Productivity is the name of the game for entrepreneurs. The good news is that there are thousands of amazing software applications out there, designed to make your life easier. The bad news is that you don’t have time to try thousands of software applications. Which ones are worth your time?

创业者之间竞争的本质在于效率。好消息是，如今市面上已经有了好几千种优秀的应用软件，能令我们的生活变得更加轻松，但是你不可能有足够的时间把这几千种应用都试上一遍。那么，哪些应用值得你花时间试用一下呢？

In this post, we’ll take a look at 16 software applications that I use almost every day — and discuss why you should too.

本文列举了16种我本人几乎每天都会使用的应用软件，我还将在本文中讨论为什么你也应该使用它们。

Project management.

项目管理类

1. Asana.

1．Asana

You’re a busy person. At times, it all can feel overwhelming. Asana is a cloud-based project management software that helps you keep it together. (Trust me, I’ve tried them all.) Flexibility¹ is built into Asana’s architecture. Each “task”, or “subtask”, can be associated with a larger “project” and “department.” In addition, you can even assign recurring² tasks to yourself or team, which makes life so much easier. Stop trying to remember all the things you’re supposed to do and let Asana structure your life.

你是个大忙人，经常会觉得事情多得忙不过来。而Asana是一款基于云计算的项目管理软件，它能够帮你把各项工作统筹起来。（相信我，我试用过所有类似软件。）灵活性是Asana软件架构的一大特点，每个“任务”或“子任务”都可以与一个更大的“项目”和“部门”联系起来。另外，你还可以为自己或你的团队设置周期性任务，从而使你的工作生活更加轻松。因为你不必再去记住所有要做的事，大可放心让Asana安排你的生活。

2. Google Docs

2. 谷歌文档

Many entrepreneurs already have a Gmail address, but not every ‘trep knows about the power of Google Docs. By utilizing³ Google Docs, you can instantly create shareable documents, spreadsheets and presentations that can be updated by any team member with an Internet connection. Take that “track changes”!

很多企业家已经有了Gmail邮箱地址，但并不是每个企业家都知道谷歌文档(Google Docs)的强大用途。利用谷歌文档，你可以即时创建可分享的文档、工作表和演示文稿。更重要的是，团队的每名成员都可以通过网络更新这些文档。好好使用它的“修订”功能吧！

Staffing

人事工作类

3. oDesk&Elance

3. oDesk&Elance

oDesk and Elance (now in the process of merging) are freelance marketplaces, which allow you to quickly identify, engage and hire freelancers⁵ from all over the globe. Need a website developer or content writer? Don’t hire an employee; instead, work with a freelancer⁴. At last count, there were more than 1 million freelance contractors⁶ available via these marketplaces.

oDesk和Elance（两家公司正处于并购流程）是两个自由职业者市场，你可以在上面迅速找到、联系并聘请到全球各地的自由职业者。需要一个网站开发员或内容写手？不必雇佣一名全职员工，招募一名自由职业者就可搞定。活跃在这两个市场上的自由职业者多达100余万人。

4. Outsourcing placement services.

4. 外包就业服务

If you do much hiring of freelancers, you’ve probably considered outsourcing the outsourcing. There are several great services that can help, each with varying business models. For example, Bolton Remotewill build your team with vetted⁷, offshore⁸ contractors. Another provider,Hubstaff, starts with your project in mind and then matches you with project specialists. Using an outsourcing placement service will save time instead of trying to do the recruiting yourself. These firms typically offer free recruiting and placement services but take a cut of the hourly rate.

如果你的确需要招募很多自由职业者来为你打短工，那么你或许考虑过，干脆把服务外包流程也外包出去。市面上有好几家不错的公司从事这样的服务，每家都有不同的业务模式。比如，Bolton Remote公司能为你组织起一支经过审查的离岸承包商队伍。另一家提供商Hubstaff会评估你的项目，然后为你匹配合适的项目专家。使用就业外包服务可以节省你的时间，从而让你不必自己从事招募这一套流程。这些公司一般提供免费的招聘和就业外包服务，但是会从计时工资中抽取一定提成。

Sales & Marketing⁹

销售与市场类

5. Google Webmaster Tools.

5．谷歌网站管理员工具

Everyone knows about Google Analytics, but are you using Google Webmaster Tools? As a marketer, I view Webmaster Tools as one of the most important free tools at my disposal. You want to get found on Google, right? Why not listen to what Google is telling you via Webmaster Tools?

差不多人人都知道谷歌的分析工具Google Analytics，但是你是否用过谷歌的网站管理员工具(Google Webmaster Tools)？作为一名营销人员，我认为谷歌的网站管理工具是我用过的最重要的免费工具之一。你肯定想让自己公司的名字出现在谷歌搜索结果之中，对吧？那么为什么不听听谷歌网站管理员工具教给你的诀窍呢？

6. Google Adwords Keyword Planner

6. 谷歌搜索广告关键词规划工具

How are your competitors getting found online? Google Adwords Keyword Planner helps you answer this question. The word “Adwords” may give some ‘treps pause, as it sounds like you will have to purchase advertising¹⁰. Not true. Google has made its Keyword Planner tool available to anyone with a Google account (you must first click through the Adwords entry portal). Use the Adwords Keyword Planner to see what keywords are generating the most search volume in your niche¹¹ and identify opportunities to capture traffic.

竞争对手在网上的表现如何？谷歌的搜索广告关键词规划工具会帮助你解答这个问题。“搜索广告”这个词可能会令有些企业家望而却步，因为它似乎会要求你买广告位。但事实并非如此，只要有谷歌账号，任何人都能使用这个关键词规划工具（不过你首先必须点击Adwords的进入端口）。然后你可以使用关键词规划工具来看看在你从事的领域中，哪些关键词会吸引最多的搜索量，然后找出吸引流量的机会。

7. WordPress CMS

7. WordPress CMS

Sure, all of the hosting companies offer a basic CMS (content management system). But do they offer the flexibility that you need to get found online? Probably not. WordPress is an open-source CMS that you can install, customize and continuously optimize¹². You will likely need someone with development experience to help with set up, but once the template is installed, you’re probably smart enough to publish content without any assistance.

的确，所有的托管公司都提供了一个基本的CMS系统（内容管理系统），但它们是否具有足够的灵活性，确保你的顾客能在网络上找到你？大概不能。WordPress是一个开源的CMS系统，你还可以选择定制或持续优化。你可能需要某个有开发经验的人帮你安装，但一旦安装完毕，你八成不需要任何帮助就能自己发布内容了。

8. Amazon’s Self-Publishing Tools

8. 亚马逊的自助出版工具

Always wanted to be an author but not sure where to start? Have you considered self-publishing? Thanks to Amazon, you can. Kindle¹³ Direct Publishing allows you to get the word out via e-books, CreateSpacehelps you develop a print edition and ACX is the audio publishing division. I’ve used all three to develop my book.

你是否一直有一个作家梦，但又不知道从何着手？那么你是否考虑过自助出版呢？感谢亚马逊，这种想法已经成为可能。亚马逊的Kindle Direct Publishing工具可以让你自行制作电子书，CreateSpace能够帮助制作纸质书籍，而ACX则是有声电子书的制作部门。我在出书时曾使用过这三款软件。

9. HitTail

9. HitTail

Deciding what to blog about can become time consuming. HitTailanalyzes the data in your Google Webmaster Tools account and makes recommendations for long-tail words to write about. In addition, HitTail has a network of skilled writers who can create the content for you.

写博客有时也很浪费时间。HitTail会分析你的谷歌网站管理员工具里的数据，然后推荐你写一些“热门词”。另外，HitTail还有一个熟练写手组成的网络，可以帮助创建博客内容。

10. Copyscape

10. Copyscape

If you outsource any or all of your content writing, you need to make sure your content is original. Paste content into Copyscape’s analyzer tool, and you’ll instantly know whether the content is original.

如果你想把内容写作工作的一部分或全部外包出去，那么你首先要确保你获得的内容是原创的。你可以把内容粘贴到CopyScape的分析工具，然后就能立刻知道这些内容是否为原创。

11. MailChimp

11. MailChimp

Effective email marketing involves more than occasionally blasting out a newsletter. To build an effective email marketing strategy, you need a tool packed with functionality. MailChimp seems to be the best system out there, offering elegant, intuitive newsletter templates, advanced list segmentation features and marketing automation capabilities¹⁴.

要实现有效的电子邮件营销，可不只是偶尔发一封电子文宣邮件那么简单。要想构建一套有效的电子邮件营销战略，你需要一个功能齐全的工具。MailChimp似乎是市面上最佳的此类系统，它提供了各种典雅直观的电邮广告模板、先进的分段功能和营销自动化功能。

12. Zoho CRM

12. Zoho CRM

If you’re looking for a free CRM system, Zoho is probably the one for you. Why? It comes down to the integration¹⁵ possibilities. For example, Zoho integrates with JotForm and Unbounce simply by adding your API key. This means that within seconds, web leads will automatically be sent to your CRM. Pretty powerful for being free.

如果你在寻找一个免费的客户关系管理系统，Zoho或许正适合你。为什么呢？因为它提供了集成的可能性。比如只需添加你的API密钥，就可以轻松与JotForm和Unbounce集成。这意味着只需要几秒钟的时间，销售线索就可以自动发送到你的CRM系统。对于一款免费软件来说，这已经非常强大了。

Time Management

时间管理类

13. iPhone Reminders¹⁷

13. iPhone 提醒

I formerly¹⁸ had an Android device (even though I have had a MacBook since 2009 – weird¹⁹, I know). After switching this summer, I quickly realized the power of iPhone “Reminders.” Each time a reminder¹⁶ is due, your iPhone buzzes and displays a pop-up. You can snooze it or mark as completed. In addition, you can set up recurring reminders, which are perfect for remembering to mail estimated quarterly tax payments, renewing subscriptions²⁰, running payroll²¹ and other things you tend to forget.

我以前曾有过一款安卓手机（尽管2009年以来我一直用的是MacBook笔记本电脑，这种搭配挺诡异的，我知道）。自从今年夏天换了iPhone以后，我马上意识到了iPhone“提醒”的力量。每次有提醒事项时，iPhone就会振动起来，然后显示一个弹出窗口，你可以暂停它，或者把它标记为已完成。另外你还可以设置重复提醒，用来提醒你邮寄每个季度的税单、更新订阅、领薪水等容易忘记的事再好不过了。

14. Google Calendar

14. 谷歌日历

You may already use Google Calendar, but are you using it wisely? Here’s a secret: only put stuff on your Google Calendar that will actually happen at that date and time. Use iPhone Reminders to remember things that are not time-sensitive (down to the hour or minute). Following this strategy will help you stay more sane²².

你可能已经在使用谷歌日历了，但你使用的方式是否正确呢？告诉你一个秘诀：只要把在那个日子和那个时候会真正发生的事情记录在谷歌日历上就行。同时利用iPhone提醒记住那些时间敏感性不太强的事情（即不是那些精确到小时和分钟的事情）。遵循这一战略有助于你保持更清醒的状态。

Everything Else

其它

15. WeTransfer

15. WeTransfer

Need to send gigantic files (up to 2gb) quickly? Try WeTransfer.com. You don’t even have to create an account. I use it almost every day.

需要快速发送大到2GB的大型文件？不妨试试WeTransfer.com。你甚至不需要建立账户，我几乎每天都用它传文件。

16. Zapier

16. Zapier

The average entrepreneur uses dozens of cloud-based software and apps. Zapier connects your online life and helps you build new functionality. The best part about Zapier is that you don’t have to be an API wizard to use it.

每个企业家平均会使用十几个云软件和应用。Zapier可以把你的网络生活联系起来，帮助你构建新的功能。Zapier最好的一点就是，你甚至不需要懂API就可以使用它。

With the right tools in place, you’ll find yourself more productive and efficient.

有了正确的工具，你就会发现自己的工作生活变得更加高效。（财富中文网）