The Tools I Use to Run My Design & Education Business
A list of all the software & tools I use to manage my business as a freelancer.
I don’t know about you but I love being nosy and seeing what other freelancers and business owners are using to help run their business, and I’m always jumping at any chance I see to streamline or make my life easier. Which is why I wanted to share with you a list of tools I use in my business; I’m constantly thinking of more to add to this list so I will try and keep it up to date!
Watch this as a video on YouTube, or keep scrolling to read & for the links:
Project management / general business
Trello*
You’ve heard me bang on about Trello for years! After trying loads of different project management tools on the market, I always come back to Trello due to its simplicity. I use to it to manage my client projects, monthly tasks, and content inspiration and social media calendars.
Further reading: Using Trello as an Editorial Calendar
Hellosign
Hellosign allows me to upload contract templates and send them to clients to digitally sign, which means no faffing around with printing and scanning; it’s a smooth process for both me and the client, and really easy to use.
Zapier
You can use Zapier for pretty much anything! It allows you to connect different apps and software from around the web (think banking, emails, project management… even the weather!) and automate them to do certain tasks. Eg. You can automate your website contact form to go straight into a Trello card!
Calendly
This tool saves hours of time you’d usually spend going back and forth via email trying to find an appointment time that suits everyone. Just sync Calendly up with your calendar and set the times you’d like to be shown as available, and send the link to your calendar to people to book in a meeting with you.
Quickbooks
I use Quickbooks online for managing my bookkeeping and accounts. It’s really intuitive for someone who doesn’t do well with numbers, and the app is great too!
Starling bank
I’m in the process of moving from my high street bank (which is rubbish!) to Starling Bank because it’s so user friendly. Again, anything I can use easily as an app on my phone is great!
Squarespace
As a Squarespace website designer, obviously I use Squarespace to design and host my website!
Godaddy
I use Godaddy to purchase and host my domain names.
Dropbox*
For anything to do with cloud storage and backups, Dropbox has my back! I couldn’t live without it.
GSuite*
I use GSuite to host and manage my emails, as it allows me to have a professional email address but use the Gmail inbox with all its cool extensions.
Marketing tools
Flodesk*
I am obsessed with this email marketing software! It is so easy to use and such good value. I made the switch from Mailchimp last year and never looked back, and recommend it to everyone. I’ve recorded lots of video tutorials and even made an online course all about it.
Further reading: My Ultimate Guide to Flodesk
Later
I use Later to plan and schedule my Instagram posts in advance, and I love their additional analytics and grid planning feature. However the best thing about this tool is its ability to ‘save captions’, essentially allowing you to create collections of hashtags for different uses on your posts.
Further reading: A tutorial and tour around my favourite Instagram management software
Tailwind*
Tailwind is an incredibly powerful Pinterest scheduling tool, which allows me to save hours of time each week scheduling and looping my pin graphics to grow my account and skyrocket my website traffic. It really is a must have if you use Pinterest!
Canva
Even as a designer I use Canva every day for all my social media graphics because it’s just so easy and quick to use!
Further reading: How to create social media graphics with Canva
Adobe CC (Illustrator & photoshop)*
Because of working with clients to create logos and brands, I of course use the Adobe CC suite for my professional design needs.
Podcasting / course creating
Screencast-o-matic
To record my video tutorials for YouTube and for my online courses (and for tutorials for clients), I use Screencast-o-matic. There are other screen recording softwares out there but none of them can compete on price with this! It’s SO cheap and has all the features you need for professional videos.
Adobe CC (premiere)*
For editing my YouTube videos, course videos, and podcast episodes, I use Adobe Premiere Pro. It is a complicated piece of software though, so if you’re just starting out I’d recommend iMovie.
Teachable
I use Teachable to host my online courses, because of the professional appearance it gives the course modules, and because they sort out all the VAT stuff for you (in the UK, you have to pay VAT on digital products, even if you’re not VAT registered… it’s a pain!), which is very helpful.
*Indicates an affiliate link
