The coaching business resources on this page include tools that I’ve tested and approved, as well as web designers I’ve researched, so you don’t have to spend time looking for ace support.
Assessment/ Quiz System
Opt-in Quiz Generator (affiliate link)
Create your own assessment or quiz to use as a freebie or bonus on your website. You write the questions, answers and your responses, plug the text into the program, connect it to your website (with a little help from your web designer) and you’ve got a really valuable lead generation and client conversion tool.
Audio Recording Service
AudioAcrobat (affiliate link)
Record phone calls, teleclasses and teleconferences and post streaming audio on your website, in a email postcard or as a downloadable MP3 file. For teleclasses you’ll need a bridgeline.
Blog / Web Services
I recommend you have your website created by a professional web designer on WordPress and then hosted by a service provider like BlueHost (see below). Sites created with a template that are not finessed by a web designer tend to look like a template and won’t reflect well on you. So unless you have significant html coding skills, choose a designer, get on their wait list, and have them begin work on your site only AFTER you have completed all the tasks in Module 1, 2 and 3. Be sure you give your designer your Creative Brief and making sure they understand and can deliver what you want before contracting with them.
Web Design Services
Marki has brought her intuitive eye for purpose and design to coaches’ websites since 1996. She builds and maintains blogs and websites, and has a special knack for newsletters. She puts busy coaches at ease with her reliability and insight.
Web Domain Registration
GoDaddy (affiliate link)
New registrations around $8.95/yr!
Web Graphics
Erika Ruggiero of Design on the Side
I create stunning graphics for print, social media, and the web. I can develop your brand identity or give new life to your existing brands. With 13+ years of graphic expertise, I’m a one-woman show you don’t want to miss.
Web Hosting Services
BlueHost (affiliate link)
Professional hosting for about $6.95/month!
Web Software
WordPress
WordPress started as just a blogging system, but has evolved to be used as full content management system and so much more through the thousands of plugins, widgets, and themes, WordPress is limited only by your imagination. Be sure you download WordPress from WordPress.ORG not .com so that you can use your own domain.
Bridgelines
FreeConferencing
This free conferencing service is simple and easy to use, requiring only a name and email address to receive an instant account. Features like recording, muting, conference lock, Q&A and more are all accessible by both regular touch tone and right on your computer with just a click of your mouse.
Business Card Printing
Vistaprint
Don’t spend a lot of money on your business card and other materials when you can get professional cards and brochures for FREE and low fees.
Calendar (Online)
Google Calendar
A FREE simple online calendar system so that your VA and team can share calendars and easily manage your schedule for you.
TimeTrade
A powerful tool that eliminates the back-and-forth emails and increases the number of scheduled consultations and meetings.
Client Relationship Management System
The Coaches Console (affiliate link)
The Coaches Console is an online practice management system created by coaches for coaches to help you conquer administrative overload, focus on clients – not paperwork, and honor the priorities you set.
Email Campaign / Autoresponder Service
Aweber (affiliate link)
The most reliable, easiest, most cost effective tool to capture visitor sign ups, send unlimited follow ups, email blogs and ezines. Now integrates your blog subscribers too! This service is far superior in so many ways to many of the other email services. You’ll get better delivery for your emails and functionality beyond email blasts and autoresponders.
Images (Royalty Free) for Web and Print
iStockphoto
Register for free and access low-priced royalty-free stock photography. Download from a huge collection of royalty free images.
International Clock / Time Zone Converter
World Clock
Have a client in Dubai, Hong Kong or South Africa? Find out the time difference between you and your clients here.
Membership Software
Digital Access Pass (affiliate link)
Made for WordPress, DAP is a complete solution for selling access to all types of products and membership levels. And for delivering all types of content. Works on Non-WordPress Sites too (plain HTML web sites).
Merchant Account (Credit Card) Service / Online Shopping Cart
Practice Pay Solutions (affiliate link)
Accept credit cards online for your services and products. Since 1997, Practice Pay Solutions has been the vendor of choice for professionals, nonprofits, and membership associations. Also offers a shopping cart for your web site (1 Shopping Cart).
Social Networking Organizer
Hootsuite
If managing Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn is getting you down, super-organize your time and social networking tasks with Hootsuite. It’s FREE. Just sign up, add your “streams” – the specific social networking accounts you use – and then play around to make it work for you.
Url Shortener
bit.ly
When Tweeting or marketing online, sometimes it’s best to have a shortened url to link to your programs. This is a simple FREE tool that will not only create a short url for you, you can also track how many click-throughs you received.
WordPress Plugins
If you’ve ever wished for a feature on your site, chances are a developer has created it! Be sure to use only WP Certified plugins, those that can be found in the wp plugins database (http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/) to protect yourself from hackers. Also, the more plugins added to your site, the slower it becomes, so use discretion and just go with the essentials and build up.
EasyVideoPlayer 2 (affiliate link)
EasyVideoPlayer 2 is a red hot product which helps many people use video powefully in their business. Control your website while your video plays! Have buy buttons and content, appear at designated times.
Popup Domination (affiliate link)
Increase subscriber rates to your freebie offer, ezine or RSS feed, by creating an eye-catching pop-up form to capture your reader’s email address. This plugin has nearly doubled my own list!
WordPress Themes
OptimizePress is a revolutionary new WordPress Theme that gives you the power to create killer squeeze pages, sales letters, one-time offer pages, launch pages and much more, all through a simple point and click interface.
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