Handy Apps I Use To Accomplish My Tasks As A Remote Executive Assistant

Remote working has become a new norm for most professionals around the world. I, too, am a remote work advocate. A few years ago, I was in an office cubicle working my ass off for a boss that I wasn't sure cared for me if I worked longer hours than usual.

I realized it was an awful sight and situation. Then, I came across an article about the glory of being an online freelancer who doesn't work for anyone but yourself. I saved the article, re-read it several times until the words became nourishment to my vanishing interest in a traditional job setting.

Since then, my soul was yearning for something different. I wanted to break free from the shackles of bosses, office cubicles, and 9-5 devilries. It's not that I still abhor them now but the repulsion was inherent at that time.

The success of online freelancers depends on the tools they utilize.

One of the perks of being an online freelancer is you get to tinker, use, and rely on different tools to accomplish tasks and deliver results to your clients. Stellar service is the name of the game and the tools I listed below help me do that.

Disclaimer: I'm not an affiliate of any of the apps I mentioned below. I simply love these tools because they immensely help me do my work smoothly and efficiently.

So, let's dive in. Let's start with

Productivity

Google Suite (Docs, Sheets, Slides, Gmail, Contacts) — I'm an avid fan of Google Docs and Sheets. They are the staple of professional online freelancers. One of the basic productivity tools for remote assistants, freelance writers, project managers, etc.

Microsoft Office — Microsoft Office which consists of Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc. is a productivity powerhouse. It's really a great idea to package all the Office apps into a single application. No more separate Office apps on your smartphone or tablet.

Email Management

Microsoft Outlook — I use this app for all my email accounts along with Spark app. For me, this app is way better than the Gmail app. It works really smoothly and the interface is pleasant and usable.

Spark — Spark Email App by Readdle is one of the best and feature-rich email productivity apps out there. I have several email accounts including the ones I've been tasked to manage and I can say that this app is robust and brilliant. It just lives up to its promise of bringing great email experience.

Zoho Mail — Developed by Zoho Corporation and it's a great alternative to the Gmail app. It has many features that make it handy to use just like its desktop counterpart. If you're looking for a great email productivity app that's not Gmail or Outlook, you should definitely check out Zoho Mail.

Project Management

Trello — The king of visual project management. It's my favorite productivity and organizational tool. Great for remote work collaboration with team members. Absolutely a staple of remote working.

Asana — If Trello is the king of visual project management, Asana is the queen regnant. Design is intuitive and enjoyable to use. Perfect for keeping on track with daily tasks.

TickTick — If Trello and Asana had a child, it would fantastically be TickTick. I use TickTick to create schedules, manage my time, and organize my business and personal life. It's one of those apps that you can rely on on a daily basis. My favorite features are the Habit Tracker and the built-in Pomo Timer.

Calendly — If scheduling is the name of the game, Calendly is a household name. I use Calendly to book clients for meetings or discovery calls. An indispensable tool for coaches and consultants alike.

Graphic Design

Canva — I just love how Canva turns you easily into a design master. I use this app to create social media graphics, website graphics, and holiday greeting cards. High quality and professional designs at your fingertips.

Adobe Spark — Adobe Spark helps you create stunning content on the fly. The premade designs are awesome or you can easily create your own. A useful nifty app developed by Adobe that also brought us the ever-mighty Photoshop.

Desygner — If you're looking for a Canva alternative, Desygner could be it. It has an intuitive interface but the number of templates is not as extensive as on Canva. Great for anyone just starting out in designing.

Social Media Management

Buffer — Buffer is the best social media management tool for me because it allows me to schedule posts and manage multiple social media accounts seamlessly. Saves me a hell of a lot of time. No need to look further. Totally a recommended app.

Zoho Social — Zoho Social keeps the task of social media scheduling and management easier so you can focus on creating great social media content. It's a one-stop-shop for all social media activities. Give it a try and you won't be disappointed.

Hootsuite — Another great app to keep tabs on your social media accounts. I'm okay with the free version. Thanks to this app it helped me improve my productivity.

Planoly — I believe that the best Instagram management app in the market is Planoly. The interface is simple and the learning curve is minimal. If you're looking to grow your Instagram account then it's worth checking out Planoly.

Tailwind — Since social media management won't be complete without Pinterest, it's worth mentioning Tailwind. Though I'm not a fan of the app, the desktop version is simply awesome. Tailwind has really become instrumental in growing my client's Pinterest account.

Email Marketing

Mailchimp — One of the business essentials is building and maintaining an email list. With a 4.7 rating in Google Play Store, Mailchimp is an excellent email marketing tool I have no qualms recommending to entrepreneurs and business professionals. They also excel in providing valuable content within the app. Email marketing made easier and more functional.

Note-taking

Evernote — I'm caught up in a love affair with note-taking apps. I just can't get enough of different note-taking apps available in the app store. And yes, Evernote tops them all for me. It has helped me a lot in writing down ideas for blog content. I just wished I'd gotten this app while I was still at the university.

Keep — If Evernote is your notebook, Keep would be your trusty tickler notepad. Keep is great for capturing ideas quickly. It also gives you an opportunity to jot down what's on your mind on the fly. It kind of reminds me of Post-it notes but only gone digital.

Communication

WhatsApp — Is it only me who has a sick obsession with WhatsApp? I can't get enough of this messaging app. And why is it like that? I'm able to shoot a message, do a phone call, enjoy video chat, send pictures, and more without limit. The only limit is your data or battery.

Skype — Skype is a good app to stay connected with important people in your life. Video chats, normal calls, write messages, and send files are the usual things you can do on this app. However, if you'd like to use Skype to do regular phone calls, you'll be needing some credits. You can purchase credits right from the app.

Zoom — What has made traditional conference calls a thing of the past? It's certainly Zoom. No doubt about it. You can do a lot of things on this app. You can schedule online meetings, recurrent meetings, record meetings, etc. Given that, your coach or your doctor is just a Zoom call away.

Slack — The world of work is just a Slack away. Another great app for staying organized and updated on everything happening with your personal and professional life. Slack is an outstanding tool for communicating with colleagues or remote team members. You can set up different channels, include GIFS, photos, tag relevant people in your posts, and the list goes on. Many people seem to enjoy Slack. Hence, it's a success.

Save-for-later

Pocket — Reliable, Versatile, and Useful. Those are the best words to describe Pocket. I've been using this app for years now. It's become one of the default apps I should have on all of my devices. It allows me to bookmark and save interesting articles so I can read them later. The recommended articles feature is also a great way to catch up with the articles I'm interested in. Honestly, I can't live without Pocket.

Web Browser

Chrome — I'm genuinely hooked on this browser for several reasons. One reason is it's simply the best feature-filled web browser available for Android and Windows. Fast, secure, and the web browsing experience is smooth and intuitive. Knowing that the developers of Chrome come from Google, it's no surprise that their product is a hit.

Edge — Microsoft Edge is as robust and reliable as Chrome. There are other tools I use that don't have an app version so I have to heavily rely on browsers to use them. Edge is that way for me. It's fast on both smartphones and tablets. I've got no problems using it every day. I'm really amazed at how much effort Microsoft has invested in this app.

So there you have it, the handy apps I use to accomplish different tasks.

Over to you

What are the apps that you use to complete your tasks? I'm really interested. You can comment down below and if you like this post, I'd highly appreciate it if you give it a thumbs up.

See you in my next post. ??

P. S. If you haven’t already done so, please take a look at my LinkedIn profile to see what types of services I provide and don’t hesitate to let me know if there’s anything I can do to assist you.

About the Author

Jayrald is a freelance writer, virtual assistant, digital marketing professional, and web designer. He specializes in general virtual assistance, freelance writing, social media marketing, email marketing, SEO strategy, eCommerce support, graphic design, and other business-related support tasks. He helps business owners and professionals save time and become more productive. He had helped businesses across the world particularly in the US, UK, Hong Kong, and the Middle East. You can contact Jayrald for his services at [email protected].