If you’re a freelancer, you’ve probably done this: opened a fresh spreadsheet, color-coded your tasks, added some deadlines, and felt mildly in control of your process management.
Spreadsheets have been the go-to solution for decades, mainly because they’re accessible, customizable, and familiar. From tracking client tasks, invoices, revisions, to-do lists, and delivery timelines, they’ve become a catch-all for creative process management. But we think – they weren’t built for creative workflows.
You’re not managing a corporate budget. You’re building campaigns, editing videos, juggling client feedback, and trying to stay creatively sane while meeting deadlines. That’s a very different job, and it needs a workflow that actually works for you.
So, here’s the real question:
Do creative professionals really need to spend time managing cells, formulas, and color-coded rows and columns?
We don’t think so. And that’s why we built ButtonShift.
Why Freelancers Default to Spreadsheets?
Freelancers wear many hats. You’re the designer, the copywriter, the social media strategist and also the project manager. Spreadsheets feel like the fastest way to keep everything in one place. You can track:
- Deadlines
- Client communication logs
- Payment records
- Tasks per project
- Asset links
They’re free, customizable, and, most importantly, familiar.
For many freelancers, spreadsheets are the go-to tool for process management. Why? Because it feels like the only tool that gives them everything they need in one view, at least on the surface.
The Catch with Spreadsheets…
But here’s where it starts to go crazy: spreadsheets were never really meant to manage creative work, were they?
Ever tried referencing client feedback across multiple tabs? Or tracking which version of a file you sent last week? Or syncing status updates with a teammate via email, and also updating the spreadsheet?
Spreadsheets can’t show you whether a file has been reviewed, approved, or revised. They can’t notify you when a client uploads feedback. And they certainly can’t help you prioritize your day without making you feel like you’re navigating a maze of cells and filters.
It’s like trying to organize a photoshoot with sticky notes. It might technically work, but it’s far from seamless!
Is It Really Necessary for Creative People to Track So Much Data?
Here’s the actual question. You didn’t become a designer or a content creator to manage admin all day. Yet, without some level of project tracking, deadlines are missed, files are misplaced, and feedback gets lost in threads of emails and DMs.
So yes, tracking your work matters- but it shouldn’t take more time than the actual work.
This is where tools built specifically for freelancers (not accountants) come in.
Check out this article by UpWork and dive deeper into mastering project management for freelancers.
ButtonShift: A Simpler, More Focused Approach
Unlike spreadsheets that demand constant manual updates, ButtonShift is designed to help freelancers streamline their process management and workflow without adding more mental clutter. It understands the creative process, how one idea turns into multiple iterations, how feedback flows in from various channels, and how timelines evolve.
Instead of juggling files, tasks, and client communication in separate places, you bring everything together in one flow. Projects feel less like a balancing act and more like a process that actually works for you. See why ButtonShift should be the ultimate workflow tool for freelancers.
We’re not here to bash spreadsheets. They’ll always have their place. But if you’ve ever felt like managing your freelance projects is a job in itself, it might be time for something smarter.
That’s where our Worklist feature in ButtonShift comes in handy. Think of it as your personal project command center. You can list out what needs to be done, sort tasks by priority, and actually see your day take shape- without the chaos of digging through multiple docs and tabs.
Check out how you can keep your creative projects on track with ButtonShift.
Ready to Work Smarter, Not Harder?
If spreadsheets have been your second brain till now, we get it. But it’s time to upgrade to something that’s built for the way you actually work. ButtonShift keeps your creative energy focused where it belongs- on creating.
