Email Marketing

How to Pick the Best Digital Tools for Your New Business

Published on November 8, 2024

How to Choose the Right Digital Tools for Your Startup

As an entrepreneur, building a software stack for your business is essential. Here’s a straightforward guide to help you make the right choices.

Time vs. Money: The Startup Trade-Off

Starting a business involves balancing time and money. You can save money by doing tasks yourself, like coding a website from scratch. But if that takes too long, it might be worth spending money on tools that save time, especially if your priority is finding customers. For instance, using a website builder instead of coding can let you set up a website in hours rather than days. Choose based on what’s more available to you: time or money. As entrepreneur Alex Hormozi says, “Use what you have.”

Avoiding Premature Optimization

In software and startups, “premature optimization” means focusing on details too early. Many founders get caught up in perfecting things like automation or scalability before they have customers. Instead, focus on getting users and feedback, which will help you make improvements when they’re truly needed. Set up a functional system for your current needs, and streamline it later based on real data.

Setting a Software Budget

Your budget determines which tools you can afford. Most business software uses a subscription model, so think about your monthly budget. You might get a discount for annual plans, but wait until you’re sure the software fits your needs before committing long-term.

Defining Essential Functionalities

Make a list of the core tools you need. Here are a few recommendations:

Website Builder: A good website builder with templates and drag-and-drop editing can save a lot of time and make your site look professional.
Sales Funnel Builder: A sales funnel converts visitors into customers. Many funnel builders offer templates that simplify setup, saving you from coding.
Email Marketing: Building an email list is crucial. Look for tools that allow you to collect emails, send sequences, and segment lists. Advanced features like automation and A/B testing are also useful.
Email Warm-Up: When doing cold email outreach, use a warm-up tool for a new email account to prevent spam flags.
Cold Email Management: As your email outreach grows, you may need a specialized tool to manage responses and keep track of conversations.
Customer Relationship Management (CRM): Track sales, book appointments, and store customer notes. These features streamline your customer interactions.
Customer Support: Excellent customer support is essential, especially when your business is small. Tools with email and live chat support ensure quick responses.
A/B Testing: A/B testing lets you test different elements, like headlines or buttons, to see what works best.
Business Analytics: Track key metrics like traffic, conversions, and revenue. Analytics help you understand what’s working and where to improve.

Specialized Apps vs. All-in-One Platforms

You can either use specialized apps or an all-in-one platform to get your software stack set up.

Specialized Apps: These usually offer better functionality in their specific areas, but managing multiple tools can lead to technical issues. Integrations might break, leading to lost revenue and more time spent on troubleshooting.
All-in-One Platforms: These may not have the depth of specialized tools, but they’re easier to set up and less prone to technical problems. You get most of what you need in one place, with one company’s support team to help you if issues arise.

Try ClickFunnels for Your Startup

ClickFunnels is an all-in-one marketing platform designed to simplify launching and growing your business. It includes:

Website builder
Sales funnel builder
Email marketing
CRM
A/B testing
Business analytics

ClickFunnels offers two pricing plans:

Startup Plan: $97/month with unlimited funnels, contacts, and more.
Pro Plan: $297/month with expanded team and workspace options.

Each plan has a 14-day free trial so you can test it risk-free.

If you’re looking for an all-in-one solution to streamline your startup’s growth, ClickFunnels might be the right choice for you. Try it out to see if it fits your needs!