I’ve compiled a list of all of the top free resources I’m currently using for my blog and online business below. It should be noted that several of these apps have paid premium versions, but I’m still using the free ones and haven’t had a need for that upgrade yet!
I also include a couple of paid platforms in the end because my primary concentration is on graphic design, and there are no free options available!
I’m a firm believer that when you start out in business you need to keep as much cash in your pocket as possible and help as many people as you can so that you can grow your bank balance faster.
Here's the list of Resources that I actually use to run my business and that I couldn't manage without!
Mailerlite: Having started out paying for Mailchimp I stumbled on mailerlite and wow was I not disappointed it is oh so simple to use with its drag and drop builder you can set up automated campaigns that literally build your email list while you sleep and the best part about it is, is it’s free up to 1000 subscribers!
Asana: If you love to see things organised in a visual way you’re going to love asana, and if you have a team you can manage the project, so nothing falls through the cracks, I love it because you move tasks around and you don’t have constantly rewrite lists all the time, set goals and make sure deadlines are met on time.
Loom: Ever wanted to show someone how to do something or just share what you’re doing? I just love this! you can make a short video with a loom and share it right away with your customer amazing1 and it’s free!
Quiltboot: Prize the lord for this tool! ever got stick and not sure how to write something? well, this little magic tool will help you turn your babble into beautifully curated copy in seconds flat!
Grammarly: As someone who likes to type quickly and get the show on the road, this is great assistance. For the sake of maintaining a professional appearance while using WordPress, there are various free tools that provide editing guidance.
Screenpresso: Have you ever wanted to share something but needed to blur out sensitive information? or create a mini tutorial? With the tool you can take a screenshot and do it all in a matter of seconds, you can download it as a gif or a pdf and upload it to your blog or send it right to your client. Click the link to check it out.
Google Analytics: Out of all of these free resources listed, I’m sure you have heard of Google Analytics, I just wanted to stress the importance of this free tool. I check regularly just to see which of my posts or pages are getting the most hits. It can also tell which pages are getting views or if there is a high bounce rate on any of my pages in which case I might need to tweak that page, maybe I need to spend some time making it more appealing. Alternatively, if I’m constantly seeing a trend toward certain blog posts, I can see that my readers are more interested in that type of content. This makes it easier when deciding what to write about next!
Canva: When it comes to Canva, I am a born Adobe Fangirl at heart, which isn’t to imply that Canva isn’t any good, it’s just that I find it a bit limiting. and I like the creative freedom that the Adobe Creative Suite gives me. However, when it comes to generating social media graphics, Canva absolutely finds the sweet spot in most instances. If you are just getting started, it is the ideal choice because it is so simple to comprehend! Because I know how easy it is for non-graphic designers to utilise Canva, all of the templates in my shop are generated with the software. I have to pay for the work subscription because I use Canva to sell my products, but it’s absolutely necessary for my business. The free Canva account should be enough for you.
Myhours: This is a lifesaver if you bill by the hour or work one-on-one with clients; you can keep track of their time to the second and generate invoices that appear professional. Love this and it’s free! Keep all your tasks in one spot.
Dropbox: Imagine this your computer crashes or got a virus and you lose everything! well, this is why I have dropbox amongst other reasons! I use it daily to store all my files and photos, plus when it comes time to share files and pdf guess what I share them in dropbox!. What is even more amazing is that if you ever need to update a file or folder you can and then just share a link to it in an email. So easy. I used the paid version but the free version should be more than enough if you’re just starting out.
PayPal: Now with PayPal you don’t actually pay anything until you sell something but here is why I love it, it makes it so easy for people to pay you in all kinds of payments! And for PayPal personal for the most part, it won’t cost you a thing. There isn’t really much to set up and you can send invoices and quotes in seconds all with your own branding. However, Paypal personal, for the most part, won’t cost you a thing.
Loomly: I have heard and you may have heard this too that it’s not a good idea to use a scheduling tool for your social media posts because you will be punished. I say needs and it is better that you post rather than not at all. You can use Facebook’s own scheduler. So I use Loom for all my posts but if I have time I use the Facebook native scheduler. it’s a great feeling having your posts scheduled ahead of time. Plus you can plan what you want to post and actually have a rhythm to your content.
Linktree: This allows you to create a personalised URL that links over to all your other platforms, so that might be your website, your shop or your LinkedIn profile, It’s worth noting that Instagram allows for only one link in your bio. For those of you who want to include a linktree URL in your bio, you may do it with a single click! My traffic has gone up as a result of this, and I’m grateful for it!
Here's the list of Resources that I actually use to run my business and that I couldn't manage without!
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FREE WordPress Plugins that help I can't Do Without!
Elementor: This is a drag and drop page builder and I moved over last July and am so glad I did just because you can do oh so much with it, you have total creative freedom to design your site to look exactly the way you want, the huge plus for me was that it is totally responsive on all platforms. I designed my site from scratch but if you’re just starting out check out Bluchic they make it really easy to get started and will even build your site for you in just 24 hours. Just as a heads up Elementor is free!
Wordfence: There are two versions of this plugin: a free one and a premium one. Still using the free version, but I’m thinking about switching to the paid one. Since I opened my shop, the number of hackers trying to break into my site has risen dramatically. It will also notify you if one of your other plugins requires an update, which could leave your site open to attack.
Woo Commerce: I use this e-commerce platform to manage my online store. A lot of complimentary plugins are available so you can customise your shop to your heart’s content!
Yoast SEO: Yes! not my favourite subject either but if you want people to actually find your site and content then it’s a must and I have found that this little tool has a traffic light system so it makes it super easy to see when you have done the best job you can possibly do!
Updraft Plus: This plugin allows you to back up your site to make sure you always have a copy in case something happens. You can actually schedule your backups and the best part for me is that I can have that backup saved right to my dropbox to make sure I always have a copy!
Resources I Actually Pay for
Adobe CC Suite: I use Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop and InDesign daily, not only to create the templates for my online shop, but I also use them to create all of my client work and just about everything I do, I really could live without this software!
Canva Pro: When comparing Canva to the Adobe Suite, Canva is a terrific tool, but it isn’t my first choice. I had to upgrade to Canva for Work in order to make use of all of their new capabilities in order to make selling template designs possible.
Lynda.com: I just love learning and if you need a comprehensive place to learn then lynda.com is my go-to platform. They have courses for just about everything. I have taken many courses to uplevel my game. For a one time monthly fee it’s a no brainer for me!
Let me know if you find any of these freebies useful, and if you decide to use any of them, please let me know in the comments! Any queries about how I use any of these applications can be answered by contacting me!
Are there any freebies that I’ve overlooked that you believe deserve to be on this list? What are your thoughts on this?
