![]() ![]() A good reason for this is its ability to sync across different devices, and its ability to incorporate feeds from multiple different calendars (ex. In a recent #PostChat session on the business of being a freelanacer, the one tool that came up over and over again was Google Calendar. It doesn't do everything that Microsoft Office does, but for being free (both as in beer and speech) it is definitely worth a look. If you prefer a traditional desktop application, you should give OpenOffice a look. If you need some help, check out this post on how to get started setting up Google Apps for your business. If you haven't started using Googles tools already, I would recommend signing up now. The sharing model for Google Docs would be awesome for production briefs, timelines, etc. It also has the added bonus of being accessible anywhere, via your iPhone, iPad, or Android device. With Docs, I find that I don't run into the same version control and compatibility issues that I do with Office. The minimal feature set of Google apps suits me, and I find that it's much easier to share files with clients and co-workers using Google Docs, than it is to email Word documents back and forth. While I haven't completely banished Microsoft Office from my computer (as a business guy, my muscle memory is associated with Excel keyboard shortcuts), I'm getting pretty close. Synching with the native iPhone email app is great, and mobile life is even better when you install the Gmail App on your iPhone (it's the default on Android). ![]() Between tags and search, I can find email messages with ease. ![]() A message can be simultaneously associated with the client name, the project, etc. With Google's tag based organization, the email can be tagged as many fields as you want. Pre-Gmail, when trying to track a message down I would ask myself if it was filed in the folder with a person's name, the folder associated with a project, or somewhere else. I'm terrible at remembering where I've stored messages. Gmail also solves another longstanding problem I've had with email. There is tons of storage so I can hold onto everything I get, the spam filters are amazing, and I love creating rules to process messages from different people. While I'm not fond of the volume of email that I get, I find that Gmail is an amazing way to manage it. Gmail helps me efficiently manage a mountain of email, and the office tools like Google Docs make it easy to share and collaborate with others. I would recommend this for anyone looking for a way to get rid of bloated and costly desktop apps. The core of my virtual office is Google Apps for Business. If you have had a different experience with these tools, or if you have other recommendations, please share your perspective in the comments. I have found them to be useful and wanted to pass them along. There aren't any affiliate links to these tools, and I have nothing personal to gain from recommending them. These are simply the ones that I have personally used and feel comfortable recommending. This isn't meant to be an exhaustive list of productivity and efficiency tools. ![]() Here are my thoughts on tools that you can use to run your business like a boss. This can range from the administrivia associated with invoicing customers and getting paid, to keeping up with your contacts (you want the work to keep flowing don't you?) and managing your hectic schedule. Where I suspect that you (and most other business owners) have productivity issues is around the supporting activities that are part of running your own business. Most editors I know are pretty efficient with their main creative tools. This post isn't about telling you what NLE to use, what plugins you need, or where to get stock footage. ![]()
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