Duct Tape Marketing - Latest Comments in My Favorite Tools and Processes to Automate the Routine

Re: My Favorite Tools and Processes to Automate the Routine

Crystal Parrett — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 13:11:39 -0000

Some great tips here, glad I ran across your blog. But I used Tweetdeck before and have now converted over to Hootsuite. I actually like using it much better, and prefer that it's online vs. on my computer. Tweetdeck seemed to move so much slower for me.

Re: My Favorite Tools and Processes to Automate the Routine

ducttape — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 14:24:37 -0000

You know I've gotten those Tungle meeting requests and keep meaning to track it down - thanks for reminding me.

Re: My Favorite Tools and Processes to Automate the Routine

Tamara Gruber — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 14:17:44 -0000

John,
One of my process tips actually came from you a while back -- connect Twitterfeed to Google reader shared items. Now when I'm browsing content on my iPhone in Google reader and I see something I want to share via Twitter, I simply tap share and a tweet automatically goes out with a link to the article.

My other suggestion is to streamline meeting scheduling. I use Tungle.me. Even if they weren't a client I would find this tool so helpful. If someone wants to meet with me, I send them my Tungle.me link to pick a time. If I want to propose a meeting, a select a bunch of times, send the invite to everyone I want at the meeting, then go on with my day as everyone selects the times that work for them and Tungle books the meeting and synchs with my calendar. For me it is great because I run multiple calendars and Tungle is the hub of it all.

Re: My Favorite Tools and Processes to Automate the Routine

Andy — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 13:51:16 -0000

Hi John

How about ProofHQ.com for automating feedback on design work. Saves a stack of time sending PDFs and chasing emails to get feedback from clients and colleagues.

Also Litmus for testing websites on different browsers.

Re: My Favorite Tools and Processes to Automate the Routine

Eric — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 12:53:32 -0000

As a freelancer, FreshBooks has been fantastic for invoicing.

Re: My Favorite Tools and Processes to Automate the Routine

Rod — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 11:46:42 -0000

You're welcome, sir, one thing I would add is for everyone to try, "Feedly" for Google Reader. It gives it a magazine interface for easier reading. Plus it adds a toolbar that allows you to share and save ANY webpage or blog with an RSS feed.

Re: My Favorite Tools and Processes to Automate the Routine

Rod — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 11:44:58 -0000

I would agree, John, Hootsuite is great. Especially since you can schedule messages and send to multiple accounts (you can even update a wordpress.com blog now!) but if they made a desktop version or at least an adobe air version, they might give tweetdeck some competition.

Re: My Favorite Tools and Processes to Automate the Routine

ducttape — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 11:43:49 -0000

Hey Ted, I am say I'm a fan and user of every single one of these and if web design, SEO or SEM is your biz these would be required tools of the trade for sure.

Re: My Favorite Tools and Processes to Automate the Routine

ducttape — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 11:42:39 -0000

Thanks Rod - several folks mentioned Google Reader and I certainly would add that one to the list. Email service providers are a good category here in general too.

I'm not an Outlook user but I'm sure those that are will appreciate the Postbox tip too

Re: My Favorite Tools and Processes to Automate the Routine

ducttape — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 11:40:48 -0000

Yes I use Dropbox as well, but not really for automating stuff, that was what I really focused on here

Re: My Favorite Tools and Processes to Automate the Routine

Brett Pollard — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 11:08:18 -0000

Great post, John. You've listed a few I've never tried so I'll check them out.

Re: My Favorite Tools and Processes to Automate the Routine

Ted Hessing — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 11:03:56 -0000

John,

My list is more web design - centric than yours but I find my self using them more and more for my non-web design business activities and web properties.

WordPress - The. Single. Greatest. App. Ever. So much better than editing text in wordpad, FTPing and hoping!

FireFox YSlow Plug in - analyze your site's speed in seconds.

FireFox FireBug - page not displaying correctly? Find out why immediately. Want to learn CSS? This app pulls down the covers.

Google Reader - All the world's a feed, GR lets you manage it!

Google Webmaster - Tells me about my broken links, short meta descriptions, who links where, etc. Love it! It's like a To Do list for your site!

Re: My Favorite Tools and Processes to Automate the Routine

VitaminCM — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 10:55:48 -0000

John,
This is a great list of resources. I'm a huge fan of several of these tools.
I like Dial2Do.com as an alternative to Jott, but they're pretty close.
I also LOVE Dropbox.com, because I bounce between a few machines (Mac, PC, and Linux) plus my iPhone. Dropbox keeps all of my "in-progress" stuff wherever I am.
Great piece.
Chris

Re: My Favorite Tools and Processes to Automate the Routine

ducttape — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 10:14:37 -0000

Hey Steve, I try most everything I can get my hands on and Hootsuite is great, but very different. I actually like that Tweetdeck runs on my desktop.

Re: My Favorite Tools and Processes to Automate the Routine

Rod — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 10:13:56 -0000

Thanks for sharing, John, found a couple new tools to add to my list. If I may, I'd like to share a few of my own;

Google Reader - it's a great social tool for following other people's blogs, getting into conversations, and sharing content.

Constant Contact - they're known for their email newsletter service, but I also love them for their survey & poll (market research), and their contact uploader desktop app. Which makes adding new contacts at events really simple.

Google Tasks (adobe air app) - I love using the tasks option in google calendar so this app strips calendar into just tasks. This is how I create my blog's editorial calendar.

Postbox - is a great app for people who want Outlook on steroids. It gets mail from other accounts like outlook, but also lets you update your twitter and facebook accounts while you're checking your mail.

Thanks for a great article, John. Have a great day.

Re: My Favorite Tools and Processes to Automate the Routine

Steve — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 10:10:51 -0000

Hootsuite is so much better than Tweekdeck, in my opinion. Try it out if you haven't already.