Consultant stack
Claire Holland
Virtual Assistant · Clairical
At a glance
- 23 tools
- 8 categories
- 23 uses personally
Core stack
Picked only from the consultant's own words: daily use, years of use, "almost exclusively".
Microsoft 365Email, Word & Excel
"Word and Excel offer more advanced features than Google Docs and Sheets, which better suit my workflow."
SlackDaily
"One of the essential tools that I use on a daily basis."
TrelloDaily
"To stay organised across multiple projects, I rely on Trello."
- A
AsanaDaily
"I use both on a daily basis." (Trello and Asana)
CanvaGo-to
"My go-to design tool for everything from social media graphics to marketing materials."
- W
"I use Wix to build and manage my website."
All tools by category
"As a virtual assistant and small business owner, I've refined my tech stack to include tools that help me stay organised, productive, and secure." And: "Don't automatically think you have to pay for every app you choose. Some apps will work using the free versions."
Details for every tool
In the consultant's own words, with a link to the source of each quote.
Copies the scored tools into your private My Stack. Nothing is shared.
Email & office3
- Microsoft 365Not in Curalo yetUses it
Why:"I use a Microsoft 365 Business subscription for my email, cloud storage, and essential productivity tools like Word and Excel. I chose this over Google Workspace because Word and Excel offer more advanced features than Google Docs and Sheets, which better suit my workflow."
OneNoteNot in Curalo yetUses itWhy:Her web clipper (2021): "there's Evernote, Notion and OneNote (which is the one I use)... This is one of my most used extensions and has changed how I read and store internet information."
Google WorkspaceNot in Curalo yetUses itWhy:For some clients (2022): "I use both for different clients, but personally I prefer GSuite for online collaboration such as sharing documents." Her Power Hour sessions also cover GSuite and Google Forms.
Team communication & collaboration5
- SlackNot in Curalo yetUses it
Why:"For real-time team communication and collaboration, I use Slack. It takes conversations outside of the Inbox and works really well for remote teams." And: "I use Slack a lot, with most of my clients in fact... one of the essential tools that I use on a daily basis."
Microsoft TeamsNot in Curalo yetUses itWhy:"Teams is excellent for scheduled video calls, webinars, and screen sharing and is included with my Microsoft365 subscription."
Google MeetNot in Curalo yetUses itWhy:"For virtual meetings, I use both Teams and Google Meet, depending on the client's preference... I use the free version of Google meet."
Why:"To stay organised across multiple projects, I rely on Trello for task management, tracking deadlines, and maintaining workflow efficiency." (free version). She also keeps her blog promo checklist in it: "I use Trello to keep all my blog promo info in one place."
Why:Alongside Trello (2024): "the two below have free starter options (I use both on a daily basis)." "A useful feature is the ability to create workflows that automate recurring tasks."
Website & online presence5
Why:"I use Wix to build and manage my website because it's user-friendly, highly customisable, and doesn't require coding expertise (thank goodness)."
GoDaddyNot in Curalo yetUses itWhy:"My domain and branded email are hosted with GoDaddy but there are lots of alternatives here so make sure you pick the correct deal for you."
LinktreeNot in Curalo yetUses itWhy:Free version: "makes it easy to share all my links in one place – great for Instagram and Tiktok where you can't share links within posts."
Why:"Schedule a discovery call through my Calendly link. It's user-friendly and synced with my work calendar, so finding a convenient time is hassle-free."
SquarespaceNot in Curalo yetUses itWhy:For clients (2024): "Personally, I use Wix, but I also manage client sites on Squarespace, which I find equally intuitive and user-friendly."
Design, video & content3
Why:"My go-to design tool for everything from social media graphics to marketing materials." In 2022: "The free version is great but I use it so much that I have the pro version." Her own document templates "were all created in Canva."
Why:Free version: "screen recording software that I use for sharing quick video tutorials with clients... The free version offers a max of 5 minutes per recording but I have found this to be sufficient."
FeedlyNot in Curalo yetUses itWhy:Free version: "RSS reader for organising & reading content from websites & blogs all in one place. Great for keep up with industry news and not getting distracted."
Email marketing1
Why:"What you can do with this software on the free plan is amazing and I am a complete convert... I became Mailerlite Certified." "For me the automation features, ease of use, online learning and clear interface make it a winner and I won't be switching back!" (2021)
Time tracking1
Why:"Time tracking tool for timesheets." (listed as "Toggle" in her stack post)
Accounting & finance2
ClearBooksNot in Curalo yetUses itWhy:"I use Clearbooks, an accounting software designed for small businesses. It simplifies bookkeeping and integrates with my business bank account." In 2022: "I recently moved from QuickBooks to ClearBooks as it had more features at a better price."
HSBC business bankingNot in Curalo yetUses itWhy:"I do pay monthly for a business bank account. For me the ease of paying bills and invoicing from a separate bank account has been invaluable."
Online security3
NordVPNNot in Curalo yetUses itWhy:"I use NordVPN for encrypted connections and McAfee for antivirus protection, ensuring my online activities remain secure and private, no matter where I work."
McAfeeNot in Curalo yetUses itWhy:"With rising cybersecurity threats, protecting business data is crucial, especially in co-working spaces... McAfee for antivirus protection."
LastPassNot in Curalo yetUses itWhy:Password sharing with clients (2021): "This is great for me when working with clients as it means that I can access an account, like WordPress for example, but I don't know the login details."
Q&A
- What do you do, and for which clients?
- "I started my Virtual Assistant business in 2016 after I realised there was a need for outsourced admin support for small businesses." "My virtual assistant services seek to optimise workflows, manage tasks, and streamline operations for your business. This basically means I get stuff done."
- What do you trust AI with in client work, and what never?
- On running a SWOT analysis past ChatGPT or Perplexity: "keep in mind that AI Chatbots don't know your market as well as you do, it doesn't have gut instinct and it doesn't know your real customers."