5 Free Incredible Tools You Don't Know About

In a world where everyone is working on personal branding, their 9 to 5, exploring new hobbies, adding extra businesses, anything that can make life easier or better goes a long way. Free though, puts it over the top.

Here are some tools that I use everyday that make my life better.

1. Google URL Shortener:
Are you trying to spread ideas around Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and are unsure if your efforts are successful?  Well, look no further than Google's URL shortener goo.gl.  All you need to measure your efforts is the link and a Google Account.  Google shortens the link and after you share it, Google keeps track of the stats for you.  How you use that information is up to you, I like to look at why something has been successful and others have not.  From there I can make better decisions and hopefully increase my influence.

2. Yesware:
Originally designed with the salesperson in mind, this tool keeps track of your emailing efforts.  Want to know if your email is actually being opened? How about where the email is being opened? How about they throw in the date, time, how many times it was opened and on what platform?  Creepy? Yes.  Effective? Yes! They have even more functionality than described above. If you are a salesperson/marketer, you HAVE to check this thing out. Works with gmail only... for now.

3. Boomerang:
All of the functionality you have dreamed about in your inbox is finally available with Boomerang. Designed to "conquer your inbox" this program has it all.

• Automatically re-send an email. It even has the option to not re-send if someone has replied to the message!

• Schedule your email.  Don't want to seem like a crazy person working at 2:30 at night? Perhaps you know someone is on vacation and returns on a certain day. Schedule your email so it lands at the perfect time!

• Return an email to your inbox at a certain time.  Don't want to struggle finding your confirmation number the night before a flight?  Schedule the confirmation to come the day before you take off. Remind yourself to pay a bill at a certain time, or as a reminder for a variety of tasks!

Boomerang was originally designed for Gmail but now can be used in Outlook.  They also just added the ability to use Boomerang in your mobile device.  You'll need Firefox or Chrome to make it work.

4. Google Voice for Gmail

OK, you probably have heard of Google Voice. If you haven't, you should probably just navigate over to google.com/voice right now to see everything it can do.  What I am advocating is to use Voice as your backup phone line.  Just recently my network went crashing down. I can't use my cell phone at all in the office and it has rendered me feeling useless.  However, thanks to Google Voice I am up and running despite this setback.  After you install their handy voice software it works just as you would expect it to.  Dial pad, ring tone, caller ID and all!

5. Google Voice Chrome Extension

Not satisfied with just the functionality provided above? Take it to the next level with Google's Chrome Extension for Voice.  

• Phone numbers now appear as links.
• Text directly from your browser (no more thumb cramps!)
• Place phone calls directly from your browser
• Save your data plan and on your text plan.

Have another secret tool that makes your life better?  Share it with me in the comments!