Last week a client emailed her latest design dilemma to me to get some ideas around how to deal with an oddly-spaced logo. I don't speak much about my on-demand ideation and design fix-it services; however, it's something I've been doing more of lately. These days I'm in consultation far more than design and code and I find myself needing to send ideas quickly with clients and assistants. Today I'm sharing with you the free tech tools that are saving my life (and oodles of time so I can go back to skiing this season).

LOOM

Know you could explain something better to your students or team if you could just show them what you're seeing? Loom might be one of the best free tools available. I've been using it for many years to share screenshots, how-to tutorials, and quick reviews. The free version is limited to five minutes (but brevity is the name of the game!) and you can eventually upgrade to assess more features and unlimited recording time. I use Loom frequently to share quick thoughts with my assistant. I can demonstrate how to do something (like creating SOPs, updating a website or adding content to a new page) and then she can reference it while she is completing the task. (For longer website reviews and advanced editing for my on-demand videos I use ScreenFlow.)

I love Loom because:

• You simply click one link in your browser to begin recording (the Chrome plugin is fantastic)
• It's MUCH faster to record your thoughts than type out in an email
• You can record your entire screen or just a single browser tab
• You can record your face AND your screen at the same time
• When you've completed your recording, Loom creates a simple link you can share anywhere. Tthis is great if you need to explain something quickly to a large group, such as how to log into a program or how to clarify a tech move)

SLACK

Overwhelmed with email requests? (It's okay to hang your head in shame. I do all the things productivity experts tell you not to do and I use my InBox as a to-do list too!) Slack is an easy way around InBox filler, especially if you're collaborating with a larger team or working with assistants.

I love Slack because:

• I can tag members with notes and requests
• I can have unique threads and channels for team members to contain on-going conversations
• My email InBox stays free of unnecessary notifications/requests
• In my group programs, I can tag tech support, customer support, and front-facing admins all in one place
• You can easily access several accounts at once (less switching between various apps) if you support multiple clients or team.

VOXER

My man gets totally annoyed whenever I use this voice-to-text app (coming from corporate land, he doesn't understand why someone wouldn't just hop on a phone call or schedule a meeting). But it's a daily mental sanity lifesaver for me. I invested in the Pro version (big spender at $30 a year) but you can get started with the free version). My cell phone is pretty much always off so I can focus (and forget about the landline that only seems to attract robo-callers trying to sell me something useless). Instead, friends and clients send Voxers so I can respond on my own time.

I REALLY prefer Voxer to regular text messages because:

• I can save messages and replay them as often as I need to
• I can see a transcript of the message (great for those long-winded folks)
• I can easily do group chats with team members
• It's easier to set clear work/life boundaries (Voxer feels more pro than giving your personal phone number out to clients and students)

So, you see, you do not need to spend money until you need to because the above tools can get you explaining yourself faster.