“Work from anywhere; you just need a laptop!” I really hope this trend of making it feel like starting an online business is so easy, you just need a laptop dies soon. It’s simple, but it’s not easy, and with all of the information readily available, it’s hard to figure out exactly what it is that you need. If you’re starting an online service-based business (coaching, consulting, done-for-you services, etc.), then there really are only four systems or processes you need to start or grow an online business. I will outline them below, but first, you need to self-identify where you’re at in your online business journey.
One of my mentors teaches that there are 5 Phases of the Entrepreneur:
I love looking at it this way because it easily shows us that we typically work with Starters and Doers who want to become Scalers. Occasionally we’ll work with Dreamers who are all in and want to skip a few steps, but for the most part, our clients have already started a business or have at least validated their offer and are eager to scale.
If you’re starting out as a Dreamer or Starter, I have a really simple list of the tools you need for a new or growing online service-based business (assuming you already have the laptop).
So many business coaches and “gurus,” say you don’t need a website when you’re just starting out, and it’s true, you don’t. You can send emails, you can network, and you can rely on word-of-mouth, but I strongly believe that a website should come earlier rather than later. Why?
💡: If you decide to start out with a simple site builder like Wix or Squarespace, have it be a goal of yours to move to WordPress as soon as possible or as soon as you start a blog. The SEO is far superior & it will grow with you better.
As mentioned above, do not use a generic contact form when what you really want is for someone to schedule a consultation or a free session. Contact forms create more work for you & the potential client. You can use Calendly, which is free, or Acuity, which is the best.
What I love about Acuity:
I will always recommend ConvertKit for anyone in phases 1 – 4. I love simple, and ConvertKit is straightforward, simple, and affordable. ConvertKit:
If you know me, you know that project management is a core strength of mine, and I love to put systems in place with an excellent project management tool such as ClickUp. However, I don’t recommend that as the right tool for phases 1 – 2 because it can overwhelm you unnecessarily. For stage 1, you can use your Reminders app or the free version of Todoist. Stage 2 may want to stick with Todoist or move up to Asana or ClickUp, with our systems expertise.
If you’re planning on getting to the Scale phase pretty quickly, though, an expert ClickUp setup may be just what you need. You can hire us to create a custom ClickUp experience that is rooted in simplicity or you can download my free ClickUp for Starters Guide to get you started.
Whatever you choose, here’s what’s great about both Asana & ClickUp:
Sure, there are tons out there to choose from, but these are simple, professional, and hands-down the best and easiest systems and tools to use.
Do you agree or disagree? Leave me a comment 👩💻 and we can talk about it!
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