4 Online Tools that Changed My Business

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You may have heard that you can run your business using only free tools. While that may be true in the very beginning, you’re going to eventually need to shell out some money each month to help grow your business.

I’m sharing the 4 BEST online tools I use that have the biggest impact on my business. Honestly, without paying for these accounts, I don’t think I would have been able to grow my business to where it is right now.

1. 17hats

If you run a client based business and offer 1:1 services, you’ll want a CRM to manage your leads, invoices, contracts, online payments and so much more biz stuff.

This is embarrassing but back in the day when I first started Sugar Studios, I used to send clients invoices using PayPal. Then I switched to 17hats and whoah did it make a difference in my business.

I realized that with PayPal I was forgetting to send invoices to clients (missing out on hundreds of dollars in owed money!).

What is 17hats CRM?

17hats is a customer relationship management tool for small businesses. Within the easy to use 17hats interface, you can see all of your client leads, project contracts, invoices, quotes and create workflows to streamline your business and manage bookkeeping.

What are the benefits of 17hats CRM?

Within 17hats you can manage your projects, billing and track your business growth, all in one place.

Here’s an overview of some of the incredible features in 17hats:

• Manage client leads
• Send quotes/invoices
• Track your time (this is awesome for billing clients by the hour!)
• Create templates for contracts, emails, questionnaires (such a time saver)
• Client portal
• To-do lists
• Contract templates
• Process online payments
• Create workflows
• Financial reporting
  
  plus so many more business growth tools!

17hats offers tons of free online webinars and training to help you grow your business. And… the 17hats support is amazing, they are very responsive and very hands-on with their customers.

How much does 17hats CRM cost?

While 17hats is a significant investment for a small business, plans start at $13 per month (that’s less than 2 skinny venti caramel macchiatos a month, just sayin’). If you think about it in terms of the money your business may be LOSING by not having a CRM, I think 17hats pays for itself.

Read more about my experience with 17hats

2. ThriveCart

If you sell products, courses or workshops on your website – you’ll want to take a look at using ThriveCart for your cart software. I switched to ThriveCart from the Shopify Starter Plan (formerly Shopify Lite) and my sales have surged!

Why is ThriveCart so great?

ThriveCart is a shopping cart software that lets you customize your checkout experience, create funnels, upsells, downsells, coupons, add ons. ThriveCart goes beyond the shopping cart experience and allows you to create affiliate programs and even host courses. Seriously, this tool has it all!

How much does ThriveCart cost?

With all the amazing features ThriveCart has, it doesn’t come cheap. This has by far been one of the BEST investments I’ve ever made in my business in the last 15+ years. While most platforms charge you a monthly fee, ThriveCart is a one time payment of $495. Over time, you’ll pay way, way, more with monthly charges from other cart softwares – so in the end you actually save a ton of money by investing in ThriveCart.

Take a look below at my sales since I started using ThriveCart in 2021. A typical cart cart conversion is 1-3%, but with ThriveCart my cart conversion is 13.5% – wow!

Read more about my honest review of ThriveCart to see if it’s the right investment for your business.

3. Canva

If you had told me years ago that I would primarily be using Canva for most of my designs, I would have scoffed at the thought – “Canva is NOT for real designers!” But now I can honestly tell you that Canva is one of my favorite online tools and I use it every day.

What is Canva used for?

The real question is, what isn’t Canva used for? With Canva you can:

• Create Graphics
• Create Presentations
• Create Websites
• Create Videos
• Add Custom Fonts*
• Use Stock Photography & Illustrations
• Schedule Social Media Posts*
• Print Flyers, Postcards and Business Cards
• Use Canva’s Magic Tools*
• Create Animations*
• Share Projects
• Create Teams*
  … the options are limitless!

*Requires a pro account

Here’s an example of a digital template I created for my template shop using Canva Pro. My customers can instantly add the templates into their own (free or paid) Canva account and simply update it with their own content, it’s so easy with Canva!

What are the benefits of a paid Canva account?

While you can do SO MUCH with the free Canva tool, there are a lot of perks with the paid Canva Pro account.

• Create Brand Kits (this saves your color palette, fonts and logos)
• Create Teams
• Access to Premium Photos & Illustrations
• Access to Premium Filters & Settings
• Access to Premium Video and Audio
• Access to More Templates
• Access to Magic Resize Feature
• More File Storage
  
  plus tons of more features!

4. Showit

For over 15 years I’ve been designing websites and I can honestly say Showit is an amazing online tool for my business. In 2020 I switched from a WordPress website to a Showit website and wow it has completely changed my business!

What exactly is Showit and who is it for?

Showit is a drag and drop website builder that allows you to create your own custom website without ever having to hire a developer. Showit offers tons of website templates you can buy to create your dream website and everything is 100% customizable.

I love how with Showit I can make my website look totally unique and it’s so easy to setup. Here are some of the features you’ll love with Showit:

• 100% Customizable
• No Developer Required
• Mobile Friendly
• Fully Responsive
• Choose From Hundreds of Website Templates (or Make Your Own Design)
• Add Your Own Fonts and Colors
• Add Page Animations
• Ability To Enhance Your SEO
• Utilizes WordPress Blog Capabilities
• Loved By Thousands of Creatives & Service Providers
• Excellent Customer Support
• 14 Day Free Trial
• Referral Program (Earn 1 Month FREE!)

Showit is the perfect choice if you want full control over how your website looks and works. It’s used by almost every type of business including Coaches, Photographers, Designer, Artists, Therapists, Health & Fitness Trainers, Event Planners, Beauty Professionals, Filmmakers, Chefs – anything you can think of!

Where can I find Showit website designs?

As a Showit Design Partner, I’m proud to offer a collection of Showit Website Templates that allow you to create a beautiful and professional looking website that’s budget-friendly.

Shop the Showit website collection to find the perfect template for your business!

What are some of your favorite online tools for your business? Do you have any questions for me? Ask me in the comments box below!

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