I’m going on Month 5 of freelancing…
And it still feels surreal at times that I’m doing exactly what I set out to do. I learned real quick that even though I’m essentially doing the same thing I did before, it gets crazy when you try juggling it for multiple clients. The key to staying sane and creative while meeting your deadlines is staying organized. And my favorite, most effective way for doing that is through apps! Many of these apps I never used before just because I could remember whatever I needed to with handwritten lists. I tried that in my first month of freelancing and it was a complete mess! I learned quickly that apps are the way to go whether you need to create novel assets for social media or managing your to-dos.
If you’re having the same problem, give these a go - 5 essential apps for bloggers and freelancers:
#1 Trello
I had heard of Trello many times before but never gave it a second thought because I though Google calendars was sufficient. Wrong. The beauty of Trello is that all changes and updates are done in real-time so that everyone who’s a part of the board sees it. My issue with Google calendars was that it was hard to fit everything in one little block without multiple, tedious clicks. Trello allows you to organize your tasks into lists, which can then be broken down into cards, and grouped into labels. It’s also super collaborative; you can leave comments for someone who would then receive a notification for it. This has been a game changer because you literally have everything in once place!
#2 Wunderlist
I was always using Notes on my iPhone to make lists of all the things I needed to do. The problem with that is that when I’m done with a task, I have to delete each line item. Sure, this doesn’t take a ton of time, but it’s tedious and I’d rather be doing something productive in those few minutes. I came across Wunderlist via NotJessFashion and it has been instrumental in keeping me in check! Basically, you create to-do lists and can easily check them off. Easy peasy!
#3 Sketch
So this is not an app for organization but rather creativity. Every major blogger has been stepping up their IG stories game lately, which means I need to too. I love using sketch to make doodles and handwritten words on images before uploading them to the Gram. It’s so much fun!
#4 Venmo
Everyone knows Venmo, right? It’s the easiest way to send money to and fro different accounts. I know it’s basically the same thing as PayPal, but I hate how PayPal takes a percentage of your invoice when you’re transacting as a business. Technically, I’m not an established business, so I’m not pleased with this because every few dollars add up! The workaround is Venmo because I can still manage cashflows and present it to my accountant when it’s tax time (i.e. now).
# Shoeboxed
I sometimes feel like my receipts are going to be the death of me! It’s insanely hard to stay organized when I’m traveling - all this paper trail ends up being a complete mess and I even lose some along the way! The solution? Shoeboxed Receipt Tracker. Expense reports have never been easier! I’ll be headed to NYC, London and Italy in about two weeks, so follow my journey HERE. This app couldn’t have come at a better time!!
xo,
Susan
Follow me – Blog Instagram Bloglovin YouTube Facebook SHOP
You Should Also Read:
Branding Guide for Beginner Bloggers
4 Key Soft Skills Every Blogger Needs to be Successful
Top 5 Blog Tips in 2 Years Under Zanita
