10 Software Solutions That Make Your Life Easier

Owning and operating a small business forces you to wear different hats all the time.  Today you are the salesperson, tomorrow the marketer and next week the graphic designer!  We at Designerneeded understand this all too well and want to share some resources that might be helpful to you.  These software solutions range from online applications to small downloadable programs – all aimed to make your life easier!

1. Loom

Lockdown has forced many of us to work remotely, sometimes making it difficult to communicate more complex ideas or explanations.  If you’ve been struggling to find more efficient ways of showing a colleague how to do something, then Loom is for you.  With Loom you can capture your screen, face and voice – making distanced communication so much easier!  The best news is, Loom is FREE to use – so you can start recording tutorials today!

2. Later

When you’re running your own business, you don’t want to waste time on doing the same thing over and over again. Later comes to the rescue by providing you with one place to plan and schedule your social media posts for the month ahead!  Not only can you schedule posts, but you can do this across social media platforms (Instagram, Twitter, Facebook and Pinterest).  Sign up for a free account and free up your time to focus on your business!

3. B1 Archiver

Sending and downloading a large number of files oftentimes requires you to work with zipped folders for compression and speed. Making use of a compression tool can save you a lot of time – and for this we recommend B1 Archiver.  It’s free to download, easy to install and will extract and compress files much faster than the default compressor you get with your computer.

4. Lightshot

Sending screenshots is the easiest way to show someone exactly what you see on your screen. It has become part of how we communicate with our colleagues and clients.  We use Lightshot for this, as it includes tools to customise your screenshots, such as cropping, adding text or shapes, and sharing on the internet.  Lightshot is free to download and really easy to use!

5. Coshedule & Hemingway App

If “Copywriter” is also one of the roles you play for your business, these tools are for you.  Struggling to think of a catchy and interesting headline?  Coshedule is an online tool that analyses your paragraph text and provides you with possible headlines.  We also use Hemingway App for testing whether our copy is readable and clear.  If you feel that your copy is just not hitting the mark, why not test out these free tools to help you improve?

6. Zoom Tutorials

We’ve all been invited to a Zoom meeting – but how comfortable are we really with using this platform?  Luckily Zoom provides countless webinars and tutorials to teach you how to do everything from a simple call to scheduling, recording, screen sharing and more.  Join any of the Daily Live Demos that conveniently show you how to keep in contact while working remotely!

7. Toggl

Time management is key for any job, but it’s even more important when you’re running your own business!  Toggl is a time-keeping app that helps you improve time management and increase productivity.  You can easily see the hours you spend on certain tasks and identify where you’re not using your time efficiently.  Toggl is also great for keeping track of billable hours for when invoicing day comes around!

8. Dropbox

If you want on-the-go access to all your files, then you need the Dropbox desktop application.  You just drag files into Dropbox and all your synced devices will be automatically updated.  You can also share your files with other people. Dropbox makes file sharing and version control easy and effective, especially if you’re someone who needs to access documents from your computer, mobile and tablet.

9. Libre Office

Software is expensive, whether you’re a start-up or well-established business.  Libre Office offers an alternative (and free) option to Microsoft Office 365 – and millions of people around the world use it!  And don’t worry, this software is compatible with Microsoft document formats. 😊

10. Trello

Trello makes project management easy and visual by using boards, lists and cards that help you stay on top of projects.  It’s so much more than a “to-do-list” app and many use it to manage their businesses.  Trello offers a free account option and is worth checking out if you struggle to keep yourself organised, accountable and balanced.

That’s it from the Designerneeded team!  We know that managing your own business means that you need to keep on top of admin, marketing, time management, copywriting, and so much more. Hopefully this post provided you with some useful tools to help your business grow.

Designer Needed specializes in graphic design, web design and development, and digital marketing.  If you need these services and like what you see about us online, please contact us for a meeting!  We love helping brands reach their full potential 🙂