There are an overwhelming number of online tools geared towards photographers and entrepreneurs these days. It can be overwhelming deciding which ones your really need and which ones are going to meet the needs of your business. I often get asked about which tools I use and why so here are the tools I use to run my photography business:
Website Host
I have been using Zenfolio for my website host for about 8 years. They offer everything I need so I have no desire to switch. Are they the best website host? Maybe or maybe not. I honestly don’t know. Like I said, they offer everything I need such as proofing galleries, direct ordering of products, file backup, and blogging capabilities. Furthermore, I find their price to be very reasonable and the setup and navigation to be simple and easy. They have plenty of helpful video tutorials as well. I have found their customer service to be top notch.
If you’d like to try Zenfolio, use this link for 10% of: 10% off Zenfolio
Client Management System (CMS)
I use 17 Hats for my Client Management System. I have used 17 Hats for several years. They have continued to improve and I am very pleased with their service. I can manage all my contracts, invoices, emails, etc. through 17 hats. They even have an online scheduler now which makes me very happy! I love how it keeps track of everything and clients can even access all of their documents through their client portal. 10% off 17 Hats
StickyFolios
I love StickyFolios! I love it so much, I bought the lifetime membership on Black Friday last year. With Stickyfolios, I can make a custom mobile app for every client. They love it and it’s a great way for me to market since my contact information is available right in the app to everyone that they share it with! I also use StickyFolios for my pricing guides, landing pages and Instagram bio link. The site is so much more than just photo apps. I highly recommend StickyFolios!
Planoly
Planoly is my favorite app for scheduling all my Instagram content. They have a free option but I upgraded to the paid plan for the extra benefits. Scheduling out my content is a MUST! It helps me be consistent (which we all know is key) and be more intentional with my posts. Planoly is super easy to use and I seriously could not do without it!
MailChimp
MailChimp is the program I use to collect email addresses from potential clients. I also use MailChimp to send regular emails to my lists. If you don’t have an email list, I highly suggest you start one. We don’t own social media but we do own our email list. MailChimp is free up to a certain point. I would say that MailChimp has been one of the harder programs to learn but there are video tutorials on YouTube that can help. I still don’t use or understand all of the things MailChimp can do, but I have learned the functions that I need for my business.
Trello
Trello is the best FREE tool for organization out there! Trello is simply a way to organize things into groups and lists. I use it for planning out my social media posts and to keep track of my opt-ins but it can literally be used to organize anything! There are lots of Youtube videos that will quickly teach you how to use trello if you are interested. Trello also has an app which makes it super convenient.
Fundy
Fundy is a great program for designing products. I personally use it to design albums and wall collages. It has been a little bit of a learning curve, but now that I have the hang of it I’m starting to prefer it over my former album design software, Album Stomp. Album Stomp is still a great product (and it’s cheaper) but Fundy can do so much more.
Canva
Canva is the best program for making graphics. I use Canva to make all sorts of graphics; Pinterest graphics, IG stories, Facebook graphics, and graphics for my blog. Canva is simple to use and the best part is – it’s FREE!
Animoto
Animoto is a video making software that allows you to create impressive videos in minutes with its drag-and-drop video interface. No video editing experience is necessary to use the program. It is very simple to use. This is one program I probably don’t use enough. With video getting more views on social media than images, Animoto is must. I can also use it in my image reveals to show images to client. You can even offer the video as an upsell item or incentive. Use this link to try Animoto
Tailwind
So I am relatively new to Tailwind but I am already seeing how it is a must if you are marketing your business on Pinterest. Tailwind has so many more features that just simply scheduling pins. You can join and create tribes to help get your content seen which is super helpful. In my first month of using Tailwind I saw a huge rise in my Pinterest traffic and engagement. Tailwind is primarily a Pinterest scheduler, but can also be used to schedule Instagram posts. I don’t use that particular function of the program so I can’t speak to that area of the application.
Those are my top 10 tools – what are yours? Which business tools could you not live without? Tell us in the comments!
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