The Most Valuable Tools and Resources to Run Your Online Business!
Here are the most valuable tools to run your online business. With the proper tools, you can quickly overcome challenges, be more productive, and increase your profits by 20X.
What Experience do I have to Suggest Tools to You?
I have run successful online businesses for over twenty years. After twenty years online, you build up a lot of experience with varying software, both good and bad. This list will shorten your learning curve and point you in the right direction.
Recommendations and Links
We are continually investing in new tools to boost our business. The tools below are ones we feel confident in recommending to others. We are personally using all of them, or have in the past.
When possible, I have linked via an affiliate link. That means if you click on that link, we receive a commission on your purchase. The commission does not add anything to your fee, nor is anything endorsed due to that commission. All those listed below are recommended based on their merit.
Basic Business Email Options
Ontraport Basic Plan
Our recommendation for a “basic” business automation autoresponder tool is the Ontraport Basic Plan. I’m using the term “basic” in relationship to the below listed Ontraport Pro option, when compared to other similar autoresponder options there is nothing basic about Ontraport Basic. It offers a wealth of features and functionalities without all the added bells and whistles that perhaps you do not need yet such as e-commerce, membership sites, etc.
Advanced Business Email & Marketing Automation
Ontraport Pro Plan
We have been Ontraport users since the beginning of 2009. If you are looking for a robust business automation option, this is a great option. It has advanced emailing, segmenting, lead forms, lead pages, check out pages, membership sites, etc.
Payment & Shopping Cart Software
Samcart
Samcart allows you to accept credit card payments, includes order bumps, 1 click upsells and many more advanced features.
Ontraport
Ontraport allows you to take credit cards, has order form templates, order bumps, 1 click upsells, built-in cart abandonment, membership sites and more.
Online Scheduling, Questionnaire & Esign Software
SignWell
SignWell is a simple way to automatically collect e-signatures online. It’s simple, easy and works.
Calendly
Failing to strike when the iron is hot is a business killer. Calendly solves that. It lets your prospects and clients book directly with you online, when they are at their peak interest. It’s easy to set up, allows visitors to book strategy sessions by selecting the date(s) and time(s) that are convenient for them (and work for you) and sends reminders so they show up.
Typeform
This is the absolute best on the market if you are in high ticket. Typeform allows you to create outstanding forms and questionnaires. Plus, they have logic jumps so that if people do not answer questions correctly to qualify for taking time with a phone appointment you can send them to a specific page without the booking option. If people do answer questions correctly you can send them to a page so they can book an appointment immediately with your online calendar. Making people wait when they are ready, will cost you business. Give them the ability to book an appointment when they have peak interest.
Hosting & Domain Names
Bluehost
This hosting company hits the spot. Plans start at $2.95 a month. They have 24/7 support, great uptime, fast loading time, easy to use, and have a 30-day satisfaction guarantee. If you are installing your Webinar on your own domain, feel free to ask StealthSeminar to do it all for you. Give Bluehost a try.
Cover & Ebook PDF Layout Software
One of the most powerful things you can do is make ecovers to represent ebooks, special reports, white papers, spreadsheets, etc. The following are the tools I use to do so.
MyEcoverMaker
MyEcoverMaker is what I use to make all my covers. Use it to make covers for your webinar registration bonus, your webinar attendance bonus, lead magnets and anything else you think up. It’s terrific software.
Sqribble
Sqribble allows you to take any document, blog post, etc. and instantly turns it into a higher valued downloadable ebook. Simple, fast and profitable.
Designrr
This will allow you to create awesome looking eBooks FAST. Both this and the Squribble above are terrific pieces of software that do similar things. This one is cheaper and not quite as fancy. It will still deliver a wonderful PDF download of a high perceived value. Attractive ebooks are mandatory for every online business.
Online Legal Compliance Templates & Training
FTCGuardian
FTCGuardian provides legal protection for your online business. All businesses online need legal document such as Terms of Service, Privacy Policies, etc. This site has over 80 documents and makes it easy to you to create your own customized documents with their online generator. This is run with Attorney Chip Cooper whom I have also hired for additional legal work. He is the real deal. Don’t make yourself a target. Use real documents customized for your business. It’s not expensive and it can you keep you out of hot water.
Video Recording & Live Broadcast Software
Ecamm
Ecamm is my preferred streaming production software to integrate with StealthSeminar. This allows anyone to create professional quality live video broadcasts. If uncertain how this works with StealthSeminar see here.
Promotional Resources & Software
Deadline Funnel
Deadline Funnel allows you to create real deadline expiring offers. Want to have a special offer expire at the end of the week? No problem. Deadline Funnel can do that. Want to put a countdown to an expiration inside of an email to your clients? No problem, Deadline Funnel can do that. We love Deadline Funnel.
Tubebuddy
Tubebuddy helps you build, grow and monetize your business with videos on YouTube. It is an incredibility powerful software that I think is mandatory for anyone wanting to do anything with videos online.
20DollarBanners
20DollarBanners is the graphic design firm I have used for several years for creating ads. They do terrific work, on time. What more is there to want?
Proof
After trying multiple different options this is our preferred social proof tool. Take their challenge to boost your sales by 15% within less than 15 minutes. This is fast and easy to set up.