Are you trying to become more productive as a freelancer? Curious about what the best freelancer tools are?
While freelancing can offer you a great lifestyle and a lot of freedom, it can be difficult to run a business all on your own. To help with this, it’s a good idea to make use of tools and technology to become more efficient.
Here are the 7 tools that a freelancer needs for success.
Accounting and Invoicing Tools
One of the most useful tools that you can use when freelancing is accounting and invoicing software.
When freelancing, it’s important to keep track of any invoices that you send and to be sure that you collect any money you’re owed from clients that you work with. Getting software that automates this process and helps you keep track of payments can be very beneficial.
There are many different software options you can choose from when looking for invoicing and accounting tools. Some of the most popular options include QuickBooks, Wave, Paypal, and Bonsai.
Time Management Tools
Another type of tool that can be very beneficial for a freelancer is a time management tool.
Since you may be paid by the number of hours that you work when freelancing, you need a good way of tracking your time and recording it accurately. A time management tool can also help you ensure that you’re staying productive and getting as much done as you should.
Fortunately, there are some good options out there for keeping track of time when working as a freelancer. You may want to check out Hectic if you’re looking for a great freelance time tracking tool.
A VPN
When working as a freelancer, it’s also a good idea to get virtual private network (VPN) software.
As a freelancer, it’s likely that you’ll be working in public places where there is free Wi-Fi available, such as a coffee shop. While this kind of freedom can be great to have as a freelancer, it comes with its drawbacks as well.
Public Wi-Fi networks aren’t very secure and hackers can gain access to your system if your devices aren’t protected. Fortunately, using a VPN can help to secure your connection and ensure that the data you send is unreadable by a third party. It will also mask your IP address and make your device appear as though it’s in another location.
Getting a VPN is a great idea as a freelancer, particularly if you’ll be working with sensitive information.
Project Management Tools
One more type of freelance tool that you need to use as a freelancer is a project management tool.
It can be difficult and time-consuming to manage multiple projects as a freelancer, so it’s important to use tools to improve your workflow and make it easier to keep track of everything you’re working on. Various project management tools and software can allow you to track progress. If you’re working with others, they can also help you to communicate effectively with your team.
You may want to check out freelance project management tools for freelancers such as Asana, Trello, or Pocket if you want to manage projects more effectively.
Communication Tools
If you’re working with other freelancers or team members, then using a dedicated communication tool can be well worth it. Communication tools can allow you to easily send messages to other team members and to share information regarding a project.
Using tools such as Slack and Discord can be helpful and can allow you to easily share files, send messages, and stay on the same page with your team.
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Email Marketing Tools
If you want to become a great freelancer, it’s important that you market your skills effectively and build your brand.
As part of this, it’s a great idea to build an email list and send out email marketing campaigns. Unlike with social media, you’ll own the list you’ve built and can use it how you want with no chance of it disappearing.
You may want to find a great email service to use when marketing yourself as a freelancer. There are many different email marketing platforms you can use to build your email list and send messages. Mailchimp and Constant Contact are a couple of options that you may want to consider using in your freelance business.
Tools For Finding Work
There are many different ways to find freelancing work, but it can be a good idea to use some tools and platforms to help.
Especially if you’re a freelancing beginner, signing up for a freelance marketplace such as Upwork or Guru can be a great idea. On these sites, you can look for work and find clients that are hiring somebody with the skills you have.
Another great option is to offer your services on Fiverr. On Fiverr, you can choose exactly what services you want to offer and can let clients come to you.
In addition to these, you may also simply want to make sure you’re on social media and making use of sites such as LinkedIn to network with potential clients.
Be sure to consider how you’ll find work as a freelancer and consider using some tools to help make finding work easier.
Finding Success With These Freelancer Tools
If you want to find success when freelancing, you should make sure you’re using tools and technology to your advantage. Make sure that you use the freelancer tools listed above if you want to become a more effective freelancer.
Want to learn more about making the most of freelance work? Read through our blog now to discover more great tips and tricks.
