We’re convinced that there is nothing better than finding tools and resources and software that you actually (like, REALLY actually) use and focus on in your business, especially in a ~very~ saturated market of “must-have” biz resources and tools to choose from.

But, can we all just agree that hearing from fellow entrepreneurs and business owners about the tools and software they use is SO dang fun?! We love it. So, today, we wanted to dive into the things that WE rely on with our team. 

What we look for in tools and resources

When you’re really trying to streamline your business processes, there are an overwhelming amount of tools that people are going to recommend to you… and that’s putting it *lightly.* We’ve tried out a zillion and one things over here (some of which have been great and some of which have been… not so much), and our team has realized that these are the most important things to look for when trying things out:

• Ease of use: No one wants to use a tool or a resource that feels complicated and overwhelming — no one. That’s why we’re huge on only using resources and tools that feel truly simple and streamlined, and it’s why we pay so much attention to only trying out things that we know our entire team can manage.
• Cost per use: To put it simply, you don’t need every tool that someone tells you you do. You just don’t. And, you likely don’t need the paid version of everything, either! When you’re trying out new business tools and resources, really consider how much you’ll actually use something before deciding to pay for it.
• Flexibility: Not every business is the same, which is why flexibility in tools and software is so massively important. When you’re digging into new tools, make sure you can adjust the settings and set it up from the backend in ways that are truly and actually beneficial to what you and your business need.

The Tools and Software We Use Over Here at System Envy

Here’s the thing: what works for one business owner might not work for you, right? But, man… when you find the things that DO work for you, it’s like magic. From our content calendars all the way to the tools we use to find stock photos, there are a lot of resources we love and use day to day and week to week. 

Day Designer: Is there anything better than a planner that you TRULY love and rely on each and every day? That’s how we all feel about Day Designer, which is the most well-designed planner any of us have ever used. The Day Designer is built to truly help you, well, design your day, and is really flexible for planning out days, weeks, and months.

Haute Stock: We are pretty much convinced that stock photos can be 1 of 2 things: horrific or stunning. And, obviously, we want the stunning ones, right? It’s why we rely on Haute Stock so much, which is a stock photo membership full of on-brand stock photos that we use on everything from blog posts to ad campaigns. A winner.

Asana: If you’ve tried out task management platforms before, you’ve likely been left ~wildly~ confused and frustrated… which is why we love Asana so much. It’s streamlined and easy to use, and it’s what we turn to at System Envy to build out content calendars, keep track of deadlines, and assign tasks to each team member.

Later/Tailwind: Social media management is a way of life these days, and Later and Tailwind are our BFFs. We use Tailwind (and are obsessed with its easy interface!) for scheduling Pinterest pins, and we use Later to plan out and schedule Instagram feed posts. The. Best.

Slack: These days, there are WAY more effective ways to communicate with your team and your clients than email… and it’s why we turn to Slack. Slack lets you create chat channels for a variety of people and topics (we use them for specific clients, for general conversation, for direct messages, and for specialties like copy and strategy), and will quickly become a mainstay in your biz.

GSuite: Google makes everything easy when it comes to content and email, and we rely on it like crazy. From Google Docs to Google Sheets to Google Drive, we use GSuite for truly everything at System Envy. From creating image folders to writing blog content, there’s really nothing you can use that’s easier or more efficient than GSuite.

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If you’ve been looking for some new tools and software to try out, we can’t recommend these enough. However, here’s a reminder: do what feels right for you and your business. 

That’s what matters most.