Online Tools For Freelancers
Working as a freelancer doesn’t always have to be a difficult venture. If you take the time to look around online you’ll find some pretty nifty tools at your disposal that will be able to help you get the most from each job.
No matter what problem you are facing, there is most probably a solution out there to sort it out for you. Below we’ve taken a look at what tools are available to you to help your freelancing life run a little easier.
Highrise - This is a free tool allowing you to organise your customer relationship management. This tool will be able to help you manage your relationships with clients and will also provide a useful reminder service. The tool also provides you with all the notes you have made over the relationship with a client which can be called up at any time.
Basecamp - This is another free tool from the guys who brought you Highrise. Basecamp allows you to manage all your projects easily and efficiently. It is also a great tool to help you make sure everything runs smoothly and everyone involved knows exactly what is expected of them through each stage of the project.
Toggl - Toggl is a free tool that allows you to track time effectively. You can start the timer when you start a project and then keep track of how it is going. Phone calls and emails all add up!
Todoist - We all need to make efficient to do lists to keep on track. You can input your tasks into the tool and then split each task into different categories. Each day you log in you can keep abreast of what tasks need to be done and which ones are more important, etc…
Lino It - Think about all the Post It notes you need to make every day. Now imagine the clutter they will all make if they were plastered all over your desk. With this tool you can have all of these Post It notes available online to access whenever you need them.
Google Documents - If you thought that the only way to write documents would be to get hold of Word or Excel then think again - you can do the same thing using Google Documents online. Furthermore you can save the files in Word or Excel formats so your clients won’t have any issues opening them.
GoToMeeting - If you have a client on the other side of the country and the thought of spending 4 hours on the train doesn’t fill you with glee then think about holding an online web conference. You have to pay for this service but it is a great way of connecting your computer with up to 15 others around the world. This is the perfect alternative to a real meeting.
Freelancing?
Are you freelancing? Have you found our advice useful? Leave us a comment and let us know…
Our Random Articles
- Office Supplies
- Small Business Ownership: Pros and Cons
- Small Business Accounting Software
- 10 Tips for Starting a Home Business
- More Post Strikes Ahead
More Links
2 Comments
I wanted to share a story that highlights the silver lining of today’s job market.
Two female colleagues—Shu Kim and Khanh Pham decided to embrace the misfortune of being laid off from Lehman Brothers last summer and use the opportunity to reinvent themselves.
Together they have designed a new website called Shustir.com (http://www.shustir.com/), which launched last month and hopes to be a resource for small business owners and freelancers who can’t afford a web presence and are struggling in a tough economy.
Shu and Khanh are available to discuss Shustir and how it can be useful to business owners or offer tips on how to start an online business. The site allows you to create a storefront and connect with local buyers and other owners who may be able to benefit from their goods and services.
Statistics show that forty-four percent of small business owners don’t currently own a web site, which is a shame since ninety-two percent of regularly online consumers surveyed said web research led them to buy something locally. (Source: WebVisible/Nielsen Online.) Shu and Khanh believe small businesses will eventually be the cure to turnaround the economy.
Please let us know if you are interested in featuring Shustir or speaking with one of the co-founders for more information. I can be reached carly@dowdagency.com or (212) 686-7777.
Thanks,
Carly
You can also add DeskAway (http://www.deskaway.com) this list which is an Online Project management & collaboration tool. It can be very helpful for freelancers as it also provides a free plan which never expires.