The More you Know!
Regardless of where you are in the process of building your business, it’s a good idea to always be aware of the various resources that may be available to you. While some of these resources can be costly or time consuming what follows are 5 FREE resources to help you build your business.*
1. Pixabay https://pixabay.com/
Pixabay is a website that features over 1 million high-quality photo and video files and releases them under a CC0 license which means that attribution isn’t required for either personal or commercial use. While some images on the site are “Editorial use only” and as such more restrictive the vast majority of their library doesn’t fall under this category making it an ideal resource for independent authors, graphic designers, or anyone who’s producing their own marketing material to find stock files.
2. Fontspace http://www.fontspace.com/
Fontspace offers users thousands of font options in a wide array of categories. Additionally, the site features a search filter that allows you to search for fonts that are available for commercial use. While this is clearly beneficial to graphic designers or those producing their own text-based logos or marketing, it also offers a good way for every business owner to double-check whether or not the font(s) they’re using are okay for commercial use.
3. The YouTube Audio Library https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/music
While many people are familiar with the video side of YouTube what may be less familiar is the audio library feature. As a part of the YouTube creator studio, this feature offers free music that can be used for your projects. Some files do require specific attribution but that information is clearly noted. This is ideal for anyone who is creating audiovisual projects for their business or product such as web promos, online course material or seminars.
4. Youblisher http://www.youblisher.com/
Youblisher allows you to turn any PDF into a free flipbook with the ability to turn the pages the way you would in a magazine or zoom in. It is necessary to create an account before you can do this, but accounts are free and once you upload your PDF file the site handles the conversion. This is ideal for anyone who wants a more interactive way to display brochure or catalog content and as such is useful for both service and product providers. It can also be an interesting way to display aspects of your brand story or used as an electronic press kit for you or a client.
5. A Roku Channel https://sdkdocs.roku.com/display/sdkdoc/Non-Certified+Channels
If you’re unfamiliar with the Roku it’s a streaming television and media player with a robust channel store that features everything from well-known sites like Netflix and Hulu to those with much smaller or niche audiences. Based on your business it may be beneficial for you to put your content on such a platform and a free way to do that is to set up a non-certified channel. This channel will not appear in the main channel store which is a benefit because it will allow you to beta test it with a small group and work out any issues that may exist. While this requires greater tech-savvy than the other options on this list it can be especially useful for educators, entertainers, or anyone else with a brand that is seeking greater reach.
*Neither SuccessHer or the writer of this post is either directly or indirectly affiliated with any of the brands, companies or resources listed in this blog. Additionally, as with all things do your own due diligence before proceeding.