Sharing cool things fab tools with my Small Biz family
Creative Resources
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Been there, done that...here's what I love
After toiling over my own business for over 14 years…I’ve tried tons of resources & tools. I’d love to share some of my favorites creative resources for small businesses with other entrepreneurs who might be starting out. Perhaps there are even seasoned “do it all” gals out there who could use a lift.
Stock Photography
Looking for high quality stock imagery to use in your business? Below are some of the BEST that I have seen.
- Haute Stock
They have the most beautiful imagery for different types of businesses. It is a subscription service but I have found it is well worth it. I use her work throughout my design & jewelry websites.
- Moyo Studio
Looking for modern & minimal styles, they have you covered. You can purchase individual packages which makes it great for people with smaller budgets. These designs are perfect for those in the creative industry as they have great PSD mockups for web, graphic & print design.
Business Tools & Management
We all need a little help to stay organized & these tools help me keep on track.
- FloDesk: Email Marketing
You will be like me - where has FloDesk been your whole life (or at least for as long as you have been running a business). It is SO simple to use, actually a lot of fun and taps into the "designer" in me because their built-in templates are beautiful from the start! I mean GORGEOUS! Plus, my link here can save you 50% off of their monthly fee. Win/WIN
- Loom
Screen recording & training tools I have found indispensable. Loom offers a free package that allows you to try it out, to make sure it will work for your business & their site is super easy to use. I use it to create video tutorials for my themes & clients - super easy to show them how to do something versus writing up tons of documentation.
- Calendly
A wonderful tool for managing your calendar with all of your audio/video conferences. It is free to try and has helped me get a handle on managing my schedule and chatting with current or potential clients. They can easily add themselves to my calendar, whenever they want to chat & I receive instant notifications to stay on top of things.
- Ora: Project Management
I love the interface for this project management software, and their free version can fit almost any new business starting out. PLUS, they just launched a mobile version which I have been eagerly hoping for...so it's the perfect time to try them out.
- Dubsado: Business Management
I started using Dubsado this year to expand my internal project management - so I can manage clients more efficiently. I love it. Super simple for clients (the client portal is so easy for any lay person to use) and I can add contracts, invoices, questionnaires, communication and so much more to keep it all in one place. As a small business, BaseCamp was too overwhelming, this was a perfect fit for my creative business. They offer you a free trial that gives you the chance to take it for a ride before upgrading.
WordPress Tools & Plugins
One of the best platforms, WordPress offers so many tools, plugins, themes and more that the choices are endless. I could rant on and on about things I love about WordPress…but in the meantime I will just jot down a few of my favorites
- Elementor Website Builder
Okay...this is an easy one. I love working with Elementor and my clients love it too. Drag & drop tool for designing FAB websites, landing pages and more.
- Genesis Framework
I personally have designed over a 100 websites on Genesis over the years and work on creating my own Themes using this framework. It is well crafted code, clean & fast and have some of the best built-in SEO tools in the business.
- All in One Migration
I use this plugin on ALL of my client sites. I use it to backup (when making changes) and to move/migrate websites. It is seriously a "one-click" tool for backing up your site and offers the same ease if you need to restore it in the future. 100% free to use, but they offer lots of extensions to help you expand its functionality
- Learn WordPress with WP 101
This is a great membership site that has lots of online videos where you can learn as much or 'just enough' WordPress to help you manage your own site. They have a low monthly/annual or even lifetime fee, so you can soak up lots of learning without killing your wallet.
- by Masselyn Themes & Templates
Shameless plug...but honestly, check out my own studio store where I sell themes & templates for small businesses to kick up their online presence with a professional fresh look without breaking their piggy bank.
Website Hosting
Gone are the days when $3 hosting could support a robust website. These days websites are becoming resource hogs and having a good hosting company behind you is more important than ever. For those who choose WordPress as your platform, wherever you choose to host your site I always recommend Managed Hosting plans.
- SiteGround
This site is hosted on Siteground and I love it. They offer cache & CDN features that can really give your site a boost without a large overhead cost.
- WPEngine
This hosting is managed by the same team that brings you the Genesis Framework. So you KNOW it's robust, has great support and will be around for many years to come. They also offer all of the child themes that StudioPress offers when you signup for their host plans. A discount is offered by using my link.
**I do get a commission or benefit if you choose to purchase through some of the above links.
This said, I only recommend products I use myself and/or trust implicitly.
LOOKING FOR A CUSTOM DESIGN?
You found your way to my studio, and love the designs, but have not found the perfect one. Not a problem! I have been a web & graphic designer for 14+ years, if you can imagine it – I can make it a reality.