The Must-Have Tools I Use as a Content Writer for Bloggers
Learn about the tools a food blog content writer uses every day! I’m sharing my go-to tools for writing, editing, SEO, organization, client communication, and marketing—plus a few popular ones I tried but didn’t love. If you create content for bloggers or run your own blog, this list will help you streamline your workflow and skip the trial and error.
Writing high-performing content for food bloggers requires more than just writing skills—it demands efficiency, organization, and strategic thinking. After years as a food blog ghostwriter and coach for food blog writers, I've refined my toolkit to maximize productivity and deliver exceptional results for my clients.
Running a content writing business means wearing multiple hats: researcher, writer, editor, marketer, and project manager. The content writing tools below are how I manage them all, while maintaining work quality and client satisfaction!
Writing and Editing
Google Docs
This forms the foundation of my writing process. The real-time editing capabilities, version history, and seamless client collaboration make it indispensable. I maintain separate folders for templates, outlines, and client projects to keep everything structured and accessible.
Grammarly
Even experienced writers miss errors, especially after hours of content creation. Grammarly catches those overlooked typos and grammar issues that might otherwise slip through. I use the free version, but the premium version offers extra clarity and tone suggestions that elevate the final product.
Quillbot
Complementing Grammarly, Quillbot helps me refine sentence structure and wording. It even catches errors that Grammarly misses 🤭. When you're deep into a writing project, it offers fresh perspectives on phrasing that can transform good content into great content.
SEO and Keyword Research
Keysearch (Affiliate)
This affordable, user-friendly keyword research tool is my go-to for finding short and long-form keywords with the right balance of search volume and competition for both my own content and client projects. If you decide to try Keysearch (which I highly recommend for content writers serious about SEO), using my affiliate link helps support this blog at no extra cost to you.
Keywords Everywhere
This browser extension provides me with keyword data and additional keywords to include in the topic. If you like the sound of doing keyword research while scrolling through a Google search, this tool is for you.
Organization and Task Management
Asana
Project management becomes straightforward with Asana. I track deadlines, outline project milestones, and manage my content calendar here. The free version offers robust functionality that scales well with a growing client roster.
Google Calendar
Simple yet powerful, Google Calendar is where I time-block writing sessions, client meetings, and administrative tasks. It also makes sharing meeting times, dates, and information with the members of The Mastermind for Food Blog Writers seamless. This visual scheduling approach ensures I allocate appropriate time for deep work and maintain productivity.
Pomofocus
The Pomodoro technique has transformed my writing efficiency, and Pomofocus makes implementation seamless. Breaking work into focused 25-minute intervals with short 5 or 15-minute breaks between helps maintain concentration and prevents burnout during intensive writing days.
Client Communication and Onboarding
Dropbox Sign
Professional contract management is essential for establishing clear expectations. Dropbox Sign streamlines the signing process and maintains organized records of all client agreements.
Gmail
More than just email, Gmail becomes a comprehensive client communication hub with proper folder organization and templates. I've created canned responses for common client interactions, significantly reducing administrative time while maintaining personalized communication.
Marketing
Squarespace
My website serves as my primary portfolio and service showcase. Squarespace offers professional design without requiring technical expertise, allowing me to focus on content rather than wrestling with website maintenance.
Kit (Affiliate)
Email marketing remains one of the most effective channels for nurturing potential clients. Kit makes it simple to segment subscribers (separating food bloggers from fellow content writers) and deliver targeted content through automated sequences.If you're looking to upgrade your email marketing game, I'd appreciate you using my affiliate link—it supports the free content I create while getting you access to the same tool that's transformed my business.
Pro Tip
💌 Set up a welcome sequence that establishes your expertise and gradually introduces your services—it works even while you're focused on client projects!
Canva
Visual content enhances marketing effectiveness across channels. Canva enables quick creation of professional graphics for social media, lead magnets, and website assets without requiring design expertise.
ManyChat
Streamlining communication on platforms like Instagram, ManyChat helps manage initial inquiries and direct potential clients to relevant resources automatically.
ChatGPT
This AI assistant accelerates brainstorming and first-draft creation for my own marketing content. While I always heavily edit and personalize the output, it provides useful starting points when developing new marketing materials.
Google Sheets
Content planning becomes visual and organized with customized Google Sheets. Color coding, dropdown menus, and status tracking create an efficient content calendar that aligns with both my workflow and client requirements.
Bonus: Tools I Tried and Ditched
Trello
Despite its popularity, Trello's card-based system didn't align with my workflow. I found other project management tools offered better visualization of content pipelines and client projects. I *wanted* to love Trello, but it didn’t work for how I organize projects. Notion gave me more flexibility to create what I needed, like content calendars, client dashboards, and personal notes—all in one place.
Clockify
Time tracking proved less valuable than expected in my practice. The administrative overhead outweighed the insights gained, leading me to focus more on deliverable-based project management.
Plann
Social media scheduling tools can add unnecessary complexity. Direct planning in Google Sheets offered more flexibility and integrated better with my overall content strategy.
Looking for the best tools for content writing doesn't always mean using the most popular options—it's about finding what truly works for your specific workflow and client needs.
How these tools help me and my clients
These tools I use in my content writing business aren't just about my productivity—they directly benefit clients through:
Consistently optimized, on-brand content delivered on schedule
Streamlined communication without excessive meetings or emails
Organized project management that prevents missed deadlines
Strategic content planning aligned with business objectives
Whether you're an established content writer or just beginning to specialize in food blog content, the right collection of content writing tools for freelancers makes all the difference in service quality and business growth.
Want more behind-the-scenes tips?
Grab my free checklist for writing high-performing blog posts. It's packed with optimization strategies and content structuring techniques that drive results.
Or, if you're ready to save time and elevate your blog content, check out my professional writing services.
What tools for freelance writers do you rely on in your content creation workflow? Are there any free tools for freelance writers you'd recommend to others just starting out? Share your favorites in the comments below!