As a freelancer and virtual assistant, it’s crucial to keep up with the latest tools.
I’m always researching new tools and programs to use, but I do have my tried and true favorites. These tools make my life as a freelancer efficient and straightforward.
Keep reading to see if your favorite tools made the cut!
1. Google Workspace (formerly G Suite)
This one is a no-brainer. Google Workspace makes it SO easy for me to work with clients.
When I bring on a new client, we create a shared folder in Google Drive. Any work I do for the client goes into this folder, including images and graphics, writing assignments, a time tracking document, etc.
This way, my clients can easily download what I create for them to use at any time.
The best part?
Google Workspace is FREE. If you have a Google email address, click the image of nine dots in the upper right-hand corner and select Drive. From there, you can create Google Docs, Google Sheets, Google Forms, and more.
2. Grammarly
As a freelance writer, Grammarly is my best friend. I can’t say enough fantastic things about Grammarly and how much it’s helped my writing!
Grammarly is available as a free Chrome add-on, making it easy to quickly check an email, a social media post, or a writing assignment in Google Docs.
Although there is a free version, I choose to pay for a premium account every month to get the most out of Grammarly. Typically, I write my draft in Microsoft Word or Google Docs and then move it to Grammarly to edit and proofread.
One of my favorite Grammarly features is the “Weekly Insights” email. I get to see my writing streak, my most common mistakes, how accurate my grammar is compared to other users, and more. I’m big on visual analytics, so it’s a pretty cool feature.
3. Asana
Asana is my go-to project management tool. I use it for my own virtual assistant business to keep myself on track with internal administrative work, as well as my clients.
I always suggest Asana to my virtual assistant clients.
Once they create an account (or give me access if they already have an account), I make different boards based on my client’s needs. For example, that might include Client Calls, Client Project Deadlines, and Social Media Posts.
This is how I keep my clients on task with their day-to-day activities. I check Asana multiple times throughout the day to ensure everyone (including me!) is on track to meet daily/weekly/monthly goals.
4. Hootsuite
If you need an intuitive, easy-to-use social media scheduling tool, Hootsuite is your best bet.
It’s a user-friendly tool that allows you to schedule and publish social media posts, monitor analytics, engage with your audience and more.
Hootsuite organizes social media networks such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, Pinterest, and YouTube on individual boards. From there, you can also add specific streams, which might include Facebook Messages, but Instagram Scheduled Posts.
If you’re just starting to dip your toes in the freelancing world or only want to use it for your own business, try their free Basic package.
5. Canva
If you need to create beautiful graphics for yourself or a client, but you’d rather not go through the trouble of learning Adobe Photoshop, try out Canva.
Canva is another free app (although I use the paid version) to make graphics for any social media platform.
The powerful “Create a Design” option gives you suggested image dimensions, which is very convenient for your pins on Pinterest or Instagram reels. You can create an image from scratch or use a template to help you come up with ideas.
While I do use Photoshop occasionally, Canva is my go-to for graphics and images.
6. Evernote
My favorite note-taking tool is Evernote. I’ve used this for YEARS in my personal life, and ever since I started my virtual assistant business, it stays open on my computer nearly all day every day.
There is a desktop app and mobile app that makes it easy to work seamlessly between your devices and access anything you need at any time. I create a notebook for every client to save notes about their business goals, project ideas, writing style guides, and more.
Plus, if your client also uses Evernote, you can create a shared notebook that you can both access. (This has been a game-changer with my fiancé over the years for us to keep track of our shared bills, grocery lists, plan trips, and even save ideas for our wedding!)
Evernote offers a free version that most people can get away with using, or try out the paid version for its additional features and the ability to access from more than two devices.
7. LastPass
Finally, another tool that I use for both personal and professional use is LastPass.
LastPass is an encrypted password manager, perfect for keeping your clients’ information private. If you forget passwords easily or write them down in a notebook, this app is for you.
With LastPass, you can create folders for each client and save all of their log-in information. Once you log into your LastPass, you can quickly copy/paste passwords or launch the site directly from the vault.
LastPass also generates secure passwords for you, so you have no excuse to keep using Password123.
What are your favorite tools to use as a freelancer or as a virtual assistant? Let me know in the comments and I’ll be sure to check them out!