Running a small handmade business is a labor of love, but it can also be incredibly time-consuming. From managing orders to marketing your products, the to-do list can feel never-ending. Good thing, automation tools can help streamline your workflow, saving you time and allowing you to focus on what you do best—creating beautiful products.
Here’s a round-up of 13 free automation tools that can make managing your small handmade business more efficient.
Automation Tools You Can Use for Your Small Handmade Business
- Canva
For: Graphic Design
What It Does: Canva makes it easy to create stunning graphics for your social media, website, and marketing materials. With thousands of templates, even those with little to no design experience can create professional-looking designs.
Free Features: Access to a large library of templates, images, and elements. - Buffer
For: Social Media Management
What It Does: Buffer allows you to schedule your social media posts across multiple platforms, so you can plan your content in advance and ensure a consistent online presence.
Free Features: Manage up to three social accounts and schedule up to ten posts per account. - Mailchimp
For: Email Marketing
What It Does: Mailchimp lets you create and automate email marketing campaigns, helping you keep your customers engaged with regular updates, promotions, and newsletters.
Free Features: Email automation, basic templates, and up to 500 contacts. - Trello
For: Project Management
What It Does: Trello uses boards, lists, and cards to help you organize and prioritize your projects. It’s a great way to keep track of orders, supplies, and deadlines.
Free Features: Unlimited boards, lists, and cards with basic automation options. - Hootsuite
For: Social Media Scheduling
What It Does: Similar to Buffer, Hootsuite allows you to schedule posts across multiple social media platforms, but it also provides analytics to help you track your social media performance.
Free Features: Manage two social accounts and schedule up to five posts. - Google Analytics
For: Website Analytics
What It Does: Google Analytics gives you insights into your website traffic, helping you understand where your visitors come from, what they do on your site, and how you can improve their experience.
Free Features: Full access to all analytics tools. - Google Calendar
For: Scheduling and Time Management
What It Does: Google Calendar helps you keep track of appointments, deadlines, and events, making sure you never miss an important date.
Free Features: Create multiple calendars, set reminders, and share your calendar with others. - Zapier
For: Workflow Automation
What It Does: Zapier connects different apps and automates repetitive tasks, like sending a thank-you email when someone makes a purchase or adding new contacts to your email list.
Free Features: Create up to 100 tasks per month with access to over 5,000 app integrations. - Wave
For: Accounting
What It Does: Wave offers free accounting software that’s perfect for small businesses. It helps you manage your finances, track expenses, and generate invoices.
Free Features: Full accounting and invoicing capabilities, receipt scanning. - Later
For: Instagram Scheduling
What It Does: Later is a visual social media planner that makes it easy to plan and schedule your Instagram posts. You can see how your feed will look before you post.
Free Features: Schedule up to 30 posts per month. - Grammarly
For: Writing and Editing
What It Does: Grammarly helps you write clear and mistake-free content, whether it’s product descriptions, social media captions, or emails.
Free Features: Spelling, grammar, and punctuation checks. - Sumo
For: Email List Building
What It Does: Sumo provides tools to help you grow your email list, such as pop-ups and opt-in forms that can be added to your website.
Free Features: List building tools and basic integrations. - Slack
For: Team Communication
What It Does: Slack is a messaging platform that lets you communicate with your team in real-time, organize conversations by channels, and share files.
Free Features: Access to 90 days of message history and integrations with other tools.
Make the Most of Free Automation Tools
These free automation tools are just the tip of the iceberg, but they can make a world of difference for small handmade business owners. By automating routine tasks, you can save time, reduce stress, and focus on growing your business. Explore these tools, find what works best for you, and watch your business thrive!