Podcasts about tools we use

In this episode, Bryant and Mike continue their deep dive into the ever-evolving world of AI, building on the discussion from the previous episode. They explore the rapid growth of AI models, highlighting both their incredible benefits and the challenges they pose within the sign industry.Beyond discussing the impact of AI, Bryant and Mike showcase some of their favorite AI-powered tools that they use daily, offering insights into how these innovations are reshaping workflows and creativity.Tune in for an engaging and thought-provoking conversation as we navigate the fast-paced changes AI is bringing to our world—and what the future might hold!##-##In this episode...00:00           Intro00:32            "AI" Models Rapid Growth07:48            Tools We Use 12:23            TypingMind18:53            AI for SEO25:43            Tools for Text Generation36:27            Current AI Situation 47:20            "AI" in Everyday life53:35            Deepseek58:00            "AI" Thinks01:00:25       Directus01:02:25       Replicate01:08:00       NotebookLM01:12:00       Clay01:14:15       Perplexity01:17:50       Loveable01:21:45       Replit01:28:50       Takeaways01:34:04      Outro##-##Are you a sign or print shop owner?Join the Better Sign Shop Community - our exclusive Facebook group for shop owners and managers. Connect and learn from peers at https://www.facebook.com/groups/bettersignshopmastermind.

Looking for tools to make branding easier and more fun? In this episode, we're sharing our top 9 favorite branding tools that help us (and our clients) stay organized, creative, and efficient. From finding the perfect font, color palette, or stock photo to compressing images and creating stunning designs, this list has everything you need to elevate your brand. Whether you're starting fresh or refining your style, these tools will save you time and make the process seamless!Episode Show Notes: https://duocollective.com/blog/must-have-branding-toolsTuesday Tips & Sips: https://duocollective.com/subscribeInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/duoonairpodcast/

Forensic examiners have quite a few programs at their disposal these days to complete their work.  Many of them are quite expensive; however, there are other programs that can be utilized and don't cost an arm and a leg.  In this episode Becky and I talk about some of these programs, what they're used for and how much they cost, if anything.  This is part 1 of a 2-part series on forensic tools.

Curious about the SEO tools we swear by? In today's episode, we're sharing our ultimate list of SEO tools that have proven to be game-changers for our business. From essential Chrome extensions to comprehensive platforms like Semrush and Ubersuggest, we'll cover tools that help with everything from keyword research to meta descriptions and page speed insights. Get ready to enhance your SEO strategy with tools that can save you time and boost your search engine rankings!Episode Show Notes: https://duocollective.com/blog/seo-tools-for-small-businesses-we-use-and-loveLinks Mentioned in This Episode: #48: https://duocollective.com/blog/seo-keyword-research-toolsTuesday Tips & Sips: https://duocollective.com/subscribeInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/duoonairpodcast/

In today's business episode Glen and special guest Kayla Malss share all the tech tools they use within their businesses to manage invoicing, comms, project management, file storage, creative work and more!Check out ConvertKit: https://bit.ly/3Vhv4y6We hate email spam so we don't create it! Sign up to our newsletter to get only the valuable money, careers and property info you need.To get help, and to check out our online courses, books, resources and downloads (+ our disclaimers and warnings), click here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of the Brave New BookShelf, Steph Pajonas and Danica Favorite, discuss their approach to AI in publishing, their workflows with AI tools, and their favorite AI tools. They emphasize the importance of education and respect in conversations about AI. Visit our website https://bravenewbookshelf.com to view the full episode notes, links and apps mentioned in the episode, and the full transcript.

The digital age has opened up a plethora of opportunities for private practice owners to expand their reach and refine their marketing strategies.    Yet, with an overwhelming array of tools and resources available, deciphering which ones truly bolster one's online presence can be a daunting task.    So, in this episode of the Private Practice Elevation podcast, we shed light on the most effective platforms and strategies for private practice marketing—straight from an agency that uses them.   We'll dive deep into the treasure trove of tools and platforms that can significantly ease the journey of building a private practice website and mastering online marketing.    These insights are not just mere tips but are used by the Private Practice Elevation team to optimize and streamline processes both internally and for clients.    From website-building basics to advanced SEO tactics, we'll outline the comprehensive lineup of resources that power successful online presences for private practices.    Whether it's WordPress with its unlimited customization possibilities, the user-friendly and visually engaging Divi theme, or the security-strong hosting services of Flywheel, we're going to unpack our own digital toolkit that makes practice marketing effective and efficient.    As an added layer, we'll touch on analytics with Google Analytics, email marketing with ConvertKit, and the webinar-hosting capabilities of Easy Webinar.   Listen up and discover new tools and resources to help you on your private practice website-building journey.   This Episode Is Brought To You By   Alma is on a mission to simplify access to high-quality, affordable mental health care by giving providers the tools they need to build thriving in-network private practices. When providers join Alma, they gain access to insurance support, teletherapy software, client referrals, automated billing and scheduling tools, and a vibrant community of clinicians who come together for education, training, and events.   Learn more about building a thriving private practice with Alma at helloalma.com/elevation.

Get Thrifty Traveler Premium deal/award alerts sent straight to your inbox. Use promo code “AT101” for $10 off your first year. Head to ThriftyTraveler.com for more details and check out their Google Flights guide. Recent finds include:Round-trip business class to Japan for $1,925 (or 125,000 points)Business class to Hawaii for 55,000 milesBusiness class to Germany for 55,000 pointsYou can find these at ThriftyTraveler.com/Premium.Award Travel 101 Podcast Episode 53 Show NotesWe're changing up this week's format, with our very first member interview. Award Travel 101 community member Allison Tackette joins us with tips she's learned over 10 years in the space.BackgroundAllison is a former teacher who wanted to get out and see the world, but her time off in the summer often resulted in finding peak season pricing. Travel CAN be expensive if you're always paying cash, but pushing people to the brink helps them get creative!Introduction to travel rewards and loyalty programsIs it as simple as asking how to travel for free? In 2013, information was far more scarce than it is today. Now we have tons of resources and the Award Travel 101 Facebook community where you can ask questions and get instant answers.  Places You Could Return Over and OverWhile she enjoys traveling the world, check out why she thinks Japan is the place she could never lose interest in.Travel styleAllison travels primarily as a solo traveler, but she does travel with family on occasion too.DealsIs there anything better than First Class for your first significant redemption? Can you believe that the redemption she made years and years ago, is still the same cost today?Highlight Feature - Can I book travel inside 60 days (or less)?Which programs offer you the greatest flexibility? Use these to set yourself up and keep looking as you get close-in. Some of the most aspirational flights and airlines might be found inside 14 days or less including:LufthansaANAJALEmiratesNot airline specific, but unsold business/first flights to Australia and New Zealand often open up around a week out.Tip of the weekUse tools like seats.aero or point.me to simplify your searches. Check out Episode 19 "The Tools We Use" Where  You Can Find AllisonInstagram: @luckytictacawardtravelvacations.comWhere To Find the Award Travel 101 Community For questions, you can join us in the free 100,000+ member Award Travel 101 Community. For more intermediate and advanced strategies, join Award Travel 201 community To book time with our team, check out Award Travel 1-on-1. You can also email us at contactawardtravel@gmail.com. Our next meetup is located in San Antonio, TX on April 26–28, 2024, and it's SOLD-OUT. You can get on our wait-list, but to learn more visit Taco 'Bout A Fiesta! Support the AT101 Podcast/Community

AI in advertising isn't just a buzzword; it's a tool that can bring incredible efficiency and creativity to your campaigns. There are two tools that we use here in our business that have completely transformed our process for marketing: AdCreative.ai and ChatGPT. Both are amazing, but serve different purposes and when paired together, are magical. AdCreative.ai is your go-to for creating stunning, effective ad visuals, while ChatGPT is a conversational AI that can help you write compelling ad copy and even strategize your content.

We all aspire to work efficiently and effectively, and tools play a crucial role in achieving that. However, in today's landscape, the abundance of available tools can be overwhelming. It's not uncommon to feel paralyzed by the decision-making process, spending valuable time researching, which ultimately detracts from our work. Join us as Nate shares the specific tools that he and his team at BLASTOFF! Studio rely on for maximum efficiency and effectiveness. Listen in to streamline your workflow and make informed choices, optimizing your productivity.

In this episode of the Course Wizards podcast, Amit and Chris continue their discussion on side hustles and the tools they use to manage their projects. They talk about hiring virtual assistants and using tools like Descript and Canva for video editing and design. They also mention SmartSuite for project management, ChatGPT for writing, and Novo for business checking. They touch on the importance of Gmail and Google Calendar for communication and scheduling, as well as the use of Ecamm for podcast recording and Captivate for distribution. Other tools mentioned include Vista Social, SocialBee, WordPress, Shopify, Sessions, and Grammarly Premium. Listeners are encouraged to explore these tools for their own businesses and share the episode with others who may find it helpful.Links:Apps for Authors - https://writing.fyi/appsNew Zenler - https://www.newzenler.com/invite/zmnfZZ5K Course Launch Blueprint - https://getnzlr.com/5k-launch-blueprintCourse Launch Secrets Facebook Group - https://facebook.com/courselaunchsecrets

In this episode, your host, Tom Clairmont, explores the challenges of being a solopreneur and the constant quest for making business operations easier without compromising quality. Tom introduces a lead magnet he created called "The Tools We Use," which provides valuable insights into online tools he personally uses in the business startup process.Tom acknowledges the perpetual need for new tools, especially in the rapidly evolving landscape of AI. He shares his recent experiences with using Chat GPT, highlighting how it's become an indispensable tool for generating content and fulfilling various roles within his business.Tom goes on to discuss specific scenarios in which he has utilized Chat GPT. From transforming podcast transcripts into engaging summaries to crafting website content, generating lead magnet ideas, and even exploring children's book concepts, Tom showcases the versatile applications of AI-powered content generation.Additionally, he emphasizes the growing role of virtual assistants, made more efficient by AI tools, in small businesses. Tom encourages listeners to leverage these technologies to streamline their operations and enhance productivity.Throughout the episode, Tom emphasizes the importance of embracing AI tools, such as Chat GPT, as valuable resources to simplify and enhance business processes. He invites listeners to share their own experiences and questions related to AI tools by emailing him at tom@tomclairmont.com.As the episode concludes, Tom leaves his audience with a sense of empowerment, reinforcing that AI is a valuable ally in the entrepreneurial journey, simplifying tasks and expanding possibilities.Website: www.tomclairmont.comOnline Course: Solopreneur 90 Day Launch PlanReceive weekly tips and perspective emails from Tom on having a professional online business HERE.www.tomclairmont.comSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/small-biz-essentials/exclusive-content

Today, I wanted to chat about a topic that I recently read about in the book “The Psychology of Money” by Morgan Housel.   In one of his chapters, he covers how the workforce has shifted from physical labour to mental labour, and I wanted to chat about how this can impact our mental health, and contribute to depression and anxiety, as well as ADHD.   If you liked the show, help it grow!   Leave a review and rate 5 stars on Apple Podcast, and Spotify!

Bold, brave & beautiful Warriors….Doug & I share some of our marriage tools we use that have helped to shape our marriage & lives. We blended, but not without much battle! Years & years of battles! We found common ground & from there planted our seeds to where we've harvested today a marriage that's heaven on earth. Thanks for listening & supporting W2W! XO

Steve calls SketchUp his electronic clay model which he can use with his builder, his enclosure consultant, and his clients. Pete gives up the dirt on WebSoilSurvey, the 1st tool he uses on every project design/spec review. Jake heads home for his favorite tool - his new Aarow Building office. Last but not least: Steve returns with his 2nd favorite tool--the field. Getting out to job sites and seeing his design work play out as a process--no substitute and this tool is key to Pete and Jake as well.NOTE: You have to listen to the entire podcast to understand the Good Fellows reference...but it is worth the wait. Has Pete seen it yet? He is still not sure...Pete's Resource(s):1. Sketch-Up: 3-D rendering of 2-D plan set - https://www.sketchup.com2. WebSoilSurvey: https://websoilsurvey.sc.egov.usda.gov/app/3. Aarow Building Office: https://buildshownetwork.com/contents/how-our-office-has-improved-our-business4. THE "FIELD:" https://buildshownetwork.com/go/stevebaczek5. What might be the Frank Lloyd Wright quote Steve is seeking: "An architect's most useful tools are an eraser at the drafting board, and a wrecking bar at the site."6. Good Fellows - the movie: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goodfellas 

In this podcast episode, Lauren discusses the various tech tools and software her company uses for communication, sales, marketing, and client services. She emphasizes the importance of investing in technology to improve efficiency and mentions specific tools like Loom, Whereby, Slack, Monday.com, HoneyBook, and Calendly. Lauren also talks about their use of Flodesk for email marketing, Buzzsprout for podcast uploading, and PodSqueeze for show notes and SEO optimization. She also mentions the use of G Suite, Miro, Adobe Creative Suite, Canva, Social Pilot, and Copy.ai for various aspects of client services and social media management.All of our affiliate links, if you choose to give them a try:Podsqueeze - https://podsqueeze.com/?ref=brandgoodtimeHoneyBook: http://share.honeybook.com/brandgoodtime - get 35% off your first yearFlodesk: https://flodesk.com/c/BRANDGOODTIME - 50% off your first yearFollow us on Instagram: @brandgoodtime @shesbusyafCheck out our services: www.brandgoodtime.comConnect with Lauren on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/laurenloretoTopics discussed: tech tools, software, communication, sales, marketing, client services, technology, efficiency, strategic team members, Loom, whereby, Slack, Monday.com, HoneyBook, Calendly, video screen sharing, recording, call communication software, Zoom, team management communication, project management software, questionnaires, invoicing, automation capabilities, scheduling sales calls, Flodesk, Klaviyo, Buzzsprout, podcast uploading, podcast show notes, SEO optimization, Pod Squeeze, transcription, titles, topics discussed, notable quotes, G Suite, email, collaboration, Google Docs, Google Sheets, Miro, Adobe Creative Suite, website wireframing, design, Canva, social media scheduling, Sprout Social, Social Pilot, Copy.ai, content creation, ideation

Shannon highlights tools we use to plan our trips (find those hard-to-get reservations at Mouse Dining!) as well as things you can practice from home before you go to Disney World so you don't have as many things to learn while you are on your trip.   Links: Thrill-Data Walt Disney World Live Entertainment Mouse Dining Standby Skipper 8 things you can test or practice at home before visiting Walt Disney World Walt Disney World Crowd Calendar 7 Step Disney World Planning Process Leave me a message (including trip report submissions) Please use the SpeakPipe link below to leave us a message with your first name, location, and trip info. You can do that using your computer or phone at https://www.speakpipe.com/WDWPrepToGo   Subscribe to get new episodes There are a few ways to get new episodes of WDW Prep to Go (if you're used to listening on the website, subscribe so you can take new episodes with you on your phone) Subscribe in iTunes  (and please leave a review!) Subscribe in Google Podcasts Listen on Stitcher Follow on social media Instagram Twitter Facebook Pinterest TikTok YouTube Become a Patron Get a quote request for a future trip from Small World Vacations Podcast Episode Finder Visit the site Things we recommend     Affiliate Links: Amazon DVC Rentals Quicksilver Tours and Transportation Small World Vacations Designer Park Co - Use code “WDWPrep” to save 10%

In this episode of The Fit Mess podcast, Zach and Jeremy explore the topic of managing anxiety symptoms and share valuable tools and techniques to help you regain control over your emotions and reduce stress. It's important to remember that managing anxiety is a continuous journey, and self-compassion should be practiced along the way. With dedication and the right strategies, you can regain control, live more peacefully, and embrace a brighter future free from overwhelming anxiety. Topics Discussed: Understanding anxiety as a separate entity from your identity. The importance of physical exercise in managing anxiety. Deep breathing techniques to activate the rest and digest response. Cultivating self-compassion and avoiding self-judgment. Prioritizing quality sleep as an essential element of anxiety management. The role of support systems and the power of sharing experiences. The effectiveness of mindfulness and meditation practices in reducing anxiety. Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) techniques for challenging negative thought patterns. Engaging in stress-relieving activities and hobbies. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle to support anxiety management. ---- MORE FROM THE FIT MESS: Get bonus clips and additional resources in our newsletter! Connect with us on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and Tiktok Subscribe to The Fit Mess on Youtube Join our community in the Fit Mess Facebook group ---- LINKS TO OUR PARTNERS: Take control of how you'd like to feel with Apollo Neuro Explore the many benefits of cold therapy for your body with Nurecover Muse's Brain Sensing Headbands Improve Your Meditation Practice. Get started as a Certified Professional Life Coach! Get a Free One Year Supply of AG1 Vitamin D3+K2, 5 Travel Packs Revamp your life with Bulletproof Coffee You Need a Budget helps you quickly get out of debt, and save money faster! Use Vibrant Blue Oils to improve the flow of energy through your body.  Start your own podcast!      

Award Travel 101 Podcast Episode 19 Show NotesTHRIFTY TRAVELER PREMIUMGet deal/award alerts straight to your inbox. Thrifty Traveler Premium does just that. Use promo code ‘AT101' for $10 off your first year. Again, you can find them at http://thriftytraveler.com/premiumPOST OF THE WEEK (from the group)Mike Zaccheo shared in the group the new Chase Sapphire Lounge in Boston as well as the 8 upcoming lounges. But more importantly-the entrance rules for those lounges. This brings some added value to the CSR that had lost a bit of its luster.NEWS & ENHANCED OFFERSSeveral reports of Chase shifting credit limits without asking for member approval and reports of Chase Ink cards appearing on personal credit reports.HIGHLIGHT (Main Feature)Tools we use to search for award flights:In-person meetupsExpertflyer - LIVE video & post on AwardWalletPoint.meRoame.travel - Live videoFlight ConnectionsStraight to the PointsThrift Traveler Premium (use code AT101 to save $10)FlightRadar24FlightawareWikipediaGoogle FlightsOpen Hotel AlertStay With PointsMaxMyPointAwayzWHAT YOU DIDN'T KNOWWhich airlines have a ONE month calendar search:UnitedDeltaVirgin Atlantic - Sort of (Video in Award Travel 201)QantasLifeMilesWhere To Find the Award Travel 101 Community For questions, you can join us in the free 100,000+ member Award Travel 101 Community. For more intermediate and advanced strategies, join Award Travel 201 community To book time with our team, check out Award Travel 1-on-1. You can also email us at contactawardtravel@gmail.com. Our next meetup is located in San Antonio, TX on April 26–28, 2024, and it's SOLD-OUT. You can get on our wait-list, but to learn more visit Taco 'Bout A Fiesta! Support the AT101 Podcast/Community

As an entrepreneur, you need a variety of quality tools to execute on the mission of your business. Finding and using these tools isn't as hard as you might think! Melissa and Corry walk you through their list of useful tools and the mindset it takes to use them simply and well. The Business Reboot Retreat registration closes soon! Don't miss this chance to work ON your business, not just IN your business, directly with Corry and Melissa in Lake Norman, NC in September. Apply on the website: https://www.thebusinessreboot.com/  BUILT is a ten-month mastermind for entrepreneurs looking to break into education; with us, you can get it BUILT. You'll research, analyze, and dream with us alongside you! Email us at thebusinessreboot@gmail.com or visit our website: https://www.thebusinessreboot.com/    Want to have The Business Reboot right in your inbox? Join our community here: https://bit.ly/TheBusinessRebootPodcast  The Business Reboot Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/businessreboot/ 

In this must-listen episode, you'll discover three tools we use that can help make your company's door count higher. We'll discuss how they've worked here at Evernest and ways you can implement one or all of them right away. Don't miss out on this game-changing opportunity to take your business to the next level. Tune in now! =================================== Exciting Opportunity:  Evernest is offering a monthly webinar series to help property management companies scale their business. We've already had two webinars, and you can access the recordings of those sessions and sign up for upcoming webinars at Evernest.co/Webinar. Sign up for our third webinar titled “Processes That Create Profit and Avoid Chaos In Your Organization” on Thursday, April 6th at 3-5 PM CST.  =================================== Subscribe to our property manager newsletter ➡️ www.evernest.co/pmnewsletter/  =================================== Subscribe to our podcast and leave us a review if you enjoyed this episode! =================================== Connect with Matt and Spencer at Evernest: Evernest.co Visit the Podcast Website: 300to3000.com Email the Show: podcast@evernest.co =================================== Production House: Flint Stone Media Copyright of Evernest 2023.

Heather uses an analogy of a sledding elevator to discuss how we can use tools to be successful.

Chances are at some stage you've probably googled ‘effective budget template'. We all want the perfect tool to help us achieve our financial goals... But there's so many options out there, and it's pretty overwhelming. Inspired by You're In Good Company, who talked about budgeting a couple of weeks ago, we talk through finding the right budget fit for you in Get Started Investing this week.There's no one-size-fits-all approach to budgeting, just like anything super personal - getting fit, eating well, studying. A great budget is just a really useful tool. It'll track what you need, how you need it - monitoring your income and expenses, helping you manage your debt repayments, and plan ahead for your financial goals.The YIGC Budget Template is here.Bryce's template is in the Equity Mates Discussion Group is here.-----The Equity Mates Community Survey helps us to understand who is engaging with Equity Mates Media, and more importantly, how we can continue to improve our content to help you on your money and investing journey.Win $500 in cash or tickets to FinFest 2023 by completing the Equity Mates Media Community Survey 2023 The survey is now open and closes on 28th February 2023 - T&C details here.If you enjoyed Finfest 2022 and want to be part of an even bigger FinFest in November 2023, register your details and we'll be in touch with Earlybird access details.-----If you want to let Alec or Bryce know what you think of an episode, contact them here. Stay engaged with the Equity Mates community by joining our forum. Want more Equity Mates? Come to our website and explore! You'll find information on our full network of shows, including our Equity Mates Investing Podcast, book recommendations, blogs, news, and more. *****In the spirit of reconciliation, Equity Mates Media and the hosts of Get Started Investing acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respects to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people today. *****Get Started Investing is a product of Equity Mates Media. This podcast is intended for education and entertainment purposes. Any advice is general advice only, and has not taken into account your personal financial circumstances, needs or objectives. Before acting on general advice, you should consider if it is relevant to your needs and read the relevant Product Disclosure Statement. And if you are unsure, please speak to a financial professional. Equity Mates Media operates under Australian Financial Services Licence 540697.Get Started Investing is part of the Acast Creator Network. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We are back! The crew at Smart Marketing is jumping back in with an all-new episode this week. We cover the tools and software we use in our day-to-day workweek, some free alternatives, and a few programs we used when we were just starting out in our field. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/juicevssqueeze/message

I believe we are all artists. We all can create something. From a meal to a piece of furniture, to even a fine sculpture. The issue is that we forget our tools or we ignore them. I've been guilty of this many times. So what are your tools? How can you use them? What is holding you back? The possibilities are endless… --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/themorningmindpc/message

We've often been asked what tools we use in our business for project management, bookkeeping, communication, etc. Today, after some talk about breakfast sandwiches and spending money, we're jumping into all of the software we use to make our work at Savage Content Collective possible. We hope this is helpful!

There's a lot of bad software out there, but let's celebrate the good. This week, Chris and Gina share some of their favorite productivity tools that improve their work lives and workflow. From streamlining emails to taking quicker notes to filing company expenses, get an insight into what products Postlight uses behind the scenes. Links:ObsidianAlfredSuperhuman Airtable Ramp Google sheetsSoulver

Parents often ask about the best online tools for reading and writing. There are A LOT out there. Some are better than others and some will be a better fit for you and your learner. There is no one-size-fits-all approach to learning. In this solo episode, I'm sharing five of my favorite online tools for reading and writing. These are the exact tools we use in our house to homeschool our kids AND the tools I use in my private practice when I'm tutoring students. Tune in to find out my favorite online tools for reading and writing! Books & Resources Mentioned in This Episode: Reading Eggs Night Zookeeper Pinna Epic! Books for Kids WordWall If you'd like to support this podcast in a small way, you can do so here. Please know that any support you can offer is so very much appreciated! If you want to follow me on social media I can be found at the following links: Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest Or check out my website at Your Reading Tutor for more reading resources and support! And don't forget to get my FREE Reading Rewards System and get your kids excited about reading today! Music from this podcast was used with permission from Epidemic Sound. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/thereadingproject/support

In episode 152 of DCP - Mike, Dennis & James talk about “The Tools We Use”. As they share their experience, strength & hope with you in their journey of recovery.

Lori and I have been loving our summer here at our lake house in Wisconsin, but when we envisioned our time here, we didn't take into account some of the extra responsibilities that go into making this dream a reality. Things don't always go as planned, but learning to embrace the hard work that goes into seeing your vision through makes you stronger and more appreciative of the end result. We discuss what it feels like to have an ‘expectation hangover' and tools we use to refocus our energy on bringing a vision together.    IN THIS EPISODE, WE TALK ABOUT: How we prepare ahead of time for a summer slowdown in our work  The reality of what goes into making our lake house dreams come true  Practicing gratitude for hard work  Learning how to work through challenges instead of abandoning your vision when things get tough    RESOURCES Text DAILY to 310-421-0416 to get daily Money Mantras to boost your day.    CONNECT WITH LORI Follow Lori: @loriharder Follow Lite Pink: @drinklitepink Follow Earn Your Happy: @earnyourhappy Follow Girlfriends & Business: @girlfriendsandbusiness Listen to Girlfriends & Business Listen to Earn Your Happy   CONNECT WITH CHRIS Follow Me: @chriswharder Visit My Website: https://chrisharder.me 

Chris and I have been loving our summer here at our lake house in Wisconsin, but when we envisioned our time here, we didn't take into account some of the extra responsibilities that go into making this dream a reality. Things don't always go as planned, but learning to embrace the hard work that goes into seeing your vision through makes you stronger and more appreciative of the end result. We discuss what it feels like to have an ‘expectation hangover' and tools we use to refocus our energy on bringing a vision together.    IN THIS EPISODE, WE TALK ABOUT: How we prepare ahead of time for a summer slowdown in our work  The reality of what goes into making our lake house dreams come true  Practicing gratitude for hard work  Learning how to work through challenges instead of abandoning your vision when things get tough    RESOURCES Sign up for The Spritz newsletter at litepink.com! Text DAILY to 310-496-8363 for daily manifesting affirmations and journal prompts.    CONNECT WITH LORI Follow Lori: @loriharder Follow Lite Pink: @drinklitepink Follow Earn Your Happy: @earnyourhappy Follow Girlfriends & Business: @girlfriendsandbusiness Listen to Girlfriends & Business   CONNECT WITH CHRIS Follow Chris: @chriswharder Visit Chris' Website: https://chrisharder.me  Listen to The Chris Harder Show 

If you've been listening for awhile, you may have heard in episode 58 titled ‘the tools we use', I briefly went over some of the software tools I use to run my business and why I use them.I even created a free download of a pdf on this very same topic with the links to click on to get them in order for you to save some time. And that's what this is all about for me here in doing these types of things…saving you time and money and helping you along the way by learning what works for me so that you don't have to go through the hassle of trying to figure this stuff out.Now, I get it, we all have our personal favorites when it comes to software tools and my favorite tool might not be yours and that's just fine. But if you're looking to skip the research part of the process because you're more interested in launching your business sooner, rather than later, these types of episodes are for you.So, in episode 58, I went over the following tools: • SiteGround• WordPress• Elementor Pro• MailerLite• RedCircle• Fiverr• Audacity• Canva• Headliner• SmartMockups• Zoom• Loom• Gumroad And I think I covered the basics pretty well on these tools, but now, I'd like to get into some other tools…and just assume that when I use the word ‘tools' I'm talking software tools.So, in this episode of ‘The Tools We Use' part 2, I'd like to say a few words about these tools (and I'll have links in the show notes for you as well, if you want to get right to it faster):·      Easyprompter·      Google Trends·      Calendly·      Unsplash·      Udemy·      Mindmeister.com·      Google Drive·      Premiumbeat.com EasyprompterSo, for the first one, EasyPrompter, I picked this tool because I needed a better way to do longer videos and be hands free as well. This tool came recommended to me from another business pro that does a lot of longer videos.With Easyprompter, you can just enter in the text you'll be using for the video, adjust the font size and speed you want the text to scroll up on your screen and press play.Why do I think I need this? Well, without using this, I have to look at the screen and keep one hand on the keyboard down arrow or mouse and keep scrolling down as needed to the pace I'm going at.With this tool, I can know, in advance, how long it will take to read the script (EasyPrompter tells you) and be totally hands free when I'm doing the video.Why do I need to be totally hands free? Well, when doing videos, part of the way we process information on the receiving side is to look at the hand motions of the people giving the information.And you'll see this from a lot of other people as well when you're watching videos. They use both their hands during they're message. We don't normally think of this, but subconsciously, we need and expect hand motions when we take in information.And, some people have done research on this topic. I won't get into the details of all of that, but when it came to people doing TED talks, this is what I found.The least popular TED Talkers used an average of 272 hand gestures during the 18-minute talk.The most popular TED Talkers used an average of 465 hand gestures—that's almost double!Using your hands when talking helps to increase the effectiveness of the non-verbal form of communicating. So, when I'm making videos and my hands might be in view, I try to use both of them as much as I can. You see, we're born to talk with our hands. And we learn from a young age to use our hands when talking, so why stop when it comes to presenting important information through our videos.Since I want my videos to be the most effective use of my time, I want people to remember what I'm saying and to be able to process it better as well.Thus, the use of EasyPrompter. There's a free version that works just fine, or an $8/month version that gives you more options, but I think the free version will work for most of you just fine.Google TrendsNext, is Google Trends. Now I know that a lot of you may already know about this tool, but I'd still like to cover it for those listeners that may not be as familiar with it and why they should use it.Google Trends helps me in a couple of ways. With the use of Google Trends, I can do some quick research, in advance for what topics people are searching for and how important (or trendy) it is in both the US an around the world.In other words, I use it for content ideas. Here are 4 ways you can use Google Trends to create better content as well:·      You can find relevant topics that are trending·      Do better keyword research·      Use it to create a meaningful content calendar·      Improve your branding effortsBut there are other reasons to use Google Trends for your business as well:·      Understanding Keyword Search Volume·      Identifying Seasonal Trends·      Avoiding Temporarily Popular Keywords·      Optimize Your SEO Strategy.·      Enhancing Your Video SEO StrategyOverall, plenty of reasons to use Google Trends. And when I created the ‘Starting a Podcast' E-book, I included screenshots of how I used it when I created this Podcast.CalendlySo now, the next tool I'd like to talk about, is Calendly. This is a great tool for anyone who has a website and needs a professional-looking booking tool to take appointments. No surprise that there's a free version and a paid one that, of course offers more options, but for the most part, you'll probably be ok with the free version.I've been using it for awhile and I love it. Plus, when you book on someone else's Calandly feature, it automatically takes that time slot out of yours so that you don't get a double booking of your time.You can customize your availability as you choose in advance for a couple of months and you can add the link to a button on your website so that the whole world will see when they can book a time with you.Using this tool helps to avoid the hassles and delay of going back and forth through email on what times work for both parties involved. Check it out. I'm sure you'll like it as much as I do. UnsplashNow for the next one, Unsplash, I've seen first hand the huge problems a website owner can have when they (or the people that build them) don't take the extra effort to use royalty free images. Legal issue can happen, and I've seen it first hand. You could potentially lose thousands of dollars because you just right clicked on an image that you Googled.You see, sometimes people place markers in the images that can be traced. And why would they trace them? For situations just like this. To get easy money.Unsplash has quite a variety of images to use, but keep in mind that others know about Unsplash as well and you just might come across some images that you use on someone else's website or promotional material. You're going to have to be ok with that. You can set some search parameters in advance to help you get what you're looking for quicker, like orientation and topic. Check out Unsplash if you haven't seen them yet. You'll be glad you did.UdemyNow, this next one, is a little different. It's not really a particular tool but a resource. I go to Udemy to learn stuff a lot faster. They have a huge list of topics and you can get full blown courses for not a lot of money. I took a copywriting course with over 11 hours of instruction that was on sale for about $45. A lot of courses go on sale for only $10-15.Now, there are other websites you can go to that'll offer the same thing as Udemy but this site is my favorite. And I have no affiliation with them. I get nothing out of promoting them, but my goal here is to just let you know what I use so that you can just jump right into launching your business faster. That's it. So, I hope you get a lot out of Udemy.   Mindmeister.comNow for this next one, Mindmeister.com, I use this to map out a plan that will give me a visual scope of a particular topic. If you want to map out a website plan or a marketing funnel plan, this website is for you.Take your big idea and create a ‘mind map' as they're called and put it in a visual format. I like to see a bit plan this way. Some people are more visually oriented than others and like to see the plan all laid out in one of these mind maps.Yes, there is a free and paid version, so you can start using it and save a few maps to get the feel of it.Google DriveNow for the next one, I'm sure that most of the listeners are already familiar with this one, and I won't spend much time on it, but just in case, I use Google Drive to upload large files and share them with others.And in my ‘Done For You' podcast launch program, I help others launch their Podcast and actually edit and prep the first bunch of episodes for them, but I need them to record those episodes first and get them to me. Google drive is the way to go.  Premiumbeat.comNow, the last one on the list, is PremiumBeat.com. This is the resource that I use and recommend for quality Podcast background music. If you have a Podcast, or are looking to start one, check out this site for a great selection of audio tracks that you can purchase for $50. You get the rights to use this audio track on one site only but you can slice up the full version of the audio track any way you want for your intros and outros, or if you have a midroll clip in your Podcast as well.For season one, I used a different audio track than season two. Did I have to? No. But I just thought it would be a good way to separate the seasons that way. Well, friends, I hope that this additional list of tools will be helpful to you so that you won't have to spend so much time figuring all this stuff out. That's the goal here in the Podcast to help you launch quicker, with a plan, so that you'll be more profitable quicker.I'm just trying to help you launch whatever it is you're trying to launch. A personal brand business, a website, a Podcast. Whatever it is, I'm here for you.So check out the show notes for the links because it'll get you to these tools a lot faster. Do you want to start your own Podcast? Download the FREE E-book I have for you 'Starting a Podcast Mini-Course'.FREE Podcast Launch Webinar https://www.tomclairmont.com/podcast-launch-webinar/Need help getting your online business or Podcast started? Book a call with Tom's Online CalendarCheck out my FREE, E-book of the Month Club that deals with a lot of the core issues that small business startups can have.Website: www.tomclairmont.comFree Resources: www.tomclairmont.com/resourcesProducts: www.tomclairmont.com/storeLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomasclairmont/Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/small-biz-essentials/exclusive-contentAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Jules, Rachel, and Stephanie discuss Stephanie's tools you can use to ensure you are always creating the designs and products you love. If you have a question you'd like us to discuss feel free to  email us at hello@artistssoar.com Key talking points:   Productive Clickup.com - for task management and project management. Stephanie's recommendation would be to start with Airtable for a low cost, the lower learning curve to figure out your process flow. Creative   Inspiration to be creative and the tool of choice to help be creative for Julie is Adobe Photoshop. Another is Pinterest, Discover on Instagram.   Julie also uses OneNote to list ideas of inspiration  Stephanie talks with her kids to build some creative ideas and meets with fellow artists to talk through ideas. Email us at hello@artistssoar.com  Rise with us! On Artists Soar! Resources Mentioned Airtable is a great place to start for managing inventory.  The course Inventory management course and database template is available to members of PositivePainter.com  Clickup.com - more advanced project management system that gets you ready to outsource your work.   Our Websites and Shops Stephanie:  https://www.stephanieweaverartist.com/ https://www.etsy.com/shop/artfurpaws   Julie:  https://www.juliemstudios.com/ https://www.etsy.com/shop/peacockblueart   Rachel:  https://bubblybibbly.com/  https://www.etsy.com/shop/BBStudioShop  https://www.etsy.com/shop/mothersrecipes   Got a Listener Question?  Email us at: hello@artistssoar.com

Garry and Ken dive in and talk about their favorite tools they use to make money online doing affiliate marketing, listen up you might just hear about a tool or two you need to know about!

Beth Gardiner knew what the problem was with the online sperm donor marketplace - there was no community. People looking for sperm connected with people offering it on personals ads or email groups. There was no information - about fertility, about cycles, about problematic donors. And so, when she started the Known Donor Registry in 2010 as a hub of information for people who wanted a known donor, she included two technological features of great online communities - a forum and a real-time chat. And for a while, it worked wonderfully. But Beth's online passion project was interrupted by a technological glitch. And at the same time, a Goliath of the social networking world was tempting everyone away. Presenter: Aleks Krotoski

Laura and Stephanie will start you off on an UPDATE of their upcoming runDisney half marathon. They are about 50 days out of the big race, and their workouts have amped up.  They are putting in the miles and will tell you all about the compromises they make to find the time.  Next they'll tell you about measurements for success.  Hint:  They don't JUST measure in one way, but they emphasize the importance of a variety of metrics.  Finally, they'll discuss the importance of boundaries and how boundaries fit into mindfulness.  Get your notebooks ready for a full and fun episode of Friends Fit Forties!

Show NotesHello again friends, and welcome to another episode…a very important episode today…sales funnels.Well, what is a sales funnel anyway? Well for those of you that already know, please bear with me, I won't dive too deep into this topic, because it's a very deep topic. But we're just going to go over some sales funnel basics here and talk about first, what it is. Then we're going to talk about why you need it and how they're structured. Why? Well because this episode…this whole Podcast is to help you to have that great online launch that I didn't have when I started out. Now granted, things were very different back in 2002 when I officially started my business, but sales funnels still existed…just in a different way.But people are still the same. People still want and need to go through that typical sales process of getting to know you first, then getting to trust you and your content…what you have to offer. And then to test the waters and try something basic that you offer. And then, if they like that, they'll continue on and try something else of higher value.When a customer purchases your product they go through multiple stages, we call this the buyer's journey or sales funnel.What I just described, is that sales funnel process that I keep talking about called the ‘Know/Like/Trust/Try/Buy' process that I'm sure you've heard me talk about in other episodes. And why do I keep talking about this in so many other episodes? Because it's so important and ties into a number of other aspects of the whole online business realm.The sales funnel is part of the entire strategy for having an online business. Because having a business is all about sales right? You've got to sell something. Even if you don't have a product, you have a service and you've got to sell that.And in my coaching program, we'll cover this topic and how you'll help others go through that sales process also.    So, what exactly is a sales funnel and how is it structured?A sales funnel is a marketing strategy designed to turn cold prospects into long-term customers by funneling them through five stages. The “funnel” metaphor means you'll begin with a large audience of prospective buyers that will eventually pare down to a smaller group of highly-targeted, high-value customers.A sales funnel in its simplest form, converts leads to sales. If you can picture how a funnel is shaped and how it has a wide opening at the top but a very narrow opening at the bottom, the sales funnel is exactly like that where a lot of people are aware and attracted to you and your business, but then only the ones that are interested in purchasing something from you are the ones that make it through the funnel.  A simple acronym called ‘AID' will help you to understand the functions of the top, middle and bottom of the funnel. AID stands for:·      Awareness (top of funnel)·      Interest (middle of funnel)·   Decision (bottom of funnel) A sales funnel is usually separated into three parts:1.    Top of the sales funnel: Target audience - During this phase, leads are just becoming aware of your product/solution and are discovering information about it.2.    Middle of the sales funnel : Potential customers - During this phase, they are gaining interest in your product/solution and are actively engaging with content, and communicating with you3.    Bottom of the sales funnel: New and existing customers- During this phase, they need to make a buying decision and are now looking into the product or solution that is the best fit for their pain points, budget, and goals.The final goal is not to just make a sale, at least not a single sale. Instead the goal is create returning, repeat customers that will in turn, refer you. That's a home run. Having a PlatformBut let's take a minute to talk about getting people into the top of this sales funnel. How are you going to generate the traffic you'll need to get people through that sales funnel process? Well, that's why I take a few different approaches to this topic of traffic.1.    First, I do extensive SEO on all the blog posts I have on the Website and within those blog posts I have call to action links or buttons as well.2.    Second, I have this Podcast that gives me a world-wide platform for me to get the word out on who I am and what I do.3.    But third, I also use social media to connect with people and increase awareness about the products and services that I have to offer.And when you put all this together, it brings in that initial traffic to the top of the funnel. That's what you're looking for; as much initial traffic into the top of the funnel as you can get.With everything else in place in advance, the rest of the process should be on auto-pilot up until the email campaigns. Creating a Sales FunnelSo now that we understand what a sales funnel is and what it's supposed to do, we need to talk about how to create one.Since we're just going to cover the basics here (there's a mountain of content on this topic) and some funnels actually have more than three phases, but for now, we're just going to stick with the three phases that I already mentioned.The top of the sales funnel will bring in the leads from your target audience. In order to get leads and have them actually enter into the top of the funnel, you'll need what's called a ‘lead magnet' which some people like to call ‘the hook'.A lead magnet is a marketing term for a free item or service that's given away for the purpose of gathering contact information, typically, just an email address, but some lead magnets require more information.For example, lead magnets can be trial subscriptions, samples, white papers, e-book, helpful pdf document or a free consultation. Marketers use lead magnets to create sales leads. So what are some specific examples of Lead Magnets? Here are 9, time-tested types of Lead Magnets. All you need is one that works for you and you're golden.1. Guide/ReportThis is the most common and straightforward Lead Magnet you can offer, but just because it is used most often that doesn't mean it isn't effective.In fact, one of the main reasons the guide/report is a go-to Lead Magnet for marketers is that they work so well. The key with all Lead Magnets, but especially guides and reports, is specificity! Focus on one specific goal for one specific buyer.2. Cheat Sheet/HandoutCheat sheets and handouts work well because they usually provide highly-tactical information that saves the prospect a lot of time.Although they're usually delivered in PDF format (mine are), cheat sheets take a different approach than reports and guides.Cheat sheets are usually only a page or two long and they get straight to the point. You'll often see these presented as checklists, blueprints, and mind maps.3. Toolkit/Resource ListToolkits and resource lists make great Lead Magnets for the right buyer persona. This provides one piece of reference material for them to use over and over, without having to track down all of those tools or resources on their own. I offer a resource list called ‘The Tools We Use' that helps people to get a quick recommendation for software tools that will help them get their small business work done faster, or at least help them to decide on which tool to use (because there's so many to pick from).4. Video Training/WebinarVideo is a highly-engaging format, and if you're comfortable in front of the camera and have a skill you can teach, this could be the perfect Lead Magnet to offer.Instead of a live webinar, you can send leads to a private page with a recorded video or you can send them a recording of a previous webinar.5. Software Download/Free TrialSo if you're a software provider, you could offer a free trial of your product for a limited time (15 days, 30 days, you decide)6. Discount/Free ShippingPeople love discounts and getting things for free. For many people, giving away their email address is a small price to pay if they can potentially save hundreds or thousands of dollars on a purchase.This Lead Magnet works best for companies selling physical products or anything where you get a lot of repeat purchases from customers.7. Quiz/SurveyIn some industries, quizzes and surveys have tremendous value and are very effective as a Lead Magnet. Before you make assumptions, I'm not talking about the Buzzfeed quizzes that end up in your Facebook timeline – I'm talking about quizzes that actually solve a problem.8. AssessmentAn assessment or test is similar to a quiz, but it is particularly effective for companies selling a service. In this case, prospects aren't simply looking for an answer – they're also looking for an expert opinion.9. Consultation/Sales MaterialSome of your buyer personas are already interested in what your company offers and the most desirable Lead Magnet for them is specific information that's used to make a purchasing decision – usually pricing.But once you come up with creating that ‘thing'…that you choose to be your lead magnet, you'll need to put it on what's called a ‘landing page'.Now a landing page is just a web page that's sole purpose is to promote the lead magnet and collect that contact information you'll be using at a later time with email marketing.. but that's another time.Now typically, the lead magnet is free and that's the ‘hook' that's used to get people to give up their contact information in the first place.So the top of the sales funnel is the landing page with the lead magnet.I have a few different landing pages on my website and they're not part of the menu of selections for the official pages, but you get there by clicking on a call to action button describing the lead magnet.For example, currently, I have a free E-book on the home page called ‘Turning Your Passion to Profit'. There's a brief description of the E-book and a list of some benefits for getting it, but when you click on the button…the call to action button, you'll go to the landing page to see a bit more information about it there.If someone is a little skeptical about putting in their email address (some people are), I have a series of short videos they can watch on the landing page that will help them to hopefully, feel more comfortable about getting the E-book.I have another landing page for a different E-book on how to start a Podcast. If you go to tomclairmont.com/podcast, you'll see the CTA button that will bring you to that specific landing page.But the goal here is to move people along the process of trying something for free, then offering something for a small dollar amount, then ultimately, after they feel more comfortable with the low dollar item, they'll receive an offer for a higher priced product or service and help them to decide on purchasing that product.You see, it's nice to offer free stuff to people and help them with the lead magnet, but we're in business to make money. Every business needs sales. A lot of sales, usually.But online sales doesn't just happen with things that are just on the landing pages. Online sales can also happen when we use those emails that people give us to keep the relationship going through email and by sending them regular emails on what you have to offer and how it can help them solve a problem.So we come full circle with the sales funnel process by getting an email address in order for them to get something free, but then use that email in a marketing campaign that helps them to get to know us better or feel more comfortable with purchasing something from us.But we're not going to get into the huge topic of email copywriting for now, but I would just like you to know that when someone talks about sales funnels, it also includes the process of having an email campaign.Now not all email campaigns lead people to but your stuff. And that's ok. Some email campaigns just want to raise awareness or truly be helpful.I have a fully automated email campaign for the E-book of the month club that I offer to anyone that signs up for it. It sends a small business startup E-book that's totally relevant to the online business realm, right to their inbox automatically, each month.But sprinkled in between those monthly E-books that go to them for free, are other emails about the small business startup process and some info about me as well, so that people can gain more trust in me and the services that I offer.Now yes, I have things they can click on that's considered a call to action, like the Podcast, or a Resources page that I have that provides free content (no email necessary), or a video series I'm working on…things like that. But for the most part, the email campaign for the E-book of the Month Club is generally just free and helpful information.So friends, I know I covered a lot of ground here in this episode, and the great thing about Podcast episodes is that it can always be replayed if I went a little too fast or if, for some reason, just didn't explain it the best way for you. So if you're taking notes to some of the podcast episodes you're listening to like I do, and you need more clarity on the topic, feel free to send me an email asking how I can help you through this funnel journey to tom@tomclairmont.com.Now just to be clear, you don't need to spend a lot of money using a funnel service like Click Funnels if you don't want to. You can have a basic lead magnet, landing page and funnel created for you for not a lot of money. If you're on a smaller budget, don't give up hope.   Personal brand business or Podcast launch coaching: www.tomclairmont.com/coachingDo you want to start your own Podcast? Download the FREE E-book and view the webinar I have for you www.diypodcastlaunch.comCheck out my FREE, E-book of the Month Club that deals with a lot of the core issues that small business startups can have.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/small-biz-essentials/exclusive-contentAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Today is the final episode in Season 3. And it's an episode with Helen and Janet.  This time we are geeking out about the 5 tools that we cannot live without as consultants. These are tools that have helped us on our journey.  And it was difficult to pick just 5 - but here they are. They've helped make us more productive, helped us save time, and understand the true cost of doing our work.________________________________________________________________________________________More resources are available here:https://www.womensconsultingworkshop.com/learning________________________________________________________________________________________The Women's Consulting Workshop is our free private group for women who are working in consulting. You are welcome if you are an experienced consultant, if you are just starting or if you need some support to figure out if this consulting life is for you.It is a judgment-free zone to ask questions, share, learn and connect with each other. ________________________________________________________________________________________The Consultant ClinicThis is a brand new way to work with us. If you have a question related to your consulting practice, or you want to check in with an experienced consultant, you can book a call with Janet for an hour. This is a completely confidential, solutions-focused deep dive into what is on your mind. You can find out more here________________________________________________________________________________________Sign up here for the Women's Consulting Workshop weekly newsletter, 3 good things.________________________________________________________________________________________Want to be a guest on the show? Send us an email: janet@womensconsultingworkshop.comAnd we'd love it if you can put a review where ever you listen to podcasts.

Here is the link for the FREE Guide you can download The Tools We Use.I mentioned in the last episode that I have a free resource called ‘The Tools We Use' that helps people get a better understanding of what are some of the best helpful online tools to use to accomplish some of the most basic or frequent tasks. There are so many online tools to use, it can be a bit confusing to decide on which ones to use sometimes. And I know that everyone has a different opinion, but at least I can help you become more familiar with some tools to help you in your decision making process. Take advantage of all the time I wasted trying to figure out these things for myself and all the frustration, trial and error that I went through with working through a number of issues of what works best for me and what isn't. These are the names of the top tools I use:• SiteGround• WordPress• Elementor Pro• MailerLite• RedCircle• Fiverr• Audacity• Canva• Headliner• SmartMockups• Zoom• Loom• GumroadI'll put links to these services in the show notes so you can see for yourself how they can make your life easier as well. For full disclosure, I do have promotional affiliations with most of these services and the links I provide to those specific services will provide a small compensation to me if you sign up with their service through my affiliate link, but the price of the service always remains the same for you regardless. You'll notice that there are no social media programs listed here. Why? Because the list focuses on business operations only. Also, Google is nowhere to be found in the list as well. I'm not saying that I don't use Google, I do with SEO analytics for the Website, but I'm going to assume that we all know that Google provides these type of services, so I'd rather promote and explain other service providers for your benefit as well. So, let's go over what these tools are, and why and how I use them. So for starters:SiteGroundSiteGround is a Website hosting provider that I've found to be a much better choice for my business. I was using GoDaddy hosting for about 19 years and found their servers to be very slow and getting slower. Last year, when I ran some Website performance scans, I found the scores to be very low, especially on mobile and so I started the quest for a new hosting provider. This was a critical decision for me because I needed the transfer to go seamlessly and I couldn't have any downtime or Website repairs to do because something went wrong in the process. I looked at a number of other Website hosting providers (there's no shortage of these businesses) and did my research on the type of platform, speed, cost, memory allocation, automatic backups, transfer process, upgrade options and more. I was down to either BlueHost or SiteGround but as I dug deeper, I found that even though SiteGround is a little bit more per month (about $6), it seemed to be worth it. So, I made the decision to switch to SiteGround. And what happened was quite a surprise. They have their own proprietary Website transfer tool which does the entire transfer automatically (whew!), they have a free SSL certificate, so I no longer have to pay GoDaddy $30/year to keep renewing that. They have free, Website performance enhancing tools to help increase the loading speed. And they have fantastic support. My Website loads fast, and the Dashboard that SiteGround provides is fantastic.  WordPress/PhloxWordPress is a Website design and development platform that makes creating Websites a lot easier. Phlox is the theme that I use inside WordPress that automatically adds in some structure to the Website. In construction terms- WordPress is like the foundation of a house, and the theme Phlox is like raising the walls to the house. Elementor ProWordPress uses ‘plugins' that adds to the Website functionality and Elementor is the page design tool that I use. I upgraded to the professional version which provides more functionality. In construction terms- The plugin Elementor is like adding furniture to the house. MailerLiteEvery business can benefit from having an email list with a marketing plan in place that can cause it to grow. MailerLite is an email marketing program that can manage your email campaigns very well, for free. They offer the ability to have multiple campaigns, segmented subscribers, popup forms, drip automation and a WordPress plugin. For free. Yes, there is a paid version, but I don't need it.  RedCircleRedCircle is a FREE Podcast hosting program that will store and distribute your Podcast to other, multiple, Podcast providers. They have an RSS feed for you to use to add your show to as many other distribution points as you wish. There are a number of analytical statistics that help you to see not only how many downloads your getting, but to what country/city and on what platform people are using and on what device. You can add in a midroll clip for anything you desire and even offer paid subscriptions for exclusive, subscriber content as well. RedCircle makes a profit by taking a percentage of donations, subscriptions and advertising that happens on your show.   FiverrFiverr is a low budget service provider for small businesses to connect with other service professionals all around the world. I've used them for graphic design work that I needed and within a few days, my project was done and they received their $55. There are many different types of service providers on Fiverr.  AudacityAll Podcast episodes need audio editing for the recordings that are made and Audacity is a free program that I use to do the editing. It has all the internal tools that I need to get the job done well.  CanvaThe days of using PhotoShop are quickly coming to an end with the use of Canva. Use Canva's drag-and-drop feature and professional layouts to design consistently stunning graphics. Design presentations, social media graphics, and more with thousands of beautiful layouts.Design with millions of stock photographs, vectors and illustrations. You can even upload your own. Edit your photos using preset filters or get advanced with photo editing tools, you'll never be stuck for choice.Use icons, shapes and elements with ease. Choose from thousands of elements for your designs, or upload your own. HeadlinerUse headliner video editor to help you quickly and easily create audiograms and waveform videos that are the perfect solution for marketing your podcast on social media.The videos you create provide a visual representation of your show (sorta like a movie trailer) to help you grab the attention of new listeners and potential subscribers to your podcast. Using eye-catching elements like waveforms, captions, and text animations, you can bring your audio clip to life and strengthen your podcast brand.Whether you create a 15-second video for Instagram Reels, or a full-length video for YouTube, Headliner is your go-to tool for marketing your podcast.SmartMockupsForget about spending hours learning how to use Photoshop. Smartmockups enables you to create stunning high-resolution mockups right inside your browser within one interface across multiple devices.Upload your own image or video from computer, use third-party integration or grab a screenshot from URL. Change the background, color of the item or crop the whole scene. Once your mockup is ready, export the final image in super-high 5K resolution in a few seconds with no limits.ZoomZoom is a video conference call provider that seems to be more popular than Skype lately. I use it for the advanced functionality it offers (even in the free version) to split the audio track of all those on the conference call, something that is very useful for editing Podcast interview audio files. LoomVideo has become more of a staple service in the online, small business realm. With Loom, you can record your full, or partial computer screen so you can provide video training and information through your Website or email. There is a free version, but it has limitations to it. The next level to upgrade to only costs $8/month.  GumroadGumroad offers anyone the ability to sell digital products online. What can you sell on Gumroad? Digital Products, Physical Products and Memberships - almost anything! Creators in just about every industry use (and love) Gumroad, from digital artists, writers, musicians and other creative-types to business-minded entrepreneurs and tech gurus like our SaaS creators.Unlike other platforms, Gumroad doesn't charge you a monthly fee. Instead, the fees are deducted as a small percentage of every sale, so they only make money when you do.So there you have it friends. These are the top applications and tools I use for my business. There are a fringe of other tools here and there as well, but these are the best of the best for me. If you want to download the pdf that I offer, you can click on this link HERE. And remember that these are my recommendations, but are also just my opinion as well. You may be using other services that you believe are better for that task than what I recommend, and that's just fine with me. I'm recommending what works for me. So I hope you like this list and I hope you take advantage of all the totally free services that I put in this list. I'm always a big fan of free, and I know that there are a lot of small business owners who have small business budgets as well. There's usually an upgrade option for you though, if you need it. Here is that link for the FREE Guide you can download The Tools We Use.Personal brand business or Podcast launch coaching: www.tomclairmont.com/coachingDo you want to start your own Podcast? Download the FREE E-book and view the webinar I have for you www.diypodcastlaunch.comCheck out my FREE, E-book of the Month Club that deals with a lot of the core issues that small business startups can have.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/small-biz-essentials/exclusive-contentAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

In this episode, we cover the top tools we use at BuildUp Bookings for paid search, SEO, content, social media management & more.Tools: Google Search Console Google Analytics Optmyzr Ahrefs Semrush Copy.ai Clearscope Basecamp  Buzzstream 

Having good photography in your online handmade business is so important. It's one of the most important things you can do because bright, clean, beautiful photos lend credibility to an artist or entrepreneur's work and can get people excited about what you create! We've got links in our show notes to all everything we're going to talk about today! We're spilling all our best photo secrets & tips. You'll learn EVERYTHING we use to take great photos, including things you can use for free and also the relatively inexpensive tools we think you should invest in to make your photos beautiful and amazing. Get our show notes: www.shopstudiosisters.com/podcast

We look back at Episode 70 and discuss the keepers and the throw aways.

This episode starts with a recount of Stetson's experience of getting Covid-19, right before Christmas in 2020, then switches gears to where this mother-daughter team talks about the FIVE tools they use to achieve their goals, manifest their dreams and stay on track for even more success! Join Margaret and Stetson in this lively and very real conversation! Hey, it's us! If you want to know what our favorite books, programs and apps are, as well as some of the tools we use on our jobs, then click the link below and check out our resource page! Feel free to browse around. There's a lot of good stuff in there! https://pages.everythingenvy.com/resources --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/everythingenvypodcast/support

On this show, I talk about how the tools we use lock people out of the development process.On this show, I talk about how the tools we use lock people out of the development process.Show Notes & Transcript →

On this show, I talk about how the tools we use lock people out of the development process. Links The Developer Experience Bait-and-Switch: https://infrequently.org/2018/09/the-developer-experience-bait-and-switch/ I have resigned as the WordPress accessibility team lead: https://rianrietveld.com/2018/10/09/i-have-resigned-the-wordpress-accessibility-team/ Gutenberg A11Y Audit: https://wpcampus.org/2019/05/gutenberg-audit-results/

In this episode, I talk about the ethics of the tools we use, and who we let use the things we make.In this episode, I talk about the ethics of the tools we use, and who we let use the things we make.Show Notes & Transcript →

In this episode, I talk about the ethics of the tools we use, and who we let use the things we make. Links Brandon Eich donated to Prop 8: https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2014/apr/3/prop-8-donation-does-mozilla-ceo-brenden-eich-comp/ Brave collects money without telling content creators: https://creators.brave.com/ Microsoft has a contract with ICE: https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/26/technology/microsoft-ice-immigration.html The Hippocratic License: https://firstdonoharm.dev/

With the huge advances in technology over the past couple of years, there have been some critical tools we've used in order to optimize and streamline our business.  These aren't just fluff tools either, these are things that we are using every day in our business, and tools that get the miles put on them by us!  Let's chat about:  The 5 major tools we use every day to optimize our real estate investing.  How we use these tools in conjunction with each other to dramatically increase our chances of success.  How these 5 tools can track all the stats you need to truly be successful.  Let's dive into today's episode!  PS: Here are some of the things mentioned in today's episode Beast Mode: The only CRM tool you'll ever need for real estate investing.  Asana.com  Propstream - Get a free 7-day trial.