5 Must-Have Digital Tools for Your Creative Business
How Much They Cost & How They Keep Me Sane
Running a creative business isn’t always linear. Some days I feel like I’m on top of everything. Other days? I am sitting by the pool writing a blog, grooving to Fireball by Pitball which most people would think is a distraction. Not to me. It genuinely keeps me focused and interested. Other times my brain (and laptop) has 57 tabs open and my to-do list probably hasn’t been updated in nine days.
That’s why I lean heavily on digital tools that help me simplify, organise and systemise my business, without sacrificing creativity or flexibility.
I’ve found five tools that support the way I think, work and create. In this blog I will take you through exactly how I use them and why they’ve become non-negotiables in my business. I REFUSE to run my business without them.
1. Chat GPT ~ My Thought Organiser & Brainstorm Buddy
Investment €0
I use Chat GPT daily and not just because it’s helping me write this blog!
Whether I’m stuck on content ideas, planning out a new offer or mapping a client roadmap, ChatGPT helps me clear the clutter in my head. I don’t always need another human to bounce ideas off. Sometimes I just need a starting point, a structure and a bit of momentum. And ChatGPT gives me that.
I use it to
It’s like having a calm, clever assistant who doesn’t get tired or roll their eyes when I say, “Can we try that again?”
The biggest secret is understanding the POWER OF A PROMPT. Prompts that are intelligent, well thought out and make sense to your business are the key to unlocking its growth potential for your creative journey.
Instead of "create the post captions for this TikTok post about..."
try "in my voice create a post caption for all of my preferred platforms for the 5 Must Have Digital Tools for Your Creative Business, please include optimal SEO, hashtags and CTA. Please also suggest 5 killer hooks"
I keep threatening to upgrade to the monthly paid version but they keep improving it so I’m still using it for free! There's a link for Chat GPT at the end of the blog.
2. Canva ~ Where My Brand Comes to Life
Investment €108 annually
Canva is where I create the vibe.
I use it to design
I’ve set up brand templates so everything stays cohesive and on-brand. I love how easy it is to play and experiment when I’m in a creative mood. There is so much I’m not using Canva for too! It has the ability to schedule to your social media platforms, create your website and the AI function is so good.
If you’re a visual person like me, Canva is a lifesaver. It makes marketing feel less like a chore and more like part of the creative process. I'm so serious when I say I create 100 posts in one go! I'll show you how in Systemise in Six Weeks!
I pay €108 annually for Canva and it is worth EVERY penny.
There's a link for Canva at the end of the blog.
3. Flodesk ~ My Email Marketing HQ
Investment €32 monthly
Flodesk is where I manage
The visual builder is intuitive and actually enjoyable to use. There is no overthinking, no coding and no “Why is this font size doing that?” moments. Flodesk has so many templates and if you want to build your own, you only have to do it once and it’s duplicate forever!
It also allows me to set up workflows that run on autopilot, so my business keeps moving (and nurturing) even when I’m offline, walking in the woods or on my holiday in lovely Lanza!
It also has a great newsletter capability with extremely aesthetically pleasing, plug & play templates.
There is also an ecommerce section which I don’t use. The functionality of the funnels does not meet my standards.
I pay €32 for Flodesk, I do have ecommerce for life under this deal as I bought into Flodesk very early on. Email Marketing and Ecommerce is around €70 if you sign up today but you can simply opt for one or the other!
And one last HUGE advantage Flodesk has is unlimited email addresses and emails. Yes folks there are no nominal or monthly limits, which is simply MWAH, chef’s kiss!
There's a link for Flodesk at the end of the blog.
4. Google Workspace ~ My Digital Desk Drawer
Investment €0
Google is the quiet MVP of my business.
I use it to
It’s simple, secure and everything’s in one place. I also use Google Calendar to block time and sync with clients when I’m doing 1:1 work or running group calls. This is merged with my website which we’ll discuss in mo.
When in doubt, it’s probably in my Google Drive. I have been contemplating upgrading but if I need extra space, I usually create a new email address…shush don’t tell anyone. So at the moment it is costing me zero.
I can tell you all about it at the The Well Coworking Summer Sessions
Okay, this one isn’t an app, it’s a space. Every Monday this summer (except the August Bank Holiday), I host a free coworking session inside The Well.
Bring your tea and your to-do list. We keep it quiet, focused and supportive.
Plus you can drop me questions in the chat that I’ll answer over the week.
It’s low-pressure, high-impact. Click here and come work with us.
There's a link for Google Drive at the end of the blog.
5. Easy Peasy Funnels ~ My All-in-One Business Hub
Investment €79 monthly
This platform changed everything for me. It’s a white label version of Go High Level and significantly cheaper!
Easy Peasy Funnels is where I
Before I moved here, I felt like I had 10 different tabs and tools for every piece of my business. Now, it’s all in one system, well almost (I’ll explain that in a bit) and it’s actually so easy to use.
I’ve built my www.thehabitboss.com website, set up workflows, email automations, sales funnels, checkout pages, calendar bookings and post my blog here too. This has been a saviour to my business, from a cost and efficiency aspect. Easy Peasy Funnels has made my business more sustainable and less scattered.
Easy Peasy Funnels is my most expensive monthly platform at €79. It is well worth it housing most of my products, my blog, my courses & my website. It’s basically my CRM (Customer Relationship Management System).
There's a link for Easy Peasy at the end of the blog.
These five tools don’t do the work for me, but they do make the work feel lighter, calmer and way more doable. The reason I have not merged more is security & functionality. I could sell on Flodesk but Easy Peasy is fundamentally better.
I could manage my email list on Easy Peasy but I don’t want everything in one place. Flodesk workflows may have less functionality but they are waaaay easier to use. I deliberately want to keep funnels and my list separate.
I also download my list every week and have a copy of my website on google docs because you never know, what if Flodesk or Easy Peasy went out of business in the morning? I know I have my site ready to go on another platform and my list is safe and sound!
These five digital tools help me bring structure to the creative chaos and keep my business moving without burning out or needing to be “on” all the time.
If you’re building a creative business and want more ease, I highly recommend choosing tools that support the way you work. These are the ones that support me and I hope they help you, too.
My total annual bill for the 5 digital tools is €1440 which is well worth it.
You can set up your own
ChatGPT by clicking www.chatgpt.com
Google drive with your gmail account & simply going to your google drive
Want a behind-the-scenes look at how I use them each week?
Make sure you’re on my email list or come hang out with me on Instagram @the_habitboss
Click here to join my list & grab My 10 Simple Business Systems for Creative Entrepreneurs
And don't forget if you’re craving calm accountability, join me every Monday this summer in The Well. Free coworking, chill vibes & I answer your Qs all week.
