Firstly, you have to consider where you are hosting your website to ensure a good loading speed which will help with your SEO. In Australia I recommend Ventra IP. Here is a link if you want to check them out.

For your website, I recommend you create it on an open source platform like WordPress where possible, simply because you then own it and as long as you have hosting for $16-$20 a month, it will stay live.

You can buy templates to use and then it is relatively easy to build out. If you need a hand let us know as we have some fantastic website builders in my network who can help.

When trying to choose the best Autoresponder and CRM for your business, it is tough there are a number of really good systems out there now, and it matters that you make the right choice the first time (unlike myself!)….

….as it can be very expensive to change providers and have to set everything up from scratch again.

I have taken a very long time, and have used many of the platforms listed below in my business over the years and the businesses of my Clients in order to figure all this out…..and that means, now I can make it easier for you!

The best ones available on the market that I would consider are the following.

(I have put some links in here for you – all prices are in USD):

1) Kartra – The silver option lets you mail to up to 12,500 subscribers and is very competitive price wise. It also has a membership site and landing pages built in plus affiliate tracking software, which is very useful and would normally cost extra. This tool allows you to build funnels, memberships sites, affiliate tracking etc. the whole lot for a very decent price.

Kartra kickstarter package $99 with 14 day trial: up to 2,500 subscribers and is only $79 per month using the yearly billing option if you can manage a lump sum payment

Kartra Silver package $199 with 14 day trial: up to 12,500 subscribers and is only $149 per month using the yearly billing option if you can manage a lump sum payment

Kartra is brought to you by the same Company that produced WebinarJam and Everwebinar (one of the most popular webinar services available on the market, so they integrate very well).

2) Active Campaign – Active Campaign is known to be a good system. It integrates well with shopify (an ecommerce shop platform)..…but it is pricey if you have a large number of subscribers.

• You can Tag contacts
• Set up automated follow-up sequences
• Score leads as they move through the Email Sales funnel
• Segment subscribers with tags to create a personalized experience for each person

3) Ontraport – $297USD per month – is the Ferrari of Autoresponders and they man that created it is a really decent guy as I have seen him speak personally! It does everything you could possibly want it to do.

There is a lot Ontraport can do that that other systems can’t….if you want it all…then this is the one for you however, it may be too much for smaller businesses to navigate.

4) Clickfunnels – It will cost you $97 per month or $297 per month depending upon whether you choose “20k Monthly Visits Plan” or “Etison Suite Plan”. There are major differences with both of these plans specifically with the number of funnels, pages & contacts you can create inside your membership area. I definitely recommend this software, especially bolting the $97 on to a WordPress site as their funnels are great & not hard to set up once you have completed the initial set-up!

You can do their One funnel Away Challenge if you wish here which I recommend to everyone for it’s content & incredible community!

You may also have to pair this with an email service like Sendgrid which can be free for up to 100 emails a day, but if you want more it costs another $14.95 plus a month.

5) KEAP (lower priced version of Infusionsoft) – This is a good for small businesses…$97 USD a month for 1000 contacts and $30 for every additional 1000 so it becomes pricey if you have a large number of subscribers.

We can get it a bit cheaper for you as we know a certified partner in Australia (so use the contact form to get in touch and we will gladly send you his details). It doesn’t have the templated landing pages or upsell and downsell capability (which is fine if you are a coach or consultant rather than an ecommerce provider.

It works well as a CRM, sales tracking tool and email funnel builder and you can track outstanding invoices. You can’t easily integrate it with Clickfunnels anymore as they see each other as competitors.

 6) Kajabi Growth – $159 USD for 25,000 contacts on Annual billing. This also has all the great components that you would want ie. Membership site etc.

In Kajabi, you can easily create sales and marketing funnels where you can sell your courses to a hungry audience that wants to learn from you. And, if you don’t want to sell courses – and want to create content such videos and blog posts at your own pace without bundling it up, you can also create membership sites and ask your audience to pay a recurring fee every month to access your content.

It’s important to note that while Kajabi is excellent for selling educational content, it’s limited to just that. If you plan to sell a wider variety of products, or are interested in ecommerce, a software with a funnel so you can upsell and downsell is better suited for you.

Once you have chosen your platform, you then need to plan and create a system to ensure you are building a relationship with your Customers continuously.

Do this well the first time and you can make small tweeks but overall it then runs on autopilot and that means you have freedom to work on other parts of the business.

Just as an aside, if you want a credible ‘done for you’ Social Media service, I suggest you try Social Media Worldwide.

I sincerely hope this helps make your life a little easier….we are here for you if you need a hand or some advice along the way.

There is a process to write out copy that actually makes sense and converts. If you require assistance with this, get in touch as we would be more than happy to have a FREE 30 min no obligation chat to you about it.

There is no hard sell, just a casual chat with some great recommendations about your Sales and Marketing strategy. 😉

Many people think they have to create a professional studio, with a producer and film crew at home in order to do this…but this could not be more incorrect.

I have been creating professional quality video footage for at least the last four years and I can say it has improved immensely since I started, once I discovered the right equipment and tools to use!

I will share those tools with you here.

If you are doing face to camera videos, this information will really help you out

Firstly, good lighting can make or break your videos so you need to invest in this.

The best light I have found is the ‘Ring’ light for just over $100. You can get it on Amazon Australia here:

Neewer Camera Photo Video Light Kit: 18 Inches/48 Centimeters Outer 55W 5500K Dimmable LED Ring Light, Light Stand, Receiver for Smartphone, YouTube, Vine Self-Portrait Video Shooting

For the American’s, here is the link for you:

The best part about this ring light is it has a holder for your SMARTphone in the very center of it.

As long as your phone has a good camera, then you can definitely use it to film, as the quality from smartphones is professional  these days….

…so, the great news is that no high tech camera equipment is required, saving you a fortune!

However, this will only be the case if you also have a good microphone.

I can recommend a few but the best I have found for this sort of filming and which plug straight into Apple iPhone, is the Rode VideoMic Me (no need for a lapel mic or any wires!) on Amazon Australia here:

Rode VideoMic Me Compact TRRS Cardioid Mini-Shotgun Microphone for Smartphones

On Amazon USA, here is a link for you:

If you have another type of smartphone, the Rode smartLav+ would be a good option for you – see here for the Aussies:
Rode smartLav+

On Amazon USA, here is a link for you:

The point is that you want a microphone that will capture high quality audio, that plugs directly into your phone.

For your script, a great App you can download to use is iprompt.

You can cut and paste your scrip and plug it into iprompt (or a similar tool) on your laptop and then stick your laptop on a high stool, with a box under it if needed and position it just under your phone/camera.

The great thing about using this app on your phone is that not only will you be recording the video and audio, you will also be looking directly at the screen when you are speaking…so it looks authentic.

Just practice once or twice with some of the script to make sure it lines up correctly and you seem to be looking directly at the camera, familiarise yourself with the script, and away you go!

Once complete, (you can do it in stages if you wish), you can then download to CAMTASIA®, or Screenflow for Mac (I actually use Camtasia even though I have a Mac as I like it better!).

Do some basic video editing….keep in mind that whilst we want the videos to be professional, unless you are doing something for commercial television or a high profile course, you don’t need to cut out every ‘um’ and ‘ahhh’…as it will just take too long.

You have permission to be human and remember, speed of getting it done and out there matters more than perfection.

If you wish to add BRoll (B-roll is the footage of other people, places or events inserted to enrich the story you’re telling and to have greater flexibility when editing), there are royalty free programs like:

Pexels

Or you could use a reasonably priced subscription service like:

Shutterstock

If you wish to outsource to a quality video editing service that design you a Custom introduction and outro (the clip asking people to take further action with you at the end of your video) plus zooming in and out, adding subtitles (which are great so people can watch your clips in public places even if they don’t have their headphones) along with text etc
it is worth investing in a great video editor (which will save you an incredible amount of time).

If you want to use a green screen, which you can also get on Amazon or Ebay, good video editors can place moving or still images behind you which look real (such as an incredible warehouse or office location).

On Amazon USA, here is a link for you:

Happy filming!

So how can we help you?

1) We create multiple 2-3 minute social clips for you for a set price each month to place on your favourite social media sites or broadcast emails to your subscribers, as a ‘done-for-you’ service, saving you loads of time and effort…

2) Book A 30 Min Obligation-Free Strategic Systemisation & Marketing Strategy Consultation via our contact page

You’ll be invited to a friendly, no-obligation consultation with one of our business strategists to:

• Discuss your needs and answer your questions
• Explain our approach & how it may assist you
• Provide you with a FREE, unique to your business, Marketing plan worth $197

3) We also write sales copy for videos, course creation, emails and sales pages…all done for you…Phew!! Check out our homepage for more detail here

4) We also have amazing video editors, so let us know if you need a hand with a project via our contact page, or email us directly at info@wisandbiz.com

A business is built via systemisation, automation, great team values, collaboration and commitment to an inspiring vision.

Staying power is what makes the difference…

…and, playing to your strengths. What I mean by this is doing the things you enjoy most and mastering these before starting something new.

You are better off choosing one marketing strategy and tweaking it until it becomes great (and this could take months or even years) than saying, hey it didn’t work out the first time and moving on to something else.

Each strategy is hard to get right and I can guarantee that any ‘expert’ who is great at a particular strategy of any kind has put hundreds of hours into learning by doing.

Your competitors are playing hard in the same space, vying for similar customers. So we suggest that you become excellent at one or two methods and hire other experts to take care of the ones you are not so great at.

Commitment to consistent tweaking, leveling up and improving on one particular strategy is what will get you to your outcome.

This could be webinars, consults, social media, events, one-on-ones, blogging, media exposure etc.

It is important to make the right choice initially as it can be a lot of work to set it up on one platform, and then to have to change it over to another system can be a headache you just don’t need!

Take it from me, I have made this mistake!

The first priority is to decide what you need most…is it a sales function where you can track all of the opportunities you have on the table?

Is it a funnel ie. the ability to upsell and downsell and send out automated emails to your Customer every couple of days?

Keep in mind that there are different stages of a funnel.

Is it the ability to project manage your activities to ensure they reach the required outcome in the appropriate amount of time?

One you have nailed this down, in order of priority, it is then time to take a good look at the options available to you.

The good news is that there are some very user friendly software platforms available on the market.

For businesses that have a small team and who are operating anywhere up to $20 million in revenue, we suggest you need software that has an auto-responder, so you can keep in touch with your Clients via email.

We also suggest that you have the ability to build out a series of landing pages that provide free or low-priced offers to entice your ideal Customer to opt-in to your email list.

Then to be able to build out a campaign or funnel that takes them through some kind of education process about who you are and what it is that you do, so you are building a relationship with them over time is also what I would suggest.

Many look at funnels as the opportunity to upsell and downsell, and they are that, however, what they are to us, is the chance to touch base with your Clients on a regular basis in a way that builds a storey, entertains, educates and then eventually gives them an opportunity to work with you, or try your product.

If you are interested in knowing what software we recommend, based on our own observations over the last 10 years and also our Clients recommendations, we have created a cheat sheet with clickable links for you, which you can grab here.

By the way, we have no reason to recommend one over the other and aim to remain fairly neutral about software, as the best fit will depend on your unique circumstances, budget and requirements.

It is important to note that no matter which software you choose, the process we utilise to systematise your business is the same.

As always, we hope to provide you massive value and insight with these posts and would genuinely appreciate your feedback and comments, every single one is read by our team.

We would like to hear which software is working well for you and how you use it best in your business. Everyone in our community can benefit from hearing about your unique situation (and it’s a chance to give your business a plug…so go for it!).

That link to our software recommendations again is HERE

If you want lasting Client relationships and a large number of referrals, it is actually the complete opposite, especially in this day and age of social media where you cannot hide your reputation easily.

So, what is the mindset that makes the difference in the marketplace?

What is the mindset that makes the difference to your Clients and the teams of people you employ that will turn them all into huge supporters and champions of your business?

Most people are questioning how to get people to buy, or to help them promote their product or service. Instead, you need to decide to become value creators and generators.

If you were to help your Clients achieve their objectives, whilst you achieve yours by collaborating with them to create a true ‘Win’ for everyone, you would start to see the recipe for not only fulfillment in life and business, but also ultimate financial success.

The more value you provide your Clients and partners, and the more contribution you make to their lives & businesses, the more they will want to continue work with you.

They will love you for it and will always utilise you and your business in future. Why wouldn’t they? You have given them every reason to continue to do so, without hesitation.

The quickest way to ruin any relationship is to come from a place of taking consistently without considering the other person or party’s needs and wants.

Life is not about getting, it is about giving.

Once you realise this and start to live it everyday (and it will take practise), your life will change and you will experience fulfillment and success in your relationships in a way that you never have before.

Where to start…well, you have to start with your own mindset and work with it…challenge your own beliefs and the beliefs of those surrounding you…put them to the test and see what really stacks up.

I can guarantee you will shock yourself, in a good way, about what is really possible.

I challenge you to find a way to appreciate others and serve them, make a difference to them.

Try it and, you will see what I am talking about!

You can never give to much as long as you choose your Clients and partners carefully and make sure they are aligned with your values, mission and objectives, and you truely get a feeling of joy from working with them, to help them to promote their products and services.

By the way, this goes for all relationships you have in life, not just Clients.

Life and business are intertwined, and the same rules apply to all of it, as we are all human beings, no matter which role we are focusing on.

PS. Join our Facebook Group called ‘Wisdom & Business’: A group of Entrepreneurs, Consultants, Companies, Sales people and Coaches all exploring how to Systemise and Automate their Sales and Marketing to drive new leads to their business HERE.

PPS. Want to know “How To Get Endless Free Warm Leads, to Build Your List and Make Sales Fast In The Most Leveraged Way Possible”?

Easy. Take a look HERE

Our Client-getting Stategies work, there is a system that you need to follow to grow your list fast and at low cost and then turn prospects into clients who will pay you $$$$…. and we show you how in this FREE Masterclass.