CREATOR TOOLS I USE DAILY IN MY WORK
I make use of several tools, platforms, and resources for creating content. I'm particularly keen on three things when choosing a tool or platform to use in my work: innovation, integration, and ease of collaboration with other creators or team members.
01
Adobe Creative Suite & Canva
Premiere Pro for professional video editing and processing, Photoshop and Lightroom for high-quality image editing, Illustrator and InDesign for typesetting and publication design, and Express for social media graphics and thumbnails.
At the Mignone Center for Career Success, I have transitioned our designs to Canva—a tool that empowers everyone, regardless of skill level, to make adjustments. I recreated our key publications and set up templates for recurring events, ensuring the team could easily update designs without needing advanced software expertise.
02
Descript & Squadcast
Descript is an AI powered (text-based) video and audio creation tool and editor. Recently, the company acquired another platform, Squadcast, a virtual, in-browser recording studio that captures professional grade video (4K) and audio (24-bit float WAV).
The two platforms now make a great combo for video and audio production work from start to finish.
While I still prefer to edit my videos professionally in Adobe Premiere Pro, I have recorded all episodes of the Career 411 podcast virtually in Squadcast, and use Descript as my primary tool for captioning and generating YouTube video descriptions, titles, short clips, etc. with the help of the in-built AI features. It's a game changer for creators!
03
Chat GPT, Google Gemini, & Microsoft Copilot
Who isn't using generative AI in their work? Not me!
I've seen my productivity increased by 47% by integrating AI into only roughly 15 to 20% of my workflow.
From generating video descriptions, titles, outlines, timestamps, thumbnails, etc. to writing first drafts of full blog posts from videos and generating thumbnails, I have increasingly seen the benefits of generative AI.
I hope to design I robust workflow that leverages AI in 40% of my work as a marketer, communicator, and creative in the coming year.
04
Sprout Social, Klavyo & MailChimp, Google Analytics
Sprout Social:
A comprehensive social media management platform, Sprout Social is my go-to for streamlined content scheduling, audience engagement, and in-depth analytics. Its robust reporting capabilities help me track trends, measure performance, and adapt strategies effectively.
Klaviyo & MailChimp:
Both platforms are indispensable for email marketing. Klaviyo excels in personalized e-commerce campaigns with sophisticated segmentation and automation, while MailChimp is ideal for creating professional, visually appealing emails for any audience. Together, they allow me to optimize email engagement and conversion rates.
Google Analytics:
Google Analytics is essential for understanding website performance, tracking user behavior, and making data-driven decisions. With detailed insights into visitor demographics, traffic sources, and conversions, it provides the metrics that guide my strategies to improve reach and engagement.