Blacksburg Belle is a little over three years old, and in that time, I’ve built an arsenal of tools I use for my business. Some save me time, others make things prettier, and others are the actual building blocks that I couldn’t get by without.
I often get emails asking me what camera I use, the theme of my WordPress site, the email newsletter software I use, my favorite productivity apps, and more. Today, I’m pulling back the velvet curtains and sharing the tricks of my trade with you.
Here are my top 25+ favorite tools:
1. Macbook Pro
I switched from PC to Mac about a year ago. Once you go Mac, you never go back. I’m smitten.
2. Dell 24-Inch Screen
Even though I love my laptop {Hello working from coffee shops! Even though I hardly ever do that.}, I don’t love the size of the screen, especially for photo editing and illustration. It’s also nice to have the big screen for writing—I don’t strain my eyes when I’m at my computer all day. Out of every purchase I’ve made over the past year, this is my favorite and most used. Although, these mini latte bowls rank pretty high.
3. WordPress.org and Canvas by WooThemes
For my website, I have a self-hosted WordPress site {hosting through midphase} and I use Canvas as my theme. I wanted something completely customizable without needing to know code. I wish I loved html and css but I’d rather re-learn Latin. {Even though I took five years of Latin because my dad was convinced it would help my SAT scores, I can only remember a handful of words. That’s sad, right?} If you feel the same, Canvas is a great option if you want to create {or hire someone to create} your design/header.
4. 1ShoppingCart
I’ve used 1shoppingcart as my shopping cart from the very beginning. The customer service is excellent. I wish there were more options for affiliates, but that’s my only con—and it’s not enough for me to change anytime soon.
5. AWeber
For all of my email newsletters, I use AWeber. It’s da bomb. {Yes, I just reverted back to 2001.}
6. Wishlist Member
All of my membership sites {and e-courses} are built with Wishlist Member. It’s user-friendly and easy to set up. If you’re on a self-hosted WordPress site and want to run e-courses, you should definitely check it out.
7. Nikon D90
This is my first DSLR—and I treat it like a prized possession. I’m like a mama bear with it. My family members hesitate to touch it, because they know I’d go all Buffy the Vampire Slayer on their butts if they broke it.
8. Multi-Disc Light Reflector
You can simply use a white piece of foam board instead of getting something fancy, but I like the different colors that my reflector comes with, because it doesn’t just reflect the light, illuminating the shadows. I use the gold when I need more warmth and the silver when I want to cool things down.
9. Different Pieces of Wood
I use wood backdrops for 95% of my photos like these and these. My parents are contractors, so they collected different options for me. Some of them are old deck boards—and I’m not really sure where the others came from. I’ve got light and dark options and I’m about to paint one of them white to give me even more variety.
10. Kodak PlaySport
Currently, I’m using this video camera for all videos on Blacksburg Belle. With only a few buttons, it’s foolproof.
11. CowboyStudio Lighting Kit
I tape my videos indoors, and the natural light isn’t great so I invested in this lighting kit. It makes a HUGE difference to the overall quality.
12. iMovie
Even though I have Adobe Premiere Pro, I often use iMovie to edit my videos. It’s much more user-friendly and I do better with uncomplicated stuff when it comes to technology.
13. Photoshop
This is my go-to for all photo editing. If you don’t want to splurge on Photoshop but need photo-editing software, take a peek at PicMonkey where you’ll find all you need for basic and intermediate photo editing for free.
14. Illustrator
This is my go-to for all my illustration-related needs—and to make the fun color inspiration posts and others like this one.
15. Evernote
I use this free application to organize notes as I browse the web. It helps me collect quotes, posts I want to revisit, things I’m inspired by and resources I want to use in upcoming posts/courses/ebooks.
16. Scribe
This software makes SEO so much easier, saving me tons of time and frustration.
17. Premise
I use Premise for my landing and sales pages like this one. If I didn’t have Premise, I’d probably spend triple the time creating my sales pages.
18. Akismet
Who hates spam? You raised your hand, didn’t you? I thought so. With Akismet, I don’t have to spend hours weeding the spam out of my comments. It does it for me and it catches about 99% of it.
19. Gmail
I have all my other {a.k.a., more professional} email addresses redirected to Gmail, because it’s my favorite out of all the email programs I’ve tried.
20. InDesign
I use this software to put together all of my digital books and workbooks.
21. Hootsuite
I use Hootsuite to schedule Tweets. Although, I don’t do this too often, it’s nice to have the option, especially when I know I’m going to be unplugged for a while but want to promote a post or course.
22. Epson Stylus NX420 and EPSON Perfection V500
The first is my printer. The second is my scanner.
23. Lynda.com and Nicole’s Classes
These are two separate sites {and tools}, but I clump them together because I learned 95% of what I know about Photoshop, Illustrator and InDesign from them. Lynda.com is inexpensive and you get access to all the courses with one low monthly price. With Nicole’s Classes, the courses are more design-oriented—the projects are prettier and the teachers’ styles are much more my style, so I’m willing to pay more a couple times a year to take those courses.
24. Moleskine Notebooks
These notebooks are littered all over—my purse, at my desk, in my craft room, on my bedside table, etc. I get ideas at inopportune times like when I’m impatiently waiting to see my doctor. {Stop freaking scheduling more appointments than you can handle each hour. It’s annoying and inconsiderate!} I could use any notebook, but for some reason, I’m drawn to Moleskines.
25. A Variety of Teacups
I know this doesn’t seem like a business tool, but I usually brew a cup of tea in the morning before I start writing, and it does the trick of warming up my still sleeping brain. The majority of my best posts were written while I sipped tea.
Awesome list of tools, April! I have a million notebooks all over my house too. And nothing gets done around here unless I have a cup of tea with me. 🙂
Thanks, Sage! Tea is soooooo yummy!
GREAT list, April. I’m slowly expanding my little corner of the Web and I know many of these will come in handy. Thanks for sharing.
I’ve been thinking about you and your health lately. I’m glad to hear you’re taking a break when you need it! I hope you get some answers soon. I know how frustrating it can be to not know what’s going on with your body. Sending good vibes your way!
You’re so welcome! 🙂
Me, too! Thanks for the support!
wow, thanks so much for this incredible list….i’m getting frustrated with my website b/c i can’t make too many updates b/c it’s all html and hard to do…and i’m about to launch a new blog look but want to incorporate a new design on my website….so maybe Canvas is something I could even do! Ha!….i’m going to look into these alternatives today ! thx…..
You’re so welcome!
I understand that feeling of frustration. Before Blacksburg Belle, I had another site that was really hard to customize without knowing lots of html and css. I learned from that experience and spent a TON of time finding the right theme for this site.
You are such a smart young woman with such talent and drive. You are at the beginning of your life so you are wise to take care of your health. I do hope you are feeling better. I am in the Autumn of my life, and each time I have a medical appointment (which is almost daily) as I impatiently wait I have been thinking of you and I pray you will be very healthy very soon.
Your list is a very generous contribution to your many readers (aka fans). You will have continued and incredible success in your lifetime. I just know it.
Thanks Marian! That’s so kind! I wish you all the best with your health.
I am just starting out . Putting my dreams into paper and moving forward each day with baby steps. With a full family and life , it’s hard to find time to get it all in . But my favorite time of the day is my quiet time first thing in the morning and reading your newsletter. Thank you for all your advise and guidance. You give my the courage to follow my dreams.
My favorite tool is you ! You are the best !
Baby steps add up! We all start somewhere, right?
Thank you! That’s so sweet!
Fantastic list, April! This is definitely going to be filed in my Evernote!! It is so helpful to see what others like and use. It makes me wonder why more people don’t share their tools and preferences. Are they afraid of giving away their secrets- I hope not!!
Hope you’re feeling better! What are your tea preferences and recommendations?
Thanks Dawn! I learn so much when I find out what others are actually using or doing in their own businesses, and I really appreciate it when other business owners share that information. That’s what inspired this post!
Thanks! Just had surgery yesterday but I’m doing pretty good.
I drink a lot of herbal tea that isn’t caffeinated. There are some teas with blends of herbs that help coat your throat {one of them is actually called Throat Coat} and I usually drink those, because I have a chronic sore throat from my autoimmune issues.
Great list, but you forgot to say your husband! I think my favorite tool is my fiance because without him, my videos always come out a bit blurry and too bright, lol.
I’m just getting into InDesign, and saw that Lynda has classes on it, so I have to check those out. Thanks for the references!
Post of the day!
I did forget to include my man! I definitely wouldn’t be where I am without him.
Cheers to supportive, loving spouses! 🙂
Lynda.com is GREAT for InDesign.
Generous April, thank you for sharing all of this! I am loving this written wisdom, and I can enjoy it even if my internet connection is not very good : ) I hope you are doing well. I hardly ever comment but since reading about your health issues I couldn’t stop thinking about letting you here a few words, even if they can’t change how things are. Sending you lots of love and strenght, Verónica
You’re so welcome! I’m glad you’re enjoying it!
Thank you so much for taking the time to comment. I really appreciate your support and encouragement.
Thank you for this list April; there’s so much on here that’s really useful and there isn’t always someone readily available to ask!
You’re very welcome! I hope it helps you! 🙂
Great list April.
I’d probably rate hot tea as my #1 business driver, wordpress and photoshop a very distant second and third. 😉
Hahahaha…I feel ya! Tea is the best!
I am a tea lover too! My favorite is English Breakfast followed by Earl Grey and Green Tea. I drink my English Breakfast tea with milk and way too much sugar. I can still hear my grandmother saying “Are you going to have some tea with that sugar?” LOL! My favorite tools as a web designer are Blacksburg Belle (for the inspiration to keep going when I feel like quitting!!), PhotoShop and WordPress. Love them all!
Thanks for the great post. I often wonder how you are feeling as well. Hope you are doing OK.
Dana 🙂
Thank you for this great list! I almost bought the Macbook Pro:)
I love using Adobe software too (Photoshop, Indesign, Illustrator) but few months ago I found this FREE one http://pixlr.com/ choose the Open Pixlr editor (Advanced) and you have similar tool as Photoshop free:) very useful + You dont need download anything it works online – just a great tool!
As well very helpful site for services: http://fiverr.com/
And one more tool https://unroll.me it keeps your inbox in order:)
I really enjoy your writing post so in fact I am happy you extended them. But of course I don’t like the reason why you had to extended them.
Keep your health first and get well soon!
Julie
I love this list! I use Hootsuite. And I’m looking into the possiblity of a video camera for my Christmas wish list. And maybe some basic photoshop online workshops too.
I always love having a look behind the scenes at what people use or how they do things…. It’s such a generous thing to do. It probably took you a long time to find all these things and use them to see if they were your cup of tea. To share that learning curve with us and answer the questions of those of us not at that stage yet is so amazing. I keep coming across gorgeous arty girls willing to share the business side of their life which is so special. Yay for sharing.
Hi April,
You did it again.!!!.
That was great of you to share all of that.
I am going to try a few myself. Thankyou for the tips.
I am in the process of setting up my Website & Blog..
I look forward to some more interesting tips and inspiration from you.
Cheers Annette
Great list, April. I use a lot of these tools as well, but there are some that I have still to try out 🙂
Hi April! Thanks for sharing this post…it’s full of lots of great resources.
Would you mind sharing a few tips on how you physically set up your video camera…do you use a tripod with your husband behind the cam?
Thank you! 🙂
This is a great list, April! I was just going to ask what kind of scanner/printer you use because I want to change mine and then I find your list 🙂
Having the right tools really makes a huge difference and just takes your business to the next level of professionalism and that’s why I’m making some much needed upgrades this year in my own work to get rid of all of those annoying obstacles between me and success.
You’ve really shown us that anyone can create a top quality professional business. Thank you 🙂
Hi April! Thank you for creating this post, it is a great resource for those just starting out, like me! One of the things that’s hard for me is the design and making things pretty, crafty stuff (I do mostly photography) and your site has really helped me with ideas and inspiration. Thank you!! – Molly
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Greate! Thanks for sharing the useful tool.