I have a bunch of friends who run creative businesses, and the biggest drama they have is trying to keep all the moving parts in play.

When you’re busy painting gorgeous artwork, shooting killer videos or speaking at a glamourous event, it can be easy to lose track of the business side of the business. Luckily, the right productivity tools can help you stay on top of it all.

If you want to simplify your workflow, so you can focus on what you do best: creating. Here are five productivity tools that can help streamline your processes and keep you on track.

5 best productivity tools for creative small businesses

Asana: your project management buddy

Asana is one of the most popular project management tools out there, and for good reason. It helps teams keep track of tasks, projects, and deadlines in an easy-to-use interface. With Asana, you can create detailed to-do lists, assign tasks, set deadlines, and even visualise your project timelines with Gantt charts. This is especially useful for creative businesses that juggle multiple projects at once. Whether you’re working solo or with a team, Asana ensures everything stays organised and that no task slips through the cracks.

Canva: design made simple

If design isn’t your strongest suit, Canva is the tool for you. It’s an intuitive graphic design platform that allows you to create professional-quality designs for social media, marketing materials, presentations, and more. Canva is packed with templates, so you don’t need to start from scratch. Even if you’ve never designed anything before, you can produce stunning visuals with just a few clicks. It’s ideal for small businesses that need to produce high-quality marketing materials without the cost of hiring a designer.

Notion: all-in-one workspace

Notion is a versatile tool that can be used for everything from note-taking to project management. What makes Notion unique is how customizable it is. You can create your own templates, manage tasks, take notes, build databases, and even track your projects all in one place. This makes it a great option for creative businesses that want to organise their ideas, research, and workflows without needing a ton of different tools. Notion is perfect if you like to keep everything under one roof, from brainstorming sessions to client notes.

Toggl: time tracking for better efficiency

When you’re working in a creative field, time can easily slip away. That’s where Toggl comes in. It’s a time-tracking tool that helps you monitor how long you’re spending on different tasks. Whether you’re working on a design, writing content, or handling client meetings, Toggl gives you insights into where your time is going. This is especially useful if you’re billing clients by the hour or need to make sure you’re staying on track with deadlines. By tracking your time, you can identify areas where you might be losing productivity and find ways to streamline your workflow.

Monday.com: collaborate and stay organised

Monday.com is a work operating system that helps creative teams manage projects and collaborate more effectively. It allows you to create custom workflows, track tasks, and visualise your progress with timelines and Kanban boards. Monday.com integrates with many other tools, making it easier to keep everything in one place. If you’re working with a team, Monday.com helps everyone stay on the same page and ensures that nothing gets missed. Whether you’re managing a client project or working on an internal initiative, it’s a solid choice for creative businesses that need a comprehensive project management platform.

Get more done with the right tools

There’s no one-size-fits-all solution when it comes to productivity tools, but the five tools listed above are all designed to help creative small businesses manage their workload and boost efficiency. Give them a try and see how they can improve your workflow.

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