1. Notion - All-in-One Workspace

The Essential Ten

This has become my digital brain. I use it for everything from yearly projects to content planning. What I love is that I can organise things in a way that actually makes sense to me, rather than trying to fit into a too rigid system/layout.

2. Canva - Effortless Design

While I sometimes need more professional design software, Canva is my go-to for quick projects. I use it constantly for social media graphics, presentations, client guides - pretty much anything visual that needs to look good without spending hours on design. It just makes things simpler.

3. CHATGPT - AI Research & Brainstorming

ChatGPT has become my research and brainstorming buddy. I use it primarily for gathering information and padding out ideas to then develop in my own way. It's particularly helpful for exploring different angles on a topic or understanding complex concepts quickly. What I appreciate most is how it can spark new thoughts while letting me keep control of the creative direction.

4. SQUARESPACE/SHOWIT - WEBSITE BUILDERS

I've used Squarepsace extensively over the years and more recently Showit (this website uses the Showit platform). Squarespace is great when you want something that looks good without too much fuss, while ShowIt gives you more freedom to customise. Neither will have you pulling your hair out with technical details, which is exactly what I need.

5. FLODESK - BEAUTIFUL EMAIL MARKETING

I actually enjoy creating newsletters now, which I never thought I'd say. After trying several platforms, I stuck with Flodesk because it just feels simpler to use. The emails look good without having to fiddle around with technical settings for hours.

6. GOOGLE DRIVE & DROPBOX - CLOUD STORAGE & COLLABORATION

These are so embedded in how we work that I almost forgot to include them! We keep all our images and videos in Dropbox, everything else lives in Google Drive. They just work quietly in the background, keeping everything organised and backed up. The real-time collaboration in Google Drive is particularly helpful when working with others.

8. XERO/QUICKBOOKS - SIMPLE ACCOUNTING

We've been using Xero for over a decade now. It just sits there in the background handling all the financial bits, keeping everything organised and compliant. Makes expenses, forecasting and year end so much less stressful.

7. CLAUDE - AI Writing & Marketing Assistant

I use Claude as my go-to writing partner and marketing assistant. What I particularly value is how it helps refine ideas and improve writing while maintaining my natural voice. It's become invaluable for when you need a thoughtful second opinion on content or want to explore different ways to express ideas. Unlike many AI tools, it really understands context and helps elevate your own thinking rather than trying to replace it.

9. SLACK - TEAM COMMUNICATION

Even as a small team working with freelancers, this has made communication so much cleaner. No more endless email chains or scattered WhatsApp messages - everything work-related stays in Slack where we can actually find it again later.

10. MILANOTE - MOOD BOARDS & VISUAL BRAINSTORMING

This one really gets how creative minds work. When I'm in the early stages of planning something and need space to play with ideas, it's perfect. It helps to give a healthy amount of structure to the potential chaos of creative planning without boxing you in.

Finding Your Natural Tech Stack

What I've learned through using these tools is that the best platforms are those that support how you prefer to work, rather than you thinking you need to change how you think. They should feel like helpful assistants rather than demanding taskmasters.

Consider how you naturally organise information, communicate with clients, and develop ideas. The right tools will enhance these natural patterns rather than disrupting them. Start with one or two that address your most pressing needs, then gradually build your collection as you discover what truly supports your work.

It's a really good idea to every six months or so to do some research to see what's now available as incredible tools are fast becoming available, but it's also important to remember that it needs a balance, rather than having every possible tool - find the ones that genuinely help you work better while maintaining the quality and care that makes what you do unique and enjoyable.

"The right digital tools don't just save time - they create space for your best work to develop naturally."