The Best Apps/Tools I Use to Manage & Grow My Business and Build Client Websites
- Holly Michelle
- 2 days ago
- 3 min read
Running and GROWING a web design business (and doing it with style and sanity!) takes the right tools. I get asked a lot about what apps I use day to day to manage my projects, content, clients and visuals. So here’s a quick rundown of my favorites. Whether you're a creative entrepreneur or just want to elevate your website game, these are worth checking out.
🧾 HoneyBook
What it is: A client management system that keeps everything organized—from contracts and invoices to scheduling and communication; this is where I house all of my clients project information, their client portal and business organization.
Why I love it: It saves me hours every week with automated workflows and keeps my client experience super professional, sleek and easy to use. My clients ask me all the time what system I am using when I send them welcome guides, invoices, contracts, their client portal and any business related forms & documents.
Perfect for: Booking clients, getting paid, and streamlining your process.
Drawback: It can be a bit of a learning curve when setting up and the yearly price goes up as you make more sales, but over all... its worth it! 100% a MUST for my business!
👉 Try HoneyBook with this link to get a DISCOUNT!
📷 Lightroom
What it is: A powerful photo editing app that helps me create clean, consistent, and on-brand images. I use this to edit photos for my own marekting and my clients webistes. Sometimes my clients don't have well-lit photos, Lightroom help me enhance these photos for a better look.
Why I love it: Presets make editing fast, and the results always look polished and not "photoshopped"
Perfect for: Editing brand photography or making your product photos pop on your website.
Drawback: Some features are paid or part of Adobe’s subscription - but the subscription is totally worth it!!
✨ Adobe Express
What it is: A quick and easy tool to design graphics, remove backgrounds, and repurpose content. VERY similar to Canva but the subscripton is not as much as Canva. Plus this usually comes with the subscription you have to use Lightroom, so they come together under one, and still chearper than Canva. I mainly use this to convert files, get stock photos for myself or clients. They do have AI tools but, if you know me.. Im not a fan of AI and AI generate content can HURT your website performance!
Why I love it: It’s like a mini creative suite for quick fixes or marketing content.
Perfect for: Social media graphics, banners, and on-brand visual content.
Drawback: Limited compared to full Adobe software... but again.. its still worth it! lol
🎨 Canva
What it is: A user-friendly design platform with endless templates for social media and webistes! I use this mostly for myself but I do use some of the features for clients websites, as well! I mainly use this to create PDFs for my clients during my booking process and for my Client Resource Hub.
Why I love it: I use it to create quick client mockups, graphics, and stock images.
Perfect for: DIY website graphics, PDFs, and social templates.
Drawback: Some design elements are locked behind the Pro plan and the Pro plan is pretty expensive. This is why I also use Adobe Express because the features I cant use on the free version of Canva, I can use on Adobe Express ;-)
📱 Mojo
What it is: A mobile app for creating animated stories and videos.
Why I love it: It makes my Instagram stories feel elevated and branded without the time drain. The videos are good for vidoes on your webiste as well! You can generate fancy captions for your talking videos, reels and TikToks. The templates, graphics, options, stock photos/vidoes are so great!
Perfect for: Promo videos, testimonials, or story highlights to embed on your site or social media
Drawback: Best used on mobile; not as flexible on desktop and there is a subscription. But as I keep saying... its worth it!! I use this app ALL the time!
Want a Website That Actually Works For You?
The right tools make a huge difference—but if your website isn’t doing its job, all the apps in the world won’t help. That’s where I come in. I design beautiful, strategic websites that attract your dream clients and keep things running smoothly.
If you’re ready for a website that’s not just beautiful but also effective, I’d love to support you.
At HM Digital Design, I specialize in crafting strategic, soulful websites that get results... while staying true to you.
💻 Let’s chat about your project → Lets work together!
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