Section 1.1: Communication Tools

Gmail

Gmail serves as my primary email platform, allowing me to connect with current and prospective clients. Although I currently don’t maintain a formal email list—aside from my Medium subscribers—I plan to utilize an email campaign manager as my audience grows. For now, Gmail efficiently meets all my email requirements.

Grammarly

Since I began freelance writing in 2020, Grammarly has been an invaluable resource. I use it to proofread most of my articles. While I don’t blindly accept all its suggestions, it helps me catch overlooked punctuation errors and misused words. To date, I’ve checked over 2.8 million words using Grammarly, correcting countless minor mistakes.

Section 1.2: Document Creation

Google Docs

For writing blog posts, I prefer Google Docs over WordPress. Although it might take a few extra minutes, I draft my articles in Google Docs, run them through Grammarly, make necessary edits, and then transfer the final copy into WordPress. I recently discovered a neat trick that transforms my Google Docs into a seamless document, eliminating distracting page breaks.

Google Analytics

Like many, I find Google Analytics somewhat cumbersome, yet it provides critical insights into my website traffic. I use it to monitor visitor numbers weekly and monthly, assess traffic trends, and analyze user engagement metrics.

Section 2.1: Social Media Insights

Twitter Advanced Search

Twitter is an excellent platform for generating new ideas, thanks to its predominantly text-based content. I utilize the advanced search feature to filter out irrelevant posts and focus on quality content. For example, when searching for copywriting insights, I can easily locate relevant tweets with high engagement.

iPhone Notes App

Although I've tried to improve my note-taking organization, I often resort to the standard iPhone Notes app. This simple tool is perfect for jotting down spontaneous ideas; if I don’t record them quickly, they often slip my mind. The app’s search function also helps me retrieve information efficiently.

Section 2.2: Project Management

Trello

Having experimented with various task management applications, I find Trello the most intuitive. I create boards to share project statuses with clients, enabling us to exchange attachments and queries seamlessly, minimizing the need for back-and-forth emails.

Stripe

Stripe serves as my preferred payment processor. After experiencing complications with PayPal and Square, I turned to Stripe for its reliability. It allows me to easily integrate payment links on my website and send invoices without hassle.

The second video, "How much it COSTS to run my online business," provides insights into the financial aspects of managing an online business. It’s a practical resource for entrepreneurs curious about the costs associated with running their ventures.

Section 2.3: SEO and Design Tools

KeySearch

Initially, I used Ahrefs for SEO tasks, but its monthly fee didn’t justify my limited usage. I switched to KeySearch, which offers similar features at a much lower cost, making it a budget-friendly option for keyword research and backlink analysis.

Canva

Canva is my go-to design tool, and despite being a writer rather than a designer, it allows me to create visually appealing graphics quickly. From social media posts to ebook covers, Canva provides templates that I can customize easily.

In conclusion, these ten online tools are instrumental in running my business efficiently while keeping costs low. If you haven't yet joined Medium, consider signing up to discover more insights like these!