com
- DexterChaney.com
- BuilderTrend.com
- Construction-Software.com
- Ribmc2.com
- Priosoft.com
CHURCHES:
- Fellowshipone.com
- ACStechnologies.com
- ChurchCommunityBuilder.com
- ParishSOFT.com
- Churchteams.com
- ShelbySystems.com
- Elexio.com
- IconCMO.com
- ServantPC.com
- PowerChurch.com
SALONS:
- MindBodyOnline.com
- Vagaro.com
- RevelSystems.com
- Booker.com
- SalonIris.com
- EnvisionSalon.com
- GetTimely.com
- SuperSalon.com
- Shortcuts.net
- SalonBizSoftware.com
EVENTS:
- Eventbrite.com
- Cvent.com
- TicketLeap.com
- ShowClix.com
- Vendini.com
- ThunderTix.com
- Ticketpeak.com
- Simpletix.com
- CrowdTorch.com
- EventSmart.com
Speak Up
The focus of next month's Website Magazine Top 50 is Social Media Management. Suggest your favorite tools on Twitter with the hashtag #Top50Social.
