Technology is one of the many tools you use to create the systems that help your business to flow on the levels of energy, client relationships, money, and your own product/service development. So how can you envision technology to help you decrease stress and create ease and flow in your specific business as they relate to these key areas?

The key is to get the big picture of what you need to serve you and your clients at the highest level of efficiency for a certain timeframe in your business.

Your systems evolve and grow with you, but they are also the train track along which your business train runs. The key is to choose systems that you can lean into for at least 1-3 years so you can build and grow and stay consistent in how you deliver your services to your clients.

With the mindset of creating ease and flow for you and your clients over the next 1-3 years, here are the 3 categories of tech that you should focus on:

1. Client Relationship Management – This is what you use to keep all of the information about your client in one place and to manage the aspects necessary to promote ease in your relationship. This includes scheduling, contracts, email, and invoicing. You can use separate services for each one of these or go with an all-in-one like Dubsado or 17hats. (I use 17hats and love it!)
2. Service Delivery – This is how you use technology to deliver your services. This is where you would use a service that you can use to meet your clients virtually, whether one on one or in groups. Or where you would choose a service to deliver content online to your clients either in a course platform like Kajabi (which I use and love), or Teachable or Thinkific, or another platform that meets your specific needs. Services like My Coach Office can also combine elements from groups one and two to meet your needs.
3. Business management – This is how you use tech to run the backend of your business- your accounting and project management. This is the piece that is often overlooked when setting up. I use the standard QuickBooks online for accounting and click up for project management. I didn’t start using project management software until the last couple of years and it has been a game-changer for staying focused on essential projects in my life and business.

So if you are feeling stressed about how to navigate tech in your online coaching business, first take a step back and look at these three areas of core systems needs. Then look for the easiest combination of software that can meet these needs for a couple of years. Most coaches upgrade elements of their tech as their businesses grow, and with the exception of a few core elements, like accounting software, you want to choose tech that is a good fit for you for 1-3 years.

Most software systems have trial periods so try them on for size, see how you feel in your body. Does the interface feel intuitive and easy for you to use? Do you feel a sense of relief using it? And when you imagine yourself using the system, what time/energy does it free up for you to focus on your business growth?

At the end of the day, your tech systems should make your life easier, not more complicated, and free you up to do the important work of coaching and growing your business.