10 Tools for Remote Work

Everyone's recommending Zoom, Google Hangouts, Slack, and the like for those who are settling into remote work for the first time. Those three are so oft-recommended that I want to offer something different.

How about some beginner, some advanced tools that make remote WFH life easier? Tools that are off the beaten path a bit but are great for getting work done. I've got 10 for you today for mobile and desktop users.

Coffitivity (Web, iOS)

If you thrive on hearing the buzz of work happening and miss that, but can't work at the local coffee shop due to social distancing restrictions, this is your weapon. Available as a free web app or iOS app download.

White noise in the form of coffee shop chatter, where you can't decipher what people are saying and it distracts you, but the ambient sound gives you that feeling of being around others, with different sounds available and volume control.

Personally I don't mind the quiet of working from home, but I know many need a little ambient sound. This will help with that.

HandMirror (Mac)

New to the video calling world and worried what you're going to look like seconds before a Zoom or Google Hangouts call with video? There's a free Mac app for that.

Click the menu bar icon once and it activates your web cam briefly almost like a quick mirror check so you don't look like an idiot (unless you're like me and you can't fix that without plastic surgery). Click it again to turn it off.

Daily.co (Web)

Want a free, lightweight alternative to Zoom, Google Hangouts, or FaceTime? Daily.co gives you a personal URL and is browser-based. No install necessary.

The limitation is two callers at one time, but I've personally used this and can vouch for it. Your other party doesn't even have to do video — and they can call in instead of visiting via the web. You can even record the call's audio and video.

Logitech K780 Keyboard

I love this Bluetooth keyboard. The typing response is great and it can connect to up to 3 devices (in my case, my MacBook Pro, my iPad, and my iPhone). I switch instantly from typing on one device to another by simply tapping one of the 3 buttons in the top left corner.

Don't know what's going on with the price right now as I got it for only $49 a few years ago and it's running for $80 USD on Amazon currently, but it's fantastic.

Clovis Supply iPad/iPhone Stand

I have to share my iPad screen frequently for calls with prospective customers, so having it handy is important, but not wanting it flat and in the way is an issue too. This is my solution.

The stand itself is $30 or so. I have two. I also have one of these attachments for my iPhone and one of these for my iPad so I can position exactly like I want.

Listen, don't judge me. When you work from home, you want things setup in just the right way for maximum comfort and productivity.

PopClip (Mac)

Another Mac app — and this one's not free — PopClip makes several tasks just that much faster for me.

Any time I highlight text in just about any app, the PopClip toolbar appears, and I can do something with that text instantly without right-clicking or clicking anywhere for that matter: cut, copy, paste, search Google, search LinkedIn (which I use extensively), search YouTube, start a new email, a new iMessage, post to Slack, start a new note in Apple Notes, spell check, and several more that I don't have configured (like search Amazon, eBay, create a Bitly short link, etc.).

Shortcuts App (iOS)

This app is incredible and now that Apple owns it, it should already be on your iOS device for free.

Briefly: You can create (or download) shortcuts that, with one tap, set off one or numerous tasks to happen automatically on your device. Visit specific web pages, play the day's weather, show your day's work agenda at a glance, find a specific note or file without opening the app it's in first, play a specific podcast, send a text message, merge PDFs, extract certain pages from a PDF, get directions to your next meeting post-coronavirus, create a new reminder, and so on.

Keyboard Maestro (Mac)

Okay this one is pretty geeky and also geared towards Mac users. At 4:30AM every day or when I tap a certain key combination on my Mac, I get a prompt asking me if I'm ready to start my work day. If I click yes, five apps automatically startup and six URLs automatically open in Google Chrome for me: HubSpot, my company's software, etc.

It's like a personal assistant is setting everything up for me. (If you can't tell with these last two recommendations, I like one-click tools that make life easier.)

Obviously if I paid money for this app to do just this thing, that wouldn't be too amazing. I use it for automating about 20 other repetitive tasks too, each of which saves me anywhere between 5 seconds or 2 minutes. I don't code either, so trust me, it's pretty easy to setup these automations.

Spark (Mac, Android, iOS)

Spark is by far the best email app available, especially for teams.

Email apps seem to be a dime a dozen, until you encounter one that makes it easier to customize which emails you get notified about (and which you don't), share emails without having to forward them or CC/BCC others, employ templates, add private comments, set reminders on emails, use multiple signatures, delegate emails, and so on.

Fluix (Web, iOS)

If you've read this far, thanks. I work for Fluix and the very core of our product is making it easier for remote teams to collaborate...on documents.

Renewable energy providers, construction firms and related contractors, airlines, large law firms, and healthcare organizations around the globe use us to route documents and collect data from a remote team via form submissions rather than using paper or trading emails with attachments (inspections, budget approval forms, pre-flight checklists, work orders, and so on). As well as companies with distributed sales personnel who need to get contracts and agreements signed via e-signature.

Fluix works in the browser, with iOS companion apps for the team to work with online or offline. Aimed at teams of 10 or more. Extended trial available during this crazy time defined by COVID-19.

Hope you found this valuable and it makes life just a little easier as you embrace remote work or working from home for the first time.