If you’re a surgeon, it’s very helpful to have some good surgical tools.
If you’re a carpenter, it’s very helpful to have some good carpentry tools.
If you’re a copywriter, it’s very helpful to have some good copywriting tools!
As a copywriter myself, here’s a list of the most useful tools I’ve personally found:
Ear Plugs for Superhuman Concentration:
How to use:
Use them for concentration when writing. Some people prefer music, some people prefer white background noise. But I personally have loved using ear plugs for when I do work for years.
Benefits:
I’m by nature very scatterbrained and easily distracted. This means even a small
But it’s not just noise that distracts me, it’s SILENCE too! Even if it’s pin-drop-silent at home, I’ll still put in ear plugs. Somehow earplugs create this “inner silence” that feels like “I’m inside my own head.” This helps tremendously when writing!
I personally like using the Hearos brand earplugs. They’re comfortable enough to wear all day and block out over 32 decibels of sound. I like them so much I even gift them!
The Almighty MacBook Pro:
How to use:
Open the computer and it’s on and ready to go. Portable. No mess. No Fuss.
Benefits:
I’ve been a strong MacBook fan for a while now, and I personally bring a 13″ MacBook Pro with me everywhere. If you were going to downsize your life into a backpack, this would be an essential item.
It’s powerful enough to write, make graphics, edit video……everything. You flip open the laptop and you’re ready to work. No fuss.
If you are doing several hours of work on the computer each day, why not buy the absolute best computer you can?? I made the switch from PC to Mac years ago and it was one of the most productive things I’ve ever done.
I love PC’s, and had no real issue with them…..but just the flat-out ease and quickness of using a Mac is hard to deny.
Don’t buy into the hype about Mac’s being overpriced. You can get an ultra-fast and ultra-well-designed computer that will last you years. You can choose to buy the $200 cheap-o laptop from Wal-Mart…….but if your job requires you to be on a computer for 8+ hours a day, why would you not buy the best tool on the market??
Google Drawings for Image Editing:
How to use:
Go to drawings.google.com and start making whatever you want! Just copy/paste images or make your own. It’s crazily easy.
Benefits:
Use for making sweet images and drawings. It’s super easy to use, available anywhere, free, and can replace fancy photo editors if you make a lot of drawings.
A lot of people will use a complex piece of software like Photoshop for basic image image creation. But if you wanna save money or just don’t know how to use Photoshop, then Google Drawings is a great solution.
I use it to doodle out quick sketches or UX designs. I also use it for building simple graphs and charts.
Here’s an example of something I quickly made (I know I know…..I should totally be an artist):
I love how easy Google Drawings is! A very under-utilized tool by most people.
Distraction Free Writing:
How to use:
Whenever I need to just sit-down-and-write but I’m tootaalllyy not feeling it….I enter into Distraction Free Writing Mode and go to town on the page. It’s one of the best ways to cure writer’s block.
Benefits:
No distracting icons.
No distracting menus.
No distracting programs.
Just pure white & black writing space.
Basically you just take any text editor and put it into full screen mode. It’s that simple. It works particularly well with Text Edit thats included on all Mac’s:
When I started writing this post…..I was using exactly this method :)
Edit Any Website Trick:
How to use:
If I’m doing any copywriting consulting I use this little piece of javascript code to edit the person’s website live on the spot.
Just copy and paste this little piece of JavaScript into your bookmarks bar, and anytime you want to “edit” a page just click it:
javascript:document.body.contentEditable = ‘true’; document.designMode=’on’; void 0
Benefits:
I use this for consults and showing clients how to structure their copy live on their own webpage. If needed you can see further instructions here.
I can’t tell you how often a client is just blown away when they see their copy edited “live” like this. It makes my job 10x easier because when a client can just visually see their page as I’m intending it to read, they instantly get it. I don’t have to sit there and explain what it WILL look like with the new copy, I can just SHOW them instead.
PayPal for Basic Payments:
How to use:
I still do a lot of basic invoicing and billing through PayPal. Since newer services like Stripe and Square have popped up, PayPal has DEFINITELY been stepping up their game!
Benefits:
Some newbies get way too fancy with their payment systems. Stay simple till you get super big! If people want your services, they will pay you, and they don’t care what payment processor you are using.
I’ve tried using fancier (and more expensive) invoicing systems in the past, and honestly all I really need is to send a PayPal invoice instead. Paypal has seriously stepped up their game in the recent years, and the service is much better. Even invoicing is literally a one-click action on PayPal now.
So if you’re doing copywriting or consulting, don’t spend too much time trying to build fancy payment systems, just use PayPal for now.
Siri (or any voice assistant):
How to use:
Each night when I plan out the following day I tell Siri a sequence of commands.
For example:
“Wake me up at 8am.”
“Remind me at 8:50am I have a consult with Dan.”
“Remind me at 10:50am I have a consult with Erica.”
“Remind me at 1:50pm I have a consult with John.”
“Remind me at 4:30pm to go to the gym.”
“Remind me at 7:30pm I have a Sumo dinner.”
…..I’ll just verbally say all these things into the phone and sure enough, it’ll remind me of allllll my obligations the next day. This is a super convenient thing I’ve come to rely on.
You don’t have to click any button or do anything….just speak it into the phone.
It’s like having a robot assistant.
The other great use is recording directly into your phone when you have a brilliant piece of copy pop into your head:
Just speak into the phone: “Siri take a note saying [insert your brilliant copy here]“ and it will automatically get transcribed into a note! This is how I can write copy even if I’m driving :)
Google Docs for Writing:
How to use:
Go to docs.google.com and start writing. It’s like using Microsoft Word but over the internet, and without a lot of the clutter.
Benefits:
I’ll personally say that Google Docs is by far the best writing editor I’ve ever used. It has all the features you need without all the clutter.
You can share documents with anyone really easily.
You can edit your doc from anywhere.
It’s free.
Adding images is super easy.
It converts your file to other format flawlessly.
I use a Google Doc for all my consulting clients, so when we meet we can both type in the doc together.
When someone sends me a Word file nowadays, I don’t even bother opening up the Word program….I just import it into Google Docs and edit from there. It’s just quicker, faster, more shareable. All around an incredible word processor….and it’s 100% free which is amazing.
Autoresponders:
How to use:
Whenever someone signs up via email to my website, I send them through an autoresponder sequence of emails.
Benefits:
I’ll send out between 1 and 2 emails a week on my own, but sometimes that number is inconsistent. This is where I let my robots take over and do some of the work.
I have an autoresponder sequence that automatically takes the new subscriber through a journey, and also mentions my paid products:
Show them about copywriting –> Tell them about the KopywritingKourse Premium –> Show them some of the top content.
This is all done automatically by the autoresponder. Day and Night a tireless robot does all the work whilst Neville goes out and plays :-)
I’ve gone through all the different services in the past….they each have their pro’s and con’s but in the end are essentially the exact same. I’d just break it down by the level of automation you need:
Beginner: Aweber.
Intermediate: ConvertKit.
Advanced: InfusionSoft.
iPad Pro:
How to use:
Ever see my dumb little drawings all over this site? Chances are I drew it myself on an iPad Pro.
I’ve been using tablet PC’s since 2003 (yes I was a very very very very early adopter), and have always been in love with being able to WRITE on a computer.
Benefits:
The iPad Pro is the first time computer handwriting has been done really really well. The lag time is so low you can write just like on a piece of paper, and the iPad Pro knows the difference between the pen and your finger with extreme accuracy, making using it quite a pleasure!
The best part about the iPad Pro is the portability and apps you can use. The screen is large as a sheet of legal paper, and in horizontal mode the keyboard is large as a full-sized physical keyboard. I actually prefer using the digital keyboard directly on the iPad Pro rather than the case/keyboard combination you can buy from Apple.
Microsoft OneNote:
How to use:
Use it to take notes if you have a tablet. You can see an example of my HustleCon Notes here.
Benefits:
OneNote is probably one of the most underrated Microsoft products in history. I’ve been using OneNote since 2003 and it’s been my favorite Microsoft Product ever.
It’s just so damn easy and useful…..and it “just works.”
I used to use this even back in college on a Toshiba Portege M200 Tablet PC, and even back then this software was extremely helpful and really badass. Using it on a modern day iPad is even better!
Photoshop for Photo Editing:
How to use:
Copywriting is about more than just text. In fact I can often explain something MUCH quicker with one clever image.
Benefits:
By not just being held hostage to writing words, I can create more effective messages by using Photoshop. I’d say over the years, learning Photoshop has been one of my largest strengths. It’s come in handy in SO many ways and saved me SO much time having to outsource small tasks.
For example, I can do cool stuff like add speech bubbles to my pics like you see in the photo.
I still love Google Drawings for making quick mock-ups and such…..but Photoshop is great for actual PHOTO editing.
Google Hangouts for Video Chatting:
How to use:
Just start chatting with anyone from across the world.
Benefits:
I do a lot of 1-on-1 consulting, and I’ve ALWAYS found I can better asses someone’s needs with a basic video chat session. The phone is great, but there’s certain things I can’t do over the phone:
- Pick up on excitement levels.
- See how engaged the person is.
- Show them my screen directly.
- See their screen.
These benefits make video chatting the tool of choice for all my consults. Google Hangouts its free, and nearly everyone has a Gmail account and can therefore use it right away. A great free tool (however for my office hours inside the KopywritingKourse Premium I use Zoom.us).
Google Keep for adding snippets to docs:
A little known product called “Google Keep” has made it to prime time, and is slowly being rolled out across Gmail and Google Docs:
Here’s why it kicks ass for copywriters (and well, other “normal” people) also :-P
Google Docs is the best text editor on Earth, and the new Google Keep lets you keep a drawer full of snippets you frequently use:
The Google Keep icon on a Google Doc:
Click the icon, and the “drawer” appears with your saved “snippets”:
Simply “click-n-drag” snippets into your document:
For example I like to frequently use quotes about copywriting in things I write, but I always forget them.
I’ll still frequently use my quotes swipe file, but with Google Keep I can actually click-n-drag that quote right into a doc! You can see more about it here.
Want more helpful copywriting info?
Click the image above to signup. Our incredibly in-depth and helpful copywriting email newsletter is sent out 1-2 times per week, and we aim to make it the one email you look forward to getting!
Sincerely,
Neville Medhora – Huge Tool
HemingwayApp for me and one of the best with him I improved my writing a lot now I am much better.
Thanks Neville! I love this content!!
Great ideias Neville!!
Copywriting is one of the most, if not the most, important tool of digital marketing.
Nice stuff… I´m starting digital marketing so this is very helpful to me…
Long time listener, first time caller.
If your site is searchable, I don’t know about it!
And since I couldn’t tap that, I’ll just ask:
Do you have a doc of exploratory questions you send prospects to determine their needs?
I ask because I’m looking for a doc of exploratory questions to send prospects to determine their needs :)
I swear, you bring out the sarcastic snarkiness in people (a good thing)
Cheers, thanks for all the content delivered in your uniquely irreverent voice Neville.
John Aucoin
Hi Nevile, i had too much problem to create persuasive articles and since I found your blog i improved my articles copy and also conversion!! Thanks for sharing your knowledge, your blog helped me a lot!!
Hello Neville, thank you for the wonderful tips. I have one question though, say you don’t have a website or a blog, you created just the Google doc profile. How can you use only this platform to effect email marketing?
Thanks for all this usefull infomation Neville. I use Google Docs and it’s fantastic for working remote with some clients. Thanks!
Hi Neville,
just quick question. How do you think about Google Docs and Google services in generall in order of privacy. I know it’s very good tool, but for example apple icloud apps (pages etc.) are pretty simmilar and I think Apple doesn’t read my stuff.
Whad do you think?
Thanks.
PS: Boy… Your blog… It’s awesome!
I don’t think about it that deep….that’s your own personal decision :)
Im extremely new to this and honestly i dont even know where to start i honestly think i need a mentor where should i start to get recognition or a first job? I need some in-depth guidance
Hey Kyle, if you need actual guidance then why not join The Kopywriting Kourse, in our members area you get all the training + live help you want!
https://members.copywritingcourse.com/subscriptions/
Great ideas, man. I was already looking for better ideas to apply in my work and your site appears as an indication, it was worth it!
Thank you Natanael, glad you found it helpful :)
Just curious, do you still use the MacBook Air, or did you upgrade to the new MacBook Pro version?
Hey Satvik, yes I bought the new MacBook Pro soon as it came out :)
HOWEVER, the MacBook Air is still (in my opinion) the best laptop that ever existed. The new Pro is great too, but you don’t need to splurge on a high end MacBook for most copywriting work!
Okay! Thanks, Neville. :D
My 2 best products are:
– Scriverner – ideal for working on multiple project and need to keep your stuff together
– Hemingway to make sure the language is cool
I just looove the Macbook Air.
Mine is not starting up anymore, but I am saving up to buy one again.
Using a work laptop now.
These are some tools that I find super useful:
– Hemingway App to make sure my grammar and style doesn’t go out of hand
– Scriverner to organise ideas, links, inspiration, scheduling etc. It helps me keep projects separate
I am defintely going to try out some of your suggestions.
Did your ‘goto’ list change from when you published it?
Neville, Really starting to love your stuff. I got certified under Pam Foster with Digital Marketer Copywriting specialist. Ha. I am just someone who passed a course..
But really I like the stuff you write for app sumo and so I kind of stalked you around the internet and found examples of your writing. It’s bad ass.
My question is if you’re going to be mainly writing for Service-Based Bizz’s would you still apply the A.I.D.A formula? Also, I get that to get creative you need to write all the time, but if I am maintaining a Professional posture while running offering a website that runs ads for Real Estate agents would you still add some creative copy instead of how Twilio markets to agents or agencies??
Thanks for some feedback. you’re the dude… Andrew
Hey Andrew, welcome to being a copywriter :)
Your question is a little bit confusing. If you’d ever like to ask me personally, come to office hours inside the Premium KopywritingKourse: https://copywritingcourse.com/join
Otherwise stay tuned to the email list, I frequently discuss more in depth questions!
This is the most brilliant site to learn about copywriting. Thanks for all of your copywriting tips and resources. It’s a treasure of helpful information! Especially for people starting out, like me!
Glad you enjoy it Suman! We have tons of free articles for you, and if you ever want more professional training, consider joining the Premium KopywritingKourse!
https://copywritingcourse.com/join
Everyday I learn a little about copywriting. Thanks bro. Good site, good post, good tools.
You’re very welcome Vinicius! Now stick in some ear plugs and get started writing!
https://copywritingcourse.com/ear-plugs/
*Coffee for sure! I believe there is even a copywriters’ brand out there.
*Coming up with ideas when moderately hungover: it makes me a bit uncertain, thus it is easier for me to make more adventurous/creative decisions since I don’t have to stick to any paradigms. Also my brain feels a bit edgy and crazy, often that can also be a plus.
*Doing the ‘wrong’ thing: for example, you start writing when it is 5am and you just got home after a two-day journey from Asia – you should be heading straight to bed, yet that atmosphere of ‘going against the rules’ even helps my general vibe a bit for some weird reason. Simpler stir-ups like listening to music you despise can also be useful.
*Talking to a creative person always helps me. I mean just a friend that you think is creative, and do not talk about what you need to do, just blab for some time about various stuff.
*As for ear plugs, since I do not own any, I have found that putting my earphones in without any music on works too. If you are in a busy place, people do not trouble you and you still get that ‘inside my own head’ feeling.
*Watching well-known professional stand-up comics or switching to amateur/idiosyncratic ones when you feel like it.
Awesome post :)
Thanks Dilip, very much appreciate the kind words :)
Hi Nev,
First of all, Thank you very much for this amazing post. I got a question about your previous “thank you products post.”
“Thank you iPhone for letting me do everything on a computer from you anywhere” Can u pls tell me a bit more about how u do that? Do u mean using teamviewer or some other (free) service?
Peter
Great list, Neville!
I also cherish https://readability-score.com.
Copy/pasta some text, hit the “Measure Readability” button, and you’ll get a ton of cool data on your material, including a Flesch-Kincaid score.
Me likey. :)
Nice suggestion Damon! Actually Microsoft Word had one of these features a long time ago and I used to use it all the time out of curiosity. It’s weird though…..back in high school I would pride myself on having a high-level paragraph, now I pride myself on having a low-level paragraph :)
Hey Neville, nice tools..
These are some that I find super useful:
– Hemingway App to make sure my grammar and style doesn’t go out of hand
– Workflowy to organise ideas, links, inspiration, scheduling etc
– Trello as an experiment design board for my content efforts
– Canva for easy-to-make designs
– I also review your kopykourse from time to time for inspiration
– Evernote to keep a swipe file
– Buzzsumo for content ideas
– The almighty AIDA/4Ps formulas to organize my writing <– Thanks to you!!
– Instapages for easy-to-make landing pages
– Rescuetime to see what I'm wasting time on
– web.mention.io to stay on track of company mentions
Great list Esther! Maybe shirt-worthy comment :)
Only thing I haven’t heard much about on there is Workflowy…..might try out the Chrome Extension thanks to your recommendation!
You really should :)
It’s saving my life!
I don’t buy a lot of tools privately but this one is worth the upgrade.
You also get this super-funky-galaxy-background with it that’s amazing..
Super-funky-galaxy-backgrounds are always worth it :)
Hi Nev,
Thanks. Your post had some great straight-forward and actionable tips. Also got some gold from some of the comments too. What a great community you’ve created.
My comment is related to earplugs. I’m interested in giving these a try.
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/584645150/isolate-switch-off-your-ears/description
Supposedly they work heaps better than the standard earplugs since they can attenuate a greater range of frequencies.
Has anyone tried these?
Seen em….haven’t seen any working prototypes in the real-world that are really great. Ear plugs for now are easier (and CURRENTLY available)!
Oh no… more for you… as I’m a closet SEO, can’t tell you who I work for as I would have to erase the internet…
Here are some research tools for topical ideas and keywords – BTW from an SEO viewpoint, don’t obsess on specific keywords – Remember “Things” not “Stings (keywords)” – The big G can “understand” what your writing about, it just wants focused quality answers or information, add in some good old mind-control (e.g. great answers that lead onto good sales copy) and you have a win-win situation.
http://answerthepublic.com/ < love this for ideas on article topics or for targeting ad campaigns
http://keywordtool.io/ < get lists of search terms that people are actually typing in based around a seed keyword.
Copywriting… sorry! I mean Kopywriting and SEO should be a hand-in-hand process. If you are spending all that time writing stuff, aim it at people who are actively looking for answers to the problems your "thing" can solve.
Cheers
Nick
Great recs Nicks! I like the layout of AnswerThePublic……great for jogging the brain. Bookmarked!
I use KeywordTool.io sometimes. Normally I just use Ahrefs and the Google Keyword Tool instead.
But yes, SEO and good kopywriting are definitely skills that when learned together can really dominate!
What a list! Including the ones suggested in the comment section.
Two of my secret (no more) copywriting tools:
– NevBlog
– KopywritingKourse T-Shirt :D ;) (kidding)
Lemme me add my (1) headline swipe file and (2) story deck
Awww thanks Tavleen, glad I’m the “tool” you use for kopywriting :-)
I use http://txt2ppt.appspot.com to create Video Sales Letter powerpoint slides.
This is a 100% free tool I developed. You can create your sales letter using Google Docs or any text editor, paste the text in txt2ppt.appspot.com and click Generate PPT do download your slides.
After that, I use https://screencast-o-matic.com to record my slidecast (with my Blue Yetti USB mic), and some video editor (Sony Vegas, DaVinci Resolve) to make the final edition.
Best regards,
Serge Rehem
I generally use Camtasia for all my screen casts, but that one looks super easy to use, thank you Serge!
Serge – that is superb – thank you
Hi Neville!
I loved this..I’m just starting out as copywriter and this list was super helpful. I use OneNote like a lot and I will def try all your suggestions! Thanks
Oh cool, another OneNote user! Most people have no clue what it is :)
Great post+pictures! I’ve become a fan of iPad Pro myself.
I would add:
1. Quick online photo-editing with picmonkey.com
2. Pocket for saving and sorting articles
3. Snagit for screenshot
Question: Which app do you use in your iPad for drawings and making sure they sync on the cloud to avoid the fear of losing them?
Thanks Aman! Cool suggestions, haven’t really used any of those 3.
On iPad Pro I use “Sketch” for the drawings, however there’s LOTS of good sketching programs out there. Just depends which you like most. I don’t really worry about losing my drawings, I just upload them to the blog and I’m done with them.
I guess you could use Google Drive or One Drive for easy cloud storage.
I always forget about Google Draw. You and Henneke Duistermaat from Enchanting Marketing have inspired me to start including cartoons aka stick figures in my upcoming blog posts.
I have a big ol’ bag of tools I use to write copy:
Research Phase: I’m a true believer the best copy comes from your market’s mouth, not your head.
So I crack open a fresh GOOGLE DOCS OR SHEETS-
Lable it : “Topic or Audience” Super Secret Spy File
Then it’s off to FACEBOOK GROUP LAND. I use the SEARCH THIS GROUP FUNCTION (the little magnifying glass right above the pictures of group members) and search “I just can’t” or “how do you” “No one will” “Rant” “Vent” “Venting” or a board topic. Cut and paste peoples’ questions or excuses in my DOC.
Normally I just stop there but if it’s a bust I go to REDDIT, QUORA, AMAZON BOOK REVIEWS, or I search for trade journals/forums in that industry. I’ll also check out BUZZSUMO for popular articles on the topic then search “?” in the comments section in those posts.
I’ll also peek in my swipe file for hooks + inspiration. “The Classics” are kept in a file on my mac air, the rest are safetly tucked away in EVERNOTE notebooks
Writing It Phase:
Either GOOGLE DOCS (I love the free voice -to-text feature because I suck at spelling. Plus I can thought vomit on the page) or FOCUS WRITER (https://gottcode.org/focuswriter/) it’s a free distraction-free app for both PC + MAC. No bells and whistle just a wooden background and text editor. (Since I have a MAC I hit the FN button twice if I want voice to text)
Editing Phase:
I use idiomsite.com, thesaurus.com, rhymezone.com to edit in the awesome
http://www.hemingwayapp.com to trim the fat.
Then I backaway from the mac air for at least 1-2 hours to let everything sit and my brain rest. (Playing with kids outside, going for swim, coloring with kids or housework)
Next up headline time:
I write 10 headlines per blog post and 15+ for sales pages – everything starts off as “how to”. I’m also I big fan of your desire + time + exuse formula.
If nothing feels right I’ll peek into my headline formula swipe file/spreadsheet or go to Portent’s Content Generator or Sumome Headline generator (sumome.com/stories/headline-generator).
Then I run my headline through CoSchedule’s Headline Analyzer for kicks.
I have my mac-air read back everything I write (including this comment – total life saver).
General tools:
Coffee (duh),
Hulu + Roku 2 + Snacks + Juice (I’ve got two kids. Somedays I can’t get all my writing done before they wake up/naptime)
Google Calendars for time blocking, batching, alerts
Airtable for my content + promotion ideas & calendar
Asana/Trello for project mangement
Use StayFocus + Momentum Chrome Extension
BeFocused App ( It’s a Pomodoro Technique Timer)
One Big Thing App
Canva for graphics
Buffer for social media
Turn off notifications on my mac-air and use ‘do not disturb’ on my phone
Thanks Kate! Maybe a shirt-worthy process you’ve got there!
Good stuff Nev and lots of great suggestions from your tribe… especially your ‘on screen editor’. Luv Luv. As a graphic artist, site builder and writer one of the most time consuming tasks is trying to match up existing fonts and sizes. Recently found this tool and use it to the max.
WhatFont Chrome Extension
https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/whatfont/jabopobgcpjmedljpbcaablpmlmfcogm/related
This handy little Chrome extension allows you to quickly find out what fonts a website is using. Saving you having to sift through the source code to find out. Just point and click on the font on any website and it will tell you what it is.
Thanks for the suggestion Mark! I usually don’t have a huge problem with that, but it’s definitely a chore if you’re a designer. Good recommendation!
Hemingway Editor (http://www.hemingwayapp.com/)
I’m still working on mastering the art of copy – I’m a lot further along than I would be had I not found your stuff, Neville… The Hemingway Desktop App (http://www.hemingwayapp.com/desktop.html) in distraction free mode helps keep things clear and concise when I’m editing my drafts.
Thanks for the suggestion Rory, and glad my stuff has helped you out. I hope to continue delivering :)
Hey Nev,
I’ve been enjoying your emails for a while and this was an impressive post.
It was so impressive that you got me to start considering splashing out on a rake of new gear. This is a real achievement – I pride myself on being spendthrift and doing the most with the least.
The two tools I want to share are two I want to use in combination: The Most Dangerous Writing App (http://www.themostdangerouswritingapp.com/) and Hemingway Editor. I know Hemingway Editor has been recommended before, but using it with TMDWA is my unique contribution. Basically, I write in TMDWA with the serious time pressure it enforces. Then I tidy things up and make them clear in Hemingway. Between the two I feel I get a very high quality result in a very short time period.
Hey Sam, I totally agree it’s great to do the most with the least…..BUT, if there’s a tool that will max out your productivity, I would definitely suggest you get it.
Just a little time saved each day adds up quickly. Thanks for the suggestion, checking it out now!
Two free online tools that maybe of use:
https://www.mindmup.com – mind mapping – lots of export options, save to to your google drive, easy to use.
https://www.draw.io – a free online drawing tool, save to local drive, google drive, lots of export options too, sophisticated but simple.
Alternative to Google Docs is Outlook.com, (old hotmail accounts should have been moved over to it). It give you access to all Microsoft’s office tools including OneNote (click on the top left box-grid thing) – Its FREE… Try to stick to Google Docs or Outlook, or you will end up like me with duplicate work and spending time searching both for something you had been working on in the past… :/
Cheers
Nick
Oh nice, never seen those! Maybe shirt-worthy recommendations Nick!
Good tip on sticking to one ecosystem, I imagine having both would get really confusing really quick.
I iz alwayz confused… 2 main google accounts, 4 yahoo, 1 outlook and then there are the other “productivity” tools…
Asana.com
Trello.com
FreedCamp.com << I like
The there is the real nerdy one…
Podio.com
What have I done?
More will get sucked into TMT Syndrome!
(TMT= Too Many Tools)
Bahahha…..”Too Many Tools” is why I eventually moved my to-do lists to paper.
I loved all the productivity tools, but I often spent more time with the TOOL ITSELF than DOING THE TASK.
Retro-grading into paper-n-pen oddly enough helped me out big :)
Google Drawings is waaaaayyy underrated. Good call, Neville. I did almost all my artwork for a (simple) site on there recently and the ease-of-use, simplicity, and flexibility does make it stand out among other free tools in its category.
Glad you agree Drew! It really is astoundingly simple compared to anything else.
Some top tips here from everyone. Thanks.
Is there any app out there that allows you to write in blocks and then move those blocks around? Sort of like sticky notes (colour coding handy too) but within a page/document you can save.
Seems such a simple thing. It must exist!
I use Tables in Google Docs to do this. Just make a table and write in it. You can bookmark the table for easy linking and move it around.
Google Keep let’s you write on colored “sticky notes” and arrange them.
Easily one of my most used apps. I just brain dump everything in a sticky note there.
Hey there Nick…sticky notes and such are great (as already mentioned). That’s the basic structural approach behind Scrivener. The ability to throw “pieces” together, move them around, rearrange. It does have a learning curve (that I’m still working through). It was originally created for novelists (which I’m definitely NOT!) and I’ve found that it has some great features for non-fiction writers (which I definitely AM).
It isn’t free, and is very inexpensive. Have you checked it out to see if it might help you do what you mention?
Hugs&Blessings. MamaRed.
Yeah the reason I never used Scrivener very much is because it’s for LONG things like books. Generally blog posts will max out around 4,000 words on the high end, so I don’t have much trouble wrangling different pieces together.
Thanks for the mini-review MamaRed!
Nev:
I’m a little bit in love with Trello to help organize writing resources, ideas, links, etc. I also keep little snippets of code I use often, profile url’s, color codes and stuff like that there in a handy dandy board. I love google stuff, like docs, but didn’t know about Google drawings! Can’t wait to try it out. And I’m experimenting today with Siri as a virtual assistant…another new one to me! I’m with Iris, Canva rocks it for me for visuals but, I’ve been experimenting with Visme for adding multi-media visuals as well, lately. I’m too computer stupid for Photoshop, so far, so I’ve been working around it!
Well, thanks Nev, I always love getting your take on things and finding something useful:) Take care, Sue-Ann
Hey Sue-Ann, Trello seems great for organizing things, I know a ton of people who use it all the time.
Glad you discovered Google Drawings now, it’s just so easy to use and stick into your other Google apps!
Glad you got something from this :-)
First 60 minute of the day: WRITE. Before breakfast, shower, petting the dog and even brushing my teeth! First thing I do after waking up is drink a glass of water and then – write copy for MY OWN SHIT for an hour. Feels like you the day before even before kickoff :)
KillNewsFeed for chrome: Kills Facebook newsfeed and saves tons of time and negative mental energy spent on other people’s bullshit.
StayFocused for Chrome: I have a 40 minute daily ‘allowance’ on Facebook, major news sites and even the stupid Online CandyCrush habit I picked lately – combined.
Pomodoro: When writing “heavy” copy (VSL, sales page, email sequence), it gives me 100-150 minutes of ‘pure’ writing inside of an 180-210 minutes time span. And the best thing? My brain doesn’t feel goddamn fried.
Momentum for Chrome: immediately forces you to set your major focus of the day + love their background HD pictures.
And Crossfit, which 10x physical, mental and emotional strength
Loved your google drawing suggestion, will try it for sure
Great schedule Idan, possibly shirt-worthy comment!
I didn’t put ALLLLL my productivity hacks on the post since it was focused more towards tools, but my favorite hack is staying light all morning and barely eating anything except fruit or coffee.
If I stay light in the morning, I can work super hard all day until I eat. I don’t mind being a little bit hungry if it means I get a ton of work done!
Here are my top productivity hacks:
a) Get an early start. After getting up at 05.30 for work for a few months i discovered it was a great time to get work done. Works especially well in the summer.
b) Get stuff that may distract you done ASAP. Things not directly related to your productivity, but still important enough that you may pause work to do them. If you do it beforehand, you are more likely to find yourself in that elusive “Zone” and able to ride that wave of creativity until you either finish or you wipe out.
c) Take a brisk walk. This is especially powerful when combined with the first two hacks. Rise early, do all your distracting stuff first, then head out for a brisk walk, around 30-45 minutes. You will have a 30-minute window after you return home where you have an increased ability to concentrate and thus, to get your stuff done.
d) Don’t be afraid to take breaks, especially if they involve getting away from the computer for a bit. Context-switching your brain is good, especially if you’re stuck.
e) Get yourself a snazzy t-shirt and put that on, mix up your own self-image a bit. ;)
Great advice Kris! I especially like D…..as I love taking random breaks and distractions :)
I use CANVA to design my images. It can do soooo many things <3
I love Canva! I don’t use it all the time because I’ll just go with Google Drawings or Photoshop, but I am SUPER DUPER IMPRESSED with how easy they make images for social. Very good layout.
I use it on my iPad sometimes for design inspiration :)
One of the best (and easiest) tips I’ve found for proofreading is to use Google Translate. No matter how many times you go over your work – even when asking others for help – it’s easy to miss things. Our brains have a way of filing in the gaps and inserting words without us realizing it.
However, I’ve found that LISTENING to your copy (via Google Translate) makes finding your mistakes so much easier. Even better, close your eyes and listen. I guarantee you’ll find errors you wouldn’t have otherwise.
Ohhh you use Google Translate just to LISTEN to your message. I really like this idea Ryan, possibly shirt-worthy suggestion :-)
Yes! Probably should have explained that better. Just copy and paste your work and hit “Translate.”
Then the lovely lady of Google will read your copy aloud for you to review.
Lol…..this is such a funny and great hack :)
Actually on the iPhone (and I’m sure Android as well) there is an accessibility setting where you can have your phone read all your articles. I’ve used it before to listen to long articles as sort of a “podcast” and it works great.
An app to stop you from visiting distracting websites (e.g. Facebook) when writing – I use https://selfcontrolapp.com – it’s free on Mac!
Well I’m writing copy now and my Self Control app is at work…but obviously I didn’t include your website in my list of “forbidden” websites for the next 2 hours :p
P.S. This is written on the most awesome laptop in the world, a 3-year-old-and-still-going-strong 13″ MacBook Air
Hey Amanda, I use SelfControlApp on a daily basis actually to keep me away from Digg and Reddit and Facebook and YouTube! Great suggestion for the post, might add it.
P.S. I’m ALSO writing this from my 13″ MacBook Air :-)
I agree, the Ipad Pro to rule them all. The killer App for writing, journaling, copying webpages, PDF’s and making notes, and feeding the cat? Notes Plus. *********** – an eleven star rating. Don’t think, buy it. Learning curve is quick.
Apple watch. I bought it for the heart rate monitor and fitness logging and its very meh. However the handy wrist timer with haptic touch keeps me focused and on schedule. Pick a task and assign duration (ie, look at porn for 5 minutes (ok, 3 minutes (does anybody actually do this anymore?))). A gentle tap on my wrist tells me times up and time for next.
Bose Quiet Comfort headset. Crying baby on airplane. No problem. Noisy time at Starbucks. Not for me. Not cheap but totally worth it. I swear by them.
Notes Plus? Never heard of it, checking it out right now.
Did you know the Apple Watch is one of the fastest selling consumer products in history? So many useful applications I can see in the next few years when the technology hits its 3rd iteration.
Love the noise cancelling headphone, though I prefer earplugs still. Thanks for the recommendations Rob!!
Awesome list Nev!
I’d definitely add the HemingwayApp Editor to that list.
Also a Pomodoro timer!
Evan
Hey Even, thanks! Hemingway has been recommended a bunch of times, might check it out!
HemingwayApp improved my writing tremendously. Helps me write shorter sentences, and straight to the point. Thumbs up.
Hmmmm…..with all these good reviews about it I might have to give it a shot soon.
A great way to deal with copying and pasting is to use ClipMenu (for Mac users: http://www.clipmenu.com/). A really wonderful tool for distraction free writing is Draft. Check it out by opening an account at https://draftin.com/. There is a Hemmigway mode too.
Thanks for the recommendations Bart! I totally forgot about this thing I use all the time on all my computers called JumpCut…..it’s a similar copy/paste app. SO useful though!
GIMP seems to do most of the the things that Photoshop can do…and it’s FREE open source software https://www.gimp.org
My favourite tool is pencil and pocket sized note pad made from real paper. Catches all the inspiration that comes when I’m out and about. Batteries never go flat. And no worries about dropping it or losing it.
Oh yeah, Gimp is great! I used to use it in the past when I didn’t have Photoshop….and still use it if for some reason I need some quick image editing and am not on my own computer.
Great recommendation!
If you think speeding up your mouse tracking makes a difference, you’re going to be blown away by my tip.
Get some software that teaches you to touch-type.
Personally, I use Typing Master http://www.typingmaster.com/ but I guess any rated app will do a good job.
I used to work with journalists who thought it was a badge of honour to type badly and furiously. Even if they broke their keyboard.
But, following Neville’s argument, you wouldn’t be impressed by a surgeon or carpenter who misused or broke the tools of their trade. You want someone who has achieved some mastery over basic techniques.
When you can type automatically, accurately and without effort, you can put your energies into what really matters—thinking about your writing.
Hey PJ, great recommendation!
You know what’s sad though? I still to this very day “chicken peck” type with just two fingers….you can see me in action here:
http://www.nevblog.com/august-2015-goals/
…..I might use this to once-and-for-all correct this bad typing!
Yeah, good luck Neville. Trouble with someone as fast and bad as you are (if you don’t mind me saying), as you develop the skills to involve all ten fingers, you inevitably have to go through a process of slowing down. It’s frustrating, but worth it in the end.
Yeah……I should just do it one of these days. I still type remarkably fast for chicken pecking, but I think learning the proper way would double that.
Great post!
I forgot to thank you for a tip you shared inside the premium course (Adword’s question)… thanks a ton.
A fast computer is a great investment in productivity.
Here’s what I would add:
a) A simple keyboard
b) I used pixlr.com for editing. For small stuff, it replaces Photoshop.
c) Evernote. To break Writer’s block and take inspiration I go through my swipe file.
d) Onedrive. Recently I shifted from Google drive to MS Onedrive for 2 reasons. (a) For about $40 per year I was getting Office 365 (works like Google document) (b) and 1 TB online space. Means I can access everything from any PC or mobile and my wife doesn’t have to borrow my PC just to watch old photos or anything :).
Cheers
Great suggestions Mohinish, possibly shirt-worthy!
Brain.fm via headphones
Words That Sell by Richard Bayan
Coooffffeeeeeee
People loooveee Brain.fm….it gets recommended to me all the time!
Good book, I have it and use it (although I made my own little list for easier searching when on the go: https://copywritingcourse.com/list-of-power-trigger-words/)
I forgot coffee! Need to put that on there!!
A large keyboard + a mouse (instead of the laptop’s inputs) and a big flat TV (mine is 40″) help you write with greater comfort. Also, an optometrist visit. If you have a problem with your eyes, even if it is small and barely noticeable, it can multiply your wear and tiredness. Now, for more software oriented tools, definitely a good cloud storage service (I have 1TB on OneDrive thanks to my Office365 subscription). You never know when you will find yourself in the need to send some file of yours to a (potential) customer or to a colleague.
I’ve never thought about the visual component of it. I have -6.50 vision in each eye but wear contacts that completely correct the problem.
Good thinking on the cloud stuff. I personally use DropBox (but only occasionally), but have replaced it mostly with Google Drive (I also pay for the business-grade version so it comes with a TON of space).
Same here, lots of shortsightedness. Believe me, anything that can wear your eyes is a great factor for your productivity. Lenses for example can irritate some people, others don’t notice that their glasses are scratched etc.
I used Google Drive, since I am a googleholic (gmail, android etc.), but in Greece we had problems with payments online (looooong story on politics) and at some point, when I wanted to get extra space, it was easier to migrate to OneDrive.
Oh that’s interesting, I never thought about what people use internationally. Actually in my email I’ve noticed A LOT of people have suggested OneDrive because their entire work ecosystem is based around Microsoft so it’s much better to stay within that ecosystem.
Great article. I may ditch Microsoft Office in favour of Google Docs. Also loved the tip to edit websites and the way you use Siri as well as the google drawing. Thank you for sharing!
I got laser eye surgery earlier this year. Game changer after wearing contact lenses for nearsightedness for over 10 years. Think about all the time, trouble and cognitive load over a year; buying lenses, making sure you have lenses on you in case one falls out, putting on and taking off everyday etc etc : ).
I also use brain.fm and find it extremely useful.
Recently I’ve been experimenting with the “Block & Focus” chrome extension which allows you to set Pomodoro style work/rest timers and choose which websites to block during your work times.
Hey Daniel…..I gotta get Lasik soon. Really have heard nothing but positive response from it!
Distraction-free writing is awesome! If you don’t have El Capitan installed, you can also try WriteRoom for $10. It works for Mac OSX 10.7 and beyond.
http://www.hogbaysoftware.com/products/writeroom
Thanks for the headsup about it Greg!
Evernote, reading aloud (voice memo app on iPhone), and Google Doc (to copy the first draft over from Evernote and vet).
Great way of speaking and transcribing everything Jason!
Jason, is that limited to 30 seconds of voice recording before it cuts you off to upload what you’ve said? I haven’t found an app for my iPod Touch that doesn’t require you to tap on the microphone logo to continue for an additional 30 seconds with voice-to-text. It’s very annoying.
Hey Norman, the standard iPhone Voice Recorder app allows you to record long as your phone’s memory can handle :)
Thanks Neville. I should have been more specific. The apps that I’ve tried that ‘transcribe’ what you’re dictating, all seem to cut off at 30 seconds, at which point you have to again tap the microphone icon to again record (very destructive to ‘flow’). I believe this is because the app(s) are communicating with their respective clouds to do the actual transcription.
I see I see…..thanks for the tip Norman!
1) Using a Timer.
When I set a deadline, it creates pressure on my mind to complete my writing task .
If I don’t use timer, I will do everything but writing.
2) Mindmaps to plan what points I will be including (mindjet, is paid. Freemind is free :) )
3) Scrivener helps me to store drafts and finished work in an organized format.
Is the timer for the “Pomodoro Method” a lot of people use? It seems like a lot of people do this, I might need to try!
Thanks for the suggestions Saumil!
I love Lanes.io it’s a Chrome extension that appears when you open a new tab and shows the top task on the list (sort of like momentum). It basically combines a daily to do list with a pomodoro timer, then it tracks how well you do at completing your tasks so you can see most productive times and days.
Got to agree with Scrivener recommendation. Takes time to get familiar with, but is stunningly good once you know what it can do. For drafting and keeping track, and just making the admin bits of writing easier, it is truly awesome.
Wow, glowing testimonial for Scrivener. I’ve never used for more than 5 minutes, and might have to give it a re-visit.
PJ. would you mind elaborating on how and which admin tasks Scrivener helps you with? Thanks.
Saumil, could you elaborate on which copywriting details or tasks Scrivener makes easier for you? Tell me how its made producing copy easier for you.
Great list Neville. I would add a comfortable keyboard to the list. When I switched to a wireless Apple keyboard it was much easier to type than on a laptop in my opinion. Keep writing, I love your stuff.
Thanks Neil! I too use the wireless Apple keyboard for my 27″ iMac at home. However I totally don’t mind the MacBook Air keyboard, I love it. Thanks for the tip!