My top 10 business tools I use to run my small business
As a small business, I depend heavily on platforms that are easy to use, user friendly and affordable. I have outlined below 10 channels that I could NOT live without!
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Course and memberships: Kajabi
If you are looking for an all in one, inclusive platform where you can build your website, create online courses and memberships, host communities and coaching, incorporate email marketing, create funnels and landing pages and lead magnets, this platform is for you! I LOVE Kajabi so much and if I could start my business over, I would sign up with them 100%. You can do everything you need from this one platform.
As someone who wanted to create some online courses and potentially create a membership, Kajabi is a no brainer! You can also create landing pages, webinar funnels, and more with absolute ease.
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E-Commerce Website Platform: Shopify
If you want to start a product business, then Shopify is for you! They have an incredibly robust and powerful platform that will allow you to grow and scale your business. I have personally managed and created multiple websites on Shopify and they are by far my favorite ecommerce website platform. Also, NO coding, easy to manage templates and so much more to make your life easy when launching an online store.
Shopify is not only an easy way to launch and manage your online store. It’s geared towards supporting store owners in crucial aspects like opening additional channels like Amazon, offering customer support tools, like live chat!
It connects easily to any of the email marketing channels, it has all the major shopping channels like Google Shopping, Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest. With thousands of themes to choose from, you will find whatever you need with whatever your goals are.
Are you in? Click here to get started with Shopify.
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Flodesk: Email Marketing
Flodesk is my savior when it comes to email marketing. It brings the most aesthetically beautiful designs, with drag and drop templates and features, this is by far my favorite email marketing option. It allows you to collect emails, create targeted lists, run email campaigns, send newsletters, and collect analytics to improve your email marketing strategies over time.
I love it: because I was so tired of creating emails that looked good for my clients. Flodesk has premade templates that are absolutely stunning and beautiful, and take minutes to create. They also have an array of opt in forms so you can create both landing pages and opt in forms in minutes.
Click here for 50% off your Flodesk subscription.
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Cratejoy: Subscription Box Platform
I started my subscription business, The Dapper Dog Box in 2016. I grew this to multi 6 figures and sold the business in 2019. Cratejoy's subscription box platform made the process of starting and growing a subscription box business so seamless. They have all the built in tools and analytics to start your business and scale it. You can connect affiliate programs, shipping apps and so much more.
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Graphic Design: Canva Pro
Not a graphic designer but want to create insta worthy graphics for your social media, web and other channels in a breeze? Canva Pro is for you! The best part of Canva is people can use it on their own without having to outsource design work, which you may know can be super costly!
I love it because: I can create templates in Canva and share with my clients. They can create their own brand identity within the graphics with EASE! I love that Canva lets all of us act as graphic designers without having to know illustrator or photoshop. I LOVE Canva Pro because you can add your brand colors, fonts, logos and have access to lots of extra stock images, which come in handy.
Click here to get started with Canva Pro.
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Pinterest Scheduling: Tailwind
If you use Pinterest or want to use Pinterest, you have to use Tailwind. It's a super powerful scheduling app that allows you to schedule thousands of pins with ease!Automatically Pin at the best times for more engagement, reach, and website traffic with one tool. You can schedule pins like a pro by scheduling content out over weeks with interval pinning & a drag-and-drop calendar.
You can also super charge your growth with their tribe features, which allows your content to get repinned and reach new audiences. Hands down the best money I spend each month for my business. Click here to get a FREE month of Tailwind
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Affiliate Program: Shareasale
As a marketer I love promoting businesses that I personally use to make my life easier or get results for my clients. Shareasale is one of the leading affiliate marketing programs that not only have an honest reputation but amazing vendors associated. Shareasale helped me skyrocket my sales and increase my visibility for my subscription box. If you are a business looking for major visibility, check out Shareasale.
Stock Photos: Styled Stock Society
A stock photo membership for the stylish boss babe and female entrepreneur! I am in love with this business. When you sign up you get access to thousands of beautiful, modern and stylish stock images that you can use for social media, your website, Pinterest and more. Everything is super modern and pretty. They even have a series of customizable canva templates that you can use for your blogs, Instagram and more.
Why I Love it: Who has time to take Instagram-worthy photos when you’ve got a business to run? With over 3,000 photos in 150+ collections right at your fingertips and new collections added each month – yes, please! Join the #StyledStockSociety by clicking here.
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Daily Planner: Simplified Planner
Founded by mom-of-three, Emily Ley, Simplified's mission is to inspire and empower women with the tools they need to simplify their lives. Simplified creates beautiful daily planners, so you can stay organized and on top of tasks. I love Simplified and since I started using her planners, I am so much more organized and on top of tasks.
They come in a variety of colors, all within the Simplified branding. You will gorgeous pineapples, and bright happy colors in all her products.
Click here to get $10 off your first Simplified planner.
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Podcast Mic: Blue Yeti Mic
If you want to start a podcast, this mic is for you! It's an excellent starter mic, that gives you everything you need but for a good price. It's a USB mic, so you can plug it right into your laptop. It's super easy to use - I just recorded all of my course modules for my Pinterest course using this mic and the sound quality is fantastic! I highly recommend it.
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Instagram Scheduling: Planoly or Plann App
Both of these apps over great scheduling and planning features for free! You can schedule your posts ahead of time, which can be really helpful if you like to batch your work like me! I tend to use Planoly over Plann, but that's a personal preference
