2 Web Tools to Help SMBs Clean Out and Clean Up

It’s no secret that I love Web tools and resources to help me get work done faster and more efficiently, and it’s great when they’re affordable and even better when they’re free. This week, I’ve got two resources that any small business entrepreneur can use to make his or her work life a whole lot easier.

One Web tool zaps useless software off your computer, and the other resource provides invaluable information on listing items for sale on eBay. Check ’em out, and let me know how they work for you.

Kick the Crap Out of Your PC

If you bought a new computer recently, then you know that most new PCs come pre-loaded with all kinds of unwanted software. The manufacturer makes deals with various providers – which is great for them, but it sucks for you.

Well, now there’s a handy tool to get rid of all those programs that are clogging up and slowing down your computer. It’s called PCDecrapifier. Download the software, and it scans your system looking for all the most common and annoying pre-installed software. It’ll find and then remove things like AOL (does anyone still use AOL?), Norton’s latest take-over-your-computer-with-annoying-messages suite, and all kinds of various trial-ware, spyware and annoying-ware.

HammerTap.com is like having a secret weapon for eBay auctions.

Of course PCDecrapifier lets you decide what you want to keep, but it makes the process easy and painless. After it’s worked its magic, you’ll probably have a lot more space on your hard drive, a faster boot-up time and a speedier, more responsive computer. That can’t be bad. And it’s just $5 for personal use. PCDecrapifier works with Windows XP, Vista and Windows 7, and it gets a big thumbs-up from me.

Inside Intel for EBay Auctions

If you sell on eBay, there’s a search tool that will revolutionize the way that you list your items. It’s called HammerTap. You simply tell the system what type of product you’re selling – via keywords or categories of products – and it instantly tells you when to start the listing, what duration the auction should be – 1, 3 5, 7 or 10 days – what keywords to use in your title and a lot more. It’s really like a secret weapon for eBay.

You’re probably wondering how it knows all this insider information.  Well, the tool plugs into eBay’s records of the last year’s worth of transactions and then computes what makes any type of item sell. Anyway, rather than me go into all kinds of detail, I suggest that you head over to the site and look at the tour video. I’ve been using it for years, and I don’t list a single item on eBay without consulting the oracle of HammerTap first.

Andrew Lock is a self-described maverick marketer and the creator and host of Help! My Business Sucks, a free, weekly Web TV show full of practical small business marketing tips, advice and resources to help small businesses “get more done and have more fun.”