The freelancer's toolbox: essential apps and software for productivity.

Running a creative freelance business can feel like a maze. From digital marketing to customer service, you’ve got an ever-growing to-do list of tasks ahead of you. While some jobs are best done in the traditional way, harnessing technology could bring your business a welcome boost. Don’t worry, we’re not talking about robots taking over — just a few tools that can help you find your way through that maze.

Whether launching a new business or simply wanting to increase your productivity, read on for essential apps and software for freelancers and small business owners.

Project management systems

Do you work with lots of different clients or have a small team? Project management systems offer an array of handy tools so you can keep track of deadlines and work out who’s doing what.

With digital to-do lists and the ability to assign tasks to different people, project management systems like ClickUp, Basecamp, and Airtable can cut your admin time. Rather than spending ages composing emails, you can whip up tasks and tag clients so they can see your progress and get an alert once you’ve completed the work.

Many of these systems also come with time trackers so you can work out how much time you spend on different tasks. This, in turn, can help you prioritise and outsource to a virtual assistant where needed.

Social media scheduling tools

Social media is an integral part of a freelancer’s marketing strategy. Building your social media following is a great way to drum up new business, whether you're a crafter, copywriter, or creative entrepreneur. It’s also time-consuming.

But with social media scheduling tools, such as Buffer and Hootsuite, you can plan your posts in advance and set them to post at a specified time. Perhaps your Instagram gets the most engagement in the late evening. Rather than working late to post, schedule your text, images, and hashtags ahead of time.

Design tools

Of course, you need to create your social media posts before you can schedule them. That’s where design tools like Canva can come in. You can use ready-made templates or create your own so your posts have consistency and convey your brand identity. Rather than making each one from scratch, you can copy and edit. It’s sure to speed things up and help you keep on top of your social media strategy.

Invoicing software

The nature of freelance work means you may work with a range of different clients. While variety is the spice of life, navigating invoices for lots of different people or companies can get complicated. Although you can manually create invoice documents and email them over, invoicing software can make the whole process smoother, quicker, and more professional.

Tools like Invoicely allow you to set up monthly invoice templates you can amend. Some invoicing software enables you to set up recurring invoices, too.

Grammar tools

Chances are, you work with a lot of written content. Whether that’s mostly emails, blog posts, or social media, showcasing great grammar is a must. Using a tool like Grammarly or Hemmingway can make sure your spelling and punctuation are always on point. These grammar checkers can quickly highlight any errors and suggest corrections.

Increasing your productivity with support from Bizzybee

No matter your creative industry, being a freelancer or entrepreneur requires time and dedication. Fortunately, plenty of apps and tools can help boost your productivity and take a few tasks off your plate. Plus, many of them come with free tiers or trials.

While apps and tools can be helpful, speaking to a virtual assistant may also be beneficial. A virtual assistant (VA) can take on admin tasks, media management, research, and customer service. With support from a VA like Erin at Bizzybee, you can focus on growing your small business.

Get in touch today for more details.