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Clients, friends, and colleagues often ask what tools I use to run my business, what I recommend and what’s worth investing in.
Below is a list of some of my favorites. These recommendations will save you time and frustration, and will generate revenue for your business if put to good use.
For some of these I may earn a small commission if you sign up through my link, but I don’t recommend anything I haven’t used or gotten a ton of value from personally.
Online Stuff
Web Hosting
I’ve been using Bluehost for 2 years, and I’ve been very happy with the cost and service. You can easily build a website on a WordPress platform, hosted on Bluehost, and have it all set up in no time, without a web designer. They also have great sales – quite often – on domain names. (I’m a domain name hoarder – I’ve got about 20 that I renew each year for future use).
Metrics and Analytics
If you don’t have Google Analytics set up on your website, what are you waiting for?
This fantastic (FREE) tool tells you who’s visiting your site, how long they’re hanging out, where they’re coming from, what action they took while there (i.e., did they buy anything, subscribe to your mailing list, etc.), and so much more.
Once you know what’s working – and what’s not – you can double down on what is. The end result: a better site, better serving your web visitors, and higher conversion. Remember the old adage – Knowledge is Power.
Landing Pages ("Splash" Pages)
I love a clean and clear web page, especially when it’s focused on something specific. When I need a new “landing page” to capture leads for an event or service, or to serve as a sales page for a program, I build it in LeadPages.
It’s affordable, SUPER easy to use, straightforward, and they are constantly rolling out new updates and features. If you’re like me (i.e., not a coding guru), but you like things to look consistent and professional, you’ll love LeadPages. It integrates seamlessly with my website, Facebook, and most email marketing platforms. You’ll thank me.
Email Marketing/Newsletter
Mailchimp is great free service to get you started.
It’s got an easy to use drag-and-drop editor and a clean and clear user interface – so you don’t need to be super computer savvy to create great looking emails.
It integrates seamlessly with LeadPages, WordPress websites, and so much more, plus – there’s always a MailChimp video tutorial to help you figure out how to do anything you could possibly need to do – which saves me a lot of time and frustration.
Training and Certification
Digital Business Training
If there is one online business resource that is that absolute MUST DO, it’s Marie Forleo’s B-School. I first did the program in 2012, and have stayed active and engaged with the material and with the B-School community (12,000+ strong) ever since. I believe so strongly in this program that I offer an incredible BONUS package for all B-Schoolers who join the program through me so I can personally stand by you and give you extra support as you implement all of the teachings and breakthroughs from B-School.
To learn all about B-School and my exclusive BONUS package, click here.
Enrollment is OPEN for B-School only once a year – February 17 – March 2, 2016.
ENROLLMENT FOR B-SCHOOL IS OPEN NOW.
Click here for free training, program details, and to unlock access to exclusive bonus content.
Certification in Coaching and Master Coaching
If you want a fantastic training program that won’t break the bank but gives you everything you need to get started confidently working with clients, check out the Certified Coaches Federation.
I received my certification from CCF founder, Derrick Sweet, and he has become a friend.
If you’re already a coach, and you’re interested in completing a Master Coach level certification,
Software & Tools To Keep Your Business Humming
Easy Bookkeeping
I’ve been using Outright.com for all muy bookkeeping for the last few years, and they were bought out by GoDaddy about a year ago. The transition has been seamless, and the tool super easy to use. They grab all your income and expense data from Paypal as well as any credit card or bank accounts you link up to your profile, and they categorize each transition for you. Come tax time, printing your reports is super easy. I wouldn’t survive without this tool, now called GoDaddy Bookkeeping.
Online File Storage
If you collaborate with others online, Dropbox is a great way to share documents and other files. My social media team can easily grab images from folders I’ve created in DropBox to keep our social media platforms current and engaging.
DropBox is free up until you max out your initial storage allotment, and then there is a larger and more robust paid version.
Custom Music for Video Intro, Outtro, and Overlay
After a few years of working in iMovie, producing and editing my own vlogs, I got sooo sick of the stock music clips, and was desperate for something more original, and more “me.”
I reached out to my dear friend, Ken Veltz, who is a professional singer/songwriter (he’s the one who wrote “Little Man Jay” for us), and asked him for a fun little tune to kick off my videos.
Boy did he deliver. He’s the creator of the tune you hear in my video intros now, and he’s got a lot more where that came from.
If you’d love some original music that you won’t hear anywhere else – and for an extremely affordable price tag, fill out the contact form, and I’ll send your info along to Ken.[gravityform id=”4″ name=”Custom Music Inquiry” description=”false”]