The 5 Tech Tools That Help Me Streamline and Scale
Technology has forever changed how businesses operate, people communicate, and jobs are performed.
Incorporating tools and programs into your business to streamline operations and alleviate the stresses of unorganized projects may be a deal-breaker when it comes to your company’s potential for growth.
Every business is different. So you need a unique mix of tools that work for you.
As a service-provider (coach and consultant), here are my top 5 tech tools I use every day.
AirTable
AirTable is one of my favorite tools ever. It’s a smart spreadsheet system that allows you to filter, sort, group, tag, and more. For someone who loves organization, details, and the ability to see things from various angles, AirTable combines everything. My favorite feature is the ability to tag content between tabs.
Google Drive
Oh Google, how I love you so. Google Drive is a simple, easy to use platform that allows you to store all your files, create client-centric and internal folders, and collaborate in real-time on documents and projects. You can comment and tag others and if you really want to streamline your life, hook your Drive to your computer so you can easily save files and open images.
Stripe
Why complicate how you receive your money. You can still receive checks, wires and so on but why not simplify the process and accept online payment via a secure portal. Yes, you do get charged a 3% transaction fee but with Stripe, you can create invoices, send quick payment links, and more. For me, simplicity is worth the three percent.
Zoom
My favorite video tool. I use Zoom for much more than video calls though. I frequently use it to share my screen with clients for a more effective session or explanation. Record these sessions and share later for future reference.
BONUS tip…if you need to record a video or audio to share, consider recording your zoom meeting rather than complicated software. Record it and you’ll get an audio-only version on top of your regular recording.
Outlook
Although my email server is Google, I LOVE Outlook for email. I couldn’t live without it (sorry not sorry Gmail browser lovers). My top three reasons: I feel the visual aspect is much better, you can flag emails as a reminder to follow up on a certain date, and you can save email templates as drafts and quickly copy/paste to create a new one and tweak. Lifesaver!
Slack and Glip
Internal communication tools are critical for teams, even teams of two. Every tool is different but somewhat similar. Slack has more integrations than Glip but even the free version of Glip is impressive simply for internal team communication and as a task tracker. I not only use it for communication but also as a project tracker for quick tasks I need to remember, or something I need to do daily so I can simply check it off each day and it reminds me.
Not sure what tools are best for your biz? I’d love to work with you to figure out what can help elevate your business stress. Consultant to Agency Owner has a module just on the tech tools and automation in your business. I’ll share how to go about finding the tools you need, what to look for, and you’ll even get access to my complete systems, how I use them, and much more.
Enrollment closes 11/27/20!
Erin James is a business, marketing, and mindset coach and consultant, as well as an Agency Operations Specialist, and has helped service-based founders increase revenue by more than 120%, decrease people costs by more than 30%, raise client rates, streamline operations, and more.
Consultant to Agency Owner is a 12-week transformation for founders looking to streamline, scale, and transform their wallet while being happier in their business. Ideal for all service-based businesses with a special focus on PR, marketing, influencer, digital, and web consultants and agencies. Enrollment closes November 27, 2020 for six months. Visit www.erinjames.co for more information.
