Tools I Use in My Business

I oftentimes get asked “Nik – what powers YOUR business?”

These are the tools and services I use in my own business.  I’m adding to this list, too, so you’ll see more free tools added soon. Bookmark this page and come back often.

Getting Your Site Online:

I have several hosting accounts just to protect myself with a little bit of diversity. I don’t like to have all of my eggs in any one basket.

  1. Mom Webs is where I refer people who are totally new to online business. I’ve been a customer – and am co-owner of Mom Webs and have been for years. They’re used to handling support from scared new online business owners. Highly recommend.
  2. Host Gator is the other company I use. They’re solid and I’ve been a customer of their for years, too. I like that they’re a Green Hosting company.
    Green Web Hosting by HostGator

You can’t go wrong with either choice.

List Building/Autoresponder:

  1. Aweber – The service I’ve used since 2005 to manage all my newsletters, ecourses, and ezines. (If you get any emails from me, they come through this safe list managing service.)
  2. Grow your List Faster on your Blog with This Tool.

Selling your Own InfoProducts:

If you create your own ebooks or audios and want to sell them, these are the programs I use.

  1. Clickbank – Clickbank’s Publisher Program. (This is the easiest option.)
    Plus: Easy Click Mate – If you use clickbank, this is a really great tool to create an affiliate center.
  2. 1ShoppingCart – this is the cart I use to run EasyPLR.com. It IS 1shoppingcart. Just a reseller name. I’ve had an account with them years and years and love the flexibility. While it’s not perfect, it’s a pretty easy solution if you just want to get up and running in a hurry.
  3. Amember – I use this for my IncomeCPR.com site. It is an all-in-one solution.

Communicating with my Helpers and My Coaching Clients

  1. Basecamp – Allows me to track projects and who is working on each one.
  2. Easy Safe File Sharing – Allows me to work with writers and editors and keeps all my files safe and secure.
  3. Skype - I use Skype’s screen share function often. If I’m working with a coaching client or even one of my Virtual Assistants, it’s oftentimes easier to say “Show me, please” when I don’t quite understand something. It’s a great way to connect with the people who I work with regularly.

Keeping my Business Safe and Protected

  1. Mozy – Keeps my computer (and therefore, my income) safe. (Try it free.)
  2. Password Manager Program – Keeps track of all of my logins, usernames and passwords, so I don’t have to. (Try it free.)

Tool that Allows me to Travel

  1. GotoMyPC – Allows me to pick up and go at a moment’s notice, knowing that I can hook into my business from any PC around the world.

Tools to Easily Record Audio & Podcast Interviews, Teleseminars, Webinars

  1. Record Phone Interviews (the simple non-techie way) – Quick and easy way to record audio from your microphone or telephone and put it on your computer. No techie stuff involved. This is what I use to record my podcasts.
  2. GotoWebinar - I also use this, although not as much as I really should. It’s a great tool, though, if you want to record webinars – as that’s what it’s designed to do best. Here’s a cool blog post about making your webinars ROCK: Key Tips for Profitable Webinars.

Note: If you’d like “Done for You” webinars that include scripts and powerpoint slides – be sure to check out PLR for Teleseminars and Webinars – all you have to do is read the scripts while playing the slides. Webinars couldn’t get any easier.

Link Building for Traffic Generation

  1. Unique Article Submitter – Love use this tool occasionally to get my articles spread far and wide.
  2. Social Adr - A quick and easy way to get your blog posts some quick link love.

Brainstorming Tool

  1. Mind Maps Reference: Free Mind

Graphics Editing

  1. Gimp – Free program and easy to use. Learn How to Download Gimp Here.

Blog Plugins that I Love

  1. Blog Plugins that I Love.

Other Helpful Tools to Check Out

  1. Free Keyword Research Tool

I’ll add more to the list as I think of them. :)

Nicole

PS. Yes, some of these are affiliate links. But, they’re only on this list if I use them – and many of the links point to blog posts where you can learn more before buying.