Our Fav Business Tools
Since starting our business back in January of 2020, we have gone through countless different platforms and softwares to figure out what would best serve us and our clients. We needed platforms that would allow us to save time and stay as organized as possible. As a business owner, you likely end up wearing many of the (if not all) hats, so having these systems in place in the beginning will make your life so much easier down the road!
So, without further ado… here are the platforms we can’t get enough of and use on the daily!
For Task Management: Monday
Since Christy and I are a two-woman show, we really needed something to help us break up tasks for ourselves and our clients. We wanted something that would allow us to assign each other tasks and see where things are in our workflow so nothing gets left behind. Monday is perfect for this! We have groups for each client (including ourselves…for example, writing these blog posts!) and then further broken down into task type (i.e. content creation, pinterest board set up, etc.) and then assign it to each other with a due date. Monday sends updates each morning so you can easily see what you have queued up as high priority that day (game changer!).
Click here to check it out.
For Pinterest: Tailwind
Tailwind has been a lifesaver when it comes to saving time and batching content specifically for Pinterest pins. Ideally, you want to have about 5 static pins going out per day and mixing in those idea pins weekly. While Tailwind does not currently offer scheduling idea pins, you can schedule out those static pins in advance! It allows you to upload your images, choose the boards you want them to go to, write in your pin name and description (don’t forget those keywords!), and a link to direct users back too. It then allows you to schedule the pins out at optimal times for the best engagement for your account! We like to schedule out a month in advance, that way we are always ahead of the game.
Tailwind also offers a feature called “Tailwind Communities” which allows you to join communities in your niche and add in your favorite pins. People in your niche can then repin your pins for double the reach (and you can do the same for them). It is essentially like sharing communities for double the reach in your target audience!
Try it here!
For Scheduling Content: Later
Since we are in the world of social media marketing, a scheduling app was a must have for us. It can get overwhelming trying to remember to post for your own account, much less five or more other accounts as well. A great way to plan, batch content and stay organized is to use a scheduling app. We have tried a handful of different options, but we keep coming back to Later.
Later allows you to upload your content, organize it into folders and schedule out single posts and carousels to various accounts. It also has emojis integrated and hashtag suggestions which we find super convenient! After you finish batching your content, you can even preview how it is going to look and move things around until you find the most aesthetically pleasing feed!
There is a free option available, so try it out here! (heads up that the free version only allows for single posts, not carousels).
For Client Management: Dubsado
While it definitely has a learning curve, Dubsado is well worth the time to set it up. It is a system that is completely customizable to your business and your workflows. It allows us to keep track of all our clients and makes the client experience so much smoother.
Our favorite part about Dubsado is how organized it keeps us and saves us a ton of time. You can create “canned” emails that you send to all your clients for proposals, sending out meeting invites, welcome emails, etc. so that you don’t have to retype them over and over. It also allows you to create workflows based on the type of project you are working on and apply it to the client so you always know where they are in your workflow and what the next step is for them.
Dubsado is a game changer for your business if you are looking to grow & scale, be more productive, and show up as the expert and a more professional biz owner. Try it here and get 20% off your first month or year!
For Hashtag Research: Flick.Tech
As SMMs, we have also tried out a number of resources for researching hashtags. We by far love using Flick over the rest! They make searching for the right hashtags in your niche so easy, organize them by competition and allow you to create groups and collections so you can easily copy and paste. They also keep track of which hashtags are ranking on your profile so you know which ones to keep using and which to switch out for new ones.
Our favorite part of Flick is the analytics they provide. They allow you to see how your account stacks up against other accounts in your niche. They also not only take a deep dive into the analytics for your hashtag performance, but also your content and account overall performance. All of the insights are so helpful to understand when checking in on your marketing strategy to see where you can improve for the future. Try Flick.Tech today!
About Us:
Hey, it’s Christy and Olivia! (hence the “CO” in Thrive CO Marketing ;)).
We are social media strategists, coffee enthusiasts, dog + cat mamas, and huge supporters of other female entrepreneurs.
We’re passionate about your brand story being clearly portrayed through your social media presence. Here to help bad ass women (like yourself) build their online community and level up their business.
We are most known for our marketing strategies that were deeply ingrained in us through countless brand marketing projects in school. Each one specific to your business, industry and platform. When you work with us, the success of your business becomes just as important to us as it is to you.