In This Section, We'll List the Softwares, Websites and Services That Can Save You Time and Effort and Also Directly Generate New Business For You.....


To work efficiently and effectively, freelancers need a variety of tools that can be categorized into several key areas. 


We'll show a selection of available "tools" for each category, and then if we have one, our own personal favourite, often chosen after trying lots of others and finally finding "something that just works".


We moved into the cloud many years ago, too soon probably, and went to a high end Chromebook. "You can't run a business on a Chromebook and the cloud" we have heard for years, and for a while it was a challenge, but for the last 5 years it's been the best choice we ever made. So Google services are our obvious choice, and while they're not perfect, nor is anyone else. Everything is integrated, secure and fast. We can lose a laptop (heaven forbid) and be up and running an hour after borrowing or buying another.


Here's a comprehensive list of essential tools for freelancers:


1. Communication Tools

  • Email: Gmail, Outlook, or ProtonMail for secure communication.
  • Messaging Platforms: Slack, WhatsApp, or Microsoft Teams for quick, real-time communication with clients and collaborators.
  • Video Conferencing: Zoom, Google Meet, or Microsoft Teams for virtual meetings and client calls.


2. Project Management and Organization

  • Task Management: Trello, Asana, or Todoist to organize tasks, set deadlines, and track progress.
  • Time Tracking: Toggl, Clockify, or Harvest to monitor time spent on projects and ensure accurate billing.
  • Calendar: Google Calendar, Outlook Calendar, or Apple Calendar to schedule meetings, deadlines, and personal time.


3. File Storage and Sharing

  • Cloud Storage: Google Drive, Dropbox, or OneDrive for storing files and sharing them with clients or team members.
  • File Transfer: WeTransfer, Send Anywhere, or Dropbox Transfer for sending large files securely.


4. Productivity Tools

  • Focus and Distraction Management: RescueTime, Focus@Will, or Cold Turkey to minimize distractions and boost productivity.
  • Note-Taking: Evernote, Notion, or Microsoft OneNote to capture ideas, create to-do lists, and store important information.
  • Writing and Editing: Grammarly, Hemingway Editor, or Google Docs for drafting, editing, and proofreading content.


Personally THE best writing, editing , proofreading, summarizing etc tool available is ChatGPT, but you need to learn how to "drive" it, or like any other tool, it's useless. Barefoot Consultants have a great AI Beginners course.


5. Financial Management

  • Invoicing and Payments: FreshBooks, QuickBooks, or PayPal for creating invoices, tracking expenses, and receiving payments.
  • Accounting: Wave, Xero, or QuickBooks for managing finances, tracking income and expenses, and preparing for taxes.
  • Budgeting: YNAB (You Need a Budget) or Mint to manage personal finances and business expenses.


6. Marketing and Branding

  • Website and Portfolio: WordPress, Wix, or Squarespace to create a professional website and showcase your work.
  • Social Media Management: Buffer, Hootsuite, or Later to schedule and manage posts across social media platforms.
  • Email Marketing: Mailchimp, ConvertKit, or AWeber to build and manage an email list, send newsletters, and engage with clients.


Personally I've tried SO many hosting and cloud systems ALL are a compromise, and when something inevitably stops working, it's always something you've done!


For a website and email platform "one stop shop" I don't think you can go past Mailerlite, it has unlimited hosting, unlimited website and landing page builders, WITH an inbuilt emailing system that actually works, with unlimited email sends to 500 subscribers... all for $10/month! Their support staff are part of the development crew, and they really do get back to you!


There are a very few clever data mining tools that allow you to gather client information by niche and location. Obviously super useful for finding that "perfect client".  You can then contact them and prospect for work. You'd be amazed how many times you hear "We actually do have something we need doing, can you handle technical articles?" etc. The best we've seen, that also incorporates an A.I. email system is AutoLeadFindr. You can leave the other freelancers to fight it out on the platforms while you contact clients that suit your talents.


7. Design and Creative Tools

  • Graphic Design: Canva, Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator or Pixlr for creating visuals, graphics, and marketing materials.
  • Video Editing: Adobe Premiere Pro, Final Cut Pro, DaVinci Resolve or VicEditor  for editing videos and creating multimedia content.
  • Content Creation: Adobe Creative Cloud, Affinity Suite, or GIMP for a wide range of design and creative projects.


8. Collaboration Tools

  • Document Collaboration: Google Docs, Microsoft Office 365, or Dropbox Paper for collaborating on documents and spreadsheets in real-time.
  • Design Collaboration: Figma, InVision, or Adobe XD for working with clients or team members on design projects.


9. Backup and Security

  • Backup Solutions: Backblaze, Carbonite, or Time Machine (for Mac users) to ensure your data is backed up and safe.
  • Password Management: LastPass, 1Password, or Dashlane to securely store and manage passwords.


10. Learning and Development

  • Online Courses and Tutorials: Udemy, Coursera, or Skillshare to continue learning new skills and staying up-to-date with industry trends.
  • Industry News and Blogs: Subscribe to relevant blogs, newsletters, or YouTube channels that provide insights and updates on your niche.


As far as freelancing courses go, most all of them lack two of the  most important things, proper account/profile setup advice and any kind of ongoing help or support. This where Winton and the Barefoot Consultants team really stand up, there is quite simply no one like them for detailed info and ongoing support. They've been training freelancers' for over 15 years with huge success.


If you're a "digital nomad" or a busy Freelancer, the rise and reliability of integrated cloud based systems like Google, automatically provides integrated, secure solutions to a big number of the above.


Having the right tools can greatly enhance your efficiency, professionalism, and ability to deliver high-quality work on time. Each freelancer's needs may vary depending on their niche, but these tools provide a solid foundation for most freelance careers.

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