Running a business is hard. However, there are tons of os amazing tools out there that can make it a lot easier! From tools to help you stay organized to tools to help you get creative, here are the top tools that I use to run my business!
I’m Katie, the host of the Hustlenomics Podcast. If you are reading this, chances are you have already listened to the show and are a HUGE fan (I hope)! If not, welcome!
You should definitely check out the podcast because if you downloaded this freebie, you are obviously a badass girl boss looking to make your business better! I’ve interviewed tons of amazing women who have built a successful business and continue to kill it in their industries. They share all kind of amazing stories, tips, strategies and lessons that are guaranteed to take your business to the next level.
After chatting with my guests, they have shared all of the tools and platforms they have used to grow and scale their business. So, I decided that I wanted to create a comprehensive list of everything I use each day to run my photography & design business as well my the podcast.
Sometimes, you come across a need or a problem, and you just don’t know what tools to use to solve that problem. That’s where I come in! I have compiled a list of 20 tools, apps, and platforms that have made a massive difference in how I run my business.
I have also included a few ways to save if you decide to go with any of these tools. I know starting a business can be pricey so we all love a discount here and there!
Tools To Help You Get Started
Google Analytics
Looking for an easy and understandable way to track analytics on your site? Check out Google Analytics. You can get a personalized code to add to your site and start tracking visitors, demographics and more!
Squarespace or Wix
We all know having a great website is the first step in having a successful business. These two platforms are great because they are drag and drop and are super user-friendly. You can easily go in and make changes without having to know code.
Wix: http://wixstats.com/?a=22370&c=2252&s1=hustle
The Contract Shop
Contracts are so important, and if you’re like me, you don’t know where in the world to start when building one. The contract Shop has tons of templates that you can choose from and then customize for your business. You will know they are legally sound and will help protect you and your client if anything goes wrong.
GoDaddy
Once you create your website, you will want a creative and unique domain so people can find you. Godaddy is just one platform you can use, but it’s always worked great for me, and they tend to have some of the lowest prices.
External Drive
Believe me, a reliable external drive should be one of your first purchases when starting a business. I can guarantee that you will have tons of files you need to save, and your computer probably won’t have the storage to hold it all. Transferring your files to an external drive will free up space on your computer and will act as a backup if your computer crashes.
Tools To Help You Get Creative
Creative Market
Creative Market is your one-stop shop for anything design. They have logo templates, website templates, graphics, illustrations and more. All of these are also very reasonably priced.
For discounts use the link: https://creativemarket.com?u=katie.eaker
SC stockshop
Having consistent images for your business is a great way to help solidify your brand. There are tons of stock and styled photography out there, but SC stock shop is one of my favorites. You can choose bundles by style and color to make sure it aligns with your brand.
Soundstripe
This is an excellent resource if you need to find music for your projects that won’t get you in trouble with copyright laws or infringement. When you pay the subscription fee, you will get access to thousands of songs that you can use for your commercial and personal projects!
Vsco
The free VSCO app (previously known as VSCO Cam) is a powerful all in one camera, editing and photo sharing app. It’s great for editing photos for Instagram.
Zencastr
This is a podcasting platform that I use to record all my shows. It’s very affordable, and all you need to do is create an episode and then send the link to your guest. The platform will record via an audio session, and the quality is excellent!
Unsplash
If you want great stock photos for your brand but don’t want to spend, try out Unsplash. Photographers upload their photos, and you can download them for free. You are allowed to use them for anything you would like, business or personal.
Tools To Help You Get Organized
Dubsado
This is a Client Management System for Creative Entrepreneurs. Send contracts, invoices, questionnaires and manage all things business in one system!
For discounts use the link: https://www.dubsado.com/?c=hustle
code: hustle
Hubspot
HubSpot is an inbound marketing and sales platform that helps companies attract visitors, convert leads, and close customers. They also have some great training modules and resources for free!
Schedulicity
Schedulicity is a mobile platform for service professionals that includes online scheduling, client management, email marketing, and a host of business tools to help you work more efficiently and effectively within your business. Whether you offer services, classes, or workshops, communication and convenience is the key to creating an extraordinary experience for you and your clients.
Google Docs
Google Docs, Google Sheets, and Google Slides are a word processor, a spreadsheet and a presentation program respectively, all part of a free, web-based software office suite offered by Google within its Google Drive service. The bestsellers thing about these platforms? They save in real time so you will never lose your work and you can work in real time with others!
Tools To Help You Communicate
Pixieset
This is a beautiful client photo gallery designed for professional photographers to share, deliver, proof and sell online. I use it to deliver all my client galleries and love it!
For a bonus 250 MB added to their 3 GB use the link: https://pixieset.com/ref/j5ejL3OnP9
Constant Contact or MailChimp
These are both affordable and easy to use online email marketing platforms. You can use one of their templates or create an email campaign of your own!
Survey Monkey or Survey Planet
These are online survey tools to capture the voices and opinions of the people who matter most to you. Use their survey templates or create one of your own and start gathering some great market research!
The Rising Tide Society– Tuesdays Together Groups
This group has patterned with HoneyBook to creating an online community over Facebook and other platforms. By elevating the voices of creatives around the world, sharing their stories, and building a thriving online and offline community, they support the creative in their pursuit of a sustainable livelihood.
Mention
Your customers are talking about you. They might leave a message on a discussion board, post a review online or write a message on social media. With so many channels, it’s almost impossible to monitor what customers are saying about your business. By using Mention, you’ll get real-time updates when customers talk about your business online. Read the comments and respond to customers right from the app.
