Work Smarter, Create Better: Top Tools for Content Creators + Giveaway Announcement

Content Creation Hacks: Top Tools for Working Smarter, Not Harder!

As content creators, we wear so many hats and constantly juggle multiple tasks - from ideation, production, editing to audience engagement and monetization. Having the right tools can make all the difference between feeling overwhelmed and achieving a smooth, efficient workflow. Over the years, I've experimented with countless apps, platforms, and services, always looking for that perfect combination that will elevate my content and streamline my process.

Today, I'm excited to share with you the cream of the crop - the tools that have TRULY enabled me to do it all. Whether you're a seasoned pro or just starting out, these resources can help you level up your content game, save precious time, and focus on what really matters: creating amazing content that resonates with your audience.

So, without further ado, let's dive into my ultimate creator toolkit!

AI

I saw a quote somewhere .. I think it was Jensen Huang the CEO of NVIDIA, but I’m not sure, anyway, he said something along the lines of AI “is not going to replace creators, it’s going to supercharge them.” I couldn’t agree more!

Here are a few AI tools I swear by:

Repurpose.ai - This AI-powered tool is my go to tool for repurposing and saving all my content. I use it to automatically save all my posts to my google drive, reposting and scheduling out all my IG reels to YT shorts, FB reels, etc with NO watermarks btw. I have been using it for over 2 years now and I love it!

Claude - Claude is THE AI for creatives! I shared this recently on threads and so many people agreed. I have been using both Claude and ChatGPT this year and I have slowly gravitated to fully using Claude because it has nailed my style of writing and gives me more creative responses in my opinion. Claude also demonstrates a more nuanced grasp of creative concepts, tones and styles that result in more on-brand suggestions for creatives. I share more on why I prefer Claude over ChatGPT here.

ChatGpt- I got on ChatGPT very early on, I want to say about a month after they launched and even created a creator GPT when they released that feature. It is still a great general AI tool to use.

New AI I recently discovered through comments in my threads post:

Beautiful.AI - Beautiful.ai is an AI-powered presentation software that automates design tasks, allowing users to create professional-looking slides quickly and easily. It offers a range of pre-designed templates and smart slide layouts that adapt to content, making it accessible for those without extensive design skills. Just created this on the app in less than 2 min! It found all the logos and organized it for me in this collage! Like COME ON, this would have taken me at least 10-15 mins to find the logos on google, screen shot, paste etc..

Perplexity.AI- This is basically Google on steroids - it doesn't just spit out links, it actually answers your questions and you can keep grilling it with follow-ups and it'll keep giving you info along with actual links.

Organization/Team Management:

Notion - Perfect for organizing content calendars, ideas, tracking campaigns, and collaborating with my team members.

Content Creation & Repurposing:

Canva - My go-to for not only creating eye-catching graphics, but also where I host my Media Kit.

Capcut- I used to be a finalcut pro girly but since I discovered Capcut desktop last year I haven’t used Finalcut pro since . It’s just easier to use and takes up WAY LESS space.

BlackMagic Camera App: Pro-grade cinematography in your pocket. It turns your phone into a legit pro camera with advanced controls, RAW recording, and cinematic color grading. Let’s you capture high-quality footage with the precision and quality of a high-end professional camera. If I am shooting video content on my phone, I always use this.

Wardrobe & Styling:

Nuuly - This clothing rental service keeps my wardrobe fresh for photoshoots/events etc without breaking the bank. They make it really easy to shop and actually purchase items you love after trying them on. I have ended up buying & keeping so many items from them. They have brands like antrhropologie, Andrea Iyamah, Farm Rio, Steve Madden, etc.

Audience Engagement:

ManyChat - Automates my Instagram DMs for sharing affiliate links

LTK autoDM- Similar to Manychat but free.

Finance & Business:

Monarch Money - I have tried quite a few personal finance app including mint(before they shut down/transitioned to credit karma), co pilot, etc and so far Monarch has been THE BEST. Helps me make specific budgets, track expenses, income,and my overall personal financial health.

Acorns - Makes investing easy by rounding up my purchases and investing the spare change. I have been using Acorns for probably over a decade now and it’s been great! Because I invest in other ways I actually use it as a more of a emergency fund/savings as well because it’s very easy to pull money out to use when you need it. I have pulled money out from it twice so far.

QuickBooks - Essential for managing my business finances and preparing for tax season.

Affiliate Platforms

LTK (formerly LikeToKnowIt) - Great for monetizing fashion and lifestyle content through affiliate links.

Collective Voice - Another solid platform for housing your affiliate links and landing brand partnerships. I have gotten 4 brand deals recently through them alone last quarter.

Amazon Influencer Program- If you don’t have an Amazon storefront…please go ahead and get one. The application is pretty simple and so many people shop on amazon so it really is a no brainer.

Community

Circle- This community was originally on Circle which is a versatile, user-friendly community platform that allows creators, brands, and businesses to build and manage their own dedicated online spaces, complete with customizable features for discussions, content sharing, and member engagement.

Substack- Moving this community from Circle to Substack was probably one of the best decisions I have made all year. I love that substack exposes me to a wider audience but I can still pour into my smaller community in my paid membership with extra resources, templates, brand partnership opportunities etc.

Creator tools:

My favorite tripod right now: If you shoot in your bathroom or anywhere with a window or mirror YOU NEED THIS! It’s super easy to travel with too. I have used this to shoot majority of the content shot on my phone this year (you can use it with DSLRs as well).

More of my creator tools like mics, tripods, lighting, gadgets etc all linked here.

Announcements!

Giveaway:

Excited to announce that I am hosting a monthly creator giveaway! I will be picking a winner each month that will win a $100 gift card to Amazon, Sephora or Walmart (Your pick). To enter, subscribe to this substack, leave a comment on any of our posts and lastly, share it with a creator friend(more shares= more entries). You must have a substack account for tracking purposes.

Events:

Hosting a Live Q&A call November 6th, more details to come!

Final Thoughts

That’s all for now, but let me know if you want a part two of this and I can get that up soon. Remember that the goal isn't to use every shiny new app or platform out there. Instead, focus on finding the tools that truly resonate with your workflow and amplify your unique creative voice. The right tools should feel like extensions of your creativity, not obstacles to overcome. Experiment, adapt, and don't be afraid to switch things up if something isn't working for you.

Ultimately, these tools are here to support your journey, allowing you to work smarter, not harder, and free up more time for what really matters – creating amazing content that connects with your audience. Here's to working smarter and creating better! Please share some of the tools you use and love in the comments as well!

*Some links shared in this post are affiliate links.

See you next week!

-Tolani