Work Smarter, Not Harder: My Favorite Tools for Content Creation

When creating and sharing content, having the right tools can make all the difference. Over the years, I’ve tried countless products, but only a few have truly elevated my process—whether I’m rounding out a strategy, crafting copy, or developing creative. 

Here are six favorites I use regularly to save time and get the job done.

ChatGPT: Fast, fresh ideas

We’ve all been there—staring at a blank screen, waiting for inspiration to strike. When you hit a creative roadblock (and let’s be honest, we all do!) and there’s no human thought partner within reach, ChatGPT can be a game-changer. Whether you need help brainstorming blog topics, refining an angle, or structuring a heap of ideas into something more cohesive, ChatGPT can help you spark fresh inspiration.

What’s great about it is how quickly it generates new ideas. While I was initially skeptical to use an AI tool in the creative process, I’ve come to appreciate how it helps expand my thinking. It’s almost like having a second brain to help you sort through complex topics and come up with new angles you might not have considered on your own.

Otter.ai: Transcription & note-taking

If you record meetings, interviews, or brainstorming sessions, Otter.ai can save you hours of time. This AI-powered tool transcribes audio in real time, making it effortless to capture and organize your thoughts or conversations. Otter has the best transcription accuracy of any tool I’ve tried, and you can easily edit, search, and share your transcripts afterward.

One of my most-used features is the ability to highlight key points and add comments within the transcription itself, which is super helpful when working on collaborative projects. Whether it’s a podcast episode, a client call, or creative workshop, Otter.ai is a reliable way to capture all the details. Admittedly, I’m a bit old-school and still love writing notes by hand—but I always feel better knowing I have Otter as backup!

Grammarly: The editing assistant

Editing is crucial to great copy, and Grammarly can help take your writing to the next level. It catches everything from grammar and punctuation errors to style issues, ensuring your content is polished and professional before you hit ‘send’ or ‘publish’. (Pro-tip: Don’t sleep on using the Grammarly Chrome extension for Gmail in your inbox!)

But Grammarly does more than just flag typos; it offers suggestions to improve sentence structure, tone, and clarity, which is especially helpful when you're working on longer pieces like blog posts or articles. Its readability score will also help you gauge whether your writing is clear and easy to follow, a feature I love.

Canva: Design templates & inspiration

If you’re looking for a design tool that’s both powerful and easy to use, Canva is it. Whether you're designing social media posts, blog graphics, or presentations, Canva’s huge library of templates makes it easy to create high-quality visuals in minutes. In my experience, even the free version is great!

One of my favorite things about Canva is how it constantly evolves. There are “secret hacks” and behind-the-scenes tips that can help you get even more out of the platform—like those shared by Caroline Flett. For Canva design tips, check out Caroline's Instagram account, where she shares tons of awesome tricks, from mastering design layers and custom animations to using color palettes more effectively. (I swear, I’ve received compliments every time I’ve used one of her creative ideas in an Instagram story.)

Another standout feature of Canva is its collaborative tools. If you’re working with a team or a client, you can easily share designs and get real-time feedback, making the design process much quicker—especially when deadlines are tight. 

VSCO: Photography & visual editing

When it comes to editing photos, VSCO is a must-have! I use the paid version (well worth $5/month) with my saved editing “recipes” for my travel photos and lifestyle content I create for clients. Whether it’s making minor tweaks or applying filters, the app offers a robust set of tools for anyone looking to refine their visuals—from iPhone shots to more stylized graphics.

I’ve recommended VSCO to countless friends who love it as much as I do, mostly for its simplicity. For the everyday user, the free version is perfect for quickly adjusting things like exposure, contrast, and color balance, with results that always feel polished without being overly manipulated. Plus, the platform’s library of creative presets is fantastic for achieving that cool, on-brand aesthetic across your content.

Squarespace: Simple web design & blogging

For web design and blogging, Squarespace has long been my top choice. Its intuitive interface, paired with beautiful, responsive templates, makes it easy for anyone to create a professional-looking website—no coding skills required. 

One of the best things about Squarespace is its flexibility. You can choose from a wide variety of pre-designed pages that allow you to get started quickly, or you can build your site from scratch if you want something more custom. Whether you're setting up a simple blog or building a more complex portfolio, Squarespace gives you the freedom to create exactly what you need.

The design process itself is pretty seamless. You can drag and drop text, images, and other elements to build out your pages. Plus, Squarespace includes built-in SEO tools, which simplify the process of optimizing your content to reach a wider audience without needing to get deep into the technical side of things. 

When it comes to business, time is often the most valuable asset. The right tools can help you work smarter, not harder—empowering you to focus on what truly matters: creating meaningful, impactful content. I hope incorporating these tools into your workflow helps you save time and produce your best work!