Over the years I have used multiple tools to run my business and to recommend it to my clients. Here is the list of best tools I have used or my clients are using for creation of content, Setting up of systems and running day to day operations.
For Content Creation and Education-based marketing
To create creatives/ Images – Canva.
Video Creation
For recording videos – You can record very good videos on your mobile phone. If you want to go advanced, get a DSLR Camera. I use Nikon D5300. Canon 80D is very good and highly recommended by others.
For Screen recording and video editing – Camtasia (for windows) and Screenflow (for Mac) – Both are excellent tools and can be learned in a few hours. I recommend you to try with them if you are a beginner.
Inshot and Kinemaster – If you want to edit videos on your Mobile Phone
Final cut pro (For Mac), Adobe Premiere Pro for advanced users
TubeBuddy – Tube Buddy can help you manage, optimize, and grow your Youtube channel.
For Recording podcasts
Podcast Equipment – To record my podcasts, I use Audio Technica ATR-2100 and Zoom h4n Pro
To record remote Podcasts – Ecamm(mac) is a skype addon, Zoom, Sqadcast,
Editing Audio files – Audacity
Podcast Hosting – Anchor.fm , Podbean
For writing Blog posts and text posts – Google Docs, Evernote, Scrivener (if you want to write books)
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For Webinars – Out of all the webinars I have tested, I really like – Zoom, Gotowebinar, Demio, Webinarjam
Social Media management – Buffer, Hootsuite, Contentstudio
Tracking of websites activity – Google analytics, Cickmagick
Autoresponders – With Autoresponders you can automate email marketing. I use Active campaign. Mailchimp and Converkit are equally good as well.
Learning Management System – Thinkific, Teachable, Invanto – For hosting and selling your online courses and digital products
Setting up of systems and process in your organization, running day to day operations
Data Management
I have tested all the 3 software Google Drive, Dropbox, Office 365 and found all of them to be equally good. Of course, there are differences in them. I personally use Google drive. I use Gsuite for almost everything. It includes – Google docs (replaces MS Word), Google sheets (replaces MS Excel), Google slides (replaces MS Powerpoint). As it is completely on the cloud, I can access all the documents from anywhere and also collaborate with my team on a real-time basis.
Task / Project management software
Everyone must have project management software where you list down your tasks, assign tasks to your team and track what is going on in the company. If you are a small team, you can track it with Google Sheets and need not go with fancy software. If you have a reasonably big team or want to use the software, I recommend using Trello, ClickUp, Asana If you are a one-man company, I recommend trying Todoist. I personally use Todoist.
Communication with you team / Clients / remote team – Zoom, Skype, Google meet, Slack
For creation of Dashboards in your company – Google sheets, Google Data studio
Feedback and Issue tracker – I recommend you to have a system in your organization where all the team members share the feedback and issues that they are facing in the company. For setting up that system, you can easily create with Google sheets + Google forms
SOPs and process documentation You must have a system in place where you list down all the processes, policies of your organization. To do that you can use Google docs or create your private wiki using Google sites
You can use Loom.com to record your screen and explain in the form of video
Website Hosting and Domain – I host my website on Hostgator. I have been using it for more than 8 years without any issue.
Payment collection – Instamojo (transactions in India), Razorpay, Google pay, Paypal (International transactions)
Outsource – To outsource any work or find freelancers, try Upwork, Fiverr
Block internet and distractions – Freedom.to, Rescue time . I use Freedom
Password management – LastPass, 1password
For easy online appointment scheduling – Calendly , Book like a boss ( I use this)
For listening to books on the go, for audio books – Audible My book Recommendations – List of best books I’ve read
All the best
Srinivas Vakati