If you run your own business, and are not technologically savvy, it's easy to get overwhelmed. Tech tools are designed (usually) to make your life easier, not more complicated.

In this article we'll take a look at a couple of toolbars for your website browser. There are hundreds, maybe thousands of choices out there, for toolbars & web browser add-ons. How do you choose the right ones for you & your business? How do you tell a legitimate tool from something that is going to infect your computer with a virus or spyware, etc.? Read on & explore a few tools for yourself.

We are exploring the following two toolbars (Disclosure- I use these, too.):

Alexa, & Google


The Alexa statistics are used by many other websites to value the popularity of websites.

The down side to this one is it's not good with all browsers and systems. In my opinion, that's exclusionary & discounts the value of those who use certain browsers. It's owned by Amazon & features an Amazon search option. Every website you surf to, you are counted(so, it's kind of spyware, as it watches where you surf, but doesn't watch your offline computing), and it displays the popularity of the site you are on, as well as related sites & owner information.

Read more about the Alexa toolbar, here. Get the Alexa toolbar, here.

The Google toolbar is another one I use most often.

There's no advertisements on mine, other than for additional Google products. It, of course, features Google search. You can highlight, add a Blogger button, access your gmail with one click, and see Google Page Rank for wherever you search. Activate AutoFill & it can fill in your personal information in one click. Get your news, search images, bookmarks & access to other Google services.

Read more about the Google toolbar, here. Get the Google toolbar, here.


These are just two of the helpful tools I use everyday in my browser (updated for 2008.) There are several more free software items I'll be touching on this year, for the benefit of you and your business! Stay tuned and remember to sign up for the Business Coach Newsletter!