Over the past 10 months or so since I started Accessible Art History, I have learned a lot about content creation. Through Google searches and YouTube tutorials, I’ve been able to figure out how to do a lot of it on my own. So, I thought it would be helpful if I compiled some of my favorite tools in a single post. Because I started doing this as a passion project, I didn’t want to have too many upfront costs. Each of these resources are free (though a couple have upgrade options)! I use each of these programs on a weekly basis and I couldn’t have made Accessible Art History without them! (Quick note: This post is not sponsored, these are tools that I genuinely love and use.)
Tool #1: Canva
Canva is probably the most used tool in my arsenal. It is a graphics creation website that I utilize to create all my social media posts, YouTube backgrounds, blog graphics, etc. I love how easy it is to create stunning posts and how there are so many stock images available. The Canva team has created a ton of templates as well, making me look creative! There is an upgraded/pro version, but I find the free one suits my needs right now. If you sign up using my link, we both get a credit towards the pay-locked content!
Tool #2: Anchor.FM
At the beginning of June, I decided to launch a podcast. It has always been a dream of mine to start one, but I wasn’t sure how to. Thanks to the lovely ladies over at Hashtag History (which, by the way, you should totally subscribe to if you’re a history nerd like me!), I learned about Anchor. They are a free podcast network! You can record and edit your podcasts on the website or upload your own. Then, Anchor takes care of the hard part: getting your podcast on the platforms! Plus, they will be your first sponsor, no minimum listenership required! It’s awesome! If you are thinking about becoming a podcaster, I highly recommend you check Anchor out.
Tool #3: Wix
To be frank, I have no idea how to create a website. In fact, the thought terrifies me! But, after some research, I decided to use Wix. I’m really glad that I did. I was able to get a professional looking site without a lot of hassle. They have a lot of tools and templates, making it easy for me to get all the information up that I need to. I also use Wix to host my blog and I love that both my site and my blog can be together without any extra work.
Tool #4: Voice Recorder
The Voice Recorder app is free from the Apple App Store. I use it to record my YouTube voiceovers and podcast. First of all, it’s a super cute app because it looks like a tape recorder from the 1970’s. But, more importantly, the sound quality is great, especially for a free app! I also love that I can connect it to my Dropbox account to upload the clips without a bunch of extra steps.
Tool #5: Asana
Each week, I put out a lot of content for Accessible Art History. Between daily social media posts, blogs, YouTube, etc, it’s hard to keep it all straight. That’s where Asana comes in! It’s a task management system that allows you to create projects and tasks to keep yourself organized. I use it every day to create a to do list, so that I never miss a beat.
Starting Accessible Art History was one of the best decisions of my life! Creating this content brings me daily joy and I’m so thankful that I’m able to do it. These five tools are essential for this project. I hope this post was helpful for your own projects!