Freelancers are constantly on the go, working with clients and projects all over the world. They need to be able to work wherever they are, whether that’s at home or on a plane. To stay productive and organized, freelancers need the right tools to make their lives easier. The following list will give you an idea of some of those tools:
PDF creation and editing, signing
When it comes to documents and contracts, the PDF format is king. It’s a relatively universal file format that can be created and edited in a variety of ways. In fact, some companies will only accept documents sent as PDFs for legal reasons—that way, you don’t have to worry about losing or changing anything after sending it over. Always save as PDF and then share the file.
You can sign or add your name to a document without much effort using a reliable PDF editor like PDFSimpli. It allows you to edit PDF online and how to rotate PDF and save, and add simple signatures and customized graphics. Signing a contract isn’t just an act of good faith; it’s also an important step towards getting paid (or completing the project).
Document collaboration
The collaborative tools you use are important, especially when it comes to working with clients. You want to be able to share documents easily and keep track of all the changes made so that your client can see all the edits and approve them before you send back the final completed version.
Many different tools are available for document collaboration, such as Google Drive, Dropbox Paper, and Quip. They’re all great options if you’re looking for a basic way to collaborate on projects with others while still keeping everything organized and easy to access on one platform.
Project Management
Project management software is an essential tool for freelancers. It allows you to manage all of your projects, tasks, and deadlines in one place while also providing all the tools you need to track time, create estimates and invoices, collaborate with clients and colleagues, and more.
Some project management software solutions even allow you to set up your own website or landing page so that potential clients can learn more about what services you offer before they decide to hire you.
Communications
Email is the best tool that you can use to communicate with your clients. It’s easy, it’s fast, and it allows you to send attachments like documents or photos. It also has an advantage over text chat because you don’t have to worry about formatting what you’re sending if the recipient doesn’t have a Gmail account. The downside is that some people are more comfortable with phone calls or video chats than emailing back and forth—but for most freelancers, this is probably their most useful tool in terms of communicating with their clients.