Consistent opt-ins to your email list is a non-negotiable aspect of building an online business. Use these tools to get people to join your list and become part of your tribe. Leadpages. In the past we’ve used Leadpages to build landing pages for our sites. There’s a couple of quirks with it, but if you need a landing page that will integrate with a bunch of different tools, Leadpages will work well. Unbounce. A Leadpages competitor you should be aware of. We’ve used them sparingly in the past. They’ve focused on tracking ad spend ROI, so if you’re in that world, give them a shot. ThriveLeads. This is what we use for the opt-in forms on our brands’ sites. They have a huge suite of products that are helpful branding tools. Buzzsumo. A good way to find influencers in your niche to reach out to for guest posting or interviews. Sumo. This tool is a great WordPress plug-in to capture leads and convert them into email list subscribers or social media fans. CrazyEgg. A visual tool to help you see where and how traffic interacts with your website. Moo. Of all the business card companies out there, Moo is my favorite. Not the cheapest, but they create quality printed business material. Etsy. We used Etsy to get our office signs made. There’s a lot of options for this, but Etsy connects you with smaller vendors who do a great job. GotoWebinar. We’ve gone back and forth with GotoWebinar. It’s an expensive solution, but almost always works. When you use webinars to generate revenue, sometimes that’s a worthwhile trade-off. WebinarJam. We’ve tried this one, and like it. A cheaper alternative to GTW. Slack. Our internal team communication preference. Buzzstream. A great tool for influencer outreach. Zoom. We use this for internal team calls and video calls with clients. Uberconference. If we need to record a conference call, this is our preferred (and FREE) solution. Soapbox. An awesome Chrome plugin from Wistia for creating screen capture videos. This is especially useful for making visual processes for your team. Fiverr. If you don’t have the funds to hire a graphic designer, Fiverr can be a good solution. Make sure the designs don’t infringe on other artists’ work, though. Upwork. Another marketplace for freelancers. We’ve found web experts, bookkeepers, marketing consultants, and more on this site. 99 Designs. Another option for on-demand graphic artists, whether you’re creating a new product logo or looking for a designer for a book cover for your new lead magnet. Great Branding Doesn’t Happen in a Vacuum
When you explain your selling points, stick to simplicity. The plan will cover your bases, so you don't need to write a 1,000-word essay in each section if you don't need it. For instance, skip detailing your entire paid ads strategy in this plan — just include that you intend to have one.
