Over the years I have tried my fair share of tools to try to up my business game. Some have been great, and some definitely not worth the money. I wanted to create a place where I can share all my best tips with you on how you can take your business to the next level with only a few simple tools.
These tools are definitely not free, and can some of them can feel like a hefty investment. But instead of focusing on the hole they create in your wallet, think about how much more you can earn with the time saved or reach created because of the investment you made in your business. Think about how effortlessly you can appear straight in your future clients inbox with an amazing email marketing tool, or how a faster culling system can free up hours of your time. I have tried a lot of business tools over the years, and these are the ones that are worth the splurge!
1. Flodesk
The best thing about this email marketing tool: It has already done all the hard work for you! It for sure isn’t the cheapest platform out there if you are starting from scratch without an existing list- but the money you spend on Flodesk you will for sure makeup in time! Also as you grow your emailing list the cost of Flodesk will never increase (which isn’t the case with most of its competitors). But what really made me choose this women-owned startup over all other platforms out there was that the learning curve for this desktop app is almost non-existent with its amazing ready-to-send templates and automation tools. After creating your account, all you have to do is fill in your images, text, and branding, and in only a few minutes, you have your first newsletter!
Click here to get a 30-day free trial and 50% off your subscription if you fall in love with it! (Affiliate Link)
2. Unfold App
Almost every time I create a story on Instagram, there is someone who DMs me to ask WHAT the app is that I am using. And I don’t blame them (and I’m happy to promote this gem), because Unfold has seriously changed my Instagram game. Today you have to stand out to be noticed on the ‘gram, and whilst being super easy to use, Unfold doesn’t stop delivering every time I use it. And to be honest, it goes hand in hand with my minimalistic Scandinavian style.
Download the app here!
3. Photo Mechanic
This is the one tool that has given me back HOURS of work. B.p.m (before Photo Mechanic), after shooting a wedding I used to import all my images into Lightroom to do my culling. It was a nightmare. Not only did it take so much time and space to import all the images and for my computer to create previews of every single file, but the sole task of culling the images in Lightroom was also a slow and painful task that made culling my absolute least favorite part of my workflow. Photo Mechanic is the fastest photo management tool on the market, which has made me save hours in culling time. The great thing with the software is that it is like made for Lightroom users; when you are done culling, you simply drag your images to the Lightroom icon on your menu bar and LR will swiftly import all your selected images, ready to be edited.
Try Photo Mechanic for free and you will never go back!
4. Pic-Time
What was life before Pic-time? Who even remembers. There are many online galleries out there and I have tried my fair share of them. What takes Pic-time to the next level isn’t just its beautiful minimalistic design and the fact that it’s so easy to use (both by you and the client). It’s the extra sauce that it brings to the table with its built-in online store and marketing tools. When your clients have received their beautiful images, they can not only share or download the pictures but also buy albums, prints, and other heirlooms directly from the gallery.
Get a free month when you upgrade to a paid plan with the discount code: VSY4W9! (Affiliate Link)
5. Creative Market
This isn’t a tool in itself, but a candy store for anyone in the creative industry looking to take his or her branding to the next level. Because let’s be honest, it’s hard out there. The competition is fierce and with a very saturated market, it’s hard to stand out in the crowd. One way to absolutely do it is by creating a visual identity that is personalized to your brand and that makes you pop out in the crowd. For me, Creative Market is my go-to site whenever I am searching for anything from a font to an Instagram story template- the site has it all.
Discover Creative Market here! (Affiliate Link)
