Posted by Ben Kniffen in Entrepreneurship
Over the last three years we have been fortunate enough to experience an extremely rapid rate of growth. So rapid that we have actually tripled our numbers 3 years in a row.
Pretty good, right?
Now whenever I tell this to people at networking events, training workshops, family functions, etc. I typically get asked the same couple questions.
One such question is, “What program/service/product do you use to do x,y,z?”
This is a very tough question to answer. We use a ton of things (by things I mean business tools and strategies) to generate traffic, capture leads, build brand awareness, collect payments, follow up with prospects, host meetings, schedule meetings, etc.
If you have a need, there is a tool out there that can help you fulfill it.
So to help you out, I’ve compiled a list of the 10 most essential tools and programs that have helped allow us to see the level of success that we have had.
10. Canva
Don’t know any graphic design… no problem!
Canva is a simple drag and drop tool that lets you make professional looking graphics for your website, blog, ads, presentations, etc.
Your lack of graphic design skills will no longer hold you back.
In Canva you can upload your own images or use their library of icons, charts, images, frames, etc. to craft an eye-popping ad with the perfect message in just a few minutes (and the best part is that it’s FREE).
If you’ve seen our blog images or come across one of our ads, they were most likely made on Canva.
Click here to check out Canva.
9. Zapier
Zapier allows you to connect the various web apps you use to easily move data between them. This is a great tool that helps automate “tedious tasks” that are necessary, but not a good use of your time.
For example, we use Zapier to automatically sync meetings to our Google calendars from GoToMeeting and GoToWebinar, automatically tag webinar attendees in Infusionsoft, sync Unbounce with GoToWebinar…and the list goes on and on.
Zapier supports 300+ web apps, so there is a good chance that your favorite apps are already integrated with Zapier and ready to save you time and energy.
Click here to check out Zapier.
8. TimeTrade
TimeTrade is our preferred online appointment scheduling program….in other words, our sales team’s best friend.
When trying to set up sales and networking calls, we add a link to our TimeTrade calendar at the bottom of the message.
The prospect can then click the link and pick from a calendar of available times to meet with a member of our team.
After the the appointment is set, TimeTrade automatically syncs with and blocks out the selected time on your calendar.
This eliminates the back-and-forth of finding the right time for an appointment in a non-abrasive, easy way.
Click here to check out TimeTrade.
7. LinkedIn Ads
This seems to be a dirty word to some.
Failure with the LinkedIn ad platform has left an unpleasant taste in many people’s mouths.
Why?
LinkedIn Ads are less comprehensive and more expensive than their Facebook counterparts.
On the surface, that’s a problem.
But LinkedIn has one thing that Facebook does not; a primarily business-oriented membership. People associate LinkedIn with work, and therefore they are more receptive to business messaging and ads on LinkedIn than other social networks.
While the cost per click may be higher, so is the quality of each click. This typically leads to a higher conversion rate and a comparable cost per lead to other digital advertising platforms.
Click here to get started with LinkedIn Ads.
6. GoToMeeting & GoToWebinar
We are located in St. Louis, Missouri.
We have clients in Asia, Australia, Europe and Canada (and all over the US, of course).
How do we go about meeting with prospects and clients without leaving the comfort of our own home?
With the help of GoToMeeting.
GoToMeeting allows us the ability to hold video and web conferences so we can collaborate with our clients and prospects in real time.
For example, our sales process involves a presentation on GoToMeeting where our team actually jumps into LinkedIn on a shared screen and finds prospects for our… um… prospect.
This allows us the ability to walk the prospect through exactly what they can expect from our services. And all without leaving the office.
Click here for a free trial of GoToMeeting.
Also GoToWebinar is our go-to program for our live webinars and group coaching sessions. It is a reliable program that is super user-friendly and easy to use.
Click here for a free trial of GoToWebinar.
5. Stealth Seminar
Stealth Seminar is a great program that allows you to run automated webinars on autopilot. These webinars run on a set schedule…just like you would run a live webinar.
Having the webinar on a specific time and date creates anticipation and forces the registrant to block time out of their schedule to view the webinar. This is no longer just a video to the registrant, it is now an event.
Which makes it more effective than simply offering a recording to anyone who registers.
Which would you be more likely to watch?
We run anywhere from 8-10 webinars each week and the majority of them are recordings on Stealth Seminar.
Click here to check out Stealth Seminar.
4. Facebook Ads
With all the good things we just said about LinkedIn ads, how on earth could we rank them behind Facebook on this list?
Easy. It’s their inventory.
Facebook offers a much more robust advertising arsenal and an audience that spends a significant amount of time on the site.
But the most important difference is that Facebook offers retargeting on their self-service ad platform.
Until LinkedIn allows you to target your website visitors with ads and sponsored updates, they will always run second fiddle to Facebook.
Facebook is the gold standard.
Click here to get started with Facebook Ads.
3. LeadPages
LeadPages is the easiest software to create landing pages for our webinars, Ebooks, whitepapers, etc.
You can choose from a large list of user-friendly templates that allow you to create, edit and deploy your next high-converting page within a few minutes.
We use LeadPages for almost all of our registration pages, leadboxes, thank you pages, replay pages, video series pages, etc.
Click here to check out LeadPages.
2. Infusionsoft
A lead magnet is only effective if you have a good sales funnel and CRM to take the prospect to the next level.
In layman’s terms, a lead only means something if you can maintain a relationship and eventually sell them something.
Digital marketing is no longer a virtual bulletin board for prospects to find you on; its one huge networking event that takes place over time.
Infusionsoft allows you to manage your email marketing, sales funnel, and e-commerce all from one dashboard. It is a one-stop-shop and a real game-changer for small to medium-sized businesses.
Click here to check out Infusionsoft.
1. LinkedIn
This one should be obvious right.
We use LinkedIn in every phase of our business.
Not only do we generate leads internally and for our clients on LinkedIn, we also offer and run the most comprehensive and effective LinkedIn training program in the world, Linked University.
LinkedIn’s ability to message other members directly and distribute content make it THE social network for business marketing. It will only become more valuable as they continue to get their members to spend more time on the site.
If you want to learn more about how to start generating leads from LinkedIn without spending ANY money on ads click here.
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Welp there you have it, 10 business tools that made a serious impact on our business last year. Some of these tools are more obvious and well known than others, but they all have at least one thing in common… they work.
They can help you grow your business. They can help make you more money.
What tools would make YOUR top 10 that we didn’t talk about?
Let us know in the comments.
Hey Josh….
Like the classic watershed old school ad…..
When E.F. talks… everyone listens!”
That meme is what came to mind after you shared your Top 10 List” on what constructs were credited for your 3X revenue growth!
If your reader’s have their enlightened self-interest caps on, which I believe like I … do, they must drill down mindfully through each of the 10, sooner than later!
In the meanwhile Josh, keep the golden nuggets coming our way. We really appreciate your “Go Giver Way” of giving extraordinary VALUE first, before asking for any of our gold back.
Cheers!