My Favourite Business Tools
I’ve compiled a list of my favourite tools that I use in my business. Some are affiliate links but rest assured I wouldn't be recommending them if I didn't think they were awesome.
This is my email marketing software - the one I email you from regularly. I’m a big fan of its simplicity, the ability to build cool automations and easily tag subscribers. I used to use Mailchimp which once you understand is fine but I found far clunkier and less user friendly than I find ConvertKit.
Couldn’t run my business without this system. Here's an example of how I use it:
Lead Management
> Someone applies to work with me from my website (uses a Dubsado form)
> It creates a project in Dubsado and starts a workflow
> This workfow sends them all the emails and calendar links etc. without me doing anything (accept approving a step where I've chosen this)
Client Onboarding & Experience
> When a lead becomes a client it kickstarts my onboarding workflow
> Client is sent a contract, invoice, intake form and all required comms to seamlessly onboard them with no work from me
> It creates reminders for me to send client gifts and lets me know when clients are coming to an end, sends client feedback forms etc.
I'm just scratching the surface here but it's awesome and saves me a lot of time. If you go for this and want someone to help you set it up, just pop me an email as I've got a few recommendations here.
Example workflow:
This is for Mac users only. It has 2 main functions in my business.
You can stream in high definition to other platforms. So if I do a Facebook live, I do this through Ecamm. You have lots of functionality within in, such as interviewing guests, adding a logo, subtitles, headers, sharing screen etc.
I use the record only function to record all my programme content in high definition.
This cool gadget basically allows you to swap screens really quickly on video. You can pre-set it and it seriously ups your video game.
I’ve seriously upped my video game this year, and invested in 2 key lights. Bonus if you wear glasses - you position these above your head so you don’t get the usual reflection from a ring light on your desk.
Good audio is everything. Client meetings. Videos. Recording programme content. This mic is reasonably price and the sound quality is awesome.
I LOVE my standing desk. It's beautiful. Goes up and down. It’s so awesome my husband then bought one.
I'd been looking for a chair/stool for so long which worked with my standing desk and encouraged good posture because I get dreadful headaches.
This stool does it all. If you're tired of standing, this is fab for leaning. It has a nice amount of movement which encourages you to engage your core.
Together, I can draw on my ipad which makes sales calls, trainings and videos way more interactive. Example of me using this in a video here.
Particularly awesome if you follow the Profit First cash management system as it allows you to have 'spaces' within your one bank account so you can divide your money out into expenses, profit, tax etc.
My preferred payment system over PayPal as the fees are lower. Love the app interface too and works well for both UK and international payments.
My accounting software. Links to your bank. Takes all your accounts online. You reconcile transactions with receipts/invoices. Makes your tax return a lot easier. It links with...
Upload receipts/invoices into Hubdoc which then auto links with Xero. You can download the app to quickly snap receipts. Invoices which land in your inbox you can just forward to your HubDoc email address and they're captured.
This is what my website is built on. Simple and beautiful templates and easy to make edits without paying someone else (if you want to)
This is where I host my programme content, or any workshops I run. It's expensive, but the user experience is awesome. I could host my website here and use their email marketing, but I'm happy with Convertkit and Squarespace for this at the moment.
Basically an online notebook with a good search function and tagging which means you never need folders again.
Asana
Ideal for team communication. I avoided this one for ages as it seemed complicated but now couldn't work without it.
You can assign tasks to team members and they can assign stuff to you. Great for ensuring total visiblity of projects and knowing exactly who's doing what and when.
You can view it as a list or as cards as below:
Just. So. Simple. I am crap at design. Canva is far easier that Photoshop or anything like that. You can create your brand colours and add your logos etc. Takes seconds to create an image.
I wrote a post about how much I love this planner. It’s made my productivity go through the roof. Read the post here.
That's a wrap. Got a fave tool not on my list? Get in touch and tell me about it.