I'm routinely asked what tools do I use for various parts of my business. I don't like giving recommendations on tools because they change. Something great today is crap tomorrow, or something better has come along.
With that said, I have two tools I've used for a couple of years now and I'm consistently impressed with how they keep getting better.
Will they be great in 5 or 10 years? I don't know. But now, they make my life soooo much easier that I don't want to live without them.
ActiveCampaign
ActiveCampaign is my email and marketing automation backbone. If I didn't need to have a website, ActiveCampaign would be the only tool I want.
ActiveCampaign allows me to do all the traditional email stuff ("stuff" is the technical term), and weaves in marketing automation tools for bargain basement prices.
When I was first recommended ActiveCampaign I kept wondering, "What is wrong with it? Why is it so inexpensive compared to others in its category?" Then I started using it. It just works.
And, their team of developers is constantly cranking out little improvements that makes it even easier to work with.
If you operate online and want email automation and marketing tools, or you need an effective CRM, or a combination of both, sign up for a free trial and check it out.
Thrive Leads and Thrive Content & Landing Page Builder
WordPress is the backbone of my site. I've been using WordPress since 2008. I understand just enough code to search Google and copy/paste the answers into my site files to get things working. Often I break things. Thrive makes it easy to make important design changes.
Thrive Leads and Thrive Page Builder take all the hard stuff behind designing landing pages and makes it super simple. LeadPages used to be the big daddy in this arena but, as I said, things change and something better has come along.
Thrive Leads is behind all the subscription boxes you see on my site. They have a designer with built in templates that makes the process, again, super simple.
Thrive Content & Landing Builder is a page designer that allows you to quickly create conversion oriented landing pages. You can also use it to customize the layout of regular posts and pages but I don't do that.
Thrive is a set it and forget it plugin for me. Set up your landing page, or optin forms, and let them run. You'll forget it's there because it just works.
And, it integrates naturally with everything I do in ActiveCampaign.
Will They Help You?
Possibly. If you're new to marketing tools, they can be intimidating.
If you're the type of person who thinks computers are out to get you and, like my in-laws, "I just can't learn this stuff," then stay far away. Work on changing your attitude toward learning and technology.
If you're willing to invest the time to build machines that work for you, and make your business run smoothly, then check them out.
One thing I learned a long time ago is don't skimp when you need tools that work. I've wasted a lot of time with inferior tools that cost me more in the long run.
ActiveCampaign and Thrive are dirt cheap when it comes to the amount of time and emotional energy I've saved.
And they work for me.
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Disclosure of Material Connection:
Some links may be "affiliate links." This means if you click on the link and purchase an item, I will receive an affiliate commission. I only recommend products I think are valuable to you. This disclosure is in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."
