Effective Business Tools To Help Busy Solopreneurs Grow and Streamline Their Business
Favourite business tools, software, apps, equipment & resources.
Do you feel in control of your business? As a solopreneur, it’s easy to feel swamped when you’re busy and trying to get things done. Finding workable solutions in the day-to-day running of your business ends up getting pushed to another day. Sound familiar?
Before you know it, you realise that your business isn’t thriving, you’re not reaching your goals, and instead spending way too much time working on the periphery of your business instead of the nitty gritty that makes you money.
I get it. My journey as a solopreneur started in 2003, and in those early years, I often felt isolated and intimidated by the road ahead. Over the years, I’ve developed systems and processes that have bolstered my business. Previously, at the end of a hard-working day, I often felt shattered and disheartened as to why I wasn’t getting much done. I was ‘busy’ but not organised and productive. I knew this had to change.
Over the years, I’ve added various tools that have helped me and I’d like to share them with you.
My Top Business Tools
Below are just some of my favourite biz tools but if you head over to my business tools page, you’ll find the full list. I hope they help streamline your work day and allow you to focus on strategic growth instead of just treading water 🙌.
Useful Sites, Apps & Software
Google G Suite - G Suite is an integrated service managed via my Squarespace account. One of the benefits of G Suite is it allows you to set up your own, personal domain as your mail server. You get access to other useful features like Google Calendar and Google Drive. Eligible billing plans, you can receive a free year of G Suite.
Loom - A video messaging tool that helps you get your message across through instantly shareable videos. Free and premium plans are available.
Avast - Avast Clean Up and Security for Mac. I’ve used Avast for about five years, and it regularly helps me out.
Vimeo - The preferred video host that I previously used for my online art classes.
Asana - I now use Notion, but still would recommend this platform to manage projects with clients and also goals, and deadlines, as well as other activities for my business.
Zapier - connect your apps and automate workflows. I’ve also used this on client projects, and it’s worked well.
Hello Sign - an easier alternative to sending, signing and collecting signatures for contracts, etc.
Chrome Bookmarks - I’ve used other services, but Chrome Bookmarks work best for me. Learn how to create, organise and alphabetise sites you want to remember.
One Tab - Chrome Web Store plug-in for when you have too many tabs. Save them in a list and return to them later.
Notion - the all-in-one workspace for you and your team. I use Notion for my Client Portals and personal life. I wouldn’t be without it!
SF Digital - Squarespace Extensions.
Social Media Scheduling
Smarter Queue - I have used this, and would still recommend it. Instead of manually scheduling posts, you can organise your content for publishing and then forget about it - it’s all automated.
Desk & Office Essentials
MacBook Apple M3 Pro 2023 16 inches - I couldn’t do without this beauty! I truly love my MacBook (I previously used a 2019 version) and it makes designing an absolute pleasure. It also updates while I’m asleep!
Pink Glitter iPad case* - I’m a pink girl at heart and this is my second Bentoben iPad case from this company. (BENTOBEN iPad 9.7 2018 Case, iPad 9.7 2017 Case Glitter, iPad Air Case Pink, iPad Air 2 Case Kids, Slim Thin Leather Shockproof Case for iPad 9.7 Inch 2017/2018 / iPad Air/Air 2 - Pink)
Super Sparrow Sports Bottle* - Reminds me to keep hydrated with this fabulous non-leak and dishwasher-safe 750 ml bottle. Oh, and I have pink and mint colours.
LaCie Portable External Hard Drive for PC & Mac* - My bright orange external drive that takes care of my backups - it’s easy to use and compact. (Mini 2 TB USB-C + USB 3.0 Portable 2.5-inch External Hard Drive for PC and Mac).
Wood Monitor or Desk Stand - This sits on my desk and holds my pens, a little clock, photo, and candle with two shelves I can also store papers, pads and my MacBook slides right under so it’s tucked away.
Fabric Rose Pattern Laptop Shoulder Messenger Bag* - This bag makes me happy with its pretty pink and grey flowers, it looks professional and carries my MacBook Pro, a 16” 2019 laptop perfectly. It also has a couple of zipped pockets, and a strap and is soft inside - keeping everything safe and secure.
Weights* - Great for a little bit of desk exercise! I have two sets: 1kg and 3kg.
Photography & Stock Images
Moyo Studio - Beautiful design tools and mockups for creatives.
Tinypng - A free, easy and efficient way to compress large images.
Unsplash - free to use images, preferably with credit given.
Creative Market - Photographers set their rates, so a large selection with prices ranging from $5 to $500.
Pixlr - online photo editor. Free and premium plans are available.
Jana Bishop - Feminine photos consisting mainly of flat lays, flowers, and interiors. She offers her photos in bundles for $47.
Pexels - gorgeous free stock imagery for when you need several images from the same photoshoot.
SEO Tools
Screaming Frog - a great website crawler tool. I have the basic downloadable software, but there’s a paid version, too.
Squarespace checklist and tips for SEO 2020 - a great article by Style Factory.
A free keyword research tool - Keyword.io
SemScoop - keyword research tool.
Ubersuggest - Free keyword Research Tool by Neil Patel.
Google Analytics - a must-have for any business.
Google Alerts - receive alerts in your mailbox for interesting and curated website content.
GTmetrix - measures how fast your website loads and how your site performs with suggestions.
Google My Business - Create your free business listing and profile that helps your business connect with customers via Google Search and Maps.
What's My DNS - An Efficient way to check your DNS records for your domain.
Google - Rich Page Results (Structured Data Test is being deprecated. Google now recommends using the Rich Results Test.
Google Search Central - get your website on Google. Formerly known as Google Webmasters.
Google Search Console Sitemaps Tool - Submit your web sitemap.
Google Trends - find what the world is currently searching for.
Answer the Public - An Easy and effective way to gain search insights, directly from the minds of your customers.
CoSchedule’s Headline Analyser - free and paid service.
Design
Wacom Intuos Pro Pen Tablet (Size: M)* - My professional Graphic Tablet Including Wacom Pro Pen 2 Stylus with Replacement Tips/Compatible with Windows and Apple, Black which I couldn’t do without.
Adobe CC - Previously, I used Creative Cloud and found the various apps to be to a very high standard.
Canva - Free and easy-to-use design tool that I recommend to all my clients. It uses a nifty drag-and-drop feature. I use the Pro version.
Squarespace
Annual Hosting Discount - Want to try Squarespace? Use my code GIMME10 to save 10% off your first year. Get 20% off if we work together.
Logo Maker - Great for a basic logo to get you started. Free to use if you have a Squarespace account.
Email Campaigns - For the longest time, I previously used Mailchimp, but I like the convenience of managing my site and email marketing in one place, i.e. on my website. As you’d expect from Squarespace, the design capability is wonderful, analytics are accurate, and it’s easy to pull in content and my brand colours so it’s consistent from my website to my emails. It supports responsive design. This is an add-on feature, and the price starts at £4 per month.
Member Areas - If you’ve thought about monetising your content, i.e. whether that be creating classes or offering some training, then Member Areas is for you. Choose whether you want to be paid weekly, monthly, or annually and enjoy everything being in one place, all on your Squarespace website. I’ve participated in the training, and I can’t wait to work with you using this fantastic new update.
Acuity Scheduling - an online booking platform to be used with your Squarespace website.
Books
The 1-Page Marketing Plan: Get New Customers, Make More Money, And Stand out From the Crowd* by Allan Dib
Hype Yourself: A no-nonsense PR toolkit for small businesses* by Lucy Werner
This is Marketing: You Can't Be Seen Until You Learn to See* by Seth Godin
Building a StoryBrand* by Donald Miller
Copywriting
Copyscape - A free plagiarism checker. The software lets you detect duplicate content and check if your text is original.
If you would like 1:1 help with the words for your website, I offer this service as an add-on.
Slowly I’ve developed processes and systems to help with organisation, automation, productivity and collaboration - I hope my business tools, apps, software, equipment and resource recommendations help you in the day-to-day running of your business and bring you back in control, rather than your business controlling you.
*An affiliate link for a product/service that I genuinely believe in and trust.
I’d love to hear from you - what are your ‘can’t do without’ biz tools? Let me know in the comments below and if you need my help, please get in touch and we can schedule a discovery call.
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