S2:E4 Shiny Object Syndrome, Tool Pivots, and Dancing Horses
Meet your Season TWO Co-Host: Alexa Howell
Alexa is a brand strategist and business mentor for small business owners who want to grow their business in a way that feels aligned, authentic, and without burning the candle at both ends of the stick.
When is the right time to change your CRM? How to bring simplicity into your tools without starting over. What you should care about when outlining a new process. Alexa and Erin discuss all of these ideas and more on episode four.
This is the first of two peer coaching episodes where we ask each other to solve problems on a recorded line. Today Alexa talks about her need to feel like she has a fresh start with her tools as she pivots what her business looks like.
We also kick off the convo with more fun questions that provide some delicious details about childhood activities, how many tabs we have open, and what drinks we’re loving.
In this peer coaching episode, Alexa lays out her current dilemma on whether to keep Dubsado CRM, which she was using in her business, or set up a new tool like Tezzera.
I prompt Alexa with questions to identify the best course of action for her, covering:
Shiny Object Syndrome
When to keep your Tech
When Simplification of the current tech might be best
When to burn it down and start over.
As part of this discovery process, we talk about how her clients like to communicate and what her basic requirements are. While tools like to proclaim they are “all-in-one” they usually don’t provide the best level of support for all of them. I recommend having at least 4 tools from providers who specialize in each area: CRM, PM, Email Marketing, Money
The combination for you might be different than someone else, but a few common ones are:
Dubsado + ClickUp + Flodesk + QuickBooks
Honeybook + Asana + Kit + Xero
Moxie + Kitchen + Kit + Xero
The best way to decide if the tools are right, is to document your client journey in a process map. This will show your ideal path for the best client experience and then you see what tools will fit your process.
Before you automate or set up templates, a checklist might be the best way to start with new offers. You can begin to expand it and provide details and context which will eventually provide the groundwork for future standardized steps.
Before implementing any new offer process, think through it from your client’s perspective. What will they feel and experience at each step? This might showcase areas where they feel overwhelmed with information or neglected.
The important thing to remember when creating a new offer: it doesn’t have to be perfect the first time. We should be refining the offer and the process to deliver it on a regular basis.
Tune in for more!
Chapters
00:00 Fun Questions with Alexa
07:15 Introduction to Two Desks Down Podcast
11:04 Tech Stack Transformation
15:38 Simplifying Client Management
16:23 Navigating Client Communication Challenges
18:35 Streamlining Client Processes with Automation
21:25 Simplifying Workflow Management
24:07 Refining Offers and Client Experience
26:20 Testing and Confidence in Systems
29:10 Building an Effective Tech Stack
I’m your host, Erin!
Systems pro, avid fiction reader, and new Portugal resident
It takes a minute to get to know the real me. So when I decided to start a podcast, I knew it had to be different than your usual show. While most guest-led episodes limit us to just one conversation, I wanted Two Desks Down to be more than that.
Here, you’ll learn you aren’t the only one having that problem, business advice from experts, and what books to add to your TBR.
two desks down
This is the small business podcast where you can drop in - just two desks down - to get advice from people who get it, make a new friend, and have some fun. Every season’s a new guest. Every episode is less than an hour. And every single one’s a good listen.
