As a startup company, productivity is always on our mind. If there is a way to make a task easier and quicker, we welcome it. That leaves us more time for developing our software. So, just like you would let your best friend in on a secret -- we want to share our favorite productivity tips and tools with you!

• Basecamp: We love Basecamp for collaborating on projects and sharing files with the team. Part of our team is in DC, so online collaboration is a big part of our day-to-day. There are free and paid versions. 
• Slack: Slack is a messaging and file sharing app for teams. We use it all day, every day to communicate quickly with team members, while keeping our email inboxes uncluttered. 
• Trello: Trello is great for organizing events because it helps you prioritize and visualize projects. With Trell, you layout projects on a web page and you can share the board with those involved in the project. Individual cards on the project list have checklists and you can check off the tasks as they are done.
• Dash: Dash is a digital currency that allows you to conduct transactions instantly. We like to use it when dining out with clients -- no more awkward debates over who is getting the check. Use Dash and it’s paid.
• Canva: Canva allows you to upload and customize an image. If you don’t have your own images, you can choose from Canva's design library. We primarily use it for social media ads and e-book templates. 
• Calendly: This online calendar tool helps you coordinate calendars without all the back and forth conversations like:
  “Hey, can you do lunch?”
  “Sure, when?”
  “I have time between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Thursday."
  “No I can’t do Thursday I can only do Friday.” 
  With Calendly you put in the options you are avaialble and ask the other person to choose what works for them as well. Now your meeting is set and you have less emails to sort through!
• Boomerang for gmail: Boomerang is a google ad-on that can schedule emails and reminders for later. As a start-up, we often work late hours and think of things at odd times. However, we don't want staff or clients to think they need to respond at odd times, as well. With Boomerang you can schedule emails to go in the future, which also helps with the pesky task of having to remember things.
• DocuSign: Docusign helps you get documents e-signed and then files them so you always have a record. It's particularly helpful when working with contractors or clients out of town, so you don't have to wait on them to mail you a signed document, it's all done quickly and easily online.
• Colorzilla: If you use Google Chrome as an internet browser you will love this little add-on. Colorzilla allows you to select the color in any web page or graphic and will instantly identify that specific. If you are working on a design for a sponsor and need their PMS color, you can go to  their website, click and Colorzilla identifies that color for you.
• Full Page Screen Capture: Another great Google Chrome add-on is the Full Page Screen Capture. If you ever need to share what's happening on your screen with tech support or a team member, this is an easy way to give them a quick snapshot.

Those are our favorites here at Swell Fundraising, but we are always on the lookout for new hacks! If you have others you want to share, let us know!