We’re now a few months into this crisis, but companies of all shapes and sizes are still continuing to give back. We’ve scoured the web and our networks to bring you an updated list of the best freebies out there.
From free broadband to mindfulness apps, these resources will help with your personal and professional wellbeing, as well as with running your business.
1. Get free broadband for six months with Vodafone
Vodafone is offering six months of free broadband to small businesses, as some sectors begin to restart. The offer, which is open to all UK businesses with fewer than 50 employees, also includes six months of Microsoft 365.
The network provider has already lent a helping hand in other ways too, by allowing businesses to spread the cost of their services and giving away unlimited data to healthcare workers.
2. Manage your expenses using Expend for free
Cutting non-essential expenses is probably the first thing you did when this crisis hit. But as lockdown starts to ease, and new costs emerge, tracking your expenses will become more difficult.
Expense management tool Expend, which integrates with QuickBooks and Xero, is offering free access to its platform until September 2020. It usually costs £6.99 per month per user, so make use of the free offer while you can.
3. Free images, videos, and music to support your marketing
Marketing isn’t easy at the best of times, especially without the resources you might usually be able to afford.
So it’s great to see Shutterstock, a leading stock photography platform, stepping in to help businesses continue to communicate with their audiences. You can now access a range of free stock image, video and music packs to bolster your marketing output during Covid-19.
4. Free domains for five years from Mailchimp
Mailchimp is giving away free custom domain addresses for five years (as long as you publish a Mailchimp website within 11 months of getting the domain). The offer includes access to their website building and marketing platforms and has a value of $125 over the five year period.
If your company has recently moved online due to coronavirus, Mailchimp’s platform can help you build an effective ecommerce strategy.
5. Free lunch and learn with Enterprise Nation
Level up on your lunch hour with Enterprise Nation, a website designed to support and connect entrepreneurs and small business owners.
Enterprise Nation is continuing its free daily lunch and learn sessions, with topics ranging from how to grow your community on LinkedIn to how to build an effective online advertising strategy. Previous guests have included CEOs, marketing professionals and accountants from across the business spectrum.
6. 90 days of cyber security from AppGate
If your employees are working from home, your company could be at greater risk from cyber attacks. AppGate is offering a free 90-day trial of it’s Software Defined Perimeter Pilot to any business whose staff are working remotely due to coronavirus.
Software Defined Perimeter is a security system which verifies employees based on their device and identity, thereby protecting against common network attacks. So you can keep your business secure wherever your team is working.
7. Mental Health toolkit from Mental Health at Work
Mental Health at Work have created a Coronavirus resource page with links to helpful toolkits from sources including Mind and Mental Health First Aid England.
The free guides cover a range of topics both from a business owner perspective but also just thinking about your own mental health, as well as ways to support colleagues during isolation. There’s everything from a safety guide for businesses to how to get into a good remote routine, and advice on getting support where needed.
8. Free coronavirus support calculator from Accounts Department Online
Accounts Department Online have created a calculator which shows which government schemes your business is eligible for as a result of the Covid-19 crisis. By answering a few short questions you can see the available government packages for you to look into.
9. Access to a new Salesforce product
In response to the crisis, Salesforce have launched Salesforce Care, a program which allows any business free access to a suite of products for 90 days. The products include learning and collaboration tools for your employees and an easy to use self-service portal for customers.
If your business has temporarily closed, or you’ve changed the services you offer due to Covid-19, a self-service portal can help you communicate with customers and easily answer FAQs through automation.
10. Get lots of online workouts for free
This is clearly to help you as opposed to your business, but there really is nothing better for the mind than a workout – and there’s so many amazing online classes that are now free.
Cosmopolitan has rounded up 12 of the best ones here, including Chris Hemsworth’s Centr app which has had lots of praise in the press.
11. Free Google Ads credits for small and medium-sized businesses
In a bid to help reduce the cost for small companies to keep in touch with their customers during this difficult time, Google is offering $340 million in ad credits worldwide, which can be used at any point until the end of 2020 across the Google Ads platforms.
The only catch is that you need to already have an active account, (that’s been in use since the beginning of 2019). Credits will automatically be updated to your account if that’s the case.
12. Crowdfund to keep afloat for free
Crowdfunder has launched a Pay It Forward scheme, where you can fundraise 100% free if you need help staying afloat for the next few months.
If you’re a local business who can’t currently serve your clientele but are able to offer advanced sales of your goods or services, this could be a great way to raise funds from your loyal customers and ease any immediate pressure. (Think gift cards or future event tickets).
The crowdfunding site has also partnered with Enterprise Nation who will be providing free training and support for businesses in online sales, marketing and finance.
13. Free meditation sessions created to help you handle the crisis
Popular meditation apps Calm and Headspace, which normally require a subscription, have both released free content to help alleviate anxiety and stress right now.
It might feel like you couldn’t possibly have the time for something like that right now, but, more than ever, you’re going to need to take some time to quieten your mind to ensure you’re able to focus on leading your business the best way you can.
