Do you ever feel like your task list spins out of control? Or that your schedule could use better management? Do you wish communicating with clients could happen a little more organically?
Your business needs efficient methods that help you get more done and save time. Does getting tools and programs sound expensive and time-consuming? I have news for you: You don’t have to spend a chunk of money on resources to get ahead. And it doesn’t have to take much time to learn a few new tricks of the trade!
We’ve got several recommendations about programs and apps that offer tried and true services to assist entrepreneurs.
Filling Your Tool Belt
A carpenter would have a hard time trying to drive nails and cut materials without his tools. He requires a well-stocked set to make sure he’s prepared for his job. As a remote worker, you need to have a set of tools at your fingertips, too.
I know you want to save money, especially as you get your business established and work toward acquiring paying clients. Eventually, you’ll have to invest a portion of your budget and buy some tools. But we recommend our members try some incredible tools that have no cost and can save you time, money, and frustration.
Having the right tools in your belt will help you accomplish more, and do it efficiently.
4 Types of Programs Every Remote Worker Needs
Manage your business with ease with help from tools like these :
1. Project Management
Many remote workers find that project management quickly gets overwhelming when steady work starts coming in. When clients ask about the status of their project, you want to be able to give them a quick answer and know exactly how it’s coming along.
Especially as you start to hire employees or contractors to help you, you’ll need something to keep projects orderly, manageable, and deadline-focused. Managing sprawling aspects of projects between multiple people feel hectic if you don’t have a plan in place.
Programs like Monday and Airtable help you seamlessly manage projects, even with a large team. You can automate many items based on assignments and deadlines, and you can set up checks and notifications for each task. As the manager, you can look at an overview of all projects, so you’ll know exactly what’s coming up—and how you can accomplish it.
2. Time Management
Honestly, I don’t know of anything more challenging for remote workers than time management. Now that you have the freedom to make decisions about how you use your time, you need to have a plan so that it doesn’t actually cause you more stress. Otherwise, your freedom doesn’t benefit you. Make sure you set up a good system, so you don’t end up with a huge pile of work right before a big deadline.
I often like to use the Pomodoro method to manage my time throughout my work day. Basically, you focus on working during 25-minute intervals, and you take a 5-minute break between each. You can find a handful of free mobile apps and web-based timers built specifically for this technique, like Marinara Timer or Be Focused. Or you can just set the timer app on your phone for 25 minutes and get to work!
I also use calendar apps, like Google Calendar, to help me have a broad overview of deadlines, meetings, holidays, events, and anything else that affects my schedule.
3. Video Communication
Want to save time instead of typing out long emails to prospects that they may or may not read? Want to avoid the hassle of trying to set up meetings between busy schedules? Check out video message apps like Loom or SoapBox. You can get free versions of both of these, but others are available. Look for the one that best suits your business’s needs.
These apps allow you to create quick, custom videos of yourself and your screen, so you can easily send a visual demonstration. We recommend this method for its eye-catching qualities and the ease of communication. I use them for training, communicating with my team, prospecting to clients, and talking through projects with clients. Plus, they can easily be repurposed into learning content for new remote workers to learn from!
4. Day Planning
Knowing your individual days are organized, goal-oriented, and set up for success will help you feel motivated and keep you from feeling unsure about what you ought to do next.
You don’t want to keep scribbling your task lists and goals on little scraps of paper that you misplace. Instead, try an organizational app like Microsoft’s ToDo or Asana. These can help you keep up with overall projects and help you break them down into manageable tasks.
Asana also has options for helping you to set long- and short-term goals. Another free option that works great if you like visuals and physically writing things out: Passion Planner’s free PDF downloads. Their Roadmap download helps you map out and visualize your goals before breaking them down into small steps. They also have a variety of calendars available to download that can help you with daily schedules and task management.
These tools and ideas should give you a good starting point for handling day-to-day responsibilities, as well as working toward your long-term business goals.
If you want to learn how to build a recession-proof, automated business, check out our FREE, 15-minute training and start generating at least $8K per month in weeks.