We put together a list of our favorite tools for independent consultants to save time, work more effectively, and stay organized. Most of these tools are free and once you try them you'll be glad you did!
Keylime doesn't have any affiliation with these apps other than being a happy customer (we mostly use the free versions too). Check them out:
Loom: Using Loom you can record and share on-screen videos using your screen, yourself using the camera, or a combination of on-screen with camera. We love using Loom videos to demonstrate something on our screen that is a lot easier to show than write out, like the video we linked here showing consultants how to update their status. Consultants can make a Loom video introducing yourself to people or communicating something you'd like to talk about rather than write out, like virtually stopping by someone's office. It's a great way to close the communication gap when you are working with a new team, working remotely, or having trouble finding time to connect in person. Some consultants even embed a loom video in their profile to 'introduce' themselves to Organizations--kind of like an asynchronous informational interview.
Calendly: When you are an independent consultant you don't have the inside view on when people are available to meet. The number of emails we all spend trying to book meetings is off the charts! Consultants can use Calendly to send links to clients that show exactly when you are free. It links to your calendars (Google, Outlook, etc.) and even accounts for time zone differences. When a meeting is booked it automatically sends a request to everyone that includes instructions, like what number to call or Skype contact info.
Harvest or Toggl: Time is money, right? Stop trying to track your time and invoices with Excel!! Harvest and Toggl are both awesome timekeeping apps that you can use on your computer or phone. You can separate your time by project, client, or give tags to time entries. Once you start using a timekeeping app you might be surprised at how much time you spend on certain things that before you were estimating. And at the end of the month you can use your entries to generate an invoice to your clients. Keylime uses Harvest so when you consult with us you get an invitation to our account.
Trello: If you juggle multiple clients or multiple assignments at once, Trello is a great, lightweight tracking system. The possibilities are endless and you can even invite others to collaborate with you. Trello is great for tracking proposal sections and keeping track of who is doing what on any fast moving project.
Business cards: Just because you don't work full time with an organization doesn't mean you can't have a business card. Even if you only have face-to-face meetings once a year a business card is a token that helps people remember you. Making a business card that looks nice when you don't have your own logo or communications team is tough, so we decided to help our consultants with that. When you complete 5 assignments with Keylime we will send you your own pack of business cards. :)
Email signature to tie it all together: Your email signature is a great way to tie everything together: contact information, your Calendly link, and a link to your Keylime profile. With a solid email signature, when someone forwards your email to a colleague it will always have all of your details. And when you link your Keylime profile you can be sure that anyone who receives it will be able to see your most up-to-date credentials and availability status.