Setting Up the Tech for Your Solo Business: Key Mindset Tips
When you're setting up the tech for your business, especially the admin work in the background, there are a few crucial mindset tips to keep in mind.
1. No Perfect Platforms
First, there are no perfect platforms. Trying to find one can lead you down a rabbit hole. It doesn't exist. Believe me, I've spent over 20 years searching for perfect platforms. I've tried hundreds of different platforms for websites, email newsletters, online courses, community, client scheduling, cloud storage, office tools, payments, bookkeeping, etc., and I've never found one. Neither have my clients. The best you can do is find something that fits your top priority needs and values. Then, let go of the lower priority desires for a 100% match.
2. Beware of SEO-Driven Results
When you Google "best platforms for solo entrepreneurs" or "for email marketing," you'll find big companies with large SEO budgets dominating the search results. Simply Googling won't reveal the true gems that could work well for solo entrepreneurs. You need to ask around, look for recommendations, and check alternative sources like Reddit and forums.
3. Tools for Truly Solo Operations
Most tools marketed for small businesses assume you have a few employees. They aren't designed to be run completely solo. When something is labeled as "the best tool for small businesses," it's usually meant for small businesses with at least a few employees. Tools marketed as "super simple" are often intended for professionals who use them extensively. These might be great for them but not for a self-employed person or solo entrepreneur who uses them only a few hours a week. Rarely are any tools actually good for people running their business completely solo, though there are some hidden gems.
4. The Reality of "Solo" Success Stories
When you see a successful coach or an artist with a fancy web store, those websites and programs are rarely run by one person alone. The bigger the clientelle or the shinier the online presence, the least chance there is for someone running it alone. If a solo coach never mentions their helpers that doesn’t mean they don’t have 1-10 people working for them at least part-time. Typically delegated tasks are website management, video production, content creation, program administration, running ads, and newsletter creation. I've been on the back end of over a hundred solo entrepreneur businesses. People with larger audiences or with an apparent online presence rarely handle everything by themselves. I say rarely, because it is possible, but you need to embrace minimalism and keep simplifying things. This is how I run my business too. I don't have help. I simplify things a lot. Another great example from the ethical business scene is George Kao, although he is super organization and tech savvy - so least minimalist than I am or as much as most of my clients need to be.
5. Choosing Platforms: All-in-One vs. Mix and Match
When you're looking for platforms to cover your business needs, you have two main approaches: all-in-one or mix-and-match.
All-in-One Platforms: Some people prefer platforms that have everything in one place. Squarespace can do that to some degree, combining email marketing with your website and courses. Simplero, despite its disgustingly aggressive marketing, is actually a good all-in-one platform. Podia is another minimalistic option. These platforms can be expensive, but if they cover all your needs, spending $80 - $250 a month can be worth it.
Mix and Match: I use this approach. I believe Squarespace is the best website platform for solo entrepreneurs (not WordPress). For booking, I use Introwise and just link to it from my Squarespace site. My workshops are on yet another different platform, and I recommend Flodesk for email marketing, but I’m experimenting with Squarespace now. This approach is more customizable but requires managing multiple dashboards, accounts, notifications and often dealing with integration issues or a lack of integration.
Final Thoughts
These are, in my opinion, the most important mindsets for picking your business tech stack.
If you know someone who could use these ideas, I’m thankful if you share it with them.
