Apps I use every week as a creator - Episode 54
If you’ve ever wondered what goes on behind the scenes of running a content creator business full-time, this episode is for you.
This week on Create & Consume, I’m talking you through the tools and apps I use every single week to keep things organized, creative, and running smoothly. From content creation to backend systems—these apps keep me running.
Whether you're a fellow influencer, a digital entrepreneur, or just curious how I juggle everything from brand deals to blog posts, here’s a breakdown of the platforms I swear by—and exactly how I use them.
Create & consume
What Austen is creating this week: A post on Threads and LinkedIn about A/B testing YouTube thumbnails and what I’ve learned trying this feature out for a few weeks.
What Austen is consuming this week: The final season of You. Phew, that was a whirlwind! Don’t watch too close to bedtime.
In this episode:
Check out all of my favorite creator tools here!
Backend organization
These are the tools that help me plan, schedule, and manage everything behind the scenes:
Notion
This is the hub of my business (and my life). I use Notion to:
Set and track overall business goals
Plan podcast episodes and YouTube video ideas
Organize projects like my Etsy shop product development
Keep a running to-do list and house personal reminders
Manage my brand contact list
Google Calendar
My go-to for time-blocking and actually executing the plans I make in Notion.
Lately, I’ve been testing a planning strategy called the four quarter system by—it’s a game-changer for pacing your goals. (You can see how I implement it in my latest Sunday reset vlog.) I also use it for:
Recurring tasks like monthly resets and quarterly taxes
Personal events like birthdays and appointments
HoneyBook
My client CRM system—super helpful for consulting clients. I use HoneyBook to:
Receive and respond to new client inquiries
Send contracts and invoices
Track payments and timelines
CleanMyMac
A digital decluttering tool I use regularly to keep my computer organized and performing well. It’s low-maintenance, but makes a big difference.
Content creation
Here’s what I use to create the content you see on my blog, Instagram, YouTube, and beyond:
Canva Pro
Truly, if Canva ever disappeared, I would spiral. I use it for:
Creating digital course slides and presentations
Making Pinterest pins, collages, and newsletter graphics
Designing YouTube thumbnails and overlays
Building and selling digital templates
Try a 30-day free trial of Canva Pro here.
Riverside.fm
This is how I record the podcast. I love using:
The AI Producer tool for quick video edits
The transcript editor for repurposing content
Opus Clip (Opus AI)
I upload my full podcast episodes and let Opus generate short-form clips for Reels, TikTok, and YouTube Shorts. Saves so much time.
Get 30% off your first month of Opus Clip here.
ChatGPT + Gemini
AI is officially part of my workflow. I use it for:
Turning podcast outlines into blog posts (like this one!)
Generating content ideas and titles
Drafting brand email responses
Editing
I still use pretty beginner-friendly tools for the most part!
iMovie
Free and functional! I use this for long-form video edits, and then layer in text and graphics from Canva. I have a full tutorial here.
CapCut
This is my go-to for editing Reels and TikToks. Great for overlays and text.
InShot
Another short-form favorite—especially useful for voiceovers and fast edits.
(Still testing out Instagram’s built-in editor—anyone loving that yet?)
Research and distribution
Once the content’s made, here’s how I optimize and share it:
Keywords Everywhere
Helps me research SEO keywords for blog posts and YouTube videos.
Kit
The platform I use to send my weekly newsletter and stay in touch with you.
Try a 14-day trial of Kit here.
LTK (LikeToKnow.It)
I link all my affiliate products through the app. It’s seamless for both mobile and desktop users. Check out my profile here.
Still a powerhouse for blog traffic and content distribution. I pin everything from affiliate collages to podcast graphics.
Tools I use occasionally
These aren’t in the weekly rotation, but I reach for them as needed:
Loom – For recording screen tutorials with me on camera
Demio – For hosting webinars and live classes
Ubersuggest – For heavy-duty keyword research projects
Summary
If you want to hear more about how I actually use these tools each week and how they fit into my content creation workflow, tune into the full podcast episode now.
If you’re a creator, I’d love to hear which of these tools you use and if there are any others that I didn’t mention that you’re loving.
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