resources
The right tools make all the difference. Here are a few of our favorites.
We’ve used hundreds of tools over the years, but there are only a few that we consistently return to. Disclaimer: some of these links are affiliate links, meaning we may receive a small compensation if you sign up. However, we only recommend resources we have personally tried, tested and approve.
Strategy & Research
Market Research & Data Collection
Perplexity is our go-to research assistant when we want fast, well-sourced answers without falling down a Google rabbit hole. It combines AI clarity with real citations, making it ideal for early-stage strategyand competitive research. Think of it as a smarter, calmer research partner.
Trend Reports & Market Sentiment
Pinterest Trends gives you a rare look into what people are actually planning months before it hits Instagram or Google. We love it for spotting seasonal patterns, emerging aesthetics, and long-tail interests that are perfect for brand positioning and content planning.
A/B Testing & User Feedback
PickFu lets you test ideas with real people in minutes, from logo options to messaging and packaging. We love it because it removes guesswork and personal bias, helping you make confident decisions backed by fast, affordable audience insights. It’s especially helpful for product packaging.
Keyword Research
Ubersuggest is a friendly, approachable SEO tool that’s great for keyword research, content ideas, and basic competitor analysis. It’s especially useful if you want actionable insights without the overwhelm of more complex platforms.
Market Research (Deep Dive)
Semrush is our heavyweight tool for deep competitive research, SEO audits, and long-term content strategy. It’s incredibly powerful for brands that want to understand where they stand and exactly how to grow visibility with intention.
Graphic Design
Graphic Design Elements
Creative Market is a treasure trove of fonts, templates, illustrations, and brand assets made by independent designers. We love it for adding personality and polish to projects without starting from scratch.
Graphic Design (Pro)
Adobe remains the gold standard for professional design, photo editing, and layout work. From Photoshop to Illustrator and InDesign, it’s essential when you need precision, flexibility and full creative control.
Graphic Design (Anyone)
Canva makes good design accessible and fast. We love it for social content, presentations, and brand-aligned graphics that teams can easily update without design training.
Graphic Design Elements
Envato Elements offers unlimited access to fonts, templates, stock photos, video assets, and more under one subscription. It’s perfect for creators and teams who want variety, speed, and consistency without buying assets one by one.
Typography Inspiration
Typewolf is our favorite place for font inspiration and real-world typography examples. It shows how type is actually used on beautiful websites, making it easier to choose fonts that feel modern, intentional, and on-brand.
Font Identification
WhatFontIs.com helps you identify fonts from images when you see something you love but don’t know its name. It’s an invaluable tool for designers and brand builders chasing a specific look or reference.
Project Management
CRM for Service Providers
Dubsado is a powerful client management system built for creatives and service providers. We love it for proposals, contracts, invoices, workflows, and automations that make your business feel polished and professional.
Project Management
Asana keeps complex projects organized and moving forward without chaos. It’s ideal for managing tasks, deadlines, and team collaboration, especially when multiple projects overlap. We love being able to keep the whole project collab in one place.
File Storage & Collaboration
Dropbox is a reliable, simple solution for storing, sharing, and collaborating on files. We love it for keeping assets organized and accessible across teams, clients, and devices. The ability to leave comments on designs makes feedback a breeze.
Website Tools
Domains
GoDaddy is a straightforward option for purchasing domains and hosting. It’s especially helpful for securing brand names early and managing domain renewals in one place. Although we don’t love their hosting, they make domain purchase a breeze.
Hosting
SiteGround is one of our favorite hosting providers for performance, security, and support. It’s especially strong for WordPress sites that need speed, reliability, and responsive customer service, which in our opinion is the best in the industy.
Ecommerce Platform
Shopify is a robust, scalable platform for selling physical or digital products online. We love it for its ease of use, strong ecosystem, and ability to grow with your business. It’s our go-to recommendation for all serious e-commerce sites.
Website Platform
WordPress offers unmatched flexibility for content-driven and custom websites. It’s ideal if you want full control over design, functionality, and SEO. The ability to plug and play different functionalities makes it one of the most flexible site options.
Wordpress Master Theme (Divi)
Divi is a powerful visual builder that makes WordPress design more accessible. We love it for creating custom, flexible layouts without needing to code everything from scratch. It’s the perfect tool for those intimidated by WordPress.
Online Course Management
Podia is an all-in-one platform for selling courses, downloads, and memberships. It’s simple, clean, and perfect for creators who want to launch without technical overwhelm. It also has a competitive price point compared to competitors.
Marketing
Email Marketing (Basic)
Mailchimp is a solid all-around email marketing platform that’s easy to get started with. It works well for newsletters, basic automations, and audience management across many industries.
Email Marketing (Design-First)
Flodesk is built for brands that care deeply about aesthetics. We love it for beautifully designed emails, simple pricing, and a more intuitive creative experience. It’s like the Apple of the email marketing world.
Email Marketing (Ecommerce)
Klaviyo is a powerhouse for ecommerce brands that want advanced segmentation and data-driven automation. It integrates with Shopify and excels at turning customer behavior into personalized marketing.
Reporting & Optimization
Heatmaps & User Behavior
Smartlook helps you understand how people actually use your website through session recordings and heatmaps. It’s invaluable for spotting friction points and optimizing user experience based on real behavior.
Keyword & Performance Tracking
Google Search Console shows how your site performs in Google search results. We rely on it for indexing insights, keyword performance, and identifying technical SEO issues directly from the source. It’s also super easy to set up.
Quizzes & Surveys
Interact makes it easy to create quizzes that generate leads and personalize user journeys. We love it for building engagement while collecting meaningful, actionable data. It’s perfect for opt-in quizzes, one of the highest-converting lead magnets out there.
Business Operations
Accounting & Invoicing
Wave is a free, user-friendly accounting tool designed for small businesses and freelancers. It’s perfect for invoicing, expense tracking, and basic financial organization without added complexity. It makes filing your taxes a breeze!
For Product Brands
Wholesale Sourcing / Selling
Faire connects product brands with independent retailers around the world. We love it for expanding wholesale reach while offering flexible terms that support both makers and shop owners.
Sourcing & Manufacturing
Makers Row helps brands find vetted manufacturers, primarily in the U.S. It’s an excellent resource for turning product ideas into reality with transparency and trusted production partners.