When we’re running a business there are plenty of tools to choose from. The latest tool combined with shiny object syndrome can derail your scalable business success. Here are 7 types of platforms we recommend implementing in your business along with some factors to keep in mind when selecting your platform of choice.
Something that works well for one person, does not mean it will work well for you. You have to try the tool/platform for at least 30-60 days before you deem it not suitable for your business.
Choosing Platforms
When selecting your platforms, keep scalability in mind. Select platforms that will grow with your business as it gets bigger. Additionally, keep in mind that you won’t find a platform that serves EVERY need. In our experience, when a company offers too many services, they often lack in an area. That area of lack may be important to the scalability of your business.
A few factors to consider in your platform research should be budget, user access, must-have features, customization (hint: you won’t need that much customization), and the support documentation for the platform to shorten the learning curve.
There are plenty of platforms available to add to your tech stack and you want to select those that will work with your scalable intentions.
Project Management (PM) Tool
This platform will be the holy grail to moving your business forward. PM tools help you and your team collaborate on many projects and ensure that the day-to-day operations of your business are getting completed. You can manage onboarding new team members or contractors, plan launches, and delegate projects, and you can use it to keep clients up to date on the status of their projects.
Two top recommendations for PM tools are ClickUp and Asana. Both platforms provide robust project management, have mobile apps, if you need to keep up with a project on the go, and more options that are customizable to your business.
Customer Relationship Management (CRM) Tool
Providing a white-glove experience is important for any business. Customers who become raving fans can become another marketing tool you can leverage in your business. Your CRM allows you to provide that experience. A few things you should be able to do are send invoices, contracts, addendums, and any questionnaires about your client and their project. This can also serve as a communication tool with your clients to avoid emails getting lost.
Workflows are also important in a CRM tool. As you solidify repeatable processes, you can leverage automation and a team to ensure that the white-glove experience is delivered without you.
The type of CRM can vary based on industry and business structure. For service-based businesses, Honeybook, Dubsado, and Hubspot have been favorites among business owners.
Communication Tool
Drowning in email responses is a time drain from allowing you to scale your business. Communication tools, such as Slack, allow your team clients to stay on track with all the happening in your business and projects.
You can keep track of files, project updates, and increase transparency with your team and clients.
Slack also offers features such as snooze and office hours to your to ensure that family dinner isn’t interrupted. It is a creative tool to support scaling your business.
Scheduling Management Tool
If your CRM doesn’t offer robust enough scheduling, platforms such as Calendly and Acuity offer great scheduling and bookings all in one place.
Not only can you connect it with your personal existing calendars, it also has a feature that will prevent overbooking and double booking. You can also collect payments, send forms, and have your team manage your calendar.
File Storage Tool
Gone are the days of searching for a file or re-uploading 7 different versions of a spreadsheet due to many edits. Some CRMs and PM tools offer file storage, but since these platforms weren’t designed for that purpose we like to stick with Google Drive, Dropbox, or Box for file storage.
It makes sharing files with your team or clients a breeze and easy to use.
Automation Tool
We know one tool won’t offer EVERYTHING you are looking for. With an automation tool such as Zapier, you can connect various platforms and automate many tasks. This tool alone takes scaling to a different level.
When tools don’t integrate, Zapier helps put the pieces together. For example, you can take your new enrolled client and have them imported to your email marketing platform and text messaging list with Zapier. No need to manually enter those details into each platform. This is where scaling starts to happen with ease. Automation software can automate repetitive tasks from your day to day.
Email Marketing Platform
Having more than one marketing method ensures that your customer/client pipeline remains full. With email marketing, you can offer valuable information, announce new services or digital product launches, and more while making data-driven decisions in your business.
Convertkit and Active Campaign are robust tools that allow your business to scale by combining sales, automation, and email marketing in one platform.
Your email platform will allow you to segment your audience based on interests, past purchases, and more if applied.
There are many tools in the marketplace and selecting the right tool can help your scaling goals. Aim to keep your tech stack as lean as possible while supporting your business as it grows and scales.