The Marketing Tools I Actually Use (and the Ones I Ditched)
Marketing is messy enough without 17 tabs open for tools you don’t even like.
I’ve tested more platforms than I’d like to admit — mostly in the name of “efficiency,” sometimes in the name of “shiny object syndrome.” Some stuck. Most didn’t. So here’s the short list of tools I actually use to run Offtype (and help my clients grow), plus a few I kicked to the curb with no regrets.
What’s in My Daily Stack
Acuity – For booking calls without the back-and-forth
Set it, forget it, and let your leads schedule themselves. I use Acuity for all Offtype audits, client consults, and project check-ins. Bonus points for making your brand feel polished without needing a full-blown CRM.
Canva Pro – Because not everything needs to be designed in Adobe
I use it for quick social templates, moodboards, pitch decks, and branded mockups. The key? Set up brand kits and stay in your own lane — overdesigning in Canva is a trap. (You know who you are.)
Notion – For organizing my brain and my business
From content calendars to onboarding workflows, Notion keeps it all in one place. Clean. Customizable. Slightly addictive.
Metricool – For social scheduling that doesn’t make me want to scream
It’s cleaner than Later, simpler than Hootsuite, and doesn’t try to be too cute. I batch schedule reels, carousels, and story reminders without any drama.
Google Workspace – Boring but essential
Docs, Sheets, Slides, Forms — all synced and shareable. It’s not sexy, but it’s the backbone.
Be clear, be confident and don’t overthink it. The beauty of your story is that it’s going to continue to evolve and your site can evolve with it. Your goal should be to make it feel right for right now. Later will take care of itself. It always does.
What I Ditched (And Why)
Mailchimp – Clunky, confusing, and weirdly ugly
I swapped it out for Flodesk (and sometimes ConvertKit for client projects) because visual emails shouldn’t be painful to build. And no one needs 17 steps to send a welcome sequence.
Later – Looked good, felt bad
Great UI, but the UX? Not for me. Posting reels was glitchy, linkin.bio felt dated, and the analytics didn’t go deep enough.
ClickUp – Death by notifications
It’s powerful, yes — but it took more time to manage the tool than to manage the work. I went back to Notion and never looked back.
Squarespace Scheduling – Cute for beginners, but limited
If you're running a real agency or managing multi-channel projects, it’s not robust enough. Acuity or Calendly > every time.
The Real Secret? It’s Not the Tools
You can have the prettiest stack in the world and still be stuck. Tools don’t replace strategy — they just help execute it.
So if you’re overwhelmed by options, here’s my advice:
Pick three. Keep it simple. Make them work for you, not the other way around.
And if you want to know which tools make sense for your brand? That’s what the Offtype Audit is for.
Book a free consultation — I’ll walk you through what’s working, what’s noise, and how to streamline your marketing without burning out (or going broke).
