FREE TRAINING:
LEVEL UP YOUR INSTA GAME
FREE TRAINING:
LEVEL UP YOUR INSTA GAME
Recommendations
Below are some systems I particularly recommend and which I work with a lot. This is not an exhaustive list and I would be happy to work with whatever system you choose. If you are not sure what system(s) you need and don’t want to be overwhelmed with options, these are good places to start.
For full disclosure, some of the links below are affiliate links*. All my affiliate/partner links are at the bottom of this page.
Email Marketing
Unless you are using a system with an integrated email system, you will need an Email Marketing system. There are lots to choose from but these are the two I would recommend:
ActiveCampaign* has an affordable starting package and is a very popular system which integrates well with lots of other systems.
MailerLite* is a great way to get started for free and you only start to pay as your subscriber numbers/numbers of emails sent increases. Again, MailerLite integrates well with other systems.
Course/membership platforms
There are a number of different options out there to host your course, including Kajabi, Teachable, Thinkific, Podia, MemberVault.
The systems I have most experience with are Kartra, New Zenler* and Easy Peasy Funnels* (see all-in-one systems for more info). ThriveCart* also has a Learn platform available free to anyone with a ThriveCart account.
If you use WordPress for your website, you can use paid plugins to build your course platform -two popular and well known ones are LearnDash or MemberPress.
Taking Payment
Cart system
A really good stand alone cart system is ThriveCart*. I really rate this system – it is easy to use and it is more than just a checkout – you can build your whole sales page in ThriveCart, there are lots of different options (such as setting up discount coupons) and you can easily set up Affiliates for your products.
Graphic Design Tools
I use Canva Pro* to create graphics and to create professional branded documents, for example a “freebie” or an e-book.
You don’t need the Pro version as there is a lot you can do on the free version – however upgrading to the Pro version has definitely been one of my best investments. This is a tool I could not run my business without!
Video creation & editing
If you need to record a video presentation, some good options to consider are Zoom and Canva. On Zoom you can screenshare and deliver a session live to real life people and record the session, or just deliver the session with no participants and record. Canva is a great way to create a presentation – and then you can also Present and Record from inside Canva to create a video.
I also really like Clideo.com as a way to edit videos. Anything video is really not my zone of genius and I find this system makes it really easy.
Quiz and survey tools
Quiz funnels and quizzes as a lead magnet can be incredibly powerful. There are lots of systems out there, and after doing some research on it, the one I settled on is Involve.me*.
It has a free option (although – heads up, there are some features you can’t use on the free version, including integrations which means you can’t get your data out of the system and link it to your email system for example to capture your leads without upgrading). Still, it is a very affordable monthly subscription and I think it is a really good and easy to use system.
Website Management
I primarily work in WordPress using the Elementor page builder and host my sites on SiteGround*. |
I am also very experienced with Wix. In addition, this website is built in Easy Peasy Funnels.
Email Marketing
Unless you are using a system with an integrated email system, you will need an Email Marketing system. There are lots to choose from but these are the two I would recommend:
ActiveCampaign* has an affordable starting package and is a very popular system which integrates well with lots of other systems.
MailerLite* is a great way to get started for free and you only start to pay as your subscriber numbers/numbers of emails sent increases. Again, MailerLite integrates well with other systems.
Course/membership platforms
There are a number of different options out there to host your course, including Kajabi, Teachable, Thinkific, Podia, MemberVault.
The systems I have most experience with are Kartra, New Zenler* and Easy Peasy Funnels* (see all-in-one systems for more info). ThriveCart* also has a Learn platform available free to anyone with a ThriveCart account.
If you use WordPress for your website, you can use paid plugins to build your course platform -two popular and well known ones are LearnDash or MemberPress.
Taking Payment
Cart system
A really good stand alone cart system is ThriveCart*. I really rate this system – it is easy to use and it is more than just a checkout – you can build your whole sales page in ThriveCart, there are lots of different options (such as setting up discount coupons) and you can easily set up Affiliates for your products.
Graphic Design Tools
I use Canva Pro* to create graphics and to create professional branded documents, for example a “freebie” or an e-book.
You don’t need the Pro version as there is a lot you can do on the free version – however upgrading to the Pro version has definitely been one of my best investments. This is a tool I could not run my business without!
Video creation & editing
If you need to record a video presentation, some good options to consider are Zoom and Canva. On Zoom you can screenshare and deliver a session live to real life people and record the session, or just deliver the session with no participants and record. Canva is a great way to create a presentation – and then you can also Present and Record from inside Canva to create a video.
I also really like Clideo.com as a way to edit videos. Anything video is really not my zone of genius and I find this system makes it really easy.
Quiz and survey tools
Quiz funnels and quizzes as a lead magnet can be incredibly powerful. There are lots of systems out there, and after doing some research on it, the one I settled on is Involve.me*.
It has a free option (although – heads up, there are some features you can’t use on the free version, including integrations which means you can’t get your data out of the system and link it to your email system for example to capture your leads without upgrading). Still, it is a very affordable monthly subscription and I think it is a really good and easy to use system.
Website Management
I primarily work in WordPress using the Elementor page builder and host my sites on SiteGround*. I am also very experienced with Wix.
In addition, this website is built in Easy Peasy Funnels.
All-in-one systems
(for sales funnels, emails, course hosting)
As with everything, there are lots and lots of options out there - but these are the ones I have used the most and are my top 3 favourites at the moment, for different reasons.
New Zenler
Another system I use a lot and really recommend is New Zenler. It is has been around for a while now, but it is still in BETA so you can go Pro at a reasonable price. Find out more below.
Easy Peasy Funnels
New into my list of top recommendations is Easy Peasy Funnels. It is a fantastic option for those who want everything in one place! Find out more below.
Kartra
If you want a more established tried and tested system, I have a lot of experience of using Kartra. It is a very powerful system and if you would like everything in one place, it is a good option. Find out more below.
A system I use a lot with clients just starting out selling courses and memberships is New Zenler*.
I really rate this system as it is easy to use and is very straightforward.
It is really easy to set up and for me one of the biggest attractions is that you can get started for free without a monthly subscription.
Some features are not available on the free plan (e.g. transactions are not free unless you upgrade) but there is a lot you can do with the free plan.
For example, I have one client who uses MailerLite for emails, ThriveCart for their Cart and hosts the course in NewZenler – this sort of solution is really easy to set up.
Features include:
Online Courses
Create, Sell & Deliver Online Courses.Marketing Funnels
Build your email list with high converting Marketing FunnelsPowerful Automations
Setup emails and action sequences based on what user does on your site.Quizzes & Surveys
From graded quizzes to timed quizzes, create any type of Quizzes and Surveys
Membership Sites
Design the membership area with page designer. Set Tiered Pricing for access levels.
If you want a more established tried and tested system, I have a lot of experience of using Kartra and if you would like everything in one place, it is a good option.
However, while it is a great system, I do recognise that it may be well out of budget if you are just getting started and it is my job to give you alternatives within your budget – or at little or no cost.
Features include:
Email marketing
Cart system
Landing pages, Sales pages, Website pages, Funnels, Opt-in forms to capture leads
Courses/Memberships portal
Surveys and quizzes
Helpdesk
Calendar bookings
New into my list of top 3 recommendations is Easy Peasy Funnels*. It is a fantastic option for those who want everything in one place!
For me, the thing that marks Easy Peasy Funnels out as unique and a really special system is the fact that as well as being able to do all the things a system such as Kartra can do, it has a CRM function and a Social Media scheduler – game changing!
There is a 14 day free trial so you can try it out, plus an Easy Peasy Lite plan if you don't need all the features in the full plan. You can compare plans here.
Features include:
Email marketing
Cart system
Course or membership platform
CRM
Calendar system
Website (this website is created on Easy Peasy Funnels)
Funnel platform
Social media schedulers
and more..
New into my list of top recommendations is Easy Peasy Funnels*. It is a fantastic option for those who want everything in one place!
It can replace all of the following:
Email marketing
Cart system
Course or membership platform
CRM
Calendar system
Website (this website is created on Easy Peasy Funnels)
Funnel platform
Social media schedulers
and more..
For me, the thing that marks Easy Peasy Funnels out as unique and a really special system is the fact that as well as being able to do all the things a system such as Kartra can do, it has a CRM function and a Social Media scheduler – game changing!
There is also a 14 day free trial so you can try it out, plus an Easy Peasy Lite plan if you don't need all the features in the full plan. You can compare plans here.
If you want a more established tried and tested system, I have a lot of experience of using Kartra and if you would like everything in one place, it is a good option.
It does all of the following:
Email marketing
Cart system
Landing pages, Sales pages, Website pages, Funnels, Opt-in forms to capture leads
Courses/Memberships portal
Surveys and quizzes
Helpdesk
Calendar bookings
All of these features seamlessly “talk to each other”.
However, while it is a great system, I do recognise that it may be well out of budget if you are just getting started and it is my job to give you alternatives within your budget – or at little or no cost.
Another system I use a lot and really recommend is New Zenler*. It is has been around for a while now, but it is still in BETA so you can go Pro at a reasonable price.
You can set up marketing funnels, courses, bundles and it has an integrated email system (or you can link to your own system outside of NZ), you can take payment using the Stripe integration and host your courses there.
Some features are not available on the free plan (e.g. transactions are not free unless you upgrade) but there is a lot you can do with the free plan.
For example, I have one client who uses MailerLite for emails, ThriveCart for their Cart and hosts the course in NewZenler – this sort of solution is really easy to set up.
Affiliate/partner links
Rest assured I would not recommend or be an affiliate for something I didn't believe in. Everything I am an affiliate for is something I use either in my own business or use when working with clients in their business.
Work with me
Copyright © 2024 Rachel Boleyn | Virtual Tech Angel