15+ Tools I Use to Run My Brand & Website Design Business

Running a brand and website design business can be overwhelming at times, but the right tools make all the difference. In this post, I’m sharing 10 tools that have become absolutely essential in my day-to-day operations.

These tools help me stay organized, productive, and creative, all while providing a seamless experience for my clients. If you’re a fellow female entrepreneur or service provider, I think you’ll find these tools just as helpful as I do!

1. Showit & Webflow: My Favorite Platforms for Building Websites

Showit and Webflow are the website builders I always use to create stunning, functional sites. To start, Showit is a great choice when I want to build an aesthetically pleasing, responsive website with no coding required. It’s simple and user-friendly. On the flip side, Webflow is perfect for more advanced projects that need custom development and a powerful CMS, giving clients full control over their website’s content. Both platforms are fantastic, and I choose one or the other based on the project’s scope and requirements.

2. Figma: Bringing Website Designs to Life Before Development

Before diving into the development stage, I always use Figma to create website mockups. It’s an amazing tool for visualizing a design and making sure everything is in place before building the actual website. The best part is that it’s collaborative. Clients can leave comments, and I can make adjustments in real-time. It’s so much easier to get client feedback on a Figma file than trying to explain design concepts through email.

3. Dubsado: Managing Client Relationships Like a Pro

Dubsado is my CRM and project management hub. It helps me manage everything from initial client inquiries to contracts, invoices, and project workflows. One of the best features is the automation—once a client books, Dubsado automatically sends them everything they need to get started. It saves me so much time and keeps all client information in one place. Plus, it helps me keep track of deadlines and follow-ups, which is a huge win!

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4. ClickUp: The Ultimate Hub for Organizing Tasks & Projects

ClickUp is my go-to platform for all things task management. I use it to keep track of client work, personal tasks, and team communication in one place. It’s perfect for breaking tasks into bite-sized steps, setting priorities, and checking off progress as I go. I also love how it allows me to easily assign tasks to my team and stay in the loop on everything. It’s a seamless way to keep things organized and make sure no detail is overlooked.

5. Flodesk: Effortless Email Marketing That Feels Personal

Flodesk has quickly become my go-to platform for email marketing. It’s incredibly user-friendly, even for those without a design background, and lets me create stunning emails that feel true to my brand. For service providers looking to engage their audience without the overwhelm of complex tools, Flodesk is a perfect choice. Plus, you can get 50% off your first year, saving over $200!

If you’re new to email marketing, here’s a guide on how to create an email workflow in Flodesk.

6. Workflow: Streamlining Client Feedback & Revisions

Receiving client feedback can be a bit chaotic, but Workflow has helped me make it much easier. It’s a simple tool that allows clients to leave comments directly on the designs, helping me track revisions and feedback in one organized place. Instead of digging through emails or messages to find notes, everything is neatly organized, making the revision process much quicker and clearer.

7. Loom: Sending Video Updates & Tutorials to Clients

Loom is my favorite tool for sending video updates, walkthroughs, and tutorials to clients. Whether I need to explain design changes or give a quick tutorial on how to use their website, Loom makes it super easy to record and share videos. It adds a personal touch to client communication and ensures they fully understand what’s going on. It’s also a great way to give detailed instructions without writing out long emails.

8. Logo Package: For Faster Logo Exporting + Client Logo Portals

This tool transforms hours of manual file exports into a few clicks. It automatically creates all color variations and file types while generating a beautiful client-facing portal that explains exactly which logo file type to use!

9. Plann: Instagram Grid Planning Made Easy

Maintaining a consistent and cohesive Instagram grid is important to me, and Plann helps me do just that. It’s a grid management tool that allows me to schedule posts in advance and visually plan out my Instagram feed. I can easily drag and drop images, rearrange posts, and ensure my Instagram content is aligned with my brand. It’s a huge time-saver for staying organized on social media!

10. Toools: A One-Stop Shop for Design Resources

Toools is a treasure trove for design resources. From high-quality stock photos and fonts to UI kits and icons, it’s my go-to place when I need design assets. It saves me a ton of time searching for the right elements and ensures that everything I use is high-quality and on-brand. I use it constantly to bring my design projects to life.

11. Playbook: Image Sharing & Management

I use this for sharing images and mockups with my team. It’s a great way to keep everything in one place.

A Few Other Faves

These tools are also part of my everyday workflow and I couldn’t live without them:

• Google Workspace: My go-to for email, file sharing, and team collaboration.
• ClaudeAI: When I’m in need of fresh content ideas or need help generating copy for emails, blog posts, or captions, I turn to this great tool for overcoming writer’s block and brainstorming new content ideas quickly.
• Arc Browser: My favorite browser for organizing design inspiration. I keep everything neatly arranged in folders for easy access.
• Tailwind: The best Pinterest scheduler—helps me schedule pins and track engagement.
• The Contract Shop & The Legal Paige: For legal documents, including contracts and website terms.
• Jen Wagner & Blanc Salvage: My favorite places to shop for custom fonts that give my websites a unique touch.
• PixResize: My favorite image compression tool for reducing image file size and renaming many images at once. It’s been a game-changing tool for my website preparation process!

In Conclusion

These tools I’ve shared are a big part of what keeps my business running efficiently every day. They help me stay organized, manage client projects, and provide the best possible service. If you’re in the creative or service-based industry, these tools are definitely worth exploring. They’ll help you streamline your workflow and give you more time to focus on creating exceptional work for your clients.