Note: This blog post contains affiliate links, but rest assured I wouldn't recommend or suggest anything I didn't use and love.

I remember when I first started R Artspace back in 2016. I didn’t know a lot about which software to use to run my business and had a lot of questions because there are SO many options to choose from when it comes to software. 

It’s been a lot of trial and error; years of trying multiple platforms for different things such as email marketing and CRM. But I’m finally at a place where I’ve found 5 tried and true tools I use on a daily basis that I can’t imagine running my business without and I’m excited to share them with you!

1. Dubsado

A CLIENT RELATIONSHIP MANAGEMENT TOOL FOR INVOICING, PROPOSALS, CONTRACTS, QUESTIONNAIRES, BOOKKEEPING, WORKFLOWS AND MORE

Dubsado is an all-in-one platform that I use and love on a daily basis. Before Dubsado I tried 2 other softwares and didn’t like the fact that 1 of them was only for contracts, so not a lot of other performance options, and the other was branded by the company. So when I sent my proposals or invoices it would have the company’s name at the top.

With Dubsado, whenever I send a form to a client, it’s branded with my logo and colors so it looks ultra-professional and keeps my communication branded to perfection. I also love that with each proposal or questionnaire you can make it beautifully branded so it’s aligned with your business. Dubsado is amazing for designers, photographers, and creatives and anyone else who wants a beautiful and simple–yet robust–backend to run their business.

I go into way more depth about all the features I love about Dubsado in this blog post if you’re interested in learning more. Or try it out for yourself (and use code: rartspace) and hopefully you’ll love it as much as I do.

2. Flodesk

EMAIL MARKETING – A DESIGNER’S DREAM

I love software that is beautiful and simple and Flodesk hits the mark on that. Flodesk was truly made with a designer in mind. They have a beautiful assortment of templates to use and they make it so easy to design your email exactly how you want it.

They also offer sequences, forms, segments and more so you can easily run your creative business without the hassle of a complicated email marketing platform. While Flodesk is only $19 a month, with my code you can receive 50% off your first month! If you’re on the fence about a platform, or want to try it out for free, I highly encourage you to go for it. It’s a game-changer.

Here’s a little sampling of the last few emails I’ve sent out. As you can see, you can input your colors and logo and also have a wide range of design tools so your emails are eye-catching and exciting to open.

3. Toggl

TIME-TRACKING SOFTWARE

I only started using Toggl since last year in 2019 and I have to say, it’s been very eye-opening. With Toggl I’m able to see how long different projects, or even aspects of different projects, take me. Toggl gives me the ability to create different projects and clients and track my time as it relates to each one.

It’s so easy to use, I love the interface, and it makes my work easier. No longer do I wonder how long something takes, I just go back to my Toggl Dashboard and can see from a birds’ eye perspective how long my projects are taking me and which part in the process is taking more time than others. It also is nice to see how much I’m working per week. If you haven’t tried time-tracking before, this is a great platform to start on and I think you’ll find it really useful in your business!

4. Google Drive

GOOGLE DRIVE IS A FILE STORAGE SOFTWARE THAT SYNCS ACROSS PLATFORMS

I honestly can’t rave about Google Drive enough. If you’re looking for a place to house your files and keep things organized, I highly recommend Google Drive. It’s linked through Gmail, so it’s always so easy to access and you can access it from anywhere. As well, when you make updates to Google Drive it syncs across devices so you can see your changes immediately.

I use Google Drive to organize my client projects, my marketing plans, blog post ideas, Instagram captions, quarterly planning, you name it. You can use Google Docs, Google Spreadsheets and more with Google Drive. I’m also able to share large files using Google Drive with my clients. If you haven’t checked it out already, I think you’ll love how it makes organizing your business so wonderful and easy.

5. Squarespace

WEBSITE BUILDING AND HOSTING

If you’re looking for a platform to build your site on, look no further than Squaerspace. I used a variety of different platforms including Wix and Wordpress and I’ve designed on Showit. But I have to say, Squarespace is the best. Squarespace has all the features you need to succeed with your online space, whether it be a service you offer or an online shop.

Squarespace is an all-in-one platform which means you can purchase both your domain AND hosting through them, the blog is included (for some platforms you need to purchase the blog separately) and there are a variety of features that make the whole process simple, streamlined and wonderful to use. I go into depth about this platform and 7 reasons you will love using it here.

BONUS:

A software I use and love on a daily basis is Adobe Creative Cloud. This is professional design software specifically for designers and includes Illustrator, Photoshop and InDesign (and more). As a designer, I get asked a lot about how I design my graphics or edit my photos. The answer is always Adobe. I’ve never once stepped foot in Canva or any other design software because Adobe has it all. I design logos and graphics in Illustrator, edit photos in Photoshop (oh and Lightroom) and design brochures or pamphlets or booklets in InDesign. While I know a lot of people won’t benefit from Adobe software, I would feel remiss if I didn’t mention it cause I rely on this software so much.

So there’s my little list of tools I use and love on a daily basis! I hope you’ve found this helpful.

Is there a tool on this list that you’ve been wanting to try?

What are some tools you can’t live without?