The 5 Best Online Tools To Use to Stay on Track

If you feel overwhelmed with an endless list of tasks to do, getting organized can seem like the biggest challenge of them all.

In order to keep on top of your many projects and collaborations, it is essential to have several online tools at your disposal.

Getting organized doesn’t have to be SO OVERWHELMING. Between writing assignments, maintaining calendars, and shared files between devices, these are my essential go-to platforms to stay on top of it all.  

Google Drive

The almighty Google strikes again with this very powerful tool for storing files on cloud, allowing you to access them from anywhere with a laptop, phone, and an internet connection. You can share files in a snap, and more than one person can be working on a file at the same time.

The only downside is that Google uses its own formatting, so if you were to transfer a project from a Word document to Google Drive, the formatting would be off (or non-existent).

 

Slack

This tool is great for creating “channels” for multiple people and teams for collaboration. You can integrate other tools into Slack for ultimate transparency within a project.

Bring in cards, tasks, conversations, and more from other apps to make Slack a central hub for getting things done. Apps such as Google Drive, Dropbox, Mailchimp, Salesforce, Twitter and others will turn your Slack into a powerhouse.

The Slackbot feature is used for setting reminders.

With its easy note-taking and powerful search capabilities, Slack is probably one of the most powerful online tools out there today, as well as one of the fastest growing tools for business.

 

Trello

 This is an app ideally suited for collaborating with others and working on group projects. For individual use, it is easy to categorize projects, to-do lists, and generally keeping track of things.

This cloud-based app can be synced across devices, which is required these days, as most everyone has a smart phone and laptop.

It is also visually appealing, as you create a series of virtual “cards” and arrange them how you like. With this arrangement, you can color-code items, tag people needing updates and manage deadlines.

 If you love creating boards for different projects and ideas, this platform is just for you. Think Pinterest without the pins.

Planoly

 A tool focused on Instagram for business use. Plan your content ahead of time. There are upgrade options available, allowing users to add up to ten Instagram accounts for team members to contribute to building the perfect grid.

The interface is attractive; easy for uploading, drag and drop, scheduling posts, and notifications to post. Planoly offers both app and desktop options for versatile use.

 Its dashboard calendar and basic analysis tool gives essential information on the time you posted each day and the number of likes received. One small drawback is that there are no editing tools, and you must upgrade to add more than one account.

 

Bonsai

 An online platform that helps freelancers streamline their invoicing and contracting processes.

It’s a way for you to manage multiple projects at once, automatically generating legally-binding contracts and invoices. It’s great for those just starting out by saving a lot of time on research with regards to contracts and invoices.

With an upgrade, users get access to as many features as you need as well as Bonsai’s support team. Contracts are customizable depending on the type of work you do, and the wizard will create legal documents after answering a few questions. The invoices are generated depending on the type of contract.

I hope you liked my list of essential tools I use as a freelancer, that you could easily use as well! If you are just getting started in the world of freelancing make sure to read these 3 Honest Questions to Ask Yourself Before Becoming a Freelancer. Which tools do you use to stay on track? Leave a comment below!