Online Business Tools For

Remarkable Success

A Sequence Of Great Tools For Every Phase Of Growing Your Business

A SEQUENCE OF ONLINE TOOLSEvery business needs tools to work. However, online businesses are created differently. You don’t need a fancy website and marketing from the word go. You don’t need to sign up for your free trial of ClickFunnels today. (It’s going to just sit there while you are still trying to figure out what to build.) You also don’t need everything on this list. You’ll need to experiment. 

Do what’s in this sequence by each phase–and ignore everything else!

“When businesses fail, it’s often because they lack the right kind of focus at the right time. The following is a proven sequence and the tools needed at each phase.”

1. IDEATE

Opportunity research and market-generated ideas for solutions.

• Forums - Facebook Groups, Quora, Reviews, Comments, etc.• Observations & F2F interviews - Connect with your target market via Zoom.

• Keyword Research (Google Trends)• eCourse Sites - Udemy, SkillShare, Teachable, etc• Kindle Store (eBooks north of 150K in Amazon Best Sellers Rank)• Idea Testing Tool -  Value Proposition Canvas• 1st Phase Business Model Canvas (The Lean Canvas) + Ibis World

2. VALIDATE

Tools to prove your business is in demand. Solution validation.

• Offer Testing Tool - Flauntly, Card, QuickMVP,  Launchrock, etc.• Facebook Ads For Pre-Sales - Test offers and pricing. Get my Facebook Funnel.

• Crowdsourcing Tools - Kickstarter, GoFundMe, IndieGoGo, CrowdRise, RocketHub, CauseVox, etc.

• Clickfunnels - The Industry leader for Landing Pages that easily converts a visitor to a prospect or buyer. Use to build email list and pre-sell programs.

• Final Surveys - Google Forms, Typeform, etc.• FB Business Page - Do not make a website yet! Use FB instead to join groups, network, find pains, etc.

3. GENERATE

Tools to innovate and create your products/services.

• Screenflow - The best Mac-only video editing software. Great for YouTube.

• Scrivener - Great for writing eBooks, long posts, and eCourse curriculum.

• NameCheap - Register a website URL/domain name.• Wordpress - Wordpress.Org (not .com) for free content management software. AKA, your website.

• Dreamhost - Choose Shared Unlimited plan: pay the same price for hosting unlimited websites.

• WP Engine - A robust Wordpress-only host with impressive security, uptime, and maintenance features.

• Teachable - Hosts your online courses and integrates payments.• WebinarJam - Software to convert attendees to course upsells.• SignRequest - Digital document signature software (legal contracts and other forms).

• Online Payment Processing - Stripe, PayPal, Square, etc.• Design Specialists (Upwork, 99Designs, Fiverr, PeoplePerHour, etc)• IncFile - Create an LLC (business entity) in minutes and cheaply. Get your tax EIN free.

4. CIRCULATE

Tools to promote, market, and deliver value.

• Facebook Ads - Get My Go-To Facebook Funnel Free.• Digital Delivery Platforms - CMS’ like WordPress or Squarespace for 1st company website, Teachable or Thinkific for eCourses, Gumroad, Etsy, etc

• Shopify - eCommerce the easy way.• Marketing Platforms - Facebook Ads, Email, Raffle Copter, etc• Webinar Software - WebinarJam• Freshbooks - An easy way to automate bookkeeping and invoicing.• Zoom - Best software for meetings and video coaching.

5. AUTOMATE

Tools to scale your business and improve operations.

• GetResponse - Easy email auto-responder with the clearest user-interface.

• MailerLite - Basic email auto-responder, but lacking in integration with other programs.

• Social Media Automation (Buffer, HootSuite, GetZood, etc)• Billing Invoicing And Tracking - Freshbooks, Wave, etc• Appointment Setting - Calendly, SimplyBookMe, etc• Business Manager Software - Dubasdo or 17Hats | All-In-One

online business management software. Includes CRM, invoices, payments, time-tracking, contracts, workflow, etc.

• Zapier - Helps you connect apps and automates workflow.• Miscellaneous used with the previous phase too: CoSchedule,

IFTTT, Typeform, NordVPN

Time Management

• Calendly - Easy and aesthetic appointment setter. Integrates with my calendar with automatic reminders.

• WorldTimeBuddy - The best way to align potential times for international meetings. (free)

• CheckVist - Where I make all my lists, brainstorms, etc. I love the "om" function for writing. (free)

• Trello - Visual online collaboration made easy and fun. (free)• Process.St - Brilliant workflow management and task sequencing

tool.• Pipefy - Simple sales lead sourcing and follow-up tool.

Hardware

• Blue Yeti USB Mic - One of the best microphones out there for the money.

• Softbox Lighting Kit - Versatile lighting kit for all your videos/vlogs/courses.

• Selfie Stick - Great stick with a Bluetooth clicker.• Macbook (Gold, 12") - My 2nd favorite Apple product. Great for

travel.• iMac (21.5") - Where all the course-creation and video editing

magic happens.• Logitech Webcam - High definition webcam for videos and client

conferencing.• AirPods - My favorite Apple product. Great for interviews,

podcasts, etc.• iPhone - Mobile video shoots.

Affiliate Disclosure: I may receive compensation from companies whose products I review—at no additional cost to you. In some cases, you might even get a discount because of my affiliation and partnership with a company. I invest and test each product thoroughly, and I only recommend the very best. I am independently owned, and the opinions expressed here are my own.

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