Running a business isn’t a walk in the park. There’s no simple instruction manual, no “one-size-fits-all” solution. But, let me tell you a secret – you can make life (and business your budget) a little easier by streamlining your tech stack.
Now, if you’re thinking, “What in the world is a tech stack?”. I’m glad you asked. A tech stack is basically the assortment of software and tools you use to run your business. Your tech stack might be bulging at the seams right now with software for this and apps for that. It’s time to streamline, declutter, and make it more efficient. You’ll also find that regularly reviewing your tech stack is a great way to save money as a small business owner.
Get out the bank statements, and write down every. single. subscription.
If you’re keen, start to categorise them into software types, e.g. design, email, accounting.
Check for duplicates for quick savings. A while ago I worked out I was paying for Microsoft 365 twice, AND wasn’t using my student discount on either of them – go figure.
Immediately cancel any that you know for sure you’re not using. This helps catch any of those pesky trial periods you forgot about cancelling in time. It all adds up, even if you don’t get through the next step hopefully you’ll have already saved your small business some money.
The biggest step.
Review your workflows and processes, and decide what you really need. Lots of software comes in bundles, so it’s super easy to be under-utilising one set of software that you’re paying for, and paying for a second subscription that could be integrated into what you already have.
The biggest culprits I’ve seen here are MS Office/O365, Adobe Creative Cloud and Google Workspace. Lots of businesses have these, and use them for only one or two programs. Check out what’s included in your plan, then look at everything else on your list. Could what’s already in the package be used instead of a standalone product?
Another one that’s often under-utilised is your workflow software (i.e. monday.com, Asana, Trello). Often, these are really powerful and could include embeddable forms, emails, document creation and more, potentially removing something like Typeform or Proposify. Many can also be set up as CRMs, reducing the need for yet another program.
Below is a list of what I commonly use and love in my business. I’ve tried and tested many programs (hence experience with those trial periods being forgotten!), and this is what I’ve settled on.
There are a couple of other programs I use that aren’t listed, but I’m reviewing their use at the moment, the big ones being O365 vs Google Workspace and Xero vs Hnry.
Let’s start with monday.com. It’s my trusty Swiss army knife – except for business. It’s full of useful tools to manage workflow, plan social media and blog posts, and even handle client onboarding. Plus, it has this cool approval feature to help me keep track of what content you’ve approved or needs attention. Say goodbye to scattered spreadsheets, long email threads, and that chaos called ‘workload management’.
I’m a long time, self-proclaimed Excel Nerd, but I’ve found myself building less and less spreadsheets the more I integrate monday into my work and even life.
Ever wished you had a magic wand that could connect everything together? Meet Zapier. It’s the digital glue that ties different software together, automating tasks and making life so much easier.
Zapier creates “Zaps” or automated workflows that trigger based on the parameters you set. Have a new customer signing up on your website and want them added to your email list? Zapier can handle that. Need to save email attachments directly to your Dropbox? Zapier’s on it.
Adobe Creative Cloud and Canva are my creative power duo.
Adobe Creative Cloud is the heavyweight champion for complex design tasks and logos, and Canva is a nimble sidekick for quick, easy designs and sharing templates for clients to use over and over again.
Ah, Metricool. It’s a sweet little cherry on top of the social media management cake. It’s my very own command centre for all things social media, advertising, and web analytics.
It allows me to plan, analyse, and automate posts, giving me more time to create outstanding content and less time stressing about when to post it. Plus, it offers heaps of performance insights to help me understand what’s working and what needs a tweak or two.
A streamlined tech stack is your secret weapon, boost efficiency, reduce unnecessary costs, and have more time to focus on what you do best.
They say a dollar saved is a dollar earned and when working out how to save money as a business owner, it’s all about optimising your resources. A touch of awesome marketing doesn’t go astray, either. If you need a hand with making your business show up online in it’s own unique and fabulous way, get in touch.
I’ll bet I’m not the only one asking this.
Integrating sustainability and eco-friendliness into a home-based business might seem like a challenge.
I mean, other than turning the computer off at night, what can we do?
More than we think.
Working for yourself doesn’t just mean you can choose to wear slippers while you work. It means you can choose the people you spend your days with. Your team, your suppliers, and yes, even your customers.