Tools I Use in My Web Design Agency

by | Dec 5, 2023 | Recommendations

| By: LaShaundra 

Desired Haven Media is a Christian and Faith-Based Web Design Agency, Specializing in WordPress Websites and Strategic Brand Design. We are a fairly new agency and are so excited to share with you different software and tools we use in our agency, to help us be organized and productive.

**This blog post does include affiliate links or referral links. If you click them and make a purchase, we will receive a commission at no additional cost to you. This helps support and grow our business.** (#affiliateLink #ReferralLink #FTC )

List of Tools: 

  1. Dubsado (CRM) 
  2. MailChimp (Email Marketing)
  3. Adobe Creative Suite (Design Software)
  4. Canva (Design Tools)
  5. WordPress & Divi Theme Builder (Website platform & Theme Builder)
  6. GoDaddy (Domain Names)
  7. WaveApp (Bookkeeping)

Dubsado: CRM

The first on the list is Dubsado, which is a customer relationship management software. It does so much and has been so helpful with the launching of my Agency just to get me organized and set up systems in my business so that it flows and operates seamlessly.  This software is not extremely expensive and truly helps keep the backend of the business organized and automated as much or as little as you’d like. I love using the scheduler and how you can create workflows for onboarding and offboarding clients. 

   What I like:

  1. Can Create Proposals, Contracts and invoices all in one place
  2. Workflows & Automation
  3. Forms, Canned Emails & Scheduler

#affiliateLink #ReferralLink #FTC 

Dubsado Link: www.dubsado.com/?c=desiredhavenmedia

Dubsado Affiliate Code: desiredhavenmedia

Benefits: You will receive 20% off your first month or year subscription of Dubsado.

MailChimp – Email Marketing

  MailChimp is an Email Marketing tool to help grow your email list. This software helps you build a relationship with your customers and stay connected. 

   What I like: 

  1. You can create sign-up/opt-in forms very easily
  2. You can easily copy the code to embed these forms into your website. Or use a url link to direct people to the signup forms. 
  3. Helps with email marketing/e-newsletters

MailChimp: Mailchimp.com 

 

Adobe Creative Suite – Design Software (AI, XD, PS, ID)

I mainly use Illustrator and Adobe XD the most, but also other design programs such as Adobe InDesign and Photoshop. I use it for designing assets, graphics, website prototypes, stationery and more. 

   What I like:

  1. I love how everything is connected to the cloud, making it easy to save and collaborate with others. They have monthly subscriptions and annual plans. 
  2. I’ve been using these programs for years and I love that if you can use 1 the others are pretty similar and it didn’t take long for me to learn to use the other programs also.

Adobe: https://www.adobe.com/creativecloud/plans.html

 

Canva – Design Software

Canva allows you to design assets quickly if I don’t want to open design programs. It works in the browser and allows you to save all your designs in your account. 

   What I like:

  1. They have tons of templates, if you don’t want to start from scratch and just need to create something quickly like a presentation or design letterhead or internal documents. 
  2. They have a free version that you can use with limited features, but it works for my agency’s needs currently. We will be possibly upgrading to a paid Pro-Version soon to access more features
  3. It’s quick and easy to navigate and learn if needing to teach someone else to design quickly as a beginner, this program is really easy in my opinion to navigate and learn even as a beginner.

Canva: https://www.canva.com/

 

WordPress.org – Website building software

 This helps you to build a website and is what my agency currently specializes in. We use WordPress.org, which is a self-hosted option for building websites. 

   What I like:

  1. There is tons of flexibility in customizing your website exactly how you desire
  2. You can use your own domain name to further brand, personalize and customize your website. 
  3. You can choose who you want to host your website to fit your specific needs. 

WordPress: https://wordpress.org/

 

Divi – Visual Theme Builder

Divi is A WordPress Theme and Page Builder.

   What I like:

  1. We have a love-hate relationship ok. Sometimes, it can be frustrating when things are not working and I can’t figure out why. But honestly, it has relieved so much stress in the web design process. 
  2. It’s easy to use and to be able to teach clients how to update their own sites and edit themselves after their project is complete. 
  3. They have templates built in but you also have the option to start from scratch to create completely unique and custom designs.
  4. It’s a visual builder, so it allows you to build on the front end and to see changes being made as you are making them. 
  5. They have a lifetime plan you can buy outright or a yearly subscription. 

#affiliateLink #ReferralLink #FTC 

Divi by Elegant Themes: https://www.elegantthemes.com/affiliates/idevaffiliate.php?id=76223&tid1=youtube

 

GoDaddy – Purchase Domain Names

 I purchased my domain names with GoDaddy.

   What I like:

  1. Reasonably priced and they usually always have sales, discount codes or promotions that can help keep cost down when starting out in business. 
  2. You can get it for 1-10 years so you don’t have to worry about annual fees.

GoDaddy: https://www.godaddy.com/

 

Bluehost – Website Hosting 

Bluehost is who I use for web hosting so I can publish my site on the internet and make it live.

What I like: 

  1. It’s reasonably priced especially is you’re starting out and want to get up and running quickly.
  2. I don’t know that it’s the best option for Hosing, and I am considering switching, but for now it works. They make it easy to install WordPress directly from your Bluehost Dashboard
  3. The Staging Site feature is incorporated into WordPress dashboard under the Bluehost tab. This allows you to test out changes in your website and test things before launching it to the live website. (I’m still becoming familiar with this and testing this tool out. But I love how I can make changes while my site is live and not mess up the user experience if there are currently visitors on the site or completely breaking the site while it’s live. 

Bluehost: https://www.bluehost.com/

 

WaveApp -Bookkeeping Service

WaveApp helps you track your books, income & expenses, sales, transactions, and bank account activity.

 What I like: 

1. It helps me stay on top of the finances in my business.

2. It’s easy to use and navigate and it’s free to make an account.

3. You can easily generate reports like profit and loss statements and export them as pdf or a CSV file.

WaveApp: WaveApp.com

 

That’s all the tools I have to share with you today. If you’re interested in learning more about any of them, I will include links in this blog post. Hopefully, these tools will make your workload a little easier and more organized. 

 **FTC**

I did pay out of pocket for some of these services and/or I’m using the trial version or free version. I’ve been using these tools for years and use them because I really love them. 

 *** I do want to mention that this blog contains affiliate links. If you click on one of them, I’ll receive a commission at not additional cost to you.***

 

✨✨ Are you in need of Web or Brand Identity Design Services? Check out our website: https://desiredhavenmedia.com/schedule-consultation/ ✨✨

Affiliate Links/ Discount Codes: 

Dubsado Link: www.dubsado.com/?c=desiredhavenmedia

Dubsado Affiliate Code: desiredhavenmedia

Benefits: You will receive 20% off your first month or year subscription of Dubsado.

 

Divi by Elegant Themes: https://www.elegantthemes.com/affiliates/idevaffiliate.php?id=76223&tid1=youtube

Bluehost: https://www.bluehost.com/

MailChimp: Mailchimp.com 

Adobe: https://www.adobe.com/creativecloud/plans.html

Canva: https://www.canva.com/

WordPress: https://wordpress.org/

WaveApp: https://www.waveapps.com/