Have you ever considered all of the software you use in your online service business? The other day I had to make a list of all the programs I was using and to say I was shocked is a very exaggerated understatement. Would you believe that my list includes thirty-three names of software programs that I am using?! You may be asking, “What software do I need for my online service business?
Everyone Uses These Sofware Programs
First, let’s get the basics out of the way up front. You know, the software everyone has on their computer and use for personal and business.
These may include:
- Google – Most use either a paid or free form of this for general email. You may also use it for calendars, documents, cloud storage, slides, and more.
- Microsoft – All of us have used this at one time even if you do not use it right now. Its uses range from general email (Outlook), calendar, cloud storage (OneDrive), documents, excel worksheets, and PowerPoint slides.
Online Service Business Software
When you are doing business you have to invest in all types of software programs and subscriptions to programs. I truly didn’t think I used that many, especially as I had pared down at the beginning of the year. I was very savvy, however, especially near the start of my business.
During that time I purchased many Lifetime Deals. Lifetime deals are usually offered by newer software companies or those who need an influx of cash flow. Therefore, some of my programs I was fortunate to get as a lifetime deal.
Categories of Software
There are many categories of software depending on the type of services you provide. Here are the categories I discovered when I listed out all of my software programs.
- Analytics – both Social Media & Website
- All-In-One Software – these are programs that offer multiple benefits and try to package as much of your needs into one program as possible.
- Blog Automation – helps you get out your blog articles year-round.
- Calendars – both your general calendar and an appointment-setting calendar for prospective clients to book a call with you.
- General Overall Workplace Documents – These can include things like Google Docs and Word (from Microsoft) as well as, PDFs, Worksheets, & Slide Presentations.
- General Email & Email Signature – a place to receive your normal email and have a custom signature.
More Categories
- Email Marketing – a program that helps you design a template (or use one of theirs) to create regular email marketing campaigns to send out to those who signed up to be on your lists.
- Financial Software – a software to create your invoices, account for your expenses, and process payments.
- Graphics, Photos, and Videos – programs where you can purchase (or some offer it free) graphics, images, and videos. Some of these allow you to create a graphic with their tool.
Additional Categories of Software
- Online Memberships and Courses – programs that help you host your membership programs and/or courses and workshops. Often they have more than one component so they would probably also include email marketing to help you send out emails to your list as well.
- Online Summits and Webinars – although these may also be able to be hosted on the membership and course platforms there are a few that specialize in promoting and helping to host your online events.
- Project Management – an important part of having an online service business is being able to interact with your clients and your clients being able to comment or upload images you need and more. Project management systems are very useful to help productivity especially if you have a team.
And More Software Categories
- Social Media Scheduler – helps you post your content for social media. It often allows you to upload a month’s content at one time to make it easier to manage your social media.
- Survey Software – is utilized to create polls, quizzes, and surveys. These can be used quite cleverly as free offers as well. I use one of these systems to help me with contracts and intake forms.
- Video Meetings – software programs that allow you to connect with at least one other person via video interaction.
- Website – is where your brand lives. It should include information about your business and what services you offer as well as your free opt-ins.
Mastermind Group Coaching Program
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Benefits of Our Mastermind Group Coaching
- 1-on-1 Interaction with Tammy in the Group
- Weekly Sessions
- High-Level Mastermind
- Group Business Coaching
- Limited – Small Number
- Honest, Genuine, and Vulnerable
- Accountability
- Monthly Goals
- Quarterly Challenges
- Access to Private Group
- Colleague Interaction
- Confidentiality
- Strategic and Referral Partnerships
My List Of Thirty-three Software Programs
Now, as I vulnerable share my long list of software, please keep in mind that I have been doing online service businesses for 16 years. The software I am currently using, with notations where needed, is listed below.
Software I Use
Here it is at last. You get to see my thirty-three list long of software programs. Keep in mind some of this is only used occasionally. I own much more software that I’ve purchased over the years expecting that I would need them, I discovered, probably like many of you, that they were not always useful.
Most fell into one of the categories I listed in the article above. Before I get into my long list I also wanted to discuss software we purchase and do not use. With my shiny object syndrome, I love looking at new software and especially love a great deal, namely those lifetime deals.
Software Owned But Not Used:
- Do not need
- It does not work as expected
- It was not ready for use (meaning programming was lacking)
- Too complicated to spend time learning it
- Went out of business after purchased
List Of Software Used Or Am Learning To Use:
Just as I listed out the categories above I’ve categorized the list of software as well to help you understand what it is helpful for in your online business.
Analytics:
- Google Analytics – the lead name for your analytics website.
- Funnelytics – (on occasion if I can get it to work properly for me)
- SEMRush – (free version) is a great tool to help you with SEO (search engine optimization
- Social Media Platform’s Analytic Tools (each platform shows you their own platform’s analytics)
All-In-One Software:
- Full Scope Freelancer – eventually I hope to replace much of the list with this software. You can build your website on it (although I will not move mine as it is too large). You can have your email routed through it, schedule social media posts, set up funnels, CRM, your calendar, email marketing, host memberships and courses, and much more!
- SuiteDash (for client portals) – I’ve only touched the surface of what it can do. I use it to host documents and resources as well as recordings of my client and my coaching sessions. It can also be used for project management, email marketing, CRM, invoicing, payment processing (routed through QB), host LMS, memberships and more.
Blog Automation – Sharing on Social Media:
- Missinglettr – admittedly one of the best purchases ever! It will take quotes from my blogs and add in media I uploaded or a graphic they create (with your brand colors) and set up a year’s worth of posts (not daily but spaced out over time). Well worth the investment.
Calendars:
Help you schedule your meetings and more. A Calendar scheduling tool is crucial to setting up prospective client meetings.
- Calendly – I currently use this integrated into my Google Calendar. I hope to utilize Full Scope Freelancer (listed in the all-in-one software) and no longer have to pay for this.
- Google – my main digital calendar which integrates with many other software systems.
Cloud Storage:
- Google – related to Google Workspace if you pay for it, otherwise it is not secure storage if you use the free version.
- OneDrive – Microsoft’s cloud storage.
Documents, PDFs, Worksheets, & Slide Presentations:
- Google – documents, slides, worksheets, and more
- Microsoft – documents, PDFs, worksheets (excel), slides (PowerPoint), digital notebook (OneNote – LOVE this and use it for everything!), and more
- Foxit – a great alternative to Adobe and allows you to create, edit, and sign PDF documents.
Email Marketing:
- Moosend – amazing email marketing system that also allows you to build a lead page for special events, sales, etc.
Email Signature:
- NewWorldStamp – gives you the ability to set up a nice signature with your email, company, social media addresses, and even a banner for specials, events, or setting appointments with you right in the signature of your email. It also provides analytics monthly on number of people who clicked on different parts of it.
Financial (Process Payments, Invoice, Subscriptions):
- QuickBooks – the accountant’s go-to software. Allows you to share with your accountant and keep up with monthly income and expenses as well as invoice clients. QB can also process payments allowing clients to pay you via credit cards, debit cards, PayPal, or your bank account.
- PayPal – payment processor that charges a percentage of the payment you receive.
General Email:
- Google Workspace – worth the price to route your email through them – providing you with a professional email (your name@yourcompany.com). You can also create email addresses for your team members very inexpensively. Google Workspace also gives you apps to connect with including their calendar, Gdrive (Cloud storage), your admin panel, business profile manager, your contacts, YouTube, and much more.
Graphics|Photos:
- Deposit Photos – I usually purchase a couple of codes from AppSumo when they run a special (approx. $50 for 100 photos).
- Pexels – is great for free images for blogs and social media posting.
- Canva – a creatives tool that allows you to create for your free offer, graphics for social media and website, including banners and even slides for presentations, and much more. They offer a free and paid subscription. Paid is worth it if you need
Online Membership & Courses:
- Graphy – is new to me so I have not mastered it quite yet but give it a good look. It appears to be a good option for creating online courses and workshops, not to mention membership.
Online Events|Online Summits and Webinars:
- Hey Summit – virtual event management platform.
- Live Webinar – a platform for hosting online events (I have had this for a long time but am only now starting to use it for courses and workshops)
Social Media Scheduler:
- Social Pilot – scheduling for my social media posts.
Survey Software:
- QuestionScout – survey platform that works great for onboarding clients b/c has a signature component for contracts and also has created an intake form).
Video Meetings:
- Zoom – video conferencing. I think we are all familiar with this software after 2020.
Website:
A website is a necessity in business. Most are built on WordPress (WP). You can use other platforms but WP has been around for a long time and has many options for integrations including plugins.
Here are the plugins I use on my website along with WP, of course.
- Elementor – a page builder plug-in on WordPress.
- Iubenda – a WP plugin to help keep your website.
- Tinypng (a plugin on WordPress that compresses images)
- WordPress (WP) – website builds.
- Siteground – hosting for my website.
- Yoast SEO – SEO helper plugin on WordPress.
Lastly, How Many Do You Use
Now that I’ve been completely vulnerable and shared my looong list have you considered your list? Needless to say, I am reviewing these again to see what I can cut back on.
How many programs are you using? If you are only just beginning this list will help you work through some of the programs you will need to start.
