Tools that I Love and Use to Run My Online Business
Getting the right tools and software programs can make ALL the difference when you are trying to build your business.
Different stages of business require the addition (or deletion) of different resources.
When you’re bootstrapping it, you can probably make do with leveraging a few core (free or low-cost) resources. Below I will give you a look at what I use, have used, and what I suggest.
This page includes affiliate links, which means I’ll earn a commission if you purchase through my link. That said, I only recommend solutions that I wholeheartedly believe in!
Nonprofit & Fundraising Software
Givebutter: Nonprofits use Givebutter to replace multiple categories of tools, including donation forms, fundraising campaigns, events, auctions, donor management (CRM), email, texting, and more—all for free, thanks to a 100% transparent tip-or-fee model. As the #1 rated nonprofit software company on G2 across multiple categories, Givebutter is on a mission to power the next billion changemakers. Sign up for free now!
Tools for Graphics and Social Media
Canva: This is an amazing tool for creating graphics. Use it to create your free products and lead magnets, presentations, images, social media graphics, logos, printables, workbooks, and anything! Check out the FREE version to get started.
Manage Your Social Media Accounts
Later: I use Later for Facebook, Instagram, Linked In, and all the platforms - scheduling (the free version). You can upgrade to different versions that give you flexibility and a lot of functionality. If you’re on a budget and can’t afford SmarterQueue yet, this is a great option!
SmarterQueue: I had tried many different scheduling tools for my Facebook pages and Instagram accounts, and although I did like some of them (like Buffer, Hootsuite, and Later), I am looking forward to checking out SmarterQueue this year.
Websites
Squarespace: I love a good Squarespace site. Easy to use and very intuitive. I highly recommend Squarespace. I have hired people to build websites, hired SEO firms, built my own websites, and watched a “few” YouTube videos on how to drive traffic and how to monitor organic content. Other options. Reach out to me if you want to know who to work with for Squarespace SEO.
Fathom: What I use to track my website traffic. I have tried different tools and paid high-priced consultants to help me set up tracking - but I turned to Fathom in the Spring of 2023 and I won’t look back. With its simple and intuitive interface, Fathom provides valuable insights into website visitor behavior, popular content, and conversion rates. By using Fathom Analytics, you can make data-driven decisions, optimize your website's user experience, and ultimately drive better results for your business or organization.
Go Daddy: I have uses this website builder for my website and several client sites that I have built. I find this very easy to use. You can set up a domain, select a theme and publish your site in under an hour or two.
WordPress: I have used WordPress (self-hosted) as the platform for my site (other businesses) & I loved the ability to make updates myself.
Wix: I have not personally set up a WIX site – but I have helped people with their WIX sites.
Improve Your Performance
Asana: I use Asana to manage my project and teams. It is very intuitive and simple to use. Bonus: it’s free!!
I thought that I was using Asana to its fullest, but then I decided to check out UpLevel With Asana. I personally took this course and can genuinely say, that this is one of the top courses that I have ever taken.
Check out the Free Asana Training and also check out my link for the UPLEVEL WITH ASANA code with a huge discount.
Payments/Invoicing
Dubsado: Dubsado is a powerful business management platform designed to streamline various aspects of your business, making it a valuable tool for a wide range of professionals. Whether you're a freelancer, entrepreneur, consultant, or small business owner, Dubsado can help you effectively manage your workflows, client communications, and administrative tasks. It offers features like customizable client portals, automated workflows, contract and proposal creation, invoicing, and more. I rely on Dubsado to make my client onboarding process incredibly easy and simple for clients. Want to try out Dubsado? Click Here and use the code ‘dubsado1inda’ for 20% OFF your first month or year.
FreshBooks: I have used Freshbooks to manage my time tracking, invoices, and payments for clients. It is a great system and provides everything you need.
Stripe: Stripe is a great option for online payments. It is very simple to set up and the Stripe dashboard allows you to review everything at a glance. This is also a great option for those that prefer to not use PayPal. Additionally, it allows you to create recurring auto payments – which saves time and money.
Other full-service systems include Honeybook, and 17hats. I have many colleagues who use each of these programs and are very happy with these programs.
Acuity: This is a tool that I have used to help with scheduling clients. What I love about Acuity– is the ease of use in setting this up. You can integrate this to other calendars like Google or Outlook. Also, you are able to set up appointment types and set up schedules for each appointment type. This can easily be integrated into a payment system. I chose Stripe. (More on that under the payment processing section.)
Tailwind: I love Pinterest for driving free traffic. Tailwind saves you time by allowing you to schedule your pins and post to relevant groups. I have seen a dramatic increase in my traffic using this.
ThriveCart: A wonderful resource and what I use to build Salescarts and Checkout pages. It’s perfect for building checkout pages and having an affiliate program in an all-in-one solution! There are lots of incredible resources and a great support community. Check out my ThriveCart blog post for more details.
