Business tools – I love business tools. I love checking out new tools and spending (too many) hours comparing all of the different features. I also like keeping costs down, so that is always a factor in my research and selection. Here I’m going to share the tools I’m currently using to keep my business running, though I expect I’ll be updating this semi-regularly as my needs change.
Trello
Trello has made quite an impact in recent years. It’s a tool that I used for a while, left, then came back to. I love that it packs so many great features for FREE and provides a lot of flexibility for organizing things the way I’d like. There are lots of great resources for using Trello effectively, and I recommend you check some out to get a feel for how Trello works and how you’d like to setup your boards.
Wave
Another fabulous FREE business tool, this time keeping your finances in order. I tried the ever popular Freshbooks for several months but found the cost not worthy of the value I was getting. Wave has been great at helping me keep my expenses in order and automate invoicing. I don’t love the credit card fees, but I haven’t found a payment processor that doesn’t take a cut. Besides, getting paid quickly and easily is more important to me at this time.
G Suite
I pay less than $5/month so I can have my branded email address (jessica@mooshcreative.com) and all of the other great tools that come with G Suite. Mostly I take advantage of the email, calendar, and drive (documents). I love being able to keep everything organized and accessible wherever I am.
Later
I’ve never been very consistent with social media, but Later is helping me change that. I’m still using the free plan, which is enough for me with one Instagram profile, one Facebook page, and one Twitter handle. I’m not quite ready to sing the praises of this one, but I did find it relatively easy to setup and it has helped me post more frequently to Instagram.
Calendly
Finding the best time to connect with someone can be a little tricky. Calendly helps me specify when I’m available so I can spend less time with the back-and-forth and more time connecting and working. The free plan is enough for me at this time, but I’m willing to pay the $8/month for the next level up.
So, that’s it! Those are the tools I spend most of my business admin time using. Look for posts containing more information about Trello as well as a peak into my design/development workflow in the coming weeks.