Top 5 Tools Every Website Designer Needs to Succeed

You’ve decided to dive headfirst into the world of website design, congrats! Whether you’re just starting out or looking to level up your game, having the right tools in your digital toolbox makes all the difference.

Think of it like building a house—you wouldn’t use a butter knife to hammer nails, right? The same goes for your design biz!

Here are my top five tools every website designer needs to succeed. Grab your coffee (or matcha) and let’s dig in!

1. Wix – Your Website Design Sidekick

Let’s start with the obvious: you need a platform to actually design websites. Enter Wix, the ultimate website builder for designers at any level!

✓ With its intuitive drag-and-drop interface, Wix makes designing a breeze—no coding required.

✓ It’s perfect for beginners but robust enough for pros who want to flex their creative muscles.

✓ You can customize everything from layouts to animations, making it easy to create stunning, high-converting websites for your clients.

Bonus points:

• Wix offers advanced SEO tools and integrations to help your clients rank higher on Google, which makes you look like a rockstar. Oh, and did I mention it’s a great fit for selling your own website templates?

  
  

• Wix’s Partner Program (like the coveted Partner Legend status) can open doors to exclusive perks and client referrals that’ll grow your biz faster than a trending TikTok sound.

(Hello, passive income!)

2. HoneyBook – Your Biz Bestie

Let’s be real — Running a design business is more than just creating pretty websites. You’ve got contracts to send, invoices to manage, and clients to keep happy.

That’s where HoneyBook swoops in to save the day.

HoneyBook is an all-in-one client management system designed to streamline your workflow. From sending proposals to automating follow-ups, it keeps you organized and professional—because nothing says “hire me” like a seamless client experience.

Imagine this: A potential client inquires through your website, and HoneyBook automatically sends them a customized welcome email and questionnaire. While you’re sipping lattes, your biz looks polished and ready to go.

Pro Tip: Use HoneyBook’s built-in reports to track revenue, expenses, and project metrics—because knowing your numbers is key to growing your design empire.

3. Flodesk – Email Marketing Made Beautiful

Email marketing is not dead, my friend. In fact, it’s one of the best ways to connect with your audience and attract clients. Enter Flodesk, the email marketing tool that combines beauty and brains.

Flodesk makes creating stunning email campaigns almost too easy. Its drag-and-drop interface and chic templates allow you to send newsletters, client updates, or even promote your website templates in a way that feels totally on-brand.

Why Flodesk? Unlike other email platforms, they don’t penalize you for growing your list—pricing is flat, no matter how many subscribers you have. This means you can focus on building your audience without worrying about extra costs.

Pro Tip:  Use Flodesk to send out free resources (like a website audit checklist) to grow your email list and establish yourself as an expert in your niche.

4. Plann – Your Social Media Wingwoman

If you’re not showing up on social media, you’re leaving money on the table. But let’s face it—managing content across multiple platforms can feel like a full-time job. That’s where Plann comes in.

Plann is a social media scheduling tool designed to help you stay consistent without losing your sanity. From Instagram to Pinterest, you can batch-create, schedule, and analyze your posts all in one place!

What’s unique about Plann? It lets you visually map out your Instagram grid, ensuring your feed looks cohesive and scroll-stopping. Plus, it offers analytics to track what’s working so you can maximize your reach.

Pro Tip:  Use Plann to schedule client testimonials, design tips, and behind-the-scenes content. Consistency builds trust, and trust builds clients.

5. Canva – The Designer’s Secret Weapon

As a website designer, you’ll need to create graphics that pop. That’s where Canva saves the day. From social media posts to client presentations, Canva makes graphic design easy—even if you’re not a Photoshop wizard.

With thousands of templates and drag-and-drop features, Canva is perfect for creating everything from Instagram stories to portfolio mockups. You can even use it to design freebies like lead magnets, e-books, or branding guides for your clients.

Pro Tip:  Canva Pro is wayyy worth the investment for its magic resize feature, background removal (to name a few) and other amazing premium features. Trust me, it’ll pay for itself in no time.

Build Your Dream Design Biz

There you have it—the top five tools every website designer needs to succeed!

From designing jaw-dropping websites on Wix to automating your workflow with HoneyBook, these tools are designed to help you work smarter, not harder.

Ready to take your design business to the next level? Start by implementing one or two of these tools today, and watch your productivity (and revenue) skyrocket!