My Top 3 Creative Business Tools (and How I Use Them)
When I first started my creative business, I was overwhelmed by how many tools were out there. Should I use this software or that one? Do I need a course platform and an email provider and a podcast host and a shopping cart and a...you get the idea.
Over time, I’ve narrowed it down to a few essential tools that I use week in and week out. These are the platforms that support my surface pattern design practice, my digital course business, my podcast, and my email marketing. And I’m sharing them with you today because I know how confusing and expensive it can feel when you’re first getting started.
Here are the top three tools that keep my business running smoothly, creatively, and with as little tech headache as possible.
1. Adobe Illustrator: The Creative Engine Behind It All
Adobe Illustrator is the single most important tool in my creative practice. It’s where my patterns are born—starting with a simple doodle and ending as a full repeating pattern ready to go on fabric, wallpaper, wrapping paper, or a print-on-demand product.
When I teach inside Pattern Design Academy, I show my students how to use Illustrator even if they’ve never opened it before. We start with the basics: creating motifs, coloring them, arranging them into a seamless repeat, and saving them in all the formats needed for licensing or selling.
I know Illustrator can feel intimidating, especially if you’re not techy. But I’ve seen over and over again that with the right guidance, you can not only learn Illustrator but fall in love with it. There’s something magical about seeing your art transformed into a professional, polished pattern.
Here’s how I use Illustrator:
I digitize my hand-drawn sketches using my iPad and then refine them in Illustrator.
I build all of my repeating patterns using Illustrator’s powerful swatch and color tools.
I teach Illustrator to hundreds of students who’ve gone on to create collections and launch their own design businesses.
Pro Tip: Illustrator is always evolving. That’s why I offer lifetime access to The Pattern Design Academy, so my students can come back and learn the new tools as they’re released.
2. Descript: My Secret Weapon for Podcasting & Video Content
When I decided to finally launch my podcast (The Creative Business Spark), I knew I needed a simple editing tool. I didn’t want to fiddle with audio files or video timelines. I wanted something that felt easy and intuitive.
Enter Descript.
Descript is a game-changer. It turns your audio or video recording into a transcript that you can edit just like a Google Doc. Delete an "um" or a pause? Just backspace. Want to trim a full section? Highlight and delete. Add music? Drag and drop.
And the best part? I actually enjoy editing now. I’ve added:
Music for the intro and outro
Sponsor clips that highlight my own programs
Fun swoosh sound effects to transition in and out of sponsor messages
It’s also easy to pull a short quote or moment from the podcast and turn it into a reel or audiogram for social media.
Here’s how I use Descript:
I record my podcast episodes right inside Descript or upload a voice memo from my phone.
I clean up the audio and edit the transcript to make it flow.
I export video clips to use on Instagram and YouTube.
Affiliate note: I recommend Descript all the time because it’s truly made podcasting fun. Check it out here.
3. Kajabi: My All-In-One Business Hub
If Adobe Illustrator is the heart of my creative design practice, Kajabi is the backbone of my online business.
I use Kajabi for everything:
Hosting my digital courses like From Doodles to Dollars and Pattern Design Academy
Writing and sending weekly emails (like this one!)
Publishing my Tuesday blog posts
Delivering digital downloads
Running promotions and evergreen funnels
Hosting my podcast
When I first got started, I tried duct-taping together a bunch of different platforms. But once I switched to Kajabi, everything got easier. The integrations just work. The user experience is consistent. And I can manage it all from one login.
Here’s how I use Kajabi:
I create beautiful sales pages and checkout flows that convert.
I publish my blog each week and share it with my email list.
I schedule emails and automations for product launches.
I deliver all my course content in a clean, easy-to-use format.
Why I recommend it: Kajabi is especially helpful if you’re a creative entrepreneur who wants to keep things simple. It’s an investment, but it replaces so many other tools (email provider, course host, landing page builder, etc.) that it ends up saving time and money in the long run.
Bonus: Why Choosing the Right Tools Matters
Here’s the thing: tools don’t build your business for you. You do. But having the right tools means you can spend more time on what you love and less time on what you don’t.
These three tools - Adobe Illustrator, Descript, and Kajabi - have helped me:
Build a thriving creative business from scratch
Serve thousands of students
Launch and manage a podcast
Run a multi-six-figure business doing what I love
And I share them with you not because I think you must use them, but because I want to save you time. If you’re standing at the beginning of your journey, or feeling stuck about what to invest in next, I hope this list helps you make an informed choice.
Want My Full List of Tools?
These are just my top three. I actually have an entire Tools & Resources page where I list everything I use and recommend—from design resources to business tools to creative inspiration.
👉 Visit my full Tools & Resources page here:
https://members.artwithanne.com/t&r
Whether you’re just starting out or scaling your creative business, I hope these tools help you feel more confident, more empowered, and more excited to build a business around your art.
Remember, it’s never too late to create.
xo,
Anne
P.S. I will be live on Wednesday at noon PDT which is 3pm EDT.
Join me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/annelafolletteart
Join me on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@AnneLaFollette1
It’s Never Too Late to Create®
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The Creative Business Spark Podcast.
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MEET ANNE
Hi…I’m Anne!
My creative inspiration comes from a lifetime of observation. I grew up in Paris on the Place St. Sulpice and walked to school through the Luxembourg gardens. And that was only the beginning… Learn more by watching the video on my About page.
