A Business Girl’s Christmas List
Christmas is just around the corner and truth be told, I usually spend my Christmas list items on things for my business. It’s useful, it makes me happy and it makes me money. I win all around. For my Christmas wish list this year, I am giving you my top tools, systems and courses of 2017. (And yes, I use affiliate codes because I think if you post about it you should make money. You can learn about how to use affiliate codes for your business here.)
Tools
The two most important tools in my tool belt are my laptop and my camera. These are the life blood of my business.
MacBook Pro
For the first Christmas after my husband graduated from residency, he surprised me and gave me a MacBook Pro. This laptop has changed my whole business. It works seamlessly with my photography, design and video work.
Canon Camera
As a photographer and a business owner, I know the importance of having high quality pictures for social media. Let me just tell you, an iphone can only take you so far. When you are ready to really take your business to the next level, upgrading your camera and your photography skills is a must. (I even have a course for that. Check out my Girlfriend’s Guide to Photo Basics Course here.)
I have a Canon 6d but you don’t have to spend a lot to get a great camera. The canon camera linked here is a great one for the non-photographer.
JoTotes Camera Bag
Because you must always be ready to take that professional shot, I carry my nice camera every where I go in a JoTotes camera bag. JoTotes bags are built with adjustable compartments so that you can keep your camera and lenses safe and secure. Plus, they are the highest quality and gorgeous. I actually have a whole collection of JoTotes (one for big sessions, traveling and everyday) but this is my favorite for a night or weekend out.
Systems
Business systems are what make the world go round. They help me automate and grow my business. These two systems are my favorites.
Ontraport-Email List Manager
Ontraport is an email list manager and everything else. I first started building my email list on MailChimp, which worked until I grew to a point where I needed more. Ontraport. Is. Everything. You can target audiences, build smart pages, track every detail and grow your email list. The price tag is a bit higher than MailChimp, but when you are ready to really use your email list, Ontraport is for you.
Interact-Quiz Maker
Obviously I’m a bit obsessed with email marketing and Interact Quiz Maker is one of the newest strategies I’m adding to my business. Their software allows you to quickly and easily create quizzes that capture email addresses. You know these quizzes work because you’ve clicked on a million of them while scrolling Facebook. With the Interact system, you can start using those quizzes to start making money. And it is free to sign up! Head on over, friend.
Courses
Online courses are my favorite things about living in this day. I can learn anything I want without leaving my home. Miraculous. The following courses are my favorite of 2017.
StoryBrand Workshop
This course is LIFE CHANGING (and a bit expensive). The Story Brand Workshop allows you to simplify your message so that people will listen. Sorting through how to talk to our audience can be difficult. The Story Brand framework that they teach makes talking and writing about your brand very easy.
Hand Lettered Design- Use Code IAMMG20 to get 20% off any course
My good friend, Lisa Funk, makes some amazing courses about how to do hand lettering. While this isn’t business related, building your creativity always makes your business and life better.
Alison’s Brand School
If you’ve ever listened to the Alison Show Podcast, you know that Alison is a branding genius. She has built her business working with brands and being awesome. In her Brand School audio courses, she walks you through how to work with brands and how to work with influencers. A must for any entrepreneur.
A Girlfriend’s Guide to Blogging
So, this is my course on blogging. I didn’t take it this year, but I did create it. And, I am really proud of it and here’s why. The girls who are taking it keep emailing me and telling me how helpful it is to start with a foundation of best blogging practices. I took my 10 years of blogging knowledge and boiled it down into an actionable game plan. Do yourself a favor, save some time and take this course.
That is my Christmas list for this year. This year has been my most stretching and most surprising year yet. These tools, systems and courses are what have helped me build the most.
I’m teaming up with some of my blogging friends and you can check out their Christmas lists here:
Check out these gift guides:
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