Top 10 Productivity Tools Every Internet Marketer Should Use

If you're an internet marketer, your job isn't just marketing.

You're also the writer, graphic designer, video editor, customer support department, accountant, social media manager, tech support, project manager, and CEO.

No wonder so many entrepreneurs end the day feeling busy, yet wondering what they actually accomplished.

You don't need to work longer hours. You need better systems.

The right productivity tools won't magically build your business for you, but they can eliminate busywork, help you stay organized, and free up hours every week so you can focus on the things that actually make money.

Here are my favorite productivity tools that every online entrepreneur should consider.

1. Notion — Your Digital Second Brain

If I could only keep one productivity tool, it would probably be Notion. No, scratch that. It would DEF be Notion. It's the place where my entire business lives.

Inside one workspace you can organize:

• Content calendars

• Product ideas

• Blog outlines

• Affiliate links

• SOPs

• Client information

• Goals

• Brainstorms

• Checklists

• Launch plans

Instead of wondering where you saved something, everything has one home.

Best for: Organization, planning, documentation, project management

2. ChatGPT (or your AI tool of choice)

Artificial intelligence has completely changed how I work. Instead of staring at a blank page, I can brainstorm ideas, create outlines, improve copy, generate social media posts, write emails, develop courses, and even troubleshoot technical problems.

The trick isn't letting AI do the work, it's to let AI help you do your best work faster. Here's what I use ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini for:

• Outlining blog articles

• Product ideas

• Marketing/sales page copy

• Video scripts

• Research

• Brainstorming

• Course development

• Email marketing

When it's used well and responsibly, it's like hiring an assistant that never sleeps.

3. Canva — Design Without Hiring a Designer

Every internet marketer needs graphics. Lots and lots of them. I mean, we need social media posts, Pinterest pins, lead magnets, course workbooks, presentations, ebooks, sales graphics. You get the idea.

Canva makes professional design accessible even if you've never touched Photoshop. The huge template library alone can save countless hours. The free version has a zillion free templates, elements, graphics, videos, etc so you can start for free and then decide if upgrading is worth it to you. For me? No question about it. It's the best $144 I spend every year.

Best for: Branding, social media, digital products, presentations, PDFs

4. Kit — Email Marketing That Actually Works

Social media platforms come and go. You might anger the Facebook gods and get temporarily suspended or permanently banned. Worse yet, you'll probably never figure out what you did that landed you in jail. A few years back, I found myself in hot water with Facebook. It took weeks of writing emails, chatting, etc. before I finally got myself reinstated. The most frustrating thing was that among all the people I spoke with, none of them could tell me the offending content that got me thrown in Facebook jail. That was a very valuable lesson.

But your email list belongs to you, and that's why email marketing should be one of your highest priorities. There are a lot of options for email and landing page platforms, so be sure to do your research. (ChatGPT or Claude can compare and contrast them very easily for you.) Kit stands out in the field of competitors because it makes it simple to:

• Build forms

• Create landing pages

• Automate email sequences

• Tag subscribers

• Sell digital products

• Nurture your audience

If you're serious about building a business, building your email list isn't optional.

5. ThriveCart — Sell Digital Products Like a Pro

Once you've created a course, ebook, membership, or digital download, you need a reliable checkout system. ThriveCart handles:

• Secure payments

• Upsells

• Affiliate programs

• Order bumps

• Sales tax

• Customer management

It's one of those tools that quietly works in the background while you focus on creating.

6. Descript — Video Editing Made Stupid Easy

Video editing used to intimidate me. Who am I kidding? It still does. But Descript changed that. Instead of editing a complicated timeline, you simply edit the text transcript. Delete a sentence? Gone from the video. Need captions? One click. Need to remove filler words? Done.

For content creators, it's a massive time saver.

7. Google Workspace

Sometimes the most powerful tools are the boring ones.

Google Workspace keeps everything connected:

• Gmail

• Calendar

• Docs

• Sheets

• Drive

• Meet

Having your documents stored in the cloud means you can work from virtually anywhere, and collaboration also becomes incredibly simple. I pay around $9 per month for each of my workspaces.

8. Loom — Explain Things Once

Have you ever spent twenty minutes typing an email that could've been explained in two minutes?

That's exactly why I love Loom. You simply record your screen, talk through a process, and send the link.

Boom. Done. It's fantastic for:

• Tutorials

• Client communication

• Team training

• Product support

• Feedback

People understand video much faster than paragraphs of text.

9. Google Calendar — Protect Your Time

Successful entrepreneurs don't just manage tasks, they manage time. I schedule almost everything in my calendar, from content creation time, writing blocks, exercise, meetings, CEO time, learning/reading, and of course my personal appointments.

If it isn't on the calendar, there's a good chance it won't happen. Time blocking is one of the simplest productivity habits you can develop.

10. Password Manager

This isn't glamorous, but it's important. I'm sure we all have dozens - if not 100s - of online accounts and websites we need to access quickly. Trying to remember passwords (or using the same password everywhere) wastes time and creates unnecessary risk.

A good password manager securely stores everything and automatically fills in your login information.

So What's the Best Productivity Tool?

The One You Actually Use.

It's tempting to believe the next app or the next app or the next will finally solve all your productivity problems. It won't.

The real magic happens when you consistently use a handful of tools that support your workflow instead of constantly switching between shiny new apps. So choose one tool, learn it well, build a simple system, and then move on to the next one.

Productivity isn't about doing more. It's about making it easier to do what matters most.

Final Thoughts

The internet gives us access to incredible tools, but tools are only valuable when they help us take action.

You don't need the fanciest software or the biggest budget to build a successful online business. You need a reliable system that helps you create consistently, stay organized, and spend more time on the work that grows your business.

Start with one or two of the tools above, master them, and keep improving your workflow a little at a time.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best productivity tool for beginners?

If you're just getting started, I'd recommend using Notion, ChatGPT (or Claude/Gemini/your AI tool of choice), and Canva. Together, they cover organization, content creation, and design without requiring a huge investment.

Are paid productivity tools worth it?

Usually, yes - if they save you time or help you earn more. A tool that saves even one hour a week can pay for itself many times over.

How many productivity tools should I use?

Fewer than you think. Start with two or three core tools, build good habits around them, and only add new software when you have a clear need.

I am a productivity nerd. I wear it like a badge of honor. I create courses, record talks, and write about it all. the. time. Here is my favorite course: