Tools for the job
Software
Everything here is compatible with macOS and iOS because that’s what I use. This isn’t about “my tool is better than your tool”.
paid
Keep all your passwords secure and ready to access via desktop or mobile. Integrates well with mobile apps and Face ID on iPhone.
free
Add live captions to your social media video. This is an essential step, as more than 80% of social video is played with the sound off.
See my guide on how to create video captions for more advice and tools.
paid
Record microphone and system audio. This is what I use to create audio snippets for the podcasts I contribute to.
paid
Powerful plain-text editor with the best search and replace features ever. Great for code and general text alike.
free
Create free cartoons to go in your text messages, emails and on social media.
Watch my video on how I use this to make my BitmoJohn graphics.
paid
Simple voice notes for mobile. Record your thoughts and have the audio and written transcription emailed back to you.
free & paid
An excellent iOS option for recording and captioning videos, with handy opening and closing screens to make everything look consistent. The accuracy of the captions is outstanding.
paid
Blog drafting in Markdown, which can be exported to HTML and copied into WordPress for publication on the web.
free & paid
Avoids email tennis by letting clients book time in my calendar.
I use the Premium version so that I can link my calendar with Zoom.
paid
Record and edit screen video. This lets me record from my webcam and microphone, and I can record steps on my iPhone, too.
paid
Macs need antivirus just as much as PCs do. This runs quietly in the background and keeps my stuff protected.
free & paid
Automated file sync and backup across multiple computers and devices. Great for sharing large files with colleagues and clients.
paid
Keep your internet traffic safe when connecting to public WiFi. Works well on Macs, iPads and iPhones.
free
Visitor stats and more for your website. The main desktop version can be hard to get to grips with because there are so many options, so the simplified mobile version is often the best place to start.
free & paid
Good for checking the readability and complexity of your text. The online version is free, and there’s a paid app.
free
Reduce the file sizes of your images so that they load more quickly in documents and on the web. A good Windows alternative is PNGGauntlet.
free & paid
This is a plugin for Chrome for recording your browser or screen.
It’s excellent for sending quick how-to guides or even simple hello messages to clients and colleagues.
I prefer Camtasia for more polished videos (see above) but if you need a free option, this is unbeatable.
I pay for Vidyard so that I can add my branding and password-protect my videos.
free & paid
This suite of SEO tools is great for finding keywords and doing research on what people are searching for online.
My favourite tools within the suite are:
paid
An add-in for Microsoft Word that lets you check the consistency of your documents. This does a lot more than a spell check. The Cloud version runs on Mac and Windows.
paid
Fast, accurate captioning (subtitling) for video. Submit your source video or a YouTube/Vimeo link and get back the captions as an SRT text file that you can then add to your video. I use this for all my videos.
free & paid
Easy to use mind-mapping software for visual thinkers. The free version gives me everything I need.
paid
Save regular bits of text for quick reuse on desktop and mobile. If you write the same thing over and over in your emails, this is for you.
Also great for the basics: names, postal addresses, emails, websites, telephone numbers, etc.
paid
Upload and download files from servers that use File Transfer Protocol (FTP) and other technologies such as Amazon S3.
free & paid
Better user interface and privacy controls than YouTube, and you can replace videos without losing all your stats.
free
Formerly known as TransferWise, this allows you to get paid in different currencies at the best rates.
Great for clients who are used to paying in euros or dollars, and with lower fees than PayPal.
free & paid
Video conferencing alternative to Skype. I link this up with Calendly so that clients can book a slot to speak with me and get a link for a 1-to-1 video call.
Hardware
This is the kit I use to create my videos.
I started using this in December 2022. It’s an excellent upgrade on the Blue Yeti and costs ~£160.
Easy to set up with any desktop or laptop. Great sound quality for ~£100.
Podcaster Neal Veglio hates these mics with a passion. I’m leaving this here mostly to troll him. The mic really isn’t that bad for non-audio pros.
Easy to set up with any desktop or laptop. I’ve been recommended to use a headset mic like this for podcast interviews.
Great sound quality for ~£45.
A lapel microphone ideal for mobile recording. It offers better sound quality than your smartphone’s built-in mic.
Watch out for the connector type. When I upgraded my iPhone, I needed a Lightning adaptor to connect the mic’s audio cable to my phone.
A great addition to my iMac, it perches on top of my computer and connects via USB.
This has improved the video quality of my Zoom calls and instruction videos. Normally available for under £80.
This is the webcam I upgraded to when I needed something better than the Logitech C920.
It’s wonderful with a crisp 4K image, but you pay for the privilege. Expect to pay around £190.
Much cheaper than the Logitech alternatives.
Build quality might not be quite as good, but the image is excellent and the built-in mic seems to produce less echo than the C920. And only £19!
Simple but sturdy tripod for all sizes of smartphone. Great for avoiding shaky video. Available for under £50.
There are lots of options for LED and other types of lighting. Natural lighting is always best, but you can’t always control the quality and consistency of that, especially in the UK!
A small LED light might cost only £20.