Listen To My Latest Podcast Episode:

#611: Top Ways My Team Uses AI To Increase Efficiency, Creativity, & Intentional Margins

Listen To My Latest Podcast Episode:#611: Top Ways My Team Uses AI To Increase Efficiency, Creativity, & Intentional Margins

Tools of the Trade

amy porterfield pointing at her digital course resources

Tools of the Trade

The software and equipment you need now, what to add to your wishlist for later, and how to know the difference.

No matter what stage youโ€™re at in your biz journey, the right tools can:

notebook, cup of coffee, and laptop on a desk
  • Save you dozens of hours per week and a whole lotta stress (more time to do what you love = a HUGE win!)
  • Automate key marketing activities like email marketing, list building, and showing up on social media.
  • Save you thousands of dollars on pricey freelancers and doing things the hard way.

 

The trick is knowing the right ones to use at the right stage โ€” because thereโ€™s nothing worse than software sitting unused on your digital desktop, am I right?

My commitment to you is that I will always go first.

I experiment with what works and what doesnโ€™t and then report back with honest recommendations on what you need (and when you need it) so you can create a profitable business you absolutely love.

Access the full list of tools and insider discounts below!

  • Stage One

    Iโ€™m new to the online marketing game

  • Stage Two

    Iโ€™m starting to see some momentum

  • Stage Three

    Iโ€™m ready to scale fast

Tools for Stage One

When youโ€™re just starting out, your main focus should be on building your platform, creating consistent content for your target market and growing your email list.

The tools below will help you get started in the right direction, even on a tight budget.

Amys fave at any stage STARTING A BIZ

Two Weeks Notice

Go from feeling stuck and hopeless to confidently handing in your Two Weeks Notice and running a freedom-fueling online business on your terms.

Amys fave at any stage List Building

Free Masterclass

In my FREE masterclass, Inbox Money: How To Monetize An Email List In 4 Easy Steps, Iโ€™ll show you how I add 1,000+ new subscribers to my email list every single week.

Amys fave at any stage LANDING PAGE SOFTWARE

Leadpages

This single tool has saved my entire team literally hundreds of hours and thousands of dollars per year. Leadpages is the perfect resource to help you scale your business, because it allows you to confidently roll out lead-generating campaigns in record time.

Amys fave at any stage EMAIL MARKETING

ConvertKit

ConvertKit is a powerful email service provider that delivers automation capabilities without the steep price. Try their free plan that allows you to make unlimited landing pages and forms and choose from multiple templates, add personalization and design, include an incentive email, create a thank you page, manage subscribers and send broadcast emails.

Amys fave at any stage COURSE PLATFORM

Searchie

Searchie is the most flexible, easy-to-use online platform to create, organize, and sell digital courses and memberships. You can create beautiful, tailored content experiences that serve your students at a much higher level. Searchie has saved us SO much time and energy with automatic transcriptions and captions, and seamless integrations with Facebook, Zoom, and many more. Plus, our students LOVE that they can search inside all of our audio and video content by keywordโ€”they're able to find exactly what theyโ€™re looking for in seconds!

Amys fave at any stage COURSE PLATFORM

Kajabi

Kajabi contains all the features you need to sell, market and deliver your content. Because they make it incredibly easy to turn your knowledge and content into products you can sell, I am a huge fan of this powerful tool. Inside my business, we specifically use Kajabi for our course platforms to highlight and showcase all of our paid content.

Amys fave at any stage SHOPPING CART

SamCart

I finally decided to try Sam Cart after dozens of my friends and peers in online marketing had huge success using the checkout page platform. So, I guess I shouldn't have been shocked that my sales increased almost instantly when I made the switch. Not to mention, I saved thousands of dollars in development fees. Still, my favorite thing about Sam Cart is that it seamlessly integrates with all my other tools. This allows me to launch my courses faster, with the confidence that all the pieces of my funnel will play nicely together.

Amys fave at any stage Podcast Course

The Podcast Lab

Introducing Your Complete A to Z Podcasting Roadmap! Iโ€™ve partnered with my friend, Jenna Kutcher, to share her course, The Podcast Lab! I know if you take what you learn from her and put it into action, youโ€™ll tap into the power of podcasting for growing your email list, reaching more of your ideal clients, increasing your sales, diversifying your revenue, creating incredible relationships, and so much more. She shares her proven, 5-step stress-busting system and process to plan, create, launch, promote, scale, and monetize your podcast in just 30 Days.

Amys fave at any stage BUSINESS ORGANIZATION

Full Focus Planner

The Full Focus Planner helps you take control of your day and start living the life you desire. Built on the science-backed Full Focus System, each page is intentionally designed to increase your focus, eliminate overwhelm, and accelerate your goal achievement. And itโ€™s not limited to professional growth. Features include ten life domains, daily rituals, and self-care exercises that serve as needed reminders for any achiever who struggles to unplug from work. As you produce your digital course, the Full Focus Planner will help you achieve more by doing less. This is how you win at work and succeed at life.

WEBSITE HOSTING

SiteGroud

If youโ€™re starting from the very beginning, I recommend creating a website with wordpress.org and hosting it with SiteGround. Itโ€™s an effective and affordable way to make sure your site is always up and running.

POP-UP OPT-INS

PopUp Ally

In my opinion, list-building should be a primary focus on your website. This is even more important when you're just beginning to build an audience. PopUp Ally will help you maximize your site's list-building potential -- in a non-spammy way. This tool is a popup plugin that actually improves the user experience on your site. Its smart technology anticipates peopleโ€™s needs as they browse around your site, making PopUp Ally far more effective than a lot of the other โ€œin-your-faceโ€ popup options.

NOTE APP

Evernote

You may already be familiar with this wildly popular tool. Evernote is a crowd favorite among entrepreneurs and marketers. Itโ€™s great for taking notes and brainstorming -- especially on-the-go. A big bonus for me is that it's almost impossible to outgrow Evernote. You can start with the free version as a beginner, and level up later.

FILE ORGANIZATION

Google Drive

Accessible from anywhere with internet, Google Drive is a great collaborative tool for teams to use when youโ€™re working with content, files, or images in tandem. Unlike DropBox, multiple parties can be in a file at a time manipulating data or text without having to download and re-upload the file.

FILE ORGANIZATION

DropBox

In my opinion, the key to minimizing stress in business is staying organized. Dropbox is where I store and systematize my files so that everything has a โ€œhome.โ€ You can start using this tool for free and upgrade as your library of digital assets grows.

PASSWORD SECURITY

Last Pass

If youโ€™re still committing passwords to memory (or worse -- using the same password for most of your major accounts), itโ€™s time to geta password manager. My personal favorite is LastPass. I love that it allows me to securely share sensitive information (such a social media logins, etc.)

VIDEO CREATION

Boosted

Create marketing videos that take your brand's social media to the next level - no experience or skills needed! With Boosted, you can create all types of videos: ads, engaging Stories, tips, tutorials - all with easy-to-use templates. Upload your own video footage, make videos out of your photos, OR use the stock footage in the app. You can easily add your logo, customize colors to match your brand, add cool filters, and even add music or your own audio. Get 3 months of full access to Boosted Premium for just $4.99! To redeem your offer, click the button on the right, download the app for free via the QR code or App Store/Play Store badges, and redeem your offer when you open the app.

IMAGE CREATION

Canva

Canva is the ultimate design tool for non-designers. Itโ€™s user-friendly and the free version gives you access to most features. Use Canva to create shareable social media images, cover photos, even video thumbnails. In no time, you'll be on your way to building a memorable online brand.

VIDEO COMMUNICATION

VideoAsk

VideoAsk is a platform that scales, tracks, and personalizes video communication. You can upload your videos, create them using their library, or make one on the spot. It can be used for virtually anything: lead generation, lead qualification, reviews/feedback, testimonials, the possibilities are endless!

GRAPHIC DESIGN

99Designs

As a beginner, most of us start with a tight budget, and a tight schedule. If youโ€™re spending hours on end designing images and freebies for your business, check out 99Designs to save time and money in the long run. This crowd-sourcing tool is a great way to get professional, affordable design support.

SOCIAL MEDIA SCHEDULING

MeetEdgar

It's more important than ever to sound like you on social media, even when you automate your posting. MeetEdgar is not just your scheduler, but this platform also is built to fill your social queue faster, share your content in the right places at the right time, keep your feeds fresh and diverse, and help you grow your audience. MeetEdgar is our choice for managing all of our social media platforms in one place.

SOCIAL MEDIA

Social Curator

Creating content every single day can be daunting! For those times youโ€™re staring at a blank screen wondering what to post, Social Curator comes to the rescue. Social Curator is a monthly subscription that provides you with curated lifestyle photos and caption templates to elevate your social media presence so you can have an overall social strategy. I love Jasmine's photos so much I use them on my opt-in pages, sales pages, website and more!

Download this list

Find The Right Marketing Tool For Whatever Stage Youโ€™re At

Iโ€™ve personally vetted every tool on this list and sorted them by what stage of business youโ€™re in so that you know exactly what to jump on right away and what you can hold off on till later.

Close
A much needed date night with this stud โ˜บ๏ธ๐Ÿ’›
We LOVE a good dance party over here on Team Porterfield and weโ€™ll be dancinโ€™ and celebrating all day long to welcome our new Digital Course Academy students!!! ๐ŸŽ‰๐Ÿฅน๐Ÿ•บ๐Ÿป๐Ÿ’ƒ๐Ÿป

That energetic buzz youโ€™re feeling? Itโ€™s the sweet, sweet by-product of a bold decision backed up by a multi-million dollar generating formula, the support and accountability of an โ€œIโ€™ve got your back!โ€ community, and my unwavering commitment to get you to the finish line! ๐Ÿ’ป๐Ÿ’ฏ๐Ÿ‘

So kudos to you for betting on yourself and your brilliance. Incredible things are in store! โ˜บ๏ธโœจ

The doors to Digital Course Academy officially close today at 4pm PT // 7pm ET ๐Ÿ˜ฑ Just comment โ€œDCAโ€ to learn more and join the party ๐Ÿ’Œ #seizethedaywithdca
Comment โ€œDCAโ€ to join Digital Course Academy before 4pm PT // 7pm ET TODAY! ๐ŸŽ‰๐Ÿ’Œ

A yes to Digital Course Academy could mean THIS, in just a handful of weeks.๐Ÿ‘‡

 โœ” 4-hour work days spent strategizing for your next launch because your first launch covered an entire quarter (or three) of your salary ๐Ÿคฏ

โœ” An inbox full of progress reports from students who could never afford your 1-1 service (making your impact pretty darn limitless ๐ŸŒŽ๐Ÿ’•)

โœ” Long weekends with your love ones. An unruffled nervous system. A tangible sense of pride in the work you do. And so much moreโ€ฆ

Todayโ€™s โ€œyesโ€ to DCA can lead to many more yeses and pretty soon, youโ€™ll look up and have a digital course that genuinely changes your life! ๐Ÿ’ฏ๐Ÿ‘

Comment โ€œDCAโ€ to join before the doors close for an entire year! ๐Ÿ˜ฑ
EVERY time I talk with my dear friend Jill Stanton (@themillionairegirlsclub), itโ€™s one of those game-changing conversations that just shifts everything for me... ๐Ÿ’ฏ๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿ™Œ

She truly has been the KEY ๐Ÿ”‘ to unlocking my mindset blocks around money, making an impact, and running a successful online business for YEARS. ๐Ÿ’ธ

Jill just hosted a special live session for my community and when I tell you it was POWERFUL... that is just scratching the surface my friends. Hereโ€™s a glimpse into what she had to say about the limiting beliefs we tell ourselves daily. ๐Ÿ‘†

If youโ€™re ready to finally upgrade your mindset and expand your ability to hold and navigate more discomfort in your life, Iโ€™m here so we can conquer those doubts together! ๐Ÿ”ฅ๐Ÿ‘Š

Just comment โ€œDCAโ€ so we can start transforming your big, bold dreams into reality. ๐Ÿ’Œ๐ŸŽ‰
One of the MOST common questions I hear from my potential students who are on the fence about joining DCA is โ€œIโ€™m not great with the techy stuff... do I need existing tech skills to pull this off?โ€ ๐Ÿ˜ฌ๐Ÿ’ป๐Ÿคทโ€โ™€๏ธ

Let me tell you my friend, one of the BEST parts of running a digital course business is that the tech learning curve is EXTREMELY low compared to other types of online businesses. ๐Ÿ’ฏ

With that said, in my Digital Course Academy program youโ€™ll be getting software recommendations for your course creation process. ALL of the tech recommendations are made based on ease of use and effectiveness. ๐Ÿ™Œ

To make sure tech is never an obstacle for you, youโ€™ll get access to a COMPLETE tech library, giving you super detailed, step-by-step walkthroughs and time and money-saving hacks. The tech library covers everything from landing pages, to membership areas, to email sequences and so much more! โ€ผ๏ธ๐Ÿ”ฅ

As long as youโ€™re willing to put in the effort and follow along with the lessons, tech will NEVER be an obstacle for you inside of DCA. 

So comment โ€œDCAโ€ below if youโ€™re ready to get started and want to learn more! Enrollment is only open for one more day before the doors close for a whole year!! ๐Ÿ˜ฑ๐Ÿ’Œ
amy porterfield wearing blue shirt and holding hands in front of her face

Hey there!

Iโ€™m Amy Porterfield

Iโ€™m an ex-corporate girl, author, online marketing expert and the host of the top-ranked podcast, Online Marketing Made Easy. Welcome to my virtual living room! Stay a while, wonโ€™t you?