Elevate Your Game: 9 Powerful Tools for Success

Feeling overwhelmed by all of the AI, digital marketing, and business tools popping up everywhere you look? 

Which ones do you need? Which ones will actually help you grow your business? 

Identifying the ones that help you work smarter and faster will save you time and money. These tools can become true “virtual” assistants, without the need for hiring or outsourcing. I’ve pulled together some of the ones that I use and which are necessary to my business’ success. 

I've put the links in so you can just click on the name if you want more information. I don't receive any compensation on any of these links.

Let’s dive in!

Trello
No more sticky notes! I can't emphasize enough how crucial organization is for a business. Trello is a fantastic tool that helps you manage tasks and projects in a visually appealing and intuitive way. It organizes your ideas, projects, clients - anything really. 

Trello uses boards, lists, and cards to create an organized, easy-to-understand workspace. You can create multiple boards for different projects, add team members, set deadlines, and attach files to cards. The drag-and-drop interface allows you to move tasks between different stages of completion easily. With Trello, you can save a significant amount of time and do more of what you love - your business!

Canva
I use Canva every day. I am not a graphic designer by any stretch of the imagination. Since we all know that visual content plays a vital role in capturing your audience's attention, Canva lets me create in a jiffy! It’s user friendly and has tons of templates! 

I really like its drag-and-drop interface so that I can quickly customize my creation. This one is absolutely worth the learning curve!

Wistia
Video content is just as critical as still content. If you haven’t heard of Wistia, it is an alternative to Vimeo. The big difference seems to be that Wistia’s features are focused on helping you market more effectively.. 

Wistia offers features like customizable video players, detailed analytics, and advanced video SEO capabilities. By using Wistia, you'll save time on managing your video content and increase your profits by providing captivating video experiences that drive engagement and conversions.

Free LinkedIn X-Ray Tool
As you know, LinkedIn is a goldmine for networking and prospecting, and the Free LinkedIn X-Ray Tool is a valuable resource that can help you find the right connections. You can conduct unlimited advanced searches on LinkedIn by using specific keywords, locations, and industries, enabling you to find and connect with potential clients or partners more efficiently.

Toggl
Time management is key to business success, and Toggl is a simple yet powerful time-tracking tool that helps you monitor and optimize how you spend your time. With Toggl, you can track the time spent on various tasks and projects, making it easier to identify areas where you can be more efficient.
If you follow me, you know I”m big on tracking your work. If you aren’t in the habit of tracking your time, you are likely going to be surprised by what you discover once you spend a week tracking. For me, it also helps me stay focused on the task at hand. Takes a little practice getting used to but this is another one that I think is worth the effort.

Getmagical Text Expander 
Getmagical Text Expander is a fantastic tool that can save you time by automating repetitive typing tasks. That may not sound all that impressive. However, once you see how it “magically” inserts exactly what you need where you need it using triggers that you set up, I predict you will love it! It’s like cc/paste on steroids!

AuthoredUp
Creating and managing LinkedIn content is essential for building your professional network and showcasing your expertise. AuthoredUp is a fantastic tool designed specifically for drafting, saving, and organizing your LinkedIn posts. With its user-friendly interface, AuthoredUp makes it easy to plan and store your LinkedIn content in one convenient location. 

By using AuthoredUp, you'll save time on crafting and managing your LinkedIn posts, ensuring a consistent and impactful presence on the platform. As a result, you'll increase your profits by fostering valuable connections, generating leads, and establishing yourself as a thought leader in your industry.

Descript
Video content is essential for engaging audiences, and Descript is a powerful video editing tool that simplifies the process with its innovative editing approach. Unlike traditional video editing software that relies on complex timelines, Descript allows you to edit videos by editing text, making it incredibly easy for even complete beginners to create professional-looking videos with precision. 

Descript's unique editing method eliminates the steep learning curve typically associated with video editing, enabling you to focus on crafting compelling content without getting bogged down in technical details. By using Descript, you'll save time on video production and increase your profits by reaching new audiences with engaging, polished video content that truly stands out.

Keap (Formerly InfusionSoft)
A CRM is a must-have for all businesses as far as I’m concerned. While there are many to choose from, I settled on keap. As a small business owner or solopreneur, managing your marketing efforts and customer relationships is crucial for success. Keap, formerly known as InfusionSoft, is an all-in-one marketing and CRM tool designed specifically to support you in these areas. One of the main reasons I chose it is that it helps you streamline your marketing campaigns, automate essential tasks, and keep track of customer interactions, all in one place. 

If you are interested in learning about CRMs, please reach out to my friend, Rita Thomas, KCP 👑. She is very knowledgeable and does a great job explaining whether you even need a CRM. 

That's it for tech tools for now. In all transparency, I use many more but I really wanted to focus on the ones that I feel are "must-haves". 

What tech tools do you rely on?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LinkedIn