The Best Online Tools for Solo Startup Service Businesses
Over the past several years, it's been a steep learning curve on setting up and running my own business.
Going from humble beginnings as a hobby-blogger, in 2009, to now at the time of writing mother of three, entrepreneur, and service provider.... I'm still humbled by how much more there is to learn every single day.
The journey has included:
- Online communities grown from zero to several thousands, twice now.
- Many tens of thousands of dollars working with mentors and experts.
- Industry-specific courses and qualifications.
- Pivoting, rebranding, restructuring
- Making other J.O.B's the side hustle and my business projects, my main focus.
- Swings and roundabouts, ups and downs, and many hours of both laughing AND crying.
Some of the milestones have been brilliant.
— Reaching my first 10K
— Reaching an audience of 20K (a vanity metric, but still meaningful in impact)
— Testimonials and ratings that are positive and speak to the purpose of the business landing where it is supposed to, with those we serve.
Below are some links to tools that I have found extremely helpful in getting from 'there' to 'here' and beyond.
Some of them are 'affiliate links', you're not silly so I guess you know that means I may earn a few dollars for recommending them.
Kajabi All in One Online Business Platform
When it comes to an all-in-one business in a box, nothing beats kajabi for me. I have been using it now for more than 3 years and it has not disappointed. On the one cloud-based platform I am managing so many key aspects of the business that it negates the need for several other services that once added up would far exceed the cost.
- web page design and editing is easy once you learn how (very visual)
- blog
- podcast
- course and/or membership content
- unlimited offer/checkouts
- 3 'products' included on the basic plan
- online community
- branding
- payments (Stripe and Apple Pay)
- email contacts and direct mailouts
- web analytics, and sales tracking
- creator studio
- apps for people to be able to access your course or membership material
I could go on, but the list seems long enough already. Email me with any questions at [email protected] with the heading 'Kajabi Q' and I'd be more than happy to show you through how I use it.
You can access a 30-day FREE trial here and see for yourself.
PLANOLY is a tool I've used for the past 7 years to manage content posting, suggest best times to post, and act like a scrapbook - a place to save ideas for my social audience as and when inspiration hits.
Grow your community and build a thriving business on social media with Planoly. Plan your social content, design your dream grid, and build an online creator ...
- integrates seamlessly from phone to desktop and back again (saves sending images or text between the two)
- analyses your audience and suggests times they are most active
- easy access to key analytics to help you see what is and isn't connecting
- integration with Canva and other creator tools
- allows basic editing of formats in-platform
- auto-posting to both Instagram and Facebook is easy
- hashtag lists and tag lists are simple to set up and access
- much more!
Access a free trial on Planoly and try it out.
Acuity Scheduling is a flexible, online scheduling software that helps businesses automate workflows, payments, and bookings, allowing clients to book, reschedule, or cancel appointments independently, while also offering features like calendar syncing and automated reminders.
Key Features and Functionality:
- Automated Bookings: Clients can book, reschedule, or cancel appointments online, reducing manual workload for businesses.
- Calendar Integration: Syncs with popular calendars like Google, Outlook, or iCal.
- Automated Reminders: Sends automated email and text message reminders to clients.
- Payment Processing: Integrates with payment processors for secure online payments.
- Customizable Forms: Allows businesses to create custom forms for clients to fill out during the booking process.
- Client Communication: Enables businesses to send booking confirmations, reminders, and follow-up emails.
- Discount and Coupon Codes: Allows businesses to create coupons and discount packages to incentivize bookings.
- Invoice Generation: Facilitates the sending of invoices to collect what clients owe.
- Integration with Other Tools: Connects with dozens of other online tools.
- Customizable Settings: Allows businesses to customize settings to adapt as their business grows, including calendar syncing, automated reminders, and payment processor integrations.
- 24/7 Booking: Clients can book, rebook, and reschedule appointments around the clock.
- Client Management: Helps businesses keep track of client information and appointment history.
- Team Scheduling: Allows businesses to manage schedules for multiple team members
- Time Savings: Automates scheduling tasks, freeing up business owners to focus on other aspects of their business.
- Improved Client Experience: Provides a convenient and easy-to-use booking experience for clients.
- Reduced No-Shows: Automated reminders and cancellation policies help to reduce no-show appointments.
- Increased Efficiency: Streamlines the scheduling process, leading to increased efficiency and productivity.
- Scalability: Can adapt to the needs of businesses of all sizes.
If you'd like to access a free trial of Acuity, you can do so via this link.
Booktopia for Learning, Learning, Learning all the time....
This one sort of speaks for itself. I am reading a lot of books to keep up to date both on the best practice for business, AND the self-development that this kind of bold process necessitates. Curious as to my favourites? Head to this post to see what's on my 'bookshelf'.
Descript offers several benefits, including simplifying audio/video editing by allowing edits directly in the transcript, AI-powered transcription and enhancement, and features like overdubbing and voice cloning, all while promoting collaboration and efficient workflows.
In layman's terms, you can edit video and audio by cutting and pasting the words in the script. It is amazingly easy, even for people without any editing experience.
The other thing I love about Descript is that you can ask it to EQ the whole file, and even out the volume. Your assistant can even take out long silences and unnecessary ums and ahs. It's one of my favourite tools for podcasting and video content creation.
Here's a more detailed look at the benefits of using Descript for simplified audio/video editing.
- Document-Style Editing: Descript allows you to edit audio and video by simply editing the text transcript, making the process intuitive and easy, even for those without extensive editing experience.
- Multitrack Editing: You can work with multiple audio and video tracks simultaneously, enabling you to easily synchronize interviews, music, and sound effects.
- Intuitive Interface: The interface is designed to be user-friendly, making editing as easy as using a Word document.
