Name: Jack Barber
Based: Whitby
Website: www.jackbarber.co.uk
Working on my own for a large number of clients in varying business sectors, it’s vital that I am able to work efficiently and effectively to deliver projects on time.
Over the past five years that I’ve been running my business, the tools and services I use to keep it running smoothly have changed dramatically. But I’ve always kept in mind that the systems I use should provide real benefit.
I now regularly use Dropbox and Google Drive to share and work on files remotely with clients. With the arrival of fibre broadband, I can now deliver design work, photos and documents to clients via these services in a fraction of the time it used to take.
Likewise, I now use Skype and Google Hangouts to deliver client training and attend meetings - cutting down on travel time and expense and delivering real value to my clients.
To keep my back-office administration manageable, I use Hiveage - an online service for managing invoicing and estimates, which also helps me manage my cash flow and financial forecasts. Obviously, online banking has helped small businesses keep better control over their finances, with easy access to all the important information without having to visit the bank in person.
Finally, I use iCal and Reminders on my Mac to keep track of meetings, projects and my to-do lists, ensuring I always have easy access to the information which enables me to work smarter.
Jack Barber is a designer and website developer at Jack Barber
