No matter if you’re just starting out in your business journey, or if you’re a seasoned pro, having the right tools can make all the difference. Not only can they save you countless hours of hard work (we entrepreneurs like to do things ourselves, don’t we) but they can save you the headache of choosing the wrong product.
The key is knowing what tools to use. Here are some of my favorites*:
As a marketing professional with years of experience with various software and platforms, I’ve developed some favorites. These will save you time and make growing your small business so much easier.
*These are all tools I have used in my own business. You can be sure I would never recommend something that I didn’t believe in or try out.
Note: Some of these may be affiliate links, but I never recommend anything I’m not happy with.
Google Workspace is a small business owner’s best friend. Not only do I have access to a dedicated Google Drive, Google messaging, and a business email account, but it also includes access to Google Meet and Google Video, avoiding other expensive software subscriptions such as Zoom or Loom. All this for only a few dollars per month.
WordPress with Elementor. WordPress is an open-source website software that I highly recommend over anything else currently on the market. Elementor uses an easy drag-n-drop system to create a site you’ll love. I’ve used both of these for many years, and as a former website designer and developer, I highly recommend both WordPress and Elementor.
Kit (formerly ConvertKit) is an affordable email platform that will allow you to customize emails and landing pages. Plus their Creator Network has made a HUGE difference in my email list growth.
Tidycal is a more than an easy-to-use calendar scheduling tool. It allows me to set up forms before calls, sync calendars, and collect payments before meetings.
We started using Blue in 2024 and liked it then. Since that time, it’s become an even more of a robust way to keep track of projects with my international team. You can sort tasks by users, assignments, due dates, and it’s fully customizable.
I use Clientjoy for my CRM to help me keep track of clients, proposals, billing, and more! It makes the entire process so much easier.
Recording and editing my podcast episode used to be super time consuming. Then someone recommended Descript and I’ve never looked back. With Descript, I can edit my episodes word by word, and even record directly in the app.
There are a lot of moving pieces to hosting a podcast. Buzzsprout makes getting it published in dozens of outlets, including Apple and Spotify, super easy.
If you have a podcast, you know that finding qualified guests is a challenge. That’s why I turned to Podmatch. Podmatch will connect you with the type of guest you indicate you want, for only $6 per month. If that’s not great enough, it will also pay dividends for completed interviews! As a podcaster I can tell you–it has made finding guests infinitely easier!
Web hosting can be overwhelming and confusing. That’s why I recommend Blue Host to simplify the process. I’ve used them for many years and continue to be happy with them.
There is nothing worse than turning on your computer to realize that your hard drive has failed and that everything is missing. This was my experience several years ago and it took months to recreate files. Now I back everything up using Backblaze. It’s a small price to pay for file security.
Image by Karolina / Kaboompics for rawpixel.com
