My Custom Tech Stack: Solutions for my business
We learn quickly as small business owners that the right tools can save us time and money. And the right combination of those tools can escalate our productivity and growth. So I wanted to share my custom tech stack with you.
A tech stack is a group of hand-picked platforms that helps a business owner manage their business and provide stellar customer service - onboarding, off boarding, staying connected. Taking the time to choose the right tech platforms helps you:
Show up professionally - one of the reasons people hire you. The way you do business demonstrates that you have your act together.
Spend more of your time on your expertise - by getting the support for the things that take you more time, your business is able to thrive.
Gather data for decision-making - having current and clear data supports intentional choices and pro-active decisions.
As a business strategist who successfully helps clients close the gap and achieve their goals, I often get asked about my tech stack. It’s crucial to know that just because this group of platforms works for me, they may not work for you. You have to make independent and personalized choices to get the most out of them. A fully optimal tech stack will work seamlessly and offer integrations to enhance the processes in your business.
Here’s what I use:
ClickUp
For a project and task management system, I liked ClickUp the most, and partly for the colorful look. That seems simple, but four years later, I manage my complete business with ClickUp and recommend it to many of my clients. I can create a master list to break down, manage and track all of my tasks for my own business and my client work. It’s extremely versatile and is constantly adding and improving features.
Dubsado
This is great for managing client onboarding and offboarding - proposals, contracts, invoices and questionnaires, follow up, etc. Full disclosure, I hesitated to commit initially because Dubsado has a learning curve and is less intuitive than other programs. It does a number of things and their customer support is good. Once I started using it regularly, I got the hang of it. It’s very customizable, and clients consistently comment on how professional my proposals, contracts, and invoices look.
ConvertKit
I started on what is probably the most popular email marketing platform, but moved over to Convertkit a few years ago. It’s a very clean looking program and is easy to navigate. And the automations are simple to set up.
Squarespace
I built my website using Squarespace. It has an easy to learn and understand drag and drop process. Later on, when I was ready to hire a designer to improve my site, they recommended I stay in Squarespace and they added their expertise to it.
Pipedrive
I had met so many people networking and needed a system to keep track of who they were, how I met them, and how to stay in touch and build quality relationships. One of my favorite features of Pipedrive is being able to set up workflows when I meet new people - like invite them to a 1:1 call or follow them on social media, and it creates a dated task list for me.
Canva
Who isn’t on Canva? If you’re not, you are missing out. It allows you to create every type of graphic - social media, PDFs, workbooks, and presentations.
Zoom
Commonly used, Zoom is still the most reliable software for virtual meetings and recording.
Otter
This is a transcription platform and one of the newer pieces of my tech stack. I used to record meetings on Zoom but it was a time suck to listen and find the important part of the conversation. Otter records the audio and transcribes it, so you have it in writing. You can also search for key words and phrases to find what you’re looking for. And it makes it easier for clients, too, if you share the transcription with them.
Loom
Loom is a wonderful tool for making quick videos, like how-to’s. And not everyone learns best from a document you send. Sometimes watching a video is the better choice.
Quickbooks
Another commonly used program, Quickbooks is the standard for bookkeeping. I use Quickbooks Online. Like Dubsado, it’s not super intuitive, but a few lessons with a good Quickbooks consultant will give you the confidence to get going and keep your financials in order.
A well chosen tech stack can be the foundation of balanced business management. System choices are often part of the conversation I have with my clients as we work through the processes in their business.
Schedule a call with me so we can connect.
P.S. Ready to stop spinning in place and get to the other side of your goals? Here are several ways I can help:
Download my free weekly planning guide - it will help you become more intentional with your time, develop a clear action plan for your week, and ensure that you are focusing on activities that will move your business forward - Download Now
Join our next CEO Power Planning Session and spend two and a half hours ON your business. During this facilitated workshop, you’ll set and prioritize your next 12-week goals, break them down into an executable action plan and create a resource plan - Join the Wait List
Apply for the next Close the Gap Program and stay on track to achieve your most important goals. 1:1 support and guidance on prioritizing goals, creating a plan and putting structure and routines in place. Then 12 weeks of group support around execution. - Apply today