Systems My Business Can't Live Without
Business owners wear a lot of hats and having the right tools and systems in place can be game-changing. From marketing and task management to client invoicing and finances, there are so many great tools out there that will make managing the day-to-day easier.
Over the last year or so, I’ve really focused on implementing systems that allow me to spend less time at my computer and more time creating. Here are the systems I’ve implemented and how they’ve helped my business grow.
Quickbooks Self-Employed
If you’re still tracking your income and expenses on a spreadsheet, it’s time to stop. Enter Quickbooks Self-Employed (get 50% off your first year with my affiliate link).
Easily categorize your expenses, track your mileage, and everything in between in an easy way that helps make sure you get the biggest deductions possible. I still recommend hiring a CPA to help you with your taxes as well as inform you on what is and is not a write-off.
Planoly
I’ve tried a lot of social media scheduling apps in the past but Planoly is by far my favorite! With both free and paid versions, it’s easy to plan out your content, visualize your feed, and plan out Instagram Stories and yes, even Reels. With the paid version, you also get access to auto posting! This feature is great because I can literally set it (schedule out my Instagram content) and forget it (it posts for me).
Google Calendar
Google Calendar helps me keep track of what calls and shoots I have coming up, block off time to strategize for upcoming sessions and keep tabs on personal commitments.
One of my favorite features of Google Calendar (other than the app!) is that you’re able to create separate calendars and can have multiple people on them. I like to take advantage of this when working with my virtual assistant because she’s able to see what I have on my calendar and can schedule shoots and calls for me without checking to make sure the day/time works for my schedule.
Dubsado
There are a lot of CRMs out there but Dubsado is my favorite! It makes lead capture, contracts, invoicing, and sending questionnaires so easy. Dubsado has a bunch of other features that I honestly haven’t started utilizing in my business yet but they're on my to-do list for 2022!
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Asana
The notes app on your phone can only do so much! I love utilizing Asana for task and project management - it gives me a place to write down random ideas, stay on top of launch dates, and more. I also use this system with my VA and it’s easy to swap back and forth between accounts.
If you’re looking for a way to manage short and long-term to-do lists for weekly tasks, launches, and other projects, I highly recommend a task management program like Asana. It’s also great if you have a team that you work with so you can keep track of what projects they’re working on.
Flodesk
I use Flodesk to send beautifully designed emails to my subscribers! If you haven’t used the email marketing platform yet, I can’t recommend it enough. It’s super easy to use (like Squarespace but for emails!) and there’s so many beautiful templates and fonts to use. It’s also super easy to create opt-in forms to embed on your website as a pop-up or in-line form, as well as a full-page opt-in feature. I also love how easy it is to create workflows to keep subscribers engaged and to keep your brand top of mind when users first subscribe to your email list!
Get 50% off your Flodesk subscription (affiliate).
Notion
Notion is one of the newest tools I’ve been utilizing in my business! I use Notion for everything from habit tracking and content planning to creating client portals. It’s basically a knowledge base and it’s easily customizable to your needs. There are a lot of templates out there (both free and paid!) to help you get the most out of the platform. I’ve purchased a few templates from some creators on TikTok and have love customizing them to my business! If you need inspiration for your own Notion, I highly recommend doing a “Notion” search on either YouTube or TikTok. So aesthetically pleasing!
