15+ Tools I Use as a Creative Entrepreneur
I remember the first month I started my business.
I was OVERWHELMED with where to start. I had just formed my business and I had a website and my social media set up. That was about it.
And the thing is…
You don’t know what you don’t know.
Sure, I knew a CRM (client relationship management) system was a good investment, but I didn’t know which one would be best for my needs. Some other things I didn’t know about entirely. Canva for Instagram graphics? Nope. I had no idea that even existed, and I for sure didn’t know that the Instagram posts I envied used that program.
So, if you’re a creative entrepreneur — especially if you’re a photographer like myself — you may find these suggestions helpful.
Disclaimer #1: Some of these links contain referral codes, and if I included them, that means I currently use and recommend them.
Disclaimer #2: Everyone and every business is different. What works for me and my taste, may not best resonate with you and your goals.
My Foundational Building Blocks
1.) Sprout Studio
Sprout Studio is my hub. It’s my CRM (client relationship manager) system. Truthfully, it took a lot of patience to set up (but, that really goes with every CRM system!). I chose Sprout Studio (rather than other ones like HoneyBook or Dubsado) because their customer service was the friendliest when I was shopping around and customer service is everything to me. They also offer a great all-in-one package where my clients get an account and can answer questionnaires, view galleries, etc. all in one spot. Also, when a potential client fills out the contact form on my website, it immediately becomes a new lead in Sprout Studio. It also integrates email marketing, and I like having things as consolidated as possible.
2.) Squarespace
This is the platform I use for my website. I’ve had this for years and used it since I was doing photography on the side. I find it super intuitive to use. However, if I were shopping around for a website platform now, I would be curious to try Showit, especially as a creative. From what I hear, Showit is a tad bit less intuitive, but it offers some great options for customization. That being said, Squarespace is still great for basic design and great for people new to creating websites.
3.) Wave
For bookkeeping and keeping track of my income and expenses (and sharing that info with my accountant!), I use Wave. It’s a free, more limited software that may be compared to QuickBooks. For right now, while my numbers are relatively easy to track, I’m content with using a free, more-limited platform.
4.) Photo Mechanic
When I cull my photos (aka choose which photos are toss aways and which I will go ahead and present in a proofing gallery), I use Photo Mechanic. It had been mentioned to me by numerous photographers before I went ahead and tried their free trial. It’s been a great upgrade from Bridge. I find that it does load a lot faster and the keyboard shortcuts are a lot more intuitive. And the less I have to think about which buttons to click, the faster my culling process is!
5.) Adobe Suite - Lightroom and Photoshop
Once my client chooses their images from the proofing gallery, I’ll go ahead and make my general edits in Lightroom and then drag the photos into Photoshop for more detailed editing.
My Tools for Marketing
1.) Social Media accounts like:
Instagram
Pinterest
LinkedIn
Facebook
2.) Canva
Ah, Canva. If you’re on Instagram, you’ve for sure seen posts created by Canva. It’s perfect for creating graphics if you don’t have a design background. They offer many templates, and you can resize posts to first be optimal for Instagram, and then for Pinterest, for example. Overall, I’ve found it to be very user-friendly.
3.) Google Analytics
This helps me track traffic to my website. It helps me pick up on patterns and correlations. Did I get a bunch of new visitors after I showed my face on my Instagram, after I posted a certain reel, after I posted photos of a specific photoshoot? This helps me see what is working… and also what is not working.
My Tools for Planning a Photoshoot
1.) Calendly
I use Calendly to schedule my coaching calls and complimentary consultations. Through a subscription, you can even have people pay when scheduling.
2.) Zoom
To think that I would meet people in person or do a phone call before working with a client! I use Zoom to hold my coffee chats (what I lovingly call my discovery calls), and also where I hold my strategy sessions. It works well because basically everyone has not only downloaded this app, but virtually everyone knows how to use it, too.
3.) Milanote
If you’ve heard of Notion or Trello, meet their sleeker, simplistic yet robust sister, Milanote. This is where I organize all my social media posts and blog post ideas and where I create boards for my photography and coaching clients. I’m a very visual person and this practice helps me keep track of all the moving pieces.
4.) Sprout Studio
I mentioned Sprout Studio before, but this is where I’ll have my clients sign contracts, submit payments, and view online galleries.
5.) Pinterest
This is where my clients create their mood boards.
6.) Peerspace
I offer this as an option for my clients to book their indoor studio spaces. The places range from your stereotypical studio with backdrops and artificial lighting, to spaces with large windows modeled to look like living spaces. This site offers a nice variety of vibes~.
7.) Google Voice
I use this app to communicate with most of my clients. It helps me separate my personal messages from my work messages. This way a client’s text isn’t getting lost amid my personal ones.
My Tools for Building Connections
Aside from social media platforms, I also use:
1.) Lunchclub
I heard about Lunchclub when networking with someone from a Facebook group. This platform lets you complete a basic profile with keywords and then uses its AI to match you with people. It also “learns” who you are most interested in meeting after allowing you to privately rate recent matches. To be honest, I’m not sure how great their AI works, but what I personally love about the platform is that everyone (so far!) has been super nice and genuinely interested in meeting new people! I also like the platform because it allows meet ups that don’t have an inherent hierarchy (no one reached out to the other person, you are matched with people with varying job titles, etc.) and it creates a more neutral environment.
There ya have it! Creative business owners, do you also use any of these tools? Do you have new ones you’d recommend? Comment below with your favorites!