One of the most overlooked expressions of gratitude in business is documentation. When your processes live only in your head, your team is left guessing, your clients feel inconsistency, and your future self carries unnecessary stress. Documentation removes that burden. It creates clarity. It builds confidence. It allows your business to operate with intention instead of urgency.

In this episode of #TechChat, I share why documenting your systems is essential for scaling and how it directly impacts your team experience, client experience, and leadership capacity. Documentation makes delegation easier, onboarding smoother, and growth more sustainable. It also gives future you breathing room when life and business get busy.

Listen to the Episode

You do not need a massive operations manual to get started. Begin with one recurring task. Write it down or record it. Save it in one place. Over time, those small actions compound into a business that feels lighter and more stable.

As you close out the year, consider turning gratitude into clarity. Document one process and give yourself the gift of a business that does not rely solely on memory.

Ready to build documented systems with support? Book a VIP Day.

In this webinar, The Secret to Stress Free Operations: How Top Teams Document Processes, we explored why most documentation fails and what successful teams do differently to create clarity, consistency, and scalable operations.

When processes live in people’s heads or scattered documents, work becomes reactive. Questions interrupt progress, mistakes increase, and everything depends on a few key people remembering how things are done. That is where operational stress starts.

Why Process Documentation Matters

Effective documentation makes work visible. When you can clearly see how a task moves from start to finish, you reduce confusion and create alignment across your business.

Strong process documentation helps you:

• Eliminate bottlenecks and repeated questions
• Reduce manual work and inefficiencies
• Create consistency in client delivery
• Support automation and smarter system decisions

Documentation is not about writing more. It is about creating clarity that your team can actually use.

Visual Documentation Changes How Teams Work

One of the biggest takeaways from the conversation was that clarity does not come from long SOPs. It comes from visibility.

When processes are mapped visually, business owners and teams can immediately see where work flows, where it gets stuck, and where improvements can be made. This is often where the biggest breakthroughs happen because issues that felt overwhelming suddenly become obvious and solvable.

This Applies to Solo Business Owners Too

Process documentation is not just for large teams.

If you are a solo business owner, everything depends on you. Documenting your processes reduces mental load, prevents things from falling through the cracks, and makes it easier to delegate when the time comes.

Even documenting one core process can bring immediate relief and clarity.

Documentation as a Decision Making Tool

One powerful insight shared during the webinar was how documentation supports better decisions.

When your processes are documented, you can clearly see how much effort is tied to specific tools, workflows, or manual steps. This makes it easier to evaluate automation opportunities, system changes, and future growth without guesswork.

Documentation becomes a strategic asset, not just a reference.

Keeping Documentation Up to Date Without Overwhelm

The key to maintaining documentation is habit, not perfection.

Teams that succeed treat documentation as a living system. Small updates made consistently keep it accurate and useful. When documentation is part of how work gets done, it stays relevant and trusted.

If you want to reduce operational stress, eliminate bottlenecks, and build systems that support growth, watch the full webinar replay above. Start by mapping just one process. That single step can change how your business feels day to day.

If your processes feel scattered or overwhelming, a VIP Day can help you bring order fast. We map your workflows, identify inefficiencies, and build systems that support your business instead of slowing it down.

Book a VIP Day and start running your business with clarity and confidence.

You’re not alone.

In this week’s #TechChat episode, I’m diving into why so many small business owners end up working for their techinstead of letting it work for them.

Here’s the truth — automation only works when your systems do.

If you’ve added tools on top of disorganized processes, you’ve just automated chaos.

In this episode, I break down how to:

• Identify when your tools are running the show.
• Find and fix gaps between systems.
• Simplify your processes before you automate.
• Use a Tech Audit to regain control.

Listen to the Episode

Ready to take the first step? Grab my Tech Audit Starter Kit for just $37 and uncover where your tech is slowing you down.

Get the DIY Tech Audit Starter Kit

Listen to the Episode

Why I’m Shifting Focus

The truth is, most business owners don’t have a tech problem — they have a systems problem. They’re drowning in disconnected apps, doing manual work their tech should handle, and relying on memory to keep everything running. I’ve been there. Over the years, I’ve gone through seasons that tested me — divorce, caretaking, health scares, and even homelessness — all while trying to keep my business afloat. And you know what saved me? My systems. Not because they were fancy, but because they were connected, automated, and built to work without me. When life happened, my business didn’t stop. Because it didn’t depend on me being “on” 24/7. That experience changed everything about how I see technology. Tech isn’t an expense…it’s an employee. And when you train it well, it becomes your most reliable team member.

What You Can Expect from the New #TechChat

This relaunch isn’t just about a fresh sound; it’s about a fresh focus. Each episode of #TechChat with Samantha will now blend:

• Stories – Real experiences from my own journey and from clients I’ve worked with.
• Systems – Practical strategies to simplify and connect your business processes.
• Scaling – Tools and mindset shifts to help you grow sustainably and without chaos.

I’ll be pulling back the curtain on the interconnected systems that power every successful company. From how you attract and capture leads, to how you nurture relationships, deliver amazing experiences, and build lasting loyalty. Each part plays a vital role. And together, we’ll explore how to audit, automate, and align these systems so your business runs smoothly, consistently, and without unnecessary stress.

My Goal for You

I want you to experience what it feels like to wake up and know your business isn’t waiting on you. Your emails are being sent. Your leads are being followed up with. Your clients are being served. Your systems are doing the heavy lifting. Because freedom isn’t found in doing more — it’s found in building structure that supports you. That’s what this podcast, this blog, and my entire mission at Samantha Pointer Enterprises is about: helping you build a business that runs without you.

Ready to Take the First Step?

If you’re ready to find out where your systems stand, start here:

Grab your Tech Audit Starter Kit — it’s a self-paced way to see exactly where your business is leaking time and energy. organizingguru.com/diy-tech-audit-starter-kit

Or if you want hands-on help identifying what’s keeping you stuck,

Book a Technology Breakthrough Session — we’ll map your systems together and create a personalized plan. organizingguru.com/15

As I relaunch this podcast and refocus my content, my goal is simple: to help you turn technology into your strongest team member. So whether you listen in every Tuesday or follow along here on the blog, I’m glad you’re part of this journey.

Your business doesn’t have to run you. With the right systems, it can run without you.

In this webinar replay, I walk you through the 6 core systems Every Service-Based Business needs in order to operate smoothly, scale sustainably, and free up your time.

Whether you’re dropping balls in follow-up, manually onboarding every client, or just tired of doing everything yourself — this session is for you.

Watch the Replay:

Click play below to watch the full webinar:

What You’ll Learn:

• The 6 systems that power a streamlined, scalable business
• How to map your client journey from first click to raving fan
• Real-world automation tools and tech I use to keep my business running
• The biggest mistakes service providers make — and how to avoid them
• My system for using tools like Novo to keep my finances organized and flowing

Grab Your Free Checklist

Want a quick-reference list to take action? Download the full Core Systems Checklist here — no opt-in required:

Ready for Help with Your Systems?

If you watched this and thought “I need someone to just map this out for me” — I’ve got you.

Let’s talk on a Technology Breakthrough Call. We’ll uncover where your systems are leaking and what to prioritize next.
Book your session here

Don’t just survive. Systemize.

Most business owners think about cutting expenses or tightening up systems only when things start breaking. But your tech stack needs a regular audit, just like your finances.

In this replay of my recent workshop, I show you:
Why an annual tech audit is critical for growth
The biggest areas where small businesses waste money on tools
How to decide what stays and what goes

Watch the full workshop replay below:

Resources mentioned in the workshop:

• Quick Action Tech Audit Checklist

Bonus Tip:
I keep my business finances running smoothly with Novo. Novo makes it easy to separate business expenses, integrate with your favorite tools, and stay on top of your cash flow.

Sign up for your free Novo account here

Disclaimer: Novo Platform Inc. (“Novo”) is a fintech, not a bank. Banking services provided by Middlesex Federal Savings, F.A.; Member FDIC.

Do your own Tech Audit with my DIY Kit

If you’re ready to take action, grab my Tech Audit Starter Kit. It’s a plug-and-play system that helps you:
List every tool & subscription
See what you’re paying for each month
Decide where you can save or upgrade

Get the Tech Audit Starter Kit

P.S. If you missed my first webinar on how to Build A Business That Runs Without You, catch that replay here.

In this guide, I'm diving into what sales pipelines are, why they’re crucial, and how to build one that works like a charm. Let’s get to it!

What Is a Sales Pipeline (and Why Should You Care)?

A sales pipeline is a visual representation of where your prospects are in the buying process. It helps you track every step — from the first “Hey, I might be interested” to “Where do I sign?”

Without a pipeline, it’s easy for leads to slip through the cracks. With one, you can:

• Stay organized: See exactly where each lead stands.
• Forecast revenue: Know what deals are likely to close and when.
• Improve efficiency: Focus your efforts where they’re needed most.

In short, a solid pipeline means fewer missed opportunities and more closed deals.

The 5 Key Stages of a Winning Sales Pipeline

While every business might tweak its stages a bit, most effective pipelines follow a similar flow:

1. Lead Generation: This is where the magic starts. Whether through social media, referrals, or paid ads, this stage is all about attracting potential buyers.
2. Lead Qualification: Not every lead is a good lead. In this stage, you’re figuring out who’s really interested and has the budget and authority to buy.
3. Meeting/Presentation: Time to shine! Here, you’re sharing how your product or service solves their problems. Tailor your pitch to their specific pain points for maximum impact.
4. Proposal: Your lead is interested, and it’s time to talk details. This stage involves presenting a clear, compelling offer that makes saying “yes” easy.
5. Closing: The finish line! Overcome objections, get that signature, and welcome your new customer.

Tips to Keep Your Pipeline Flowing Smoothly

• Regular Check-ins: Block time each week to review and update your pipeline.
• Follow Up Like a Pro: 80% of sales require at least five follow-ups. Don’t stop at one or two!
• Analyze and Adjust: Use your CRM data to spot bottlenecks and tweak your approach.

Want a Done-For-You Sales Pipeline Without the Hassle?

If building and managing a sales pipeline feels overwhelming, I’ve got you covered! I help business owners like you automate and streamline their sales process.

Ready to turn leads into loyal customers effortlessly? Click here to schedule a call and let’s build a sales pipeline that does the heavy lifting for you!

Happy automating!

Why KEAP is a Game-Changer

During the episode, I discussed how KEAP has significantly improved its API and made integrations with tools like Zapier much easier. These updates make it a breeze to automate tasks and streamline your business processes. For small business owners looking for a robust CRM with enhanced automation capabilities, KEAP is now more user-friendly and versatile than ever.

New Features to Watch

One of the most exciting aspects we covered is KEAP’s new automation builder and email builder. These tools are designed to save time and enhance the efficiency of your marketing campaigns. Whether you're a seasoned marketer or just starting out, these features provide the flexibility and power needed to grow your business.

My New Services to Help You Get Started

To help you leverage these new KEAP features, I’ve launched a range of services aimed at making your transition smooth and effective. From initial setup and integration to advanced automation strategies, my goal is to ensure you get the most out of KEAP. Whether you're new to the platform or looking to optimize your current setup, I’m here to guide you every step of the way.

Tune In!

I highly recommend listening to the full episode to get all the details and insights. Chris and I dive deep into how these updates can benefit your business and why now is the perfect time to embrace KEAP.

Listen to the full podcast episode here!

Interested in Learning More About My New Visionary Workflow Solutions Bundle? Go here.

That's right I have teamed up again with Chris L. Davis of Automation Bridge and Host of the All Systems Go! Podcast to chat about all things CRM, AI, Airtable and more.

Some topics of note that we touch on:

• A key piece of advice if you’re just beginning to implement automated marketing and sales systems in your business
• Why you must always test your automated systems to ensure they are working effectively and efficiently
• What the future of automation will look like – including the rise of AI
• Tips for creating effective email marketing campaigns, including segmenting your audience and using personalized messaging
• The role of data in marketing automation and how it can be used to improve customer experiences
• The importance of balancing technology with human touch to create a seamless customer experience
• and much more!

Watch on Youtube or below.

What is a GoSolo Story?

A “Go Solo Story” is an interview series they host, where they feature small business entrepreneurs and founders.

My Interview Experience

During my interview with GoSolo, I had the opportunity to reflect on my personal journey as an entrepreneur. I shared my experiences building my business, the challenges I faced along the way, and the lessons I learned. It was a chance to celebrate my accomplishments and also acknowledge the hard work and dedication it took to get to where I am today.

Additionally, I was able to share some of my top tips for other small business owners.

The Wrap Up

Overall, my experience with GoSolo was incredibly positive. It was refreshing to connect with a platform that truly values and celebrates the experiences of small business owners.

If you're interested in learning more about my journey as a small business owner, I encourage you to read my full interview on the GoSolo platform. You can find it here or tap the button below (It's a quick 3 minute read ).

You can also follow GoSolo on their socials.

Instagram: @subkit

LinkedIn: @subkit

Twitter: @wearesubkit

ThriveCart is an online shopping cart platform that helps you build high-converting shopping cart pages, funnels, courses, affiliate pages and much more. If you have ever wanted a way to have a stand-alone shopping cart that your business can use regardless of if you have a website or not then look no further.

Who should use ThriveCart?

Any small business owner, entrepreneur, or anyone who needs an easy to use stand alone shopping cart without having to pay monthly fees for a hosted solution.

My Top 5 Reasons for Using ThriveCart?

1. Stand alone solution. I can't tell you how many times I have had clients who couldn't use certain shopping carts because it was for either WordPress only or they had a site that was hosted by a provider that didn't have open integrations. With ThriveCart, because it is online and you can embed it on any site or create links if you don't have a site, or use them to host your landing page it is win-win.
2. Digital and Physical products. With ThriveCart, you can sell digital products like ebooks, services, or audio. But you can also sell physical products if you have a physical inventory. When you are creating your product it will ask whether you want to create a digital or physical product.
3. Full funnel capabilities. Whether you have upsells, downsells or bump offers, ThriveCart lets you create it all. You can even connect to other products that you have created with a few clicks. If you don't want to go through doing a full upsell or downsell for your product , you can use the bump offer that shows right on the product landing page to keep it simple.
4. Affiliate and JV capabilities. If you want to have other people sell your product for you and be able to pay them and provide all of the assets they will need and keep your affiliate program organized, ThriveCart has you covered. Setting up affiliate is super simple and dropping in your assets is even easier. You can choose with each product you create if you want to allow affiliates or not. You can also set your affiliate payout percentage or dollar amount at the product level too. If you have a service and only want certain people to sell it you can do so by just setting that particular person up in your account as an affiliate and selecting the product you want them to sell. You can also set to manually approve affiliates or automatically approve them. The same with affiliate payouts you can set the frequency to immediately to whatever timeframe you want. But ThriveCart doesn't stop there, if you want to do Joint Ventures with other's they actually provide a place to type up a contract and have it signed right in the platform.
5. ThriveLearn. Last year ThriveCart rolled out their learning management system (LMS) Thrive Learn. With ThriveLearn you can start selling courses online and have people log in to take the course right from the platform. No need to join a monthly recurring LMS solution or have a developer custom build you a solution. For an upgrade fee you can get even more features that lets you fully use ThriveLearn. ThriveLearn also seamlessly integrates with ThriveCart, so if someone purchases your online product for a course you can tell it which ThriveLearn course and it will send out all log in information automatically.

Cost

“This sounds great Sam, but how much is this going to set me back monthly?” you may be asking. Well right now, at the time of this writing, they are offering a lifetime deal of $495. That means you only pay that amount once and get to use it forever plus any upgrades. Now some of the features like JV Contracts, Sales Tax functionality, business projections, subscription saver (dunning) custom domain, and client usage rights (have a client who you want to manage their products as well) you will need to upgrade to the Pro account which is a couple of hundred more, but still lifetime and well worth it.

When you factor in free solutions like WooCommerce which requires you to have WordPress and for some of the more advanced stuff you will need to get add-ons that certainly add up to a lot of monthly fees. Or solutions like Shopify which can be overkill if you just want to sell services. You are coming out on the low cost end of the stick for the ROI you will get from investing a one time fee.

And this leads me to this…

What makes this better than any other shopping cart? Well here are a few reasons:

1. No recurring fees
2. Can be used with any website or setup
3. Easy to Use
4. Customization – The Cart, Invoices, Customer Hub, etc. All can be customized to your brand, including colors and logo.
5. Works with Stripe, PayPal, or Authorize.net
6. Integrates with most major email marketing platforms
7. Has several integrations with different membership sites including Kajabi.

I haven't even mentioned that they have been around for a long time and have a strong development team and continue to improve upon the product. There is a Facebook group where you can get help and see how other's are using the product. If you want to kick up your website even more you can use their other product ConvertBox. Click here to learn more about that and take advantage of another lifetime offer.

So if you are ready to have a high-converting shopping cart software that you can use anywhere then click the button below to get the lifetime offer.

*This post includes affiliate links and I do get a small commission if you do choose to buy the product(s).

“A profitable strategy applied to automation just produces more profits.”

Often times when I have discovery calls, I have had a few potential clients wanting to skip the strategy part and get right into setting up automations.

Big mistake.

Strategy is the most important part. The strategy session allows me and my client to work through all of the scenarios, outcomes, pitfalls, and considerations before we even begin to talk about the technology needed.

I'm going to let you in on a little secret. Automation is not a magic bullet.

Just because you automate something doesn't mean that money will start falling from the sky. In fact, if you automate too quickly it can become a nightmare and cause more stress instead of giving you time back.

So I say all of that to say, don't skip past strategy.

If you hire my company to get you automated trust and believe that strategy will always be done first, followed by determining the technology needed to automate.

What's the saying “Those who fail to plan, plan to fail.” That applies to getting automated in your business.

Now if you are ready to see how we do things differently when it comes to automating your business then head over to https://organizingguru.com/15 and let's talk about how we can get you on the path to increased profits.

But instead, you get an email asking you if you still want to purchase said item.

Then a few minutes later you finally get the email you have been waiting for. No harm no foul.

You chalk up the little mishap to technology gremlins and keep it moving.

Except, the next day you get another email about finishing your purchase for said product. And then the next day you get the first of many sales emails about why you should buy said product.

Sound familiar?

So what's happening here when you see that? It could be a few things but let's just talk about one that is pretty prevalent with most businesses.

It's a lack of properly segmenting and tagging in your email marketing system based on what people have done on your website or shopping cart.

Don't feel bad if your business is guilty of this. HUGE name marketers are still getting this wrong.

That's why my business exists. To help set up proper marketing automation the right way so your clients and customers don't have to get annoyed or panicked by these types of mistakes.

Help is just a phone call away.

You know what I'm talking about…trying to learn the latest tech tool and implementing it themselves; building their own website or landing page; trying to understand things that have literally taken professionals years and tons of money to learn and then getting frustrated or upset because they can’t seem to grasp it in 30 minutes. 

The list goes on and on. But you get my point. These are things that should be outsourced to professionals. 

You shouldn’t be wasting time trying to do mundane tasks or learning the latest tool for marketing your business. As the CEO, you are the visionary; your time is best spent communicating your vision and ensuring you have the right people to execute it. If you are a Coach or Consultant your time should be spent coaching. If you sell products your time should be spent coming up with new ideas or how to make the product you sell better. 

Some CEOs are great at selling and acquiring new clients. But that doesn’t mean they should be putting the tech system in place to automate the customer journey. So I’m giving you permission today to take off the “EVERYTHING, I CAN DO IT ALL AND NO ONE CAN DO IT AS GOOD AS ME” hat and go book a Technology Breakthrough Session so I can help relieve some stress by taking over the responsibility of setting up your marketing and sales systems. 

Your sanity will thank you for it!

I’m changing the names of the guilty in order to protect them from embarrassment. 

“James” started sending me emails over a year ago. The first  red flag was when he asked if I still had my coaching business. I have never had a coaching business. But I politely responded and said I didn't and proceeded to tell him what type of business I DID HAVE. Mind you after he sent 3 emails. I only answered back once. But obviously, it was an automated, not even manned email because if he had read my email he would not have contacted me anymore. 

But no, he contacted me again with the same dang question and even bolder claims of his wildly successful business needing help that would in turn make me wildly successful.

 #2

So I didn't answer that email of course. But low and behold after several months I get an email. This time saying he hadn't been able to contact me so he made me a video. 

WTH.

The video was filled with the exact same words he said in the email only personalizing it more by saying my name and insisting that this proves he is a real person. 

I wasn't and still am not impressed. Now I will have to report you as spam and that's a shame.

So what should “James” have done to avoid this unfortunate situation? I’m glad you asked. 

Personalization is a great way to make the person receiving it feel like they are the ONLY ONE you are talking to. But where that takes a left turn is when you use a person’s name but don't get the facts straight or ignore information that they have already told you. Bad, bad, bad marketing. 

And this is especially true if you find someone on a site like LinkedIn. In 2 seconds you can find out what people do by reading their profile. It's really not hard. 

Sidebar: LinkedIn reach outs are becoming a bit ridiculous and just as annoying with the automated spam messages. Don’t let that be you.

Whoever is teaching this “pray and spray” method of marketing should stop. I don't know who it is working on, but definitely not real business owners. 

There is a better way to make sure you personalize your marketing the right way. It's one of the services I provide to my clients. Just book a Technology Breakthrough Call by clicking here to find out more.

I would love to help you properly personalize the customer journey.

No, just me? Lol.

Or maybe you have new service offerings or it’s been a while since your website has had a facelift. But you hate those ugly coming soon pages especially if you have been around for a while and people come to your site regularly. 

Well if you had a Marketing Layer you wouldn’t have to worry about these things AND you would be able to launch your new product, service, or lead magnet quickly without having to mess with your main website. 

Today I want to talk about something I get asked a lot about by my clients. And that is what is a Marketing Layer?  

A Marketing Layer in simple terms is a separate site that houses all of your landing pages, sales pages, and anything that has to do with marketing for your business or company.

A Marketing Layer is a separate layer to your website that is dedicated to only landing pages. So if your website goes down or needs to be redeveloped, your landing pages remain untouched, which means your marketing is always running.

via GIPHY

Why We Use A Marketing Layer

Because if your website is down, your marketing is down.

Say your website is under construction. You need a way to generate leads. Traditionally if all of your landing pages are on the main site, then you can't generate leads until it is back up.

That's why we use a separate WordPress installation, because if it's on your website if your website goes down or needs to be updated, then your marketing goes down. And the Marketing Layer ensures that it's 100% operational, 100% of the time.

This also means if you ever want to update your main website, you don't have to worry about people landing on your sales page or opt-in pages while making updates only to get a “sorry this website is in maintenance right now” or the dreaded 404 page.

It keeps things nice and tidy and your marketing doesn't stop.

That's as far as I will go with the technical piece. (Don't worry, my company handles the technicalities for you )

If you want to get a Marketing Layer setup for your business, head over to https://organizingguru.com/15, and let's chat about getting you set up.

Be sure to check out this podcast episode by my Mentor Chris L. Davis breaking down his approach to a Marketing Layer (the one I follow and execute for my clients) and why EVERY business should have this in place.

By having a website or at the very bare minimum a landing page with an email subscription box – 𝗬𝗢𝗨 𝗢𝗪𝗡 𝗜𝗧. You have access to the emails. You can get in touch and stay in touch with the people who follow you. ⁣

Don't overthink your website. (𝘙𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘢𝘨𝘢𝘪𝘯)⁣

If you are just starting out you need just your contact info, what you do, and how to get in touch. And of course some type of email capture box. And I don't mean just a contact form either. You need an email marketing system to properly capture your leads.

Try to give a freebie to encourage signups. The freebie can be as simple as a checklist or best practice sheet of whatever you do or something a person can get a quick win with.⁣

Your website should never be static so don't worry about it being perfect. You want to get the information to the people. Your website will 𝗔𝗟𝗪𝗔𝗬𝗦 be a work in progress. So relax and just keep it simple.⁣

Now if you have primarily just been running your entire operation on a social media platform – 𝗦𝗧𝗢𝗣. ⁣

Get up a landing page that you direct people to from that social media platform. If you are on Instagram majorly then make the landing page that says “Welcome Insta Followers” and then go into what you do, how you help, how to get in contact, and the email capture box. ⁣

So to recap. Don't rely solely on Social Media to run your business. Create a one-page website or landing page with basic info and email capture capabilities. Then start directing that traffic from social media to your home base so you can start becoming the master of your own traffic by collecting the email addresses. Despite what you might have heard email is not dead. 

Need help getting your business automated and capturing leads the right way? Visit samanthapointerenterprises.com/call

Boards are your projects. Lists are the categories in your project and cards are the tasks to complete in each category. For example this is what my daily dashboard of projects I need to keep up with looks like:

Here is another example of what someone doing a website project might have on their board:

The categories are Techie Stuff, Graphics, and Content. Each tasks that needs to be completed has a card in the appropriate list. As each card or task is completed you can simply move it to the Completed list to get it out of the way and see how far you have progressed.

The great thing about Trello is that it is very easy to use. Even those who aren't tech savvy can use it with ease. You simply drag and drop cards between lists. If you have hundreds of projects and hundreds of lists with hundreds of cards, it can be a pain to stay organized and find which card you want when you want it but it is possible.

Some nice features of Trello include the ability to change the background color or image of each board, easily add team members to specific boards and cards, label the cards with colors and tags, and set due dates. When you set a due date on a card, Trello has a calendar view that allows you to see the cards on a calendar. This is helpful when deadlines are critical.

Trello has also made it simple to copy or duplicate boards or cards. This is a must have if you want to you offer your boards as templates to others as a free opt-in gift or a bonus for a purchase. It makes it easy to share your expertise in a different format.

Very Budget Friendly

Of course, the feature that has made Trello so popular is that it is free! You get all the main and most important features FREE. That is awesome! Now there is an upgrade available for only $5 a month ($3.75 if you pay yearly). The Trello Gold plan gives you three Power-Ups per board, custom backgrounds, stickers, and emoji, premium stickers, 250MB attachment limits, and saved searches. If you love Trello and refer your friends you can earn a free month of Trello Gold for every friend that signs up.

Drawbacks

As with all things, there are negative aspects to Trello. No application is perfect for everyone. What works for one business may not for another.  As I mentioned earlier, if you have a lot cards the boards can get a little messy and if you have OCD tendencies, this could be an issue. The ability to delete a card, list, or board is hidden and takes multiple clicks to find and complete.

If you need to track the time each task takes to complete, you will have to use a third party application such as Toggl or Harvest App.

If you are like many others and get overwhelmed when starting with a blank slate, you may want to find some Trello templates to help get started. Trello has a list of templates for inspiration that can be found at: https://trello.com/inspiration.

Trello is a great project management tool for anyone who likes visual representations of their projects and tasks. With its ease of use and inexpensive cost (free!), it is a great option for entrepreneurs and those running small businesses. Click here to get started!

I started using Slack a few years ago as an alternative to talking with my accountability partner in Facebook Messenger. Messenger is great for quick communications but not for dropping important business info and files. Especially when you need to refer back. Trying to find things was a nightmare .

A Focus On Communication

Since Slack’s main focus is communication it is not setup as you would expect a project management tool to be. Slack is separated into channels. A channel is a single space for discussion and sharing of information and documents on a particular topic. As you can see from the image below I have several channels. If you are using Slack for project management then you would want a channel for each project. For instance if you have a project for a new website, the name of the website would be the channel and all discussions regarding the website would happen in this channel.

Another option would be to create channels based on topics or type of tasks. If you have ongoing tasks such as emails the channel might simply be named emails. You can set the channels up in whatever way makes the most sense for you and your team. Remember that each channel allows you to communicate with your teammates. You can make channels public or private.

If you need speak with only a small group of your team, Slack offers group conversations also known as threads. Threads allows a small number of people to communicate without the information getting lost in the larger channel. Threads can only be created based on a message in the channel. It works a lot like direct messaging and you can add others to the thread as needed. Just remember that threads are not private. They are searchable and the information discussed can be found!

Other Neat Features

A fun feature Slack offers is voice and face to face video calls which includes screen sharing with team members. You don’t have to use a third party app if you want to have a quick call with a team member or get a group of team members together quickly. You can do so directly in Slack.

If you plan to use Slack for project management, Slack does offer a post option where you can create to-do lists, take notes, and collaborate on articles or other types of content. When you use the to-do lists in conjunction with the /remind feature Slack can help keep track of work to be done.

The /remind feature is a lot like working with Siri or Alexa. This features uses the slackbot to give you reminders when you tell it to. If you have a task you need to work on you can tell the slackbot to remind you when it’s due and when you should start working on it. You can use the /remind feature for almost anything and it’s an awesome tool to help you and your team not to forget anything important.

While Slack makes it easy to integrate with third-party apps including: If This Then That (IFTTT) for automation,  Google Drive, Dropbox, Twitter, MailChimp, Trello, Zendesk, and more, don’t forget it’s focus is still on communication and collaboration. If you decide to use the free plan you are limited to how many integrations you can hook up. So make sure they are well thought out and absolutely necessary for your business.

I have my Google Calendar, ClickUp, Asana, and about 3 other apps hooked up. It's easy to get lost and distracted in channels so it’s important that each team member works to keep the Channels and Threads organized.

I hope this has shown you what you and your team can do with Slack. If you are a solopreneur and don’t have a big team don’t be discouraged from using Slack. I’ve been using it with just me and one other person and it has worked great. You can click here and give it a try. Hopefully Slack can be a great tool in your business toolbox.

Google Analytics (also referred to as GA throughout this blog post) is a Google product. It is a web-based application that reveals important traffic and behavior patterns in relationship to your online business. In Google's own words, GA is:

“… a freemium web analytics service offered by Google that tracks and reports website traffic.  Google Analytics is now the most widely used web analytics service on the Internet.”

Google.com

The free service has evolved since 2005 to answer, among other questions, the following:

• How many unique and repeat visitors go to your site/blog each month?

• What countries is your traffic coming from?

• Which websites, blogs, and search engines are referring your visitors?

• Do your visitors prefer to access your business on their smartphone, tablet, laptop, or desktop PC? (Super important info when having a website designed)

• Which web browser do they use?

• Which pages of your site attract the most traffic? (This helps you know what content to keep producing and what to stop)

• What type of content engages your prospects and keeps them on your site, and what kinds of content have them leaving in a hurry?

• Perhaps most importantly, which of your marketing campaigns and strategies are the most and least effective?

Understanding the answers to those and other important traffic questions is extremely powerful. Google sends two to three times the traffic to your website as all other search engines combined, so it makes sense to pay attention to what this Internet giant has to say about your traffic. Google has created this intelligent and free piece of software which integrates perfectly with your website to reveal important information you need for optimizing your online web properties. Read on to find out how to get started with this awesome free tool.

Creating a Google Analytics Account

Creating your Google Analytics account is a fairly simple process.

The first step is to visit the sign up page. If you currently have an email account through Gmail you can use it to sign into your analytics account. For those without a Gmail account you will need to create the entire account first.

Once you have created an account or signed into your gmail account you will be taken to the signup page. (More info on accessing analytics)

All of the information on the sign up page is quite self-explanatory, simply enter the URL of your website, create an account name, enter your time zone, country, etc. Once the information has been entered you will then get a tracking ID after agreeing to the terms and conditions.

Installing Google Analytics on WordPress

After you have created your Google Analytics account, it is important to copy your tracking code to use on your website.  Since WordPress is one of the most popular website platforms out there, we will look at it.  

There are several ways for installing Google Analytics through WordPress. They are:

• Using a direct copy/paste to your themes footer/header file
• Updating the functions.php page
• Or with plugins.

The recommended method is to use a plugins as this will make the entire process much simpler.

There are a ton of different plugins that are available that will help you add Google Analytics to your website. Using one of the simple, lightweight plug ins is recommended when you are first starting out. I use ExactMetrics on my site.

The direct paste method is fairly simple as well. You will simply copy your Google Analytics code to the header.php (or footer.php) file of your theme. It should be pasted right after your <body> tag (or right before the </body> tag in footer).

You should really only use the Functions.php method if you absolutely know what to do. You will want to use the appropriate code in the functions.php file for your theme on WordPress. You will also need to paste in the Google Analytics code you received when you signed up.  

Using Google Analytics

Google Analytics is really a must have for every website. This service is free to use and will provide you with valuable insight into your websites traffic. By using the data provided by Google Analytics to fully understand your audience and what they are doing while on your site you will be able to improve our marketing campaigns and provide even more value to your audience.

“Your strategy is important for using technology tools.”

Samantha Pointer Foxx

Season 3 Episode 1 – click below to listen.

I usually pray about what should be my words and see what comes up in my spirit. After much praying this is what came up for me.

Drum roll please …

1. Focus: I am going to focus on the vision and prize for this year. I have things that are in the works that need to be accomplished and that will only happen with steadfast focus. I can’t let setbacks and other people and circumstances throw me off what I am supposed to be doing and God’s plan for me. (Scripture to meditate on: 1 Corinthians 15:58)
2. Words: This year I will be watching my words. The Bible says that death and life are in the power of the tongue. A lot of what I went through last year was nothing but what I had spoken carelessly in previous years. Words are so important and can create your reality. So I will be putting a muzzle on my mouth and only speaking LIFE to me, my spouse, my kids, my family, my business, my friends and my clients. No complaining this year! No matter what! (Scripture to meditate on: 1 Peter 3:10, Proverbs 18:21)
3. Relationships: I am going to be real intentional about the relationships I have and creating new ones. Nurturing those relationships I already have is really important to me. I only want to make real true connections. No ulterior motives. No selfish ambitions. Only positive vibes as they say . (Scripture to meditate on: Matthew 22:36-40)

As for my bonus word, I will be practicing that daily. It's something that has taken me a lifetime to work on but now more than ever I need to really bring it to the forefront.

So there you have it. My 3 words for 2020. I want to wish everyone a Happy New Year! Make sure you don't bring into 2020 what you needed to shed in 2019.

Do you have a word(s) or theme that you focus on for the year? If so sound off in the comments. I would love to see them!

Watch as I talk about batching and pre-planning and how automation helps. 

If you are ready to take your business to the next level and stop running on the “manual” bus, I invite you to jump on a FREE 20 minute call with me to see how I can assist you in your business. 

The pastor explained he would have been pulling himself and doing whatever he needed to do in order to get to that pool and be ready to be the first in if it was him. 

That got me to thinking about how often we wait on things in life waiting on someone else to help us get there or waiting for a perfect time. How many blessings have we missed? How many opportunities for business growth have we missed by waiting on someone else?

I've waited on implementing or launching things waiting on conditions to be right or a “better time”. What I have learned is there is no better time. There are no right conditions. 

If you want change – GET MOVING. Get implementing. Quit waiting!

If you know you need it, or need to do it then get it done. Pull the trigger and execute. It's time to get off your excuse bed and walk.

Nothing changes until you do.

Need Tech & Social Media Help? Let's Chat!

Everyone wants a speedy website. A fast website means happy customers and happy customers mean repeat customers. Even Google pays attention to your site’s speed and has even started penalizing slow sites in their search results and no one wants that.

To test the speed of your website you can use tools such as Google Page Speed Test, Pingdom, and GTMetrix. Perform a speed test before taking any actions to increase the page speed. Once you have taken steps to increase the speed of your website, perform the test once more to see the difference. These sites will also give you suggestions on how to improve your site’s speed and if you use WordPress to run your website a plugin like W3 Total Cache can fix most of them.

What is W3 Total Cache?

W3 Total Cache is a web performance optimization WordPress plugin. It has been around for a long time and has a 4.5 star rating in the WordPress plugin repository. While W3 Total Cache boasts numerous benefits, it’s biggest benefit is the decreased load time of a WordPress website.

The biggest features of W3 Total Cache include:

●     SSL Support

●     Content Management Delivery Support

●     Caching of not only pages, but categories, comments, Javascript, CSS, search results, database objects, and more

●     Minification of Javascript, CSS, and posts/pages,

Installing W3 Total Cache

Installing W3 Total Cache works just like any other WordPress plugin. In the administration area under the New Plugin option simply search for W3 Total Cache and click on the install and activate buttons. Setting the plugin up does take a little thought but it is not hard or complicated to do. There are just a lot of options. I promise it’s not as intimidating as it looks.

The first task to take, under the general settings tab for the plugin, is to make sure Page Cache is enabled so W3 Total Cache can do its job. Cache is a collection of your website pages that is saved and then shown to visitors as they visit the page reducing download speeds. This will allow W3 Total Cache to create the static pages needed to reduce the load time of your website. For a beginner or website with low traffic this is probably all you need to do in order to speed up your website and all the configuration needed.

If after enabling the Page cache you need your website speed still seems slow, you may want to take further steps by minifying your Javascript and CSS files. This will remove all the extra white space in the code so it’s less lines to process in the browser. Google defines minification as the “process of removing unnecessary or redundant data without affecting how the resource is processed by the browser – e.g. code comments and formatting, removing unused code, using shorter variable and function names, and so on.” You turn this feature on in W3 Total Cache under the setting’s Minify menu option. Just click the enable checkboxes for HTML, JS, and CSS. Be sure to remember to save your settings.

If after enabling cache and turning on minification of Javascript and CSS files, you still feel like your site is running slow, then W3 Total Cache also works with CDNs – content delivery networks.

According to CloudFlare a CDN “refers to a geographically distributed group of servers which work together to provide fast delivery of Internet content.” There are numerous CDNs available so do you homework and research before choosing one.

Other items to consider when troubleshooting a slow site is the size of images being used and the WordPress database itself.  Both can be optimized. Also check to make sure your site is secure and hasn’t been compromised.

Overall W3 Total Cache is an excellent WordPress plugin to help enhance your website’s speed.

What is Nozbe?

Nozbe is a project management application available for use on a web browser, Mac, Windows, Linux, Android, iPad and iPhone.

Nozbe has been a around since 2007 and isn’t going anywhere but forward. It was initially inspired by David Allen’s book: “Getting Things Done (GTD) – The Art of Stress Free Productivity” and you can see the inspiration throughout the app.

It has since evolved into it’s own thing with the creator showing how he runs his entire company with only an iPad and Nozbe. They don’t even have an office (learn more about that by clicking here)! But enough about the background let’s jump into the reasons why you should be using it too in your business.

Below are 8 reasons why Nozbe just might be right tool for your small business:

1. Time Estimations – While Nozbe does not offer time tracking it does allow you to enter the estimated time it takes to complete a task. This helps to schedule the right amount of time to get the task completed. It is also a great way to let a team member, such as a virtual assistant, know how long they should expect to work on a task.
2. Recurring Tasks – Recurring tasks are a must in project management. It’s time consuming and frustrating to have to copy the same task over and over again. If you need your virtual assistant to accomplish a certain task every week just set it up as a recurring task and they will be assigned that task every week without you having to lift a finger. I personally use recurring tasks for office admin tasks like writing my newsletter and blogging because I do it the same day every week.
3. Templates – Templates are great for product creation and business processes. Create a template with all the tasks and details needed for the project. The next time you have a similar project just use the template to save time and have your project tasks ready for you to start taking action on.
4. Listed Based – Some people are visual people and some are list people. Nozbe is for list people. There are no distractions of graphics or visual pieces. Just the tasks you need to focus on to help move your business forward.
5. Third Party Apps – Nozbe plays nicely with numerous third party apps such as Evernote, Google, Microsoft Office, Box, and Dropbox. I love that I can sink my tasks into my Google Calendar.
6. Desktop and Mobile Apps – While Nozbe is available to use over the internet in a web browser you can also download a desktop and mobile app. The mobile app is great to add items as inspiration strikes while you are out and about. The desktop app is for those who don’t like to have too many browser windows or tabs open at once. The  desktop app is a stand alone software application that works the same way as the Nozbe does in a web browser. Keep in mind you will need to be on a paid plan for your information to sink across all of the platforms. Very worth it for me.
7. Categories – One of Nozbe’s most popular feature is categories. Each task within a project can be assigned a category. Tasks in this category can come from multiple projects. For example, you may have a task to make a phone call in project 1 and project 2. If you categorize those tasks as ‘phone calls’, when you view the category you will see all the phone calls you need to make regardless of the project. This allows you to knock out the same type of tasks for multiple projects at the same time. This saves tons of time and a great way to use “batching”.
8. Priority Tasks – Nozbe is unique in that it has a priority tasks tab. If you added a due date to tasks when the tasks is nearing the due date Nozbe will automatically put it in the priority list for task to do. You can also add any tasks you want to this list. This is a great a way to stay on schedule and not to let anything fall through the cracks. I put things that I absolutely must do in the priority tasks list. My brain dumps can be put in the regular list. Only clicking the star will cause it to be priority. You can also turn tasks by clicking the star on any tasks.

Everyone works in different ways and Nozbe works great for those who love the “Get It Done” system and checking off lists.  It offers the most important features needed for a project management app while still keeping it cost effective for small businesses.

Want to check out Nozbe for yourself? Click the image below and check it out.

While WordPress does have some security risks, most of these are relatively simple to plug as long as you know where to look. This post will provide some easy and straightforward tips to help you fortify your site and to avoid common mistakes.

Tip #1 – Consider Your Host

WordPress security isn’t all about WordPress! Another weakness can often lie in your hosting account, so make sure you research the security of your hosting provider thoroughly before choosing one. Look for hosts that are willing to discuss security concerns and offer the most recent stable updates to server software. My host of choice is WPX Hosting.

Tip #2 – And Your Computer!

Likewise, another alternative ‘way in’ for hackers is through your computer. If you have malware on your system, this can do things like record your keystrokes in order to isolate passwords. Make sure your security software is up-to-date and that you do regular scans.

Tip #3 – Keep Updated

Many vulnerabilities exist in WordPress itself and the plugins that you install, but as long as no one finds them, you’re safe. The problem is, people do find them and when that happens you can briefly be vulnerable.

In the vast majority of cases, the developers of WordPress or the plugins will identify the flaws in their security very shortly after they come to light. They will then issue an update to fix them. This is why it’s so important that you update not only WordPress but also all of your plugins every time a new update is issued. I can't stress this enough! If you don’t, then you might be leaving well-publicized flaws in your security for hackers to take advantage of!

Tip #4 – Avoid Unnecessary Plugins

Every plugin you add to your site presents new potential security flaws in your code. Having too many then will unnecessarily leave you susceptible to a number of possible attacks and can also slow down your site. Don’t use more plugins than you need and make sure you research the quality of any that you do decide to use.

Tip #5 – Install Security Plugins

Some plugins that are useful are those specifically designed to provide additional security to your WordPress site. This is a very easy way to upgrade your sites fortifications that takes minutes – so do it! My security plugin of choice is Wordfence.

Tip #6 – Choose a Smart Password

This is a simple and easy one but it’s too often ignored. Make sure that you use a strong password and username combo for your admin login. And for the love of God please don't use ‘Admin' for your username. My password manager of choice is LastPass.

Having a WordPress site is the best choice in my opinion for your website needs, but don't neglect keeping it safe. With these steps you will have a safe and sound website.

The UpdraftPlus plugin is exactly as it sounds, a plugin to backup your WordPress website. A backup plugin should be one of the first plugins you ever install on your WordPress site. Along with a security plugin, but that is another post.

You can’t depend on your webhost to backup your site (although my webhost WPX Hosting does for free), it is your responsibility. Luckily the UpdraftPlus backup plugin makes this a simple job. 

Some key features include:

• Restore backups directly from WordPress
• Schedule backups
• Send your site’s backups to the cloud for safe keeping
• Migration – move your site from one place to another easily
• Supports backing up multiple and non-WordPress databases

UpdraftPlus is easy to install and setup. Just install UpdraftPlus like you would any another WordPress plugin. Once the plugin is installed and activated you will notice a new menu option in your WordPress admin area named UpdraftPlus Backups. 

If you just want to do a quick backup and download it to your computer then when you navigate to the UpdraftPlus settings page, simply click on the blue Backup Now button. This will start a new backup of your WordPress site. Once it is finished you will be able to download it under the Existing Backups tab. The amount time for the backup to finish will depend on the size of your WordPress site.

Of course, it is best practice to schedule your site’s backup so that you always have a good recent working backup. To setup a backup schedule simply click on the Settings tab and choose how often you would like the backup to run. I personally recommend that you backup your database daily if you publish a lot of content. The files backup includes uploads to the media library, plugin files, and theme files. Unless you are constantly altering your theme a weekly or bi-weekly backup schedule will work just fine.

When scheduling your site’s backups don’t forget to set a destination for the backup. You don’t want to save your backups on your web host. The backups will take up a lot of space and if something happens to your web host you may not have access to the backups. With UpdraftPlus you can send your backups to Dropbox, Google Drive, Amazon S3, or you can even have it emailed to you.

You set up the destination for your backups on the same page you schedule backups. Just scroll down a little bit and you will see your options. Choose the destination of your choice and the plugin will walk you through the rest.

Unlike some other WordPress backup plugins, you can restore any backup created by UpdraftPlus directly from WordPress. There is no separate script or file you have to copy over and install to perform a restore. This also makes it simple to move or copy a WordPress site to another location.

Installing a backup plugin should be one of the first tasks taken when creating a WordPress site.  UpdraftPlus makes it very easy to schedule your backups so you don’t have to worry about it and can spend more time completing money making tasks in your business.

If you don't want to read you can always watch the video below.

Let's Begin…

The first thing you need to do is log in to your WordPress administration area. Be sure you're logging in as a user who has administrative privileges. Once you're logged in from the left menu, we're going to click on the plugin option. This will give you a list of all the plugins installed on your website. You may have just a couple. You may have a lot. Every WordPress site is different.

We're going to add a new plugin, so at the top click the add new button. This will show you all the available plugins on the WordPress repository. We're going to do a search. In the top right hand corner is a search box. Type in backup and hit enter. You will get a lot of results. The only one we are interested in is the UpDraftPlus WordPress Backup plugin. It should be the first result.

We want to install this plugin, so we're going to hit the install now button. This will download it to your WordPress site, and once it is downloaded, you will be shown a blue activate button. Go ahead and click the activate button and this will turn on that plugin on your wordpress site. Once that is completed, you'll be taken back to your plugins page and you will now see you have the UpDraftPlus Backup/Restore plugin listed. From here, we're going to click on the settings button just under the UpDraftPlus plugin title.

You may also get to the settings page by the left menu under settings and UpDraftPlus Backups. Now, to do a single backup, all you have to do is click the backup now blue button, you will be shown a pop up, which gives you a couple options.

The first option says to include the database in the backup. You almost always want this checked. The database includes all your content, your posts, your pages, your comments, your categories, or tags, all that kind of stuff. The next option is to include any files in the backup. Again, this is another one you'll probably check. This one include your plugin files, your theme files, your Media Library, such as images you use in your blog posts, all that kind of stuff. So next all you have to do is click the backup now button.

The amount of time it takes depends on the size of your site. It may go through pretty quickly and it may take a little while to do a backup. To view backups that have been completed, all we have to do is click on this existing backup tab and you will now see the backup that you just completed.

Under backup data, you will have five different options. The database, plugins, themes, uploads, which is your media library, and others. These are all the backup files and database that the plugin backed up. To download these, you just click on the one you want to download. For instance, the database, and once it is ready for download, all you have to do is click the download to your computer button and it will download the backup to your computer, and once that is successfully downloaded, you can delete it from your web hosts to save space.

Something else you can do with UpDraft is you can set it up to automatically trigger backups, so you don't have to do it manually. Just click on the settings tab. You can set up schedules like a schedule for the files backup. So where it says files backup schedule, it currently says manual. You can click on that drop down box and choose how often you want the files to be backed up. Again, this is your plugin files. Your theme files, graphics that are in your media library or anything you've uploaded to WordPress.

A lot of people just choose weekly, but you need to assess the needs of your website and your blog. So for this example I will choose weekly and then you need to also choose how often you'd want to backup the database. Again, this is all your content, your recent posts, your pages, your comments.

So next to database backup schedule. Again, it says manual right now, let's change that to daily. Again, based on the needs of your personal website and your needs, you can change this to whatever option is right for you.

Now the next option is where you want this backup to go. You have an option to save it to a third party site such as Dropbox or Google Drive. You can have it go to Amazon S3 and of course you can also have it emailed to you. So in this example let's choose email. When you email it to you it will automatically go to the admin account on your website, so whoever's the administrator, it will go to that email account.

You now have a scheduled back up, and that's how quickly and easily you can backup your wordpress site for free.

Grab this PDF to go through the steps easily.

By setting up email autoresponders, you can still communicate with your audience or tribe via your email list. This is great if you are going to be away for an extended amount of time. Set it and it keeps running without you having to get it started. 

I just completed a training on setting up your own email autoresponder in MailChimp. Just click here to check it out.