FOR DESIGNERS + ENTREPRENEURS
My Business Tools & Resources
"Hey, what do you recommend for...?!"
Whether you’re an entrepreneur trying to figure out how to send out contracts and collect payments, or an established designer wondering just how I got that fancy marquee scroll to work without coding on a recent site – this resource list will showcase everything I currently use within my business!
I want to emphasize that last part – these are only resources that I personally use and love. None of that shady business of popping items on here juuust because I’ve got an affiliate code for it, even though I’d never actually use it. Boo. We hate that, y’all!
That being said, I absolutely do have affiliate links for a few of these. So if you shop from this page, I might receive a commission. This doesn’t cost you anything – it actually might save you some $$. Woop woop!
WEBSITE RESOURCES
My Picks For WordPress, Showit & General Web Design
Elementor Website Builder
If I’m building a WordPress website, I’m 10000% using Elementor! This drag & drop visual builder eliminates coding & makes updating your website easy peezy.
Plus Addons for Elementor
This WP plugin expands Elementor functionality by adding an extra 120+ widgets & extensions to it. The “Carousel Anything” widget is my most-used!
PowerPack for Elementor
This is another WP plugin to expand Elementor’s functionality. The Google Maps widget is great for IDX real estate sites & I love the whitelabeling feature.
SiteGround WP Hosting
This is the only WordPress hosting I recommend to my clients. Their support team is unmatched & I’m a huge fan of the staging tool on the GrowBig plan!
Showit Website Builder
If I’m not building on WordPress, then you can find me on Showit! This code-free, drag-and-drop website builder mimics an Adobe platform on the backend.
Termageddon Policies
Website can require different legal policies & it’s confusing. Termageddon is what I use for myself & clients, since it auto updates policies (!!) as laws change.
Adobe XD for Mockups
I use Adobe XD to design site mockups before development. It streamlines my client feedback process & I even use it for creating social graphics.
Thrivecart eComm & LMS
I use ThriveCart for selling my digital products, managing affiliates & hosting my educational resources via Learn. The lifetime account is a nice perk as well!
DESIGNER RESOURCES
Tools & Software I Use Within My Design Business
Client Process Templates
The Designer Business Templates by Gigi of One6Creative cover every single step of your client process. The Project Proposal alone has helped me book 10k+ dream projects!
You can purchase these a la carte, or swipe the full bundle that includes all seven templates at a special price that saves you over $370. I have the full bundle!
Client Process Templates
The Designer Business Templates by Gigi of One6Creative cover every single step of your client process. The Project Proposal alone has helped me book 10k+ dream projects!
You can purchase these a la carte, or swipe the full bundle that includes all seven templates at a special price that saves you over $370. I have the full bundle!
HoneyBook CRM
One of the first investments I ever made in my business! I primarily use HoneyBook to send out my contracts & invoices (automatic payment reminders = big yes).
Flodesk Email Marketing
Flodesk is a drag-and-drop email marketing platform that’s perfect for total email newbies, or designers who want a truly custom, branded look.
Loom Screenshare Videos
From onboarding clients with welcome videos, to sending out custom support video libraries when a project ends – I use Loom on a daily basis!
Creative Market
Custom fonts, illustrations, icons, Canva templates, stock photos – whatever design elements you may need for a project, you can find them here.
Inshot Video Editor
I’m not a huge fan of editing Reels directly in Instagram, or TikToks natively either. This is my favorite app to create quick, on-brand video content.
Google Workspace
I purchase all of my domains through Google & have a separate workspace set up for each of my brands. Plus, Google docs makes client collaboration so easy.
EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES
Learn From My Favorite Design Experts
Showit-All: A Comprehensive Showit Course for Website Designers
Created for aspiring and existing website designers, Showit-All is the internet’s most comprehensive Showit course so you can become a bonafide platform expert, build a rock solid business, and start making bank.
Seriously, if you want to learn how to use Showit as a website designer this is the course for you. Not only is it hosted by the one and only Katie of Rebel+Rise (who I’ve personally worked with multiple times), but yours truly will even be doing a guest training in the course’s private Facebook group all about VIP Days!
The Breakthrough Designer: Master The Art of Running A Profitable & Referral-Worthy Design Business
I took this course by Gigi at One6Creative right after I went full-time within my business. While I had a full client roster & an incredible portfolio, I had never run my own business before & I was wasting so much time figuring out foundational business areas (like my client process, for starters).
I’ve taken a lot of courses, and this is one of the few that actually made a quantifiable impact on my business by increasing my closing rate to nearly 90%, streamlining my processes, & increasing the value I provide to clients. Plus, I made some lifelong designer friends along the way!
Free Kiss My Aesthetic Facebook Group for Branding, Marketing, & Entrepreneurship
This Facebook group by Michelle of MKW Creative Co. is one of my favorite online spaces to ask for advice on client projects, connect with other biz owners, and gain inspiration!
You can also catch live design trainings by Michelle & guest speakers (including yours truly!) & even join the “Kiss My Portfolio Challenge” if you’re a newer designer looking to enhance your portfolio & get feedback from real design professionals.
Free Day Rate Training for Designers
Whether you’re a designer that’s brand new to the idea of a day rate model, or you’re interested in streamlining your current client process – this free webinar will walk you through the freedom that day rates provide, and why they’re my most sought after service!
This is also a great introductory overview for any designer who is considering the masterclass.
