business tools
Quick Disclosure: Some of these links are affiliate links which means when you click the link to purchase, it does not add any additional cost to you, but I may receive a commission from the retailers for sharing it with you. Which is great, because I was going to share it with you anyway!
Planoly
I've tried so many different online software for social media planning, and Planoly is by far my favorite! As a very visual person, I love that I can upload my library of photos directly to planoly without having to write captions. It makes it so much easier to plan visually and find inspiration from the photos I already have!
They also have great tools for Reels, Carousels, Stories, and more! Definitely worth trying their free trial if you struggle with social media content planning. 10/10 would recommend.
Social Media Bootcamp
This online course is one of the best business purchases I ever made, and I can't believe the price tag! I have spent hundreds of dollars on social media courses, and none of them even came close to the value I got from this one. Jasmine Starr is a well-known expert in the social media world, and brings humor and strategy together for an enjoyable experience.
If you struggle with social media, this class will give you a complete blueprint AND you get to watch as two businesses (one small online business and one large product-based business) go through the entire process live. It's a course like no other!
Honeybook
When I had a client based system in my first business, Honeybook was my life! It's a complete client management system that helps you send beautiful and professional proposals and invoices, create client workflows, manages client payments, bookings, and more! Make a great impression AND save your sanity with Honeybook. I tried many other programs when I first started, and this one blew them all out of the water. If you work with clients, Honeybook is a must have.
Use the link at the button below to get 20% off your first year!
L&A Presets
These lightroom photo editing presets are life changers! When I worked as a social media coach, I set every client up with these, because they are just incredible! In a few clicks, you can use the very same system and software that professional photographers use to make their photos pop. I've used a lot of presets, but the L&A ones are by far the best!
They often have sales and coupons, so look for those and I recommend the Real Color pack, the Sunkissed pack, and the Lifestyle pack (if you like that really light, airy look!) These are one of the best business purchases I've ever made. I mean, just look at the before and afters. They really are that good! And so easy to use. I also highly recommend the photography online course that this company sells. Truly will level up your photos!
Flodesk
Flodesk is my business email campaign manager and I absolutely love it. I love that they charge a very affordable flat monthly fee, regardless of how many subscribers you get. Many email management systems charge you more as you gain more subscribers! I also love their gorgeous templates and how visual the platform is. Lastly, I love that they keep the system simple and pared to the essentials. If you need a super crazy system, this may not be the best fit, but if you're starting out, this one will help you get started with basics like automations, segmenting your audience, creating sign up forms, delivering freebies, and more. I don't see myself outgrowing it for a VERY long time! Get 50% off your subscription using my link below.
Wavebox
Wavebox is an easy-to-use productivity tool that lets you access all your apps and frequently used tabs in one app from your desktop. Link your favorite accounts (e.g. Gmail, Outlook, Slack, Trello, Asana, Amazon, Zero etc.) and effortlessly switch between them for a super-fast workflow. You wouldn't think that it would increase your productivity by that much, but it really does! Try it for free for 2 weeks, and get 20% off when you use the code: INVITE_48xibc297x
Phone Photography Tools
Do you wish you could afford to do quarterly branding photoshoots with a photographer, but it's just not in the budget? Ever wonder how people get those fun and candid shots of their life and work to post to social media? You can take your own branded photos with your smartphone! Whether you have an android or iPhone, any phone made recently is going to have a camera resolution that's good enough for social media photos. With a tripod and a bluetooth remote, you can set up your very own photo shoot and click away! Almost every single photo I have used for both of my businesses have been taken with me with these very tools. And check out the phone photography online course put on by the Light & Airy preset gals linked above for a complete online walk through!
Learn to Take Your Own Branding Photos
(from your phone!)
I taught myself to take my own branding photos (almost every one on this site and my social media is one I took from my iPhone by myself!) and I wish I had had this course when I started. Even so, I learned a lot about photo composition, lighting, posing, and more from this course! I searched the internet to find a course that taught this, and so far it's the only one of it's kind that I could find. When you are a small business with a limited budget, being able to have regular photo shoots on your own is a total game-changer and saves you so much money. I highly recommend this course!
Want to get a full YouTube Setup?
If you are wanting to get started on YouTube, but choosing the equipment feels overwhelming, check out my list below of all the things I use to create high-quality videos for my YouTube channel! From the camera to the editing software, you get a plug and play list of all my top recommendations!