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7 Known Brands that Bootstrapped to Success

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Today’s entrepreneurs have a misconception that in order to succeed, you need outside money, and you need others to validate and invest in your idea. Below are 5 major companies to prove that theory wrong. You’ll probably recognize these 5 successes below and you’ll be more impressed with the fact that they didn’t receive any funding to become successful.

1 – SPANX

Sarah Blakely started her $400M company with about $5000 in her bank. At the mere age of 27, the wild idea of her new to be found startup came while she was getting dressed for a party. At the time, she even researched and wrote the patent herself in order to save money on hiring an attorney. Fast forward to 2016, her company reportedly worth $400 million and she owns 100% of her company.

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Top 10 Free and Paid Employee Communication Tools

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Communication tools

Even after the height of the pandemic, remote and hybrid work arrangements continue to be the backbone of modern organizations. And to keep communication seamless in the office and at home, internal or employee communication tools will help you stay in touch with employees. But which of these software applications can you use for your business?

Here are our top picks.

1. Slack

Slack is one of the leading companies in employee communication. For most workplaces, Slack has it all, such as chatting, app integrations, and video and audio. Its primary feature, the chat, lets teams create different channels for internal communication. Plus, you can also invite clients or customers into your Slack channel for smoother discussions on any matter. And you can be sure that your messages and files are secure while using Slack.

Pricing

Free

Pro – $8.75/mo

Business+ – $18/mo

Enterprise Grid – Contact Sales

2. Microsoft Teams

Slack’s main competitor is Microsoft Teams. This employee communication software is ideal for businesses using Microsoft products, such as OneDrive and Word. Like Slack, your messages and files on the chat platform are safe and encrypted. One advantage Microsoft Teams has over Slack is video conferencing. In Microsoft Teams, meetings are more engaging using the Microsoft Whiteboard and live captions.

Pricing

Free

Essentials – $4/user/mo (annual subscription)

365 Business – $6/user/mo (annual subscription)

Standard – $12.50/user/mo (annual subscription)

3. Trello

An alternative to chatting software is a project management tool like Trello. The Kanban software helps you organize your tasks. But it’s another tool where you can chat with your co-workers, thanks to its comments feature.

Like all the other employee communication tools on this list, you can integrate apps into Trello, such as Slack, Jira, and IFTTT. And you can also automate workflows on Trello with power-ups, making your team even more productive than ever.

Pricing

Free

Standard – $6/user/mo

Premium – $12.50/user/mo

Enterprise – $17.50/user/mo (annual subscription)

4. Monday.com

Like Trello, Monday.com is a project management software. But your team can talk and collaborate with one another on their platform, making it one of the best employee communication tools. It’s jam-packed with so many features that you might think of staying on Monday.com the whole workday.

Although they’re a project management software, you can still collaborate with your teammates via integrations, like Slack and Microsoft Teams. The platform also has a built-in chat where you can update one another.

But if you want to know how else Monday.com can help your business, here are some of its other features:

  • Creative and design
  • Software development
  • Marketing
  • Sales & CRM
  • Task management
  • HR
  • Operations

Pricing (Minimum is 3 Seats)

Free (up to 2 seats only)

Standard – $12/seat/mo

Pro – $19/user/mo

Enterprise – Contact Sales

5. Snapcomms

Snapcomms is another collaboration and email communication software to use as an alternative to most of the employee communication tools on this list. They’re different from most platforms because this is for enterprises that rely on internal communications, from small matters to emergencies.

Besides the chat option, you can also send out email newsletters to your employees. Plus, you can also engage with employees by congratulating them on new milestones or getting feedback from them to improve your workplace culture.

Pricing

Inform – Request a quote

Engage – Request a quot

6. Workvivo

If you want engaged employees, Workvivo could be the ideal employee communication software for your team. When you use Workvivo, you can update employees about everything in your company.

On the other hand, employees can also personalize the updates they’re receiving about your company. Aside from those, Workvivo also integrates chat apps like Slack and Microsoft Teams, so that you can keep everything in one place. Plus, you can alert employees about crises. And finally, you can hold meetings through video and connect with them via podcasts.

Pricing

Workvivo did not disclose how much their employee communication platform is. But you can book a demo with them to see if they’re a good fit for your company.

7. ContactMonkey

ContactMonkey is ideal for teams that depend on email for employee communication. With ContactMonkey, you can create custom templates that are engaging to read.

Aside from that, you can also compose an email newsletter to give employees updates on your business. In addition, you can add emojis or surveys to the newsletter. Finally, you can track analytics and know how to improve your next emails. Oh, and one more thing, ContactMonkey also has an SMS option to disseminate info if email isn’t available.

Pricing

Like WorkVivo, ContactMonkey did not disclose its prices. However, you can request pricing.

8. Connecteam

Get more people to say to work events or notify them of every single event when using Connecteam. You can chat with your teammates here. But it’s more than just that. Aside from conducting surveys and polls, you can also add a knowledge base. This serves as your office manual or handbook or a place where you can add your new memos.

Connecteam isn’t only for small businesses. Service-based businesses like cleaning, healthcare, hospitality, construction, and logistics can enjoy the features of using their platform.

Pricing (Communications)

Free

Basic – $29/mo (for 30 users)

Advanced – $49/mo (for 30 users)

Expert – $99/mo (for 30 users)

9. Basecamp

Organize your work with Basecamp since they’re a project management and employee communication tool. Get more work done with them with to-dos, chat with employees, schedule important meetings, and share files with the team.

Like Slack, you can invite clients and customers to Basecamp for smoother and seamless communication with them. There’s no need to compose an email or send a message outside Basecamp. But Basecamp has a leg up above Slack since Basecamp has privacy options you can set so clients can only see what they need to see in your workspace.

Pricing

Free (1 project)

Basecamp Plus – $15/user per month

Basecamp Pro Unlimited – $299/month billed annually, all-inclusive

10. LumApps

If you’re looking for an all-in-one platform that connects every employee, LumApps is a top choice. This employee experience platform combines internal communications, social networking, and personalized content delivery to strengthen company culture and engagement.

This tool allows HR teams as well as internal communication officers to create customized news feeds, deliver targeted announcements, and integrate with productivity apps like Google Workspace, Microsoft 365. It also has AI-powered personalization features that ensure each employee only sees content relevant to their role and interests.

Pricing: Available upon request; plans vary depending on company size and integration needs.

Featured Image Credit: Photo by Antoni Shkraba Studio from Pexels

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What’s the Best Graphic Design Service for Social Media Campaign?

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Best Graphic Design Service for Social Media Campaigns

TLDR: If you need a steady stream of high-quality social media graphics, here are five of the best graphic design subscription services you can choose from.

​Having the most users of all social media platforms, Facebook is also the leading name in social commerce. For businesses, this means working twice as hard to get consumers’ attention on this channel alone. If you need help in doing this, here are five of the best graphic design subscription services you can choose from.

1. Penji

Best Graphic Design Service for Social Media Campaigns

A design-as-a-service platform, Penji can create more than just social media graphics. Its team of design experts can craft infographics, custom illustrations, and many other marketing and advertising materials. It runs on an unlimited graphic design and revision model. This allows you to get as many visual assets as you can for a fixed monthly fee.

2. Design Pickle

Best Graphic Design Service for Social Media Campaigns

Also operating on an unlimited design model, Design Pickle boasts expert talents, smart systems, and dedicated support. Its key services include brand and identity, print, motion and video, marketing and advertising, illustrations, and more. Its average turnaround time is 24 hours from its vetted designers.

3. ManyPixels

Best Graphic Design Service for Social Media Campaigns

From social media to motion graphics, ManyPixels is an excellent graphic design subscription service worth considering. It offers fast, reliable service, sending your designs in as little as 1 to 2 business days. Its fixed monthly rates include unlimited revisions, making it a cost-effective alternative to agencies.

4. Delesign

Best Graphic Design Service for Social Media Campaigns

Another flat-rate unlimited design service, Delesign, has dedicated designers to create designs for your social media campaigns. This means consistent visual assets across all your businesses’ social media platforms. Like many on this list, it also offers unlimited revisions at no extra cost to ensure you get the exact designs you need.

5. Designjoy

Best Graphic Design Service for Social Media Campaigns

Run entirely by one person, Designjoy replaces unreliable freelancers and expensive agencies. Its unlimited design model lets you request social media graphics that are created one after the other. If you don’t have tight schedules and timelines but need high-quality visuals, this design-as-a-service platform is your best bet.

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What’s the Best No Limit Creatives Alternatives?

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Graphic design subscription services like No Limit Creatives are popular among small businesses to get quick and quality designs. However, just like any other platform, it has its downsides. So, if you’re looking for No Limit Creatives alternatives, here is a list we made to help make the job easier for you.

Penji — Best Overall Alternative

If you’re looking for a reliable graphic service from start to finish, Penji is a great alternative. Penji significantly improves upon the things that No Limit Creatives lacks in comparison — turnaround time, user dashboard experience, and offers a consistent designer who helps your brand over time.

Why it Stands Out:
The biggest issues with No Limit Creatives are slow turnaround times and designs that lack brand cohesion. With Penji, you get consistent communication, consistent pricing, and over 120 design types without all the hassle.

Pros:

  • Quick turnaround time (24-48 hours)
  • A designer learns your style
  • Easy user dashboard
  • Consistent monthly pricing with no hidden fees
  • 120+ types of designs (ads, branding, web, social, and more)

Cons:

  • No communication through chatting with the designers
  • No video/animation capability

GraphicsZoo — Best for Revision and Version Tracking

No Limit Creatives Alternatives

GraphicsZoo is a good alternative if you want more say in your revisions and need brand consistency across the board. GraphicsZoo can help with easy version tracking, making team collaboration simple.

Why it Stands Out:
If you’re struggling to get changes made or keep things on brand, GraphicsZoo gives you the tools necessary to do so.

Pros:

  • Tracks versions and revisions in detail
  • Team collaboration made easy
  • Dedicated Design Team

Cons:

  • Turnaround may vary depending on order
  • The interface could be more modern

Content Beta — Best for SaaS and Tech Brands

No Limit Creatives Alternatives

If you’re a software or tech company that needs more modern design visual offerings like product explainer videos, UI design mockups, and onboarding videos, then Content Beta works best for you. Unlike No Limit Creatives, which primarily focuses on graphics, Content Beta specializes in design and video.

Why it Stands Out:
If you’re working on product videos, app UI, or anything tech-related, this is the choice for specialized help.

Pros:

  • UI/UX combined services
  • Great for explainer videos of products
  • Video/design in one package

Cons:

  • Non-ideal for basic branding or print materials
  • Could be costly for smaller teams

SmartSites — Best for Marketing + Design Services

No Limit Creatives Alternatives

SmartSites is a marketing agency first and foremost. They provide SEO/PPC/web services along with graphic design so if you’re looking for heavy assistance in creative strategies as well as marketing brands and messaging, SmartSites is a suitable match.

Why it Stands Out:
If you want design solutions with tangible marketing results, then SmartSites provides you the growth potential to back it up.

Pros:

  • Agency full-service: design/se0/PPC/web solutions
  • Good for branding long haul
  • A lot of strategic thinking help

Cons:

  • Not unlimited graphic designs subscription program
  • Should avoid if you only need design work

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