Pen ePerks

Tools for Freelance Writers

Tools help you extend functionality. Most importantly, you can increase productivity.

For freelance writers, tools shouldn’t help you automate certain processes, such as content creation. Instead, here is what you should consider.

From onboarding clients to delivering work, tools can help you professionalize processes. For example, Google Documents helps you share drafts, make changes in real time, and deliver the work – seamlessly.

In this resource, I’ve put together specific tools for freelance writers.

Along with descriptions, you can learn how a specific tool helps you in specific scenarios. Perfect.

Let’s get started.

Tools for Freelance Writers

Grammarly

Grammarly helps writers check content for grammatical errors.

It supports file uploads, checks for issues, and suggests if making certain changes suits your taste. You can also paste text directly, the first drafts you create for clients. There is no rocket science.

In this case, Grammarly’s free plan suits beginners. However, its premium plan helps writers check for 400+ errors.

Specifically, it helps you improve the quality of text, tone, technical aspects, and conceptual flow.

Here is what you should expect from Grammarly.

  • Identifies basic writing errors
  • Helps you rewrite sentences
  • Mentions the score of writing, quality, and suggestions
  • Supports various tones – such as Technical, conversational, and formal structures
  • Grammarly’s feature to export scan reports helps you generate PDF reports

By the way, Grammarly costs $12 for basic users. Period.

Google Documents

As its name suggests, Document is one of the Google’s products.

It helps you create documents, edit, and share via Links. You can also choose editing options for public.

If you’re looking to make changes in real time, or share the first drafts with clients – Google Documents is the way to go.

Here is the list of features of Google Documents.

  • Supports real time editing
  • Multiple options for editing via Share Links
  • Google Documents helps you suggest changes before making the changes
  • Helps you see past changes or edits to documents
  • You can also integrate 3rd party resources with Documents, such as Grammarly for checking content errors.

Google Documents is free to use. If you have a Google profile, you can start using Documents for free. There is no problem.

MS Word

As compared to Google Documents, MS Word is an offline alternative.

Some writers don’t prefer creating drafts online. Yes, you can use MS Word – offline.

In this case, MS Word provides text automation for users. You can create content documents, save, edit, or share as offline files.

What features are included in MS Word? Let’s list some of the features.

  • Provides offline solution to create and edit content documents
  • Supports document templates – you can install custom document templates online.
  • You can convert Word documents to various, other formats for accessibility and sharing – such as PDF.

MS Word is free to use on trial basis. For more information, see the Microsoft’s official resource.

Hemingway Editor

Hemingway editor helps beginners how to write simple sentences.

It supports editing in real time. Once you’ve started entering text, the highlighted text indicate, you should edit your text.

Here is what you can expect from Hemingway editor.

  • It helps writers improve content readability.
  • Highlights in various colors indicates error levels.
  • Users can also make changes via a point-and-click user interface.
  • Helps users categorize issues, such as grammar errors, readability problems, or punctuation mistakes.

Use Hemingway editor if you aim at making your text readable, easy to understand, and concise.

The basic interface of the editor is free of charge. However, to use premium features like suggestions, spelling issues, or plagiarism, the product offers its paid plans.

Google Notes

Google Notes – as its name suggests, helps writers take notes while working, outlining, or researching.

If you’ve a Google account, you can start using Google Notes, simple.

Once logged into Google, browse to the product home page and start noting down new notes. You can save textual notes, drawings, or voice notes quickly. And, the best part is – the notes you save on one platform are accessible on cross devices, such as Desktops or mobile devices.

Here is what you should figure out in Google Notes.

  • Helps you set reminders for sensitive deadlines and notes
  • Users can use Notes together with Google’s other products, helping you increase productivity.
  • Notes supports offline edits. Once you’re online, you can synchronize to make changes automatically on cloud.
  • Google Notes provides customization, helping users use colors to indicate, if a specific notes is normal, requires attention, or critical.

There is no restriction on using Google Notes. There is no cost. As described earlier, if you have a working Gmail ID, you’re good to go.

Google

Yes – you need to take Google serious while you’re researching topics for content.

Using Google in a smarter way possible is an art – remember.

You can use Google for regular searches, as well as use operators to help you find targeted resources.

Here is a list of unique features of Google for freelance writers.

  • Use Google Operators to find relevant resources.
  • At the end of search pages, find related searches to help you increase your content’s relevancy. Perfect.
  • Question-based Google suggestions help you understand, how should you outline your content – makes sense.

And – of course, using Google is free of charge. It doesn’t ask to log into Google account, unless you’re accessing a protected area.

Time Tracking Tools

Yes – it happens.

Some clients wants to track your working online.

Basically, if a prospects insists working together at a hourly rate, you’ll need to setup a time tracking application.

In this case, once you’ve started working on a project, the system measures the duration you stay working on the project.

It helps your client calculate your rates once a specific task or project has been completed.

In this case, here is what you can do with a time tracking application.

  • You can add individual tasks separately, measure the duration of a task, and calculate costs automatically.
  • Once a specific task finishes, it helps you submit measurement for a review.
  • Premium plans can help you even more, such as invoice management.

In most cases, you don’t need to spend on time tracking tools. The basic version helps you measure a project’s duration, easily.

List Building Tools

The name can help you understand the process of list building.

It happens, when you’re ready to proceed and compile a list – a list of prospects to pitch to your services.

Fortunately, there are sources to help you streamline the process of list building.

Look there are two cases.

  • Case 1: The manual routine of list building, which costs time and requires efforts – are hard to follow.
  • Case 2: Use a database, where you can find prospects to pitch to your services.

Let’s describe the matter in more details.

You need relevant prospects – the prospects helping you start negotiations. Perfect.

A database, like Hunter.io helps you quickly compile a list of prospects, in hundreds or thousands.

In this case, enter a seed keyword in the database. The system returns a list of prospects, according to what you have entered. Your job starts now.

Export the list of prospects, domains in most cases. Yes – you’re ready to proceed to the next step. Period.

And – of source, the prospects database sources are paid. The pricing starts from $50.

So, what you should consider?

In the start, consider collecting relevant prospects from Google, hence you can’t afford to spend money.

On the other hand, if you can spend some money – it helps you save time.

You can literally collect thousands of prospects’ domains in less than 10 minutes. Big power.

Email Finders for Cold Pitching

Cold pitching is a way to hunt for prospective clients.

If you go for cold pitching, you will need to collect relevant sites first – the sites you can write for in a specific niche.

For example, if you write for WordPress brands, you will need to gather a list of WordPress companies, product vendors, and brands. Perfect.

Next, the process of email finding starts with tools, such as Voila Norbert. This is why, you need to have access to email finders.

Generally, there are two kinds of email finders.

  • Tools ask for a person’s company address and name. Once entered, you can see the person’s email address.
  • Second – some tools prefer to manage leads databases. For example, if you define a specific criteria, such as role, company address, and niche keywords – the tools help you compile a list of leads on the go.

Remember – you can start using email finders once you have compiled a list of prospective leads.

In this case, email finders cost starts from $50.

Email Automation Tools

Email automation tools also help you enrich cold pitching.

Once, you’ve compiled a list of leads, you’ll need to start sending cold pitches to prospective clients.

In this case, email automation tools help you save time, decrease efforts, and increase productivity. Big wins.

What do email automation tools do?

You can scale sending cold pitches with automation – legally. The infrastructure helps you scale sending emails per day, without breaking spam rules. It helps you reach out more prospects, as compared to manual sending. Period.

Here is what you should expect from automation.

  • Increases productivity
  • Help you manage campaigns automatically, provide analytics, and key insights to see if campaigns are returning ROI
  • Costs money

The pricing starts from $67 per month for email automation.

Listen – if you can spend some money, however not recommended for beginners – email automation helps you increase productivity.

Project Management

In most cases, beginning writers prefer to use Google Sheets for project management.

You can also use Sheets for data collection, client reporting, and monthly costs.

Consider, what you can use Sheets for in real life.

  • Sign into Google account. You’re good to proceed and create a new Sheet
  • Arrange the data in columns, rows, and calculations via formula

Google Sheets is free to use.

In general, if you have used Microsoft Excel for accounts, Google sheets is not different.

Invoice Generators

It sounds cool.

Once you have completed a project, you’re ready to proceed to send an invoice.

The client, in this case – can ask for a PDF invoice. Here is how to proceed.

Invoice generators help you quickly generate a PDF invoice. They work online. And – you don’t need to create a profile, in most cases.

Basically, the system asks for a few details, such as name, client’s details, and the break down of tasks with cost. Once entered, you can generate a PDF.

Here is what you should expect.

  • You can use invoice templates for various projects, such as IT, health, or one-time projects.
  • Invoice generators can save history for you. It helps you quickly edit, generate, and download invoices on a monthly basis.

In most cases, online invoice generators are free to use. You can avail premium features at a small fee, such as accounting.

To give the resources a try, search for potential sources on Google.

Once started creating invoices online, you can visit the same source for invoice history.

Another case – if you don’t prefer using online sources, you can create invoice offline.

Here is what you should do.

  • Pick invoice templates from Google.
  • Use MS Word to create and edit invoice formats with pre-created, downloaded templates.
  • Once completed, you can save the documents as PDF files.

Now, you’re ready to send your PDF invoice to the clients. Perfect.

WordPress

As a freelance writer – you need to learn how WordPress works.

Often times, clients give you WordPress credentials to manage content for blogs.

In this case, you should have learned how WordPress dashboard operates. You should have learned how to create, edit, and manage posts in WordPress dashboard. Perfect.

Here is what you should have learned about WordPress.

  • Content management in WordPress
  • Learn how to manage Themes and Plugins in WordPress
  • Basic security
  • Content backup
  • Installation of WordPress, if possible.

WordPress is a free, open source platform to create websites. You don’t need to spend money to use WordPress.

Also – if you can afford to buy web hosting and a domain name, create a staging site for practice purposes.

Google Chat

Some clients prefer to use Google Chat for collaboration.

Google chat is another chat application powered by Google.

Once you’ve logged in Google address, you can browse to Google Chat to start conversations.

Consider the following key points if you want to proceed with Google chat.

  • It depends on a client if he or she prefers to use Google Chat.
  • You don’t need to create a separate account in Chat. The Gmail address you have for emails, is enough to proceed.

Google chat is free to use, keep in mind.

Chrome Extensions

Yes – freelance writers do use chrome extensions.

For example, what if I told you – you need extensions to track keyword rankings for clients. It happens.

Here is what you should consider.

  • SEO extensions, such as Ubersuggest, help you see stats on SERPs, such as keyword competition level.
  • Extensions help you collect data from webpages, such as domains when compiling a list for cold pitching.

Some extensions are free to use, some are premium.

In most cases, you don’t need to get worried. The premium sources suggest, you should use their trial plan first.

For more information and use of extension, enter a seed keyword in the Chrome Web Store for possible opportunities.

Payment Receiving Tools

No doubt, you need to receive payments. There is a problem.

Internationally, receiving payments online is a serious maneuver. There are support issues, fees involved, and country support matters.

Expect the following scenarios.

  • Tools don’t support certain countries. You need to choose a specific platform, carefully.
  • There are fees involved in the process, pay attention.

In this case, if your country supports PayPal, it would be good to proceed with PayPal.

Conversely, use Payoneer – one of the better options to receive payments internationally. Perfect.

Final words

In this resource, we described essential tools for freelance writers.

Some tools weigh more importance on a daily basis, some are rarely used.

It also depends on a writer’s workflow, preference, and routine. However, you can’t deny if a source helps you save time, cost, and improves productivity.

Let me know if you have something in mind.

If I’ve missed out a specific source, do let me know.