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Blog Tips, Content Tips · January 25, 2021

5 Tools You Can’t Run Your Blog Without That You Need Right Now!

As a blogger, you’re exposed to many apps and websites that offer different functions and features to help run your blog. Over the years, I’ve extensively tested many of these tools for bloggers and here are my 5 Tools You Can’t Run Your Blog Without That You Need Right Now!

A bold statement to make, but believe me! It can be overwhelming with the vast variety of blog tools on the market you don’t know what to try. Let’s face it we’re all trying to save our money too and can’t afford to try every paid app and website. I understand we’re on the same wavelength. In the same breath, there are also tools you just can’t skim on and you need to invest if you take your brand seriously.

Table of Contents

  • Canva
  • Planoly
  • Notion
  • Google Drive
  • Flodesk

Canva

You guys are probably giving me a major eye roll, but hear me out. Canva is an incredible tool that you seriously NEED as a blogger or small business owner. The Canva Pro Subscription is worth the money spent. The number of graphics you need for creating content for your social media platforms, newsletters and blog is overwhelming. You need a good graphic design tool that allows you to quickly create graphics on the fly. We’re all no graphic designs, but Canva has amazing templates that you can easily swap out with your branding.

I go more in-depth with Canva on a previous blog post which you can read over here.

blog tools, blogging tips, tools for bloggers, blog tools and resources, tools for bloggers you can't live without
blog tools, blogging tips, tools for bloggers, blog tools and resources, tools you can't run your blog without

Planoly

Now that you have all your professional graphics you need to plan them on your social media platforms right? Another tool I will forever sing praises too. Planoly is the best tool for planning your Instagram and Pinterest. Planoly also allows you to comment on your posts, check the best time to post for your account and many other features which I use daily. You can test the app with their free version do keep in mind that because it’s free you are limited to only 30 posts and, you don’t have access to some of their core features like the best time to post which I find extremely useful.

Find a detailed review on Why I Love Planoly here.

Notion

If you’re a digital planner like myself you need an intuitive app where you can plan your entire content calendar. Notion is that tool for me. You can use these amazing templates so whether you need a blog planner, a content planner or want to keep your brand kit elements in one place this app is a beast! I have a content calendar to help keep track of my content ideas and track what I need to do on each of them. I have something similar for my blog planner page. I can track everything I need done on a specific blog post. 

The app automatically syncs with all your devices so whether you need to capture a quick idea on your phone or write your blog post on the desktop app it syncs! This app is like Trello on steroids! There is so much you can do with Notion I use it to plan my life. It’s the ultimate blog tool for any blogger, content creator or a small business owner.

Google Drive

Google Drive is my go-to file storage system. I keep it pretty organised and love that it syncs with all my other google tools. Dropbox is another great option and, you can easily share links if you want to share a particular folder with someone. Perhaps you work on a brand deal and need approval from a brand. This is a great way to share and store your files safely and its FREE!

Flodesk

One tool I couldn’t live without that I’ve discovered late last year was Flodesk! Flodesk is the best email marketing platform that helps you create beautiful emails with no coding or headaches required at an unbeatable price. I chose to pay for Flodesk as I felt like my emails where lacking. The crappy Mailchimp templates and lack of workflows made me not enjoy setting up emails. Now that I’ve been using Flodesk, I love creating emails! 

Flodesk also has these workflows which are essentially a series of automated emails you set up once. I have a welcome sequence which means when someone signs up this workflow of emails will be sent to the email subscriber. I will go more in-depth with Flodesk in a future post because there is so much to share. They truly offer so much value if you want to grow your email list.

You can use my affiliate code here to get 50% off your Flodesk subscription for life! They are still in beta so pricing will increase soon. You can also trial Flodesk for an entire month for FREE!

Have you tried any of these 5 tools you can’t run your blog without? Let me know which blog tools you couldn’t live without in the comments below.

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In: Blog Tips, Content Tips · Tagged: blog tools, email marketing

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Comments

  1. Ashley | Make Life Marvelous says

    January 25, 2021 at 9:31 pm

    I use three out of these five! 🙂 I use another provider for my emails, but I have to admit, I could definitely use some better template options! I haven’t heard of Notion before, but it sounds really awesome!

    Wishing you the most amazing week ahead, Candice!

    Make Life Marvelous

    Reply
    • Candice Sandler says

      January 25, 2021 at 9:54 pm

      Notion is amazing for planning! You would absolutely love it!

      Reply
  2. Lovely says

    January 26, 2021 at 4:26 am

    I love Canva. Their templates are brilliant!
    xoxo
    Lovely
    http://www.mynameislovely.com

    Reply
    • Candice Sandler says

      January 26, 2021 at 2:25 pm

      It’s for sure one of the tools every creator needs!

      Reply
  3. Iridescent Places says

    January 26, 2021 at 12:11 pm

    I love Canva but I’ve not used these other ones. I definitely need to be using some new and more tools for my blog just to also plan them too xx

    http://www.iridescentplaces.com

    Reply
    • Candice Sandler says

      January 26, 2021 at 2:27 pm

      Hope you find these other tools helpful as well.

      Reply
  4. Chelshea Flo says

    January 26, 2021 at 12:32 pm

    Canva is my life-saver for sure! I use it almost everyday and for urgent things when I need to design but I don’t bring my laptop.
    I also use Planoly to arrange my social media. Nowadays there are lot of app that are very helpful for content creator like us!
    Thank you for sharing by the way 🙂

    xoxo,
    |CHELSHEAFLO|

    NEW POST :
    https://www.chelsheaflo.com/2021/01/review-looke-cosmetics-holy-flawless-bb.html

    Reply
    • Candice Sandler says

      January 26, 2021 at 2:26 pm

      I totally agree! I am so happy these tools are available to make things easier for content creators.

      Reply
  5. Katy Stephenson says

    January 26, 2021 at 1:18 pm

    Canva is such a winner, I don’t know what I’d do without it!

    Katy | http://www.katystephenson.com

    Reply
    • Candice Sandler says

      January 26, 2021 at 2:27 pm

      Totally agree with you! It’s super helpful for creators.

      Reply
  6. jodieloue says

    January 26, 2021 at 1:50 pm

    I have heard such amazing things about Notion, I need to give it a try for sure!

    Jodie | jodieloue.com

    Reply
    • Candice Sandler says

      January 26, 2021 at 2:25 pm

      It’s amazing! It’s the only tool I now have to take down notes and I use it as my content planner.

      Reply
  7. alimackin2013 says

    January 26, 2021 at 7:50 pm

    Ah very inspiring and helpful, thanks for the info on these apps! 🙂

    Allie of
    http://www.allienyc.com

    Reply
    • Candice Sandler says

      January 27, 2021 at 11:03 am

      I hope you try some of them. Let me know if you enjoy them.

      Reply
    • Candice Sandler says

      January 27, 2021 at 2:03 pm

      So glad you finding it useful!

      Reply
  8. NatGutmor says

    January 26, 2021 at 11:45 pm

    Great tools! My blog could not exist without Drive 🙂

    Lindifique

    Reply
    • Candice Sandler says

      January 27, 2021 at 11:01 am

      So glad you like them! Are you currently using any of these?

      Reply
  9. Tracy says

    January 27, 2021 at 2:56 am

    I just switched over to Flodesk and it makes life so much easier! And my emails look more professional! I do need to check out Notion through! It looks so good!

    -Tracy
    Find Your Dazzle

    Reply
    • Candice Sandler says

      January 28, 2021 at 3:13 pm

      So glad you love Flodesk as well! It makes creating emails so much easier.

      Reply
  10. Alice Anne says

    January 27, 2021 at 5:27 pm

    I’m such a sucker for Canva – it helps so much xx

    Reply
    • Candice Sandler says

      January 28, 2021 at 3:14 pm

      It’s definitely a must have tool for any creator.

      Reply
  11. zoeyolivia says

    January 27, 2021 at 10:06 pm

    Ooo I haven’t heard of these apart from google drive! Thanks for the tips. x

    Zoey | http://www.zoeyolivia.com

    Reply
    • Candice Sandler says

      January 28, 2021 at 3:11 pm

      Hope you find them useful! You should definitely look into them.

      Reply
  12. jasminestewart3382 says

    January 27, 2021 at 10:50 pm

    Ooh I might have to check out Notion – thanks!

    Jasmine xx

    Reply
    • Candice Sandler says

      January 28, 2021 at 3:15 pm

      I hope you enjoy it! Notion helps me keep track of everything.

      Reply
  13. Diane says

    January 28, 2021 at 11:57 pm

    I have never tried canva but it sounds great !

    http://www.fruityandpassion.com/2021/01/home-issue-where-to-find-your-artwork.html#more

    Reply
    • Candice Sandler says

      January 30, 2021 at 8:15 am

      OMG – you totally missing out. You definitely need to try it.

      Reply
  14. shianne says

    January 29, 2021 at 4:10 am

    CANVA is my fav!! also love this post such great tips and tools
    shy – https://www.shyyshianne.com/

    Reply
  15. Bernadette says

    January 30, 2021 at 11:01 pm

    I’m constantly looking for tools to help me blog so I’ll need to look into these ones!

    http://www.themakeupaficionado.com

    Reply
    • Candice Sandler says

      January 31, 2021 at 8:10 am

      I hope you have fun – they are tools I just cannot live without.

      Reply
  16. Laura Louise says

    February 14, 2021 at 11:14 pm

    I SO need to get on board with Canva! x

    Reply

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