Being organized is so important as a small creative business owner. With a never-ending to-do list and a fully booked calendar, keeping on top of everything can be difficult. That’s why you need to be using digital organization tools that can help you optimize and streamline your daily workload.
Organization apps include everything from calendars to to-do lists, and they can keep your most important action items from slipping through the cracks. If you’re looking for an efficient way to prioritize and streamline your day-to-day life, organizing apps can help you go from "To-do" to "Done" with ease.
Let’s look at the top organization tools that you can consider using to boost your productivity and streamline your working processes!
Asana
Asana is a popular (and my personal favourite!) project management tool that offers a range of features to help you stay organized and collaborate effectively with your team. With Asana, you can create tasks, assign them to team members, set due dates, and track progress. Its user-friendly interface makes it easy to navigate, and the ability to create task dependencies ensures that projects are completed in the right order. Asana also integrates with other tools like Google Drive and Slack, allowing for seamless workflow management.
Notion
Notion is a versatile all-in-one workspace that combines the features of note-taking, project management, and knowledge-sharing tools. It allows you to create and customize databases, task boards, and documents to suit your specific needs. The flexibility of Notion makes it ideal for both personal and professional use. You can create to-do lists, set reminders, and collaborate with team members in real-time. Notion also offers a clean and intuitive interface that makes navigating and organizing information a breeze.
Calendly
Calendly is a scheduling tool that eliminates the back-and-forth of finding a suitable meeting time. With Calendly, you can sync your calendar and share your availability with others, allowing them to book time slots that work for both parties. It integrates seamlessly with Google Calendar, Outlook, and other popular calendar apps. Calendly sends automated reminders and confirmation emails, ensuring that everyone stays informed and appointments are kept. By streamlining the scheduling process, Calendly saves you time and reduces the chances of double bookings.
Dubsado
Dubsado is an all-in-one CRM and project management tool designed specifically for creatives and small business owners. It offers features like client onboarding, contract management, invoicing, and automation workflows. With Dubsado, you can organize client information, generate and send professional-looking proposals, and keep track of project deadlines. The platform also integrates with popular payment gateways, making it easy to get paid for your work. Dubsado's customizable templates and workflow automation help streamline your business processes, allowing you to focus on what you do best.
Google Workspace
Google Workspace is a suite of productivity and collaboration tools offered by Google. It includes familiar apps like Gmail, Google Drive, Google Docs, and Google Calendar. With Google Workspace, you can create and edit documents, share files and folders, and schedule meetings all in one place. The real-time collaboration feature allows multiple team members to work on the same document simultaneously, boosting productivity and reducing version control issues. Google Workspace also offers powerful search capabilities, making it easy to find the information you need.
Slack
Slack is a communication and collaboration platform that brings team messaging, file sharing, and project management together in one place. With Slack, you can create channels for different projects or teams, making it easy to keep conversations organized and searchable. It offers integrations with various tools like Google Drive, Trello, and Asana, allowing you to centralize your workflow. Slack also supports voice and video calls, making it convenient for remote teams to connect and collaborate effectively.
Trello
Trello is a visual project management tool that uses boards, lists, and cards to help you organize and prioritize your tasks. It follows the Kanban methodology, allowing you to move cards across lists as they progress. You can create checklists, add due dates, and assign tasks to team members. Trello's simple and intuitive interface makes it easy to collaborate with others and stay on top of your projects. It also integrates with other popular tools like Google Drive and Dropbox, enabling seamless file sharing and document collaboration.
With all of these variety of different apps, the struggle becomes real when it comes to making a choice. Write down your goals and objectives, budget, and time frame. Keep in mind that the best apps for organization are the ones that have the functionality you need. Try a few free trials (most of them offer free trials) and see what sticks. It takes time to discover what works for you, but it will be worth it in the end.
Remember, being organized is the key to boosting productivity and streamlining your workflow as a small creative business owner. Explore these top organizational platforms and find the ones that work best for you. With the right tools in your arsenal, you can optimize your processes, stay on top of your tasks, and achieve more with less effort.
If you want to talk organization and how to take your productivity to the next level, I'm always happy to help! Drop me a line and let's talk.
L x
Laura, Creative Virtual Assistant at Kelp Collective