10 Life-Changing Tools for Creative Entrepreneurs

When I first started my online business, I knew nothing. I used a boring photo as the header of my blog, I took crappy pics with my iPhone and just slapped them up on my site (or pulled random pics from Google Images, which I now know is a big no-no!), and I used weird apps and programs to create picture collages or add text to my images. 

I look back at my first year or so of posts, and at the design work that I was doing back then, and I cringe. But you know what? I just didn't know what was out there--I had no clue! So today, I want to tell you what's out there. So that you're not in the dark like I was back then. 

Some of these tools are super obvious and basic, but through my consulting work I've seen that there are still many people out there who don't know about them and/or how they can use them (or why they should, for that matter!), so today's post is meant to help you with just that. 

In my opinion, every creative entrepreneur should know how to use the following programs, apps, and sites. I use each of these items on a weekly (if not daily) basis, and they have been really life-changing when it comes to my business:

1. Death to the Stock Photo: Need pretty images that you can use for *free* on your website, social media, blog, and/or marketing materials? Here they are. Once you sign up, Death to the Stock Photo sends you packs of photos on a monthly basis that are free for commercial use and totally gorgeous. The pic above? From this site. I've just recently learned about DTTSP, but I'm in love with the concept and can't wait to start using more of their images when I'm in need. 

2. Photoshop Elements: Okay, so I know this sounds daunting, but listen, y'all, you NEED to know how to use photoshop if you're doing anything creative online (this includes selling your jewelry or wares on Etsy!). Unless you're a photographer, Photoshop Elements is the easiest + cheapest way to go and will give you all of the basic functionality that you need for about $70. It allows you to edit and prettify ALL of your photos (which makes a huge difference), add text, create logos, size all of your images for web (very important if you want your site to load in a timely manner), and more! I used Lynda.com classes to teach myself how to use it in one day. This one has been super life-changing. 

3. iMovie: Want to make YouTube videos for your business? This is your software. It comes free with Macs and is really amazing. If you don't have a Mac, you'll need to download a similar software for PCs (sorry I can't help with this one), but knowing how to use video-editing software is pretty important. Again, this will allow you to add text, music, and other elements to your videos, and play with cropping, lighting, and audio levels. Yes, it takes a little bit of time to learn, but there are tons of online videos and classes that teach you the basics (again, I recommend Lynda.com!). 

4. Pinterest: Seems obvious and you're probably already on Pinterest, but are you using it to it's potential? Here's how I love using it when I work with clients: Someone wants me to design a logo for them, but isn't sure exactly what they want. In order to get an idea of what they're imagining/what they're drawn to, I have them make a secret Pinterest board. They pin fonts, color schemes, random images, and other logos that they like. From there, I have a visual inspiration board made by my client. I cannot tell you how helpful this is! 

5. Hootsuite: I've already sung Hoostsuite's praises a few times before, so I'll keep this short and sweet--Hootsuite allows you to schedule most of your social media ahead of time, so that you don't have to be tied to your phone/computer all day. It allows you to promote and stay active online without having to actually be online. And yes, it's another freebie. 

6. Mailchimp: If you're not using Mailchimp (or another free email client), then you're missing out! Everyone who has any sort of business needs to be using Mailchimp to collect email addresses for your fans/readers/clients. Mailchimp allows you to easily embed a "sign-up form" into your site, and then helps you create newsletters and email campaigns in order to reach everyone on your email list. It's unbelievably useful. 

7. Design-seeds: Want to get lost in a color vortex for a few hours? This is your site. It's full of gorgeous, searchable color schemes that have been pulled from inspiring photos. Perfect for when you're looking for a color scheme (anyone getting married soon?) OR when you want a client to pull schemes that they like. It's amazing. 

8. Google Drive: If you haven't ever explored Google Drive, you're missing out. It's totally free and connected with your gmail account and it can do everything--spreadsheets, shared documents, online surveys + forms (love this functionality!), presentations, and even transfer big files. It's pretty incredible and it's just sitting there, waiting to be used. I'm a big fan and use it every single day. 

9. Etsy: Are you a creator of ANY sort? Then you'd better have an Etsy shop. Seriously, you guys, it's a no-brainer. If you've already made the items you're selling, it's practically passive income (once you've got it all set up), and it's a very easy way to get up and running without having to create a website or blog. Super affordable and a great way to put yourself out there without having to take any big risks!

10. Dafont.com: Looking for a fun font for your new brand, logo, or project? I like to use dafont.com, which has over 25,000 searchable fonts that you can download for free. The only thing to be aware of when looking for new fonts? If you're building your own website on Wordpress, Weebly, Squarespace, or the like, you might not be able to use just any old font on that platform. Check the back-end of your builder to see which fonts you can work with if you want them to match. 

And that's that. Have fun with these tools--they're game-changers in my book!

Happy creating, you entrepreneur, you :)