If you're reading this blog post then you're probably aware that I run a recruitment company specialising in Digital Marketing. I work for myself and I have to work as efficiently as possible as I work with quite a number of clients and get quite a few roles in each week.

One of my friends Ryan Gibson writes an amazing blog on working from home and the tools he uses to help him get by. He also interviews other people in the industry about how they became successful working the same way. If you haven't read it, I advise you to check it out: Generation Y Working. Anyway, Ryan's blog got me thinking about the tools & products I use on a day to day basis that aid me in my work. In this blog I will cover some of the products I use and how I feel I benefit from them.

Now at this point the obvious thing would be to mention the usual Social Media channels like LinkedIn & Twitter, but I wanted to mention some of the more obscure tools I use. Some of the things that help my business as well as making it more productive.

So here's some of the tools: 

Lemon: is a tool I've used for a while now, and I could probably sell it. Its a fantastic expense managing tool you can use on your phone. You scan your receipts in using the camera on your phone and then it saves it to your account. You can use it for personal and business at the same time, you just tell it when you're scanning the receipt what it is. You can download all your expenses to a spreadsheet when its time to claim them back. Its a great tool and I would definitely recommend it. Its also free (although there is a premium version you can pay for).



Awesome New Tab Page: I think the name says it all. Its a home page for Google Chrome that enables you to customise it and put your most used sites there. It takes some time to get it just how you want it but its worth the effort. There's no looking for bookmarks or typing in web addresses its just one click. Its definitely worth a download.




Buffer: Is a great tool that enables you to publish posts on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn at different intervals. Buffer will post 3 times a day: Morning, Midday and Evening. You don't need to be online, it will post for you. This will hopefully mean that you're getting maximum coverage even when you're busy doing something else. Also, there is an App on Android & Iphone now so you can Buffer posts when you're away from your desk.

ifttt: Basically it means: if this then that. This site has so much potential and its getting even better all the time. Its a way of automating the web. Although that explanation doesnt do it justice. There are some many different channels to choose from. You can get it to email, or SMS you if its going to rain tomorrow. You can get it to change your Twitter Avatar when you change your Facebook profile, while also saving the picture in DropBox. You can get it to instantly follow someone on Twitter when they follow you. Its a fantastic tool or tools.

Anyway, I think that's enough for now. There are lots more tools & Apps I use and I'm discovering more hidden gems every week. I will try to keep you updated with some of the best ones I find.

It would be great to hear back about some of the tools you use and would be lost without.