Figuring It All Out
When you’re running a business, you’re technically a juggling circus act. Besides what you love to do, you have so many things to do to promote that thing and connect with the people who are interested in working with you to get the thing. Many days we feel pulled around by the undertow, other days the business waters are calm.
When I started That’s A Spade Copywriting Services, I jumped in, signing up for a website, Gmail account, scheduler, video platform, online meeting platform, etc. Many of these I still rely on, but have made changes along the way.
Here are some things that calm the waters for me and keep this creative gal together while I’m figuring it all out.
How Do You Decide What to Use?
I used what people I trusted recommended. But I was using lots of different platforms and couldn’t remember where anything was. And, some of these things were free, others I had to pay for.
First, I got some advice from the business strategist I work with, Kathleen Lawson from Kathleen Lawson Consulting. She helped me streamline and figure out which platforms provided a number of services in one place..
Here are some steps I took to simplify my systems:
I gave up my scheduler and switched to the one in Dubsado, where I also create my proposals, contracts, invoices, workflows, and other documents. I use their lead capture to get information from potential clients who schedule a call with me. I was already paying for it, so it made sense.
I was using Google Workspace for email, my calendar, documents, and spreadsheets. When Zoom raised its prices, I switched to Google Meet for a fraction of the cost. It’s also capable of recording those meetings, so I no longer need Otter, Fathom, or Loom.
I had started out with Constant Contact, a robust email marketing platform. But I wasn’t using it to its potential. When my number of contacts was getting close to the next pricing tier, my VA facilitated my switch to Kit (ConvertKit at the time), which is more user-friendly.
How Do You Keep Up With A Growing Business?
As my business grew, I realized I needed a task management system. I had tried Trello, but it wasn’t for me. Kathleen suggested Click Up, and it’s been a game-changer. My VA has set up a client tracking system and marketing calendar for me, and I use it to track tasks for both personal and professional writing projects.
It Takes A Village
A few years passed, and I knew it was time for a website update. WordPress was great, but not as user-friendly as I needed. I hired Justin Kerr of Justin Kerr Design to build me a new site on Squarespace, which I love. I also worked with Kim Conant of Kim Conant Photography for some awesome headshots.
FAQs
What are some tips for signing up for new software?
Do your homework. Some offer a free trial period. If they don’t, paying by the month initially while you decide if it’s for you is a great option.
Do all of these cost money?
No. Some have basic free versions that may work fine for you. However, if you’re looking to do a number of tasks on one platform, it may require an upgrade.
There are lots of options for business systems. Make sure you get guidance from someone familiar and experienced with a few of them and who can help you pick what will work best. I now have a Resources page on my website that lists all the software I use and the humans who support me. I’m also happy to share my experiences with you.
Photo by Vardan Papikyan on Unsplash