5 Freelancing Tools to Make Your Life Easier
As a freelancer, you’re not only your own boss but also an administrative assistant, secretary, and public relations manager, among many other things. These 5 freelancing tools address exactly that kind of work that takes the joy out of your freelance life.
See: Tools/Resources
Every freelancer occasionally runs into administrative issues. Not to mention the challenges of working from home, structuring your workflow, prioritizing your tasks, and ensuring your competitive advantage at the same time.
If some of these are your pain points too, stay with us; the solution is ahead of you.
5 Must-Have Freelancing Tools
Being a freelancer sounds like a breeze until you realize that there’s a lot of work you have to do behind the scenes to stay afloat and in control of your professional and personal lives.
Of course, a lot of your success will also depend on how well you know yourself, not only on how good you are at your job. If you have trouble with self-discipline or time management, knowing which personality type you are may help you manage yourself better.
But, regardless of your personality type, there are many freelancing tools that can help you optimize how you work. These 5 freelancing tools we picked for you have the power to completely change your work life, allowing you to be more efficient and focused on what really matters.
#1. Asana
Asana enjoys a reputation as one of the most efficient project management tools you can find online. It offers a very user-friendly interface and plenty of robust project management features that simplify handling both simple and complex projects.
Asana’s free plan is generous enough for a freelancer looking for a versatile tool that supports the usual demands of project management.
Though it is not designed specifically for freelancers, it is still quite useful with all the colorful charts and boards that allow for a very visual overview of the task’s progress and phases.
#2. Toggl
If you need a tool that will help you optimize your time and plan your work more efficiently, Toggl may be the solution for you.
Its time-tracking functionality includes a real-time tracking feature while also allowing you to organize your time better by using automated reminders, tracking reminders, and idle detection.
With Toggl, you will have very precise insight into the time you need for a specific task, and therefore, you’ll be able to organize your tasks optimally.
On top of that, it is compatible with many business software programs like Asana, Trello, and Slack, and it includes more than 100 integrated tools.
#3. Resume.co
While plenty of tools help you work better, not too many help you find work. Resume.co is a free online resume builder that allows you to create a compelling CV, write a persuasive cover letter, and create a portfolio by using tons of free, premade templates.
See also: Your Resume Girl
Plus, you’ll find all the practical tips for creating an impressive CV in one place, so you don’t waste your time exploring what you should and shouldn’t put in your resume, how you can visually enrich your application, or how to answer job interview questions.
All you need to do is sign up, and in a few minutes, you’ll get a full-fledged, professionally designed resume that will ensure you stand out among applicants and impress your potential employers or clients even before they meet you.
#4. Paystub.org
Administration around payments can be a real nightmare for a freelancer. It is not just practical to have a defined payment process; it is also essential for the legitimacy of your business.
Paystub is an online form and stub generator that helps you streamline the whole process of creating invoices and a wide variety of documents you may need for filing taxes, applying for bank loans, and similar.
What’s particularly great about it is that it allows you to edit the document you once made, so you don’t have to start all over if you make any mistakes.
It comes with an auto-generator that calculates all your taxes and deductions automatically. You can have any document ready and emailed to you in PDF format in just a couple of clicks.
#5. Zoom
Zoom is an online communication platform that allows you to conduct online meetings, webinars, classes, and all kinds of events that include both a small and a large number of participants.
It includes features like screen sharing, breakout rooms, and recording so that you can maintain quality communication with your clients and coworkers.
You can also choose from a variety of backgrounds for your video to look professional, regardless of where you are hosting the meeting.
This is one of the freelancing tools that is free to use without a subscription. The free version limits the duration of your meeting to 40 minutes, which is usually more than enough for most freelancers.
Conclusion
Regardless of what you do as a freelancer, these 5 freelancing tools are essential to ensuring your business runs smoothly:
- Asana will help you manage your projects and tasks efficiently.
- Toggl helps you with time management.
- Resume.co is indispensable for creating resumes and portfolios.
- Paystub helps you with W-forms, invoices, and similar documents.
- Zoom is an online communication platform for hosting all kinds of online meetings.