Week 12 Part A: Using Business Specific Online Tools

After reading Snack Nation's blog article "35 Best Online Collaboration Tools & Software Platforms For Business Teams That Are Irrefutably Awesome In 2021," I would like to share three sites from the article that stood out to me.

Nectar is an employee recognition and rewards software that increases online collaboration within a business. Its feed is an efficient way for companies to recognize employees either through management or peer posts. Bonuses, awards, and challenges can also be posted through the program. Nectar connects with other tools like Slack, Microsoft Teams, and many global gift cards. It has a free version and a paid version that charges per active user. Public recognition and rewards are terrific motivators and certainly help with employee satisfaction and retention.

FreeConferenceCall.com is a free teleconferencing platform, with international capabilities, that has been around for 20 years. Users can teleconference via landline, mobile, or over an internet connection. I have had the opportunity to use this service personally on my mobile, with my four brothers, to coordinate my mom's medical care. It is easy to use, and I have never experienced any connection issues. There is an option to record, share, and play back meetings. Audio conferencing can support 1000 participants. It has video conferencing and screen sharing capabilities. US callers can be given a toll-free 800 number through which to conference. I have used this feature several times, and it has always worked. I actually prefer this to Zoom because you call with a code and connect. 

Google Drive is a cloud based storage system you can store files on and access from either mobile or desktop devices. You can store and share documents, photos, and videos. With Google Drive you also have access to Google productivity apps like Docs, Sheets, Slides, Forms, Drawings, and Sites. You can choose who to share work with and their level of interactivity by inviting them to view, edit, and/or leave comments. This allows more than one person to work on a document or project simultaneously. It's free and easy to use. I've worked with Google Drive while working for a non-profit business. A nice feature of this system was that I could work from home if needed, instead of staying late at work.

LinkedIn Groups is available to anyone with a LinkedIn profile and allows you to connect with like minded others on LinkedIn. I searched for photography groups and discovered a group of interest to me with my floral photography business. The group is Nature Landscape Travel and Wildlife Photography Group. It has been around since 2010 and has 23,088 members. It is for professionals and amateurs interested in outdoor photography. Members can receive career tips and network with others in the field of outdoor photography.  

Behance.net is an online platform for creative types to show case their work and discover other's work. There are about 100 different creative fields you can post work in on the site. A profile can be set up for free with no limit on the number of projects created and images uploaded. Anyone with an Adobe subscription has full access to all of Behance's features. You can follow others, appreciate their work, be followed, and have your work be appreciated. You also have access to posted jobs, Livestreams, and Best of Behance, which displays site curators chosen, featured work. It's a wonderful site to display your work and see others creative work from all over the world.