Most freelance writers have heard of (and probably use) online writing tool assistants such as Grammarly and Hemingway, not to mention file-sharing apps like Dropbox and Google Docs.
However, if you are starting out on your freelance journey, you might not know about some of the other online tools that could be used to provide extra help and support for your freelance writing business and clients.
Here are 5 more useful tools for freelance writers and content creators.
1. Social media scheduling tools
If you post social media content for your brand or your clients, a social media scheduler tool to help you plan content in advance is helpful.
Online schedulers automate all your social media content, giving you more time to focus on your business.
Most schedulers can also provide helpful analytics so you can see how well your social media campaigns are doing. Examples of schedulers include Hootsuite, Vista Social and Buffer.
To help create and plan timely posts for key dates and events throughout the year that are relatable to your brand, a quick search online for ‘key social media dates’ can help you make the most of these dates, special awareness days, and events.
2. SEO research tools
If you are an SEO copywriter, you’ll likely need an online SEO tool for keyword research.
These can vary in price, and some do have a limited free version or free trial period.
In addition to the big names such as Semrush, Moz, and Ahrefs, it’s worth shopping around as more products and apps are appearing in the market to help with keyword research and SEO without the hefty price tag.
Other options include Ubersuggest, a free keyword research tool, and Keywords Everywhere, a freemium Chrome extension.
3. Wireframe tools
While generally used by designers to create a mockup of a website or design, wireframe tools can also be useful for website copywriters when working in conjunction with website designers. They can also show the client where the copy and content might be best placed to allow for the most conversions.
Examples include tools such as Whimsical, Figma, Balsamiq, and Lucidchart.
So, if your work includes UX copy or website copy, wireframe tools can guide your clients as to where the copy should be best placed and how it will look when ‘live’.
4. Invoicing software
When it comes to billing your clients and getting paid on time, invoicing software that comes with professionally designed templates (so you don’t have to put together the invoices yourself and can avoid errors) is a must-have for any freelance writer who wants to come across as professional and trustworthy.
Invoice Ninja is a leading free invoicing software for small business invoicing, online payments, tracking expenses and billable tasks. It also includes attractive, professional invoice template designs you can customize with your logo and brand colors.
A super helpful feature for managing client work is Invoice Ninja’s tasks and project feature, which allows you to create projects and tasks and track time spent on billable work. When you’re done with a task or series of tasks within a project, simply click and send your work time to an invoice with just 1-click!
Try it for free here.
5. Video makers
While a video-making tool might not be the first thing that comes to mind when thinking about tools for freelance writers, in today’s fast-paced digital world, visually appealing video content is becoming ever more popular.
You don’t have to be a YouTube sensation or even appear in your videos, but tools like Lumen5 can make your content stand out – it can even be used to re-purpose existing blog posts into social videos that you can share.
Other similar video-making tools include Camtasia, InVideo, and Filmora. There are lots of video-making tools on the market now – so it pays to shop around and choose the best one for your needs and budget.
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All the tools mentioned above can be used to help you in your freelance writing business. If you know of anyone else who might benefit from knowing about these tools – please share. Thank you!