As someone who offers multiple services, I have my hands in a lot of pots. That means I need tools that I can rely on to get the job done no matter what I have planned for the day. I’ve tried out a lot of different websites and programs over the years and even go back to a few of them depending on the task, but some are old faithfuls I never let go.
What are these six tools that I’m using for most projects? Read on to find out!
1) Microsoft Word/Excel
I grew up using Microsoft programs in school and despite trying others throughout the years, I always come back to Word and Excel. As someone who writes a lot of content, nearly every story or piece I write is typed in Microsoft Word. I find it easier to type everything in a Word document and have it checked for grammar and spelling errors then move it to where it will be published rather than writing it straight on the website or other platform. The only time I don’t write something in Word is social media posts, though some do make their way into the program before being sent.
I’m a spreadsheet nerd and Excel is one of my favorite places to hang out. I create a report for a client four days a week that is exclusively done in Excel and most research project I do also utilize the program. I prefer the sorting and formula features Excel has along with its many other tools when having to run calculations or combine data.
2) Adobe Acrobat
If I have to edit or combine PDFs, Acrobat is my go-to. I combine PDFs for a project I do a few times a week and pedigree books I create also spend time in Acrobat. I’ve tried a lot of different programs to edit PDFs and Acrobat has hands down been the most responsive on that front. It also easily lets me combine different files, so it’s an all-in-one type of program for me.
As an added bonus, Acrobat lets me sign documents – making it the perfect all-around program for what I need.
3) Adobe Photoshop
Photoshop is what I like to joke is my workshop, because I do a little bit of everything with photos in there. From a simple cropping of a photo to a more intense edit, Photoshop is my go-to.
One great thing about Photoshop is that I have my own filter presets, so it keeps the photo style for my clients consistent from event to event. Pyrois Media also has a certain look for photos I use across my platforms, so I’m able to use filters for that. There are also places where I have to deal with certain lighting that isn’t optimal when I’m shooting other sports – such as hockey – and I have set a few different Photoshop filters to account for the different conditions I encounter. This makes editing a breeze for me no matter what I’m working on.
4) Canva
I’ll admit that if you asked me a few years ago, I would have said “no” to Canva. It was easy to spot a Canva post from a mile away and didn’t have a ton of customization options to make a post stick out, so I avoided it. However, Canva has massively improved over the last two or three years on all fronts and now I make a lot of social media graphics on the site.
One of the best parts is that the pro subscription lets me save logos, colors, and fonts I use often. In addition to my own company’s brand kit, I also have clients’ colors and logo uploaded so even if I’m not on my computer where I have those things saved, I can still create a graphic quickly. This is especially important, because it means the brand’s voice can stay consistent no matter what.
5) Meta Business
This is another oldie that I’ve used for years. Meta’s Business site allows me to schedule posts on both Facebook and Instagram so I can set up everything at once and not worry if it has gone live. They have also improved the platform so you can schedule Reels, something that was seriously lacking in the past.
The Business platform also lets you see analytics for your pages, which is a huge plus. You can check out how a single post has been received or posts over a certain time frame to give you an idea of what to keep the same or change. This is especially important if you’re trying to reach new audiences or specific audiences, because you aren’t going into it blind.
There are plenty of social media schedulers on the market and this one admittedly doesn’t have options for non-Meta platforms. But with all its added tools, that isn’t much of a drawback for me.
6) Sticky Notes
The Sticky Notes app on my computer is something I use all the time. There isn’t a limit to the amount of notes you can have, so whenever I need to jot something down quickly I open a note and put it there. The Sticky Notes not only include my to-do lists, but also different things I need to remember on a consistent basis.
Right now, I have 12 different Sticky Notes on my list. They include everything from commonly used hashtags for my clients to my to-do lists and even company color codes I need when doing different things on websites and design programs. Basically, if it’s something I use often that doesn’t have to be password protected, it’s on a Sticky Note. The bonus of using the computer version of Sticky Notes is that I have them no matter where I am, and I don’t have to worry about running out of a certain color when I’m color-coding notes.
Organization is the cornerstone of keeping Pyrois Media running smoothly and giving my clients the best service possible. It has taken me quite a few tests of programs to figure out which work best for me. If you’re still trying to figure out what will make your life run smoothly, don’t be afraid to vary what you’re using.
You can always go back to your original choice if needed, and who knows, you may even find something that works even better for you than the one you were worried about leaving!
Have a media topic you’d like to see covered here? Email Melissa@PyroisMedia.com with your suggestions and you could see it in a future blog!