Here are my FAVOURITE tools for running my business

All-in-one Business software:  Kajabi

Why?  Because sometimes the technology required to run an online business gets complicated, overwhelming and expensive. Kajabi's all-in-one platform allows you to manage everything from email marketing, landing pages, offers, sales pages, your website, webinars, courses, memberships, and even comes with its own app for your clients.

Simply put, it's easy: and it's for people who are serious about building an online business.

Grab your free 28-day trial here (exclusively through me, a proud Kajabi partner!) 

Here are my FAVOURITE Social Media Scheduling + Content Tools

Instagram and Facebook:  Later

Why?  Later is a local, Vancouver-based company that I LOVE for social media scheduling. It started for Instagram and is SO visual and helpful.  You can use the free version for up to 30 free posts a month. I use the paid version and get up to 100 posts a month. 

If you use my link to sign up and post to Instagram we BOTH get 10 extra posts per month - FREE! Try Later here. 

Pinterest Scheduling:  Tailwind. 

Why? Tailwind is a MUST if you use Pinterest for your business. Before I started, I had a few hundred views a month. Now, I often have 40,000-50,000 views a month!  I highly recommend using Pinterest Loops + Tribes - trust me, you’ll love it!

Try Tailwind here 

Learning to use Social Media for your Business:  Social Curator

Why? First of all, if you've never met Jasmine Star, she's hilarious and amazing.  Second, she's a genius at growing business on social media in an authentic, fun and strategic way. I'm a proud member of her monthly subscription, Social Curator, that provides us with images, captions, and masterclasses. 

Join Social Curator here. 

Here are my FAVOURITE Courses and People to Learn (Online) Business

How to build a successful Membership Site:  Tribe with Stu McLaren

Why?  Having a membership site (Goalden Girls Community) has been a game-changer in my life and business - and the lives of my clients. I love working with a group of women who are committed, and supporting each other. Stu is THE guy to learn from.  Grab your free "Launch a Successful and Profitable Membership Site" guide here to get started. 

Want to join in?  Tribe only opens once a year in April/May.  Join today. 

Learn to build an email list or course:  Amy Porterfield.

Why?  I've had the pleasure to meet Amy several times, and take her amazing course, Digital Course Academy. Not only is she a brilliant marketer, but she truly cares about her students. 

If you've ever thought about creating your own digital course, grab The Ultimate Course Creation Starter Kit here. 

And if you're working on building your email list, take Amy's free masterclass where she teaches 3 Simple and Powerful Ways to Kickstart Your Email List.  Sign up today. 

And, make sure to have a listen to her top-rated podcast, Online Marketing Made Easy. Listen to one of my favourite episodes:  6 Figures & 5 Babies: How She Did it with Only 3 Hours a Day here. 

How to build a REAL business:  Lindsay Johnson

Why?  If you've never done it before, building a business can be overwhelming, seem complicated, and worst of all - you can be really "busy" and never make money. Lindsay helps entrepreneurs build a REAL business.  Take her free training: 7 Mind-Blowing Reasons Your Business Isn't Growing" here to get started. 

Want to join in?  Join Lindsay's Irresistible Entrepreneur's Academy here. 

Here are the BEST Business + Organizational Tools

All-in-one Business software:  Kajabi  (Yes, I love them so much, I'm mentioning them twice!).

Why?  Because sometimes the technology required to run an online business gets complicated, overwhelming and expensive. Kajabi's all-in-one platform allows you to manage everything from email marketing, landing pages, offers, sales pages, your website, webinars, courses, memberships, and even comes with its own app for your clients.

Simply put, it's easy: and it's for people who are serious about building an online business.

Grab your free 28-day trial here (exclusively through me, a proud Kajabi partner!) 

Bookkeeping, Accounting + Invoicing:  Quickbooks

Why? Even for an accounting (almost) failure like me, Quickbooks is simple and easy-to-use. The majority of our transactions are auto-uploaded, taking the work off our plate and letting our accountant do their magic. Let's be honest: it's about as fun as accounting gets. 

Create Quizzes for your Clients + Lead Magnets:  Interact Quizzes

 Why? Quizzes are fun and easy and make learning intuitive. They're a great way to attract people to your email list. I ALSO use quizzes for my paying clients within Goalden girls Community to help them get personalized answers, guidance and resources. 

Try Interact for your business here. 

Project Management: Asana + Trello

Why? We all know task management and keeping track of all the to-do's can be tricky. Instead of having post-it notes all over your desk (hand up over here), try Asana or Trello to organize your digital tasks. 

How to pick: 

- I prefer Asana for long-term, one-time projects. For example, when we renovate a property, and when I was getting my podcast ready to launch, I used Asana.

- I prefer Trello when I want something visual. For weekly planning, it can be amazingly easy to drag and drop tasks. I also use it for smaller launches, to track PR pitching opportunities, and tasks with my interns.

Easy & Beautiful Website:  SquareSpace

Why? While I LOVE Kajabi for content creators, course creators, and speaker/coaches like myself, if you don't need all that, Squarespace is the PERFECT way to build a website. Its templates are beautiful, the drag-and-drop system makes building your website EASY and the functionality is amazing for the price. Try out Squarespace today. 

Here are my FAVOURITE Business Podcasts 

Amy Porterfield's Online Marketing Made Easy

Why? Amy breaks online business down in easy, step-by-step ways. She's always honest, down-to-earth and valuable. 

Jenna Kutcher's Goal-Digger Podcast

Why? Jenna is a fellow mama, and she's created a multi-7 figure business that doesn't tie her to her phone. I love her balance of work, money and actually living life. 

Here are my FAVOURITE Business Books

Profit First: Transform your business from a cash-eating monster to a money-making machine

Why?  Well, if I'd learned this when I first started my business, maybe I'd be profitable. We think about this in personal finance "pay yourself first" - but not in business. This book challenges that. A must read. 

High Performance Habits by Brendon Burchard

Why? How to be a high performer by the world's top high performance coach. 

The $100 Startup by Chris Guillebeau

Why? Worried about the cost of starting a business? This book is an amazing starting point. Get tons of ideas, suggestions and inspiration to start your business: with $100 or less. (This is a great book for kids and teens!). 

The 4 Hour Workweek by Tim Ferriss

Why? Learn how to create more freedom in your life from one of the world's leading lifestyle entrepreneurs.

FREE Online Facebook Community:  Goalden Girls Podcast Insider's Club

Why?  If you're a driven, ambitious woman looking for a great community of supportive goal-getters, this is your place. 

Want to join in?  Join for free here.  

Here are the Best Networking Groups (in-person and virtual)

Goalden Girls Community and Goalden Girls Mastermind:  With Lisa Michaud (Yours truly!)

Why?  I’m biased of COURSE but I happen to really believe in our programs and LOVE the women who join.  Our Mastermind only opens once a year, and the Community opens a few times. Hop on the waitlists with the links above! Both programs are virtual and have had members from countries all over the world.

And if you’re curious to find out what program is right for you, check out our handy dandy quiz here.

Live Networking (and some virtual) Events:  Business Babes Co + Vancity Business Babes

Why?  This was one of the first communities I joined when I moved to Vancouver and I'm proud to call the founder, Danielle Wiebe a friend.  I've also spoken at one of their events and know that they TRLY care about each and every human attending (and speaking!).  Now with chapters in San Diego, Victoria, Seattle Vancouver, Toronto and expanding every day, Business Babes is an amazing community.

Use my exclusive promo code "LISA10" to save $10 on your next Business Babes event. 

Use your discount code and check out their next events here. 

Please note: some of the links shared are affiliate links. This doesn't cost you anything: it simply means that Lisa Michaud might get an affiliate fee. Special care is always taken to make sure only the highest quality recommendations are shared: our highest value as a Community is YOU getting results in your life. We will always encourage you to show up with integrity and encourage you to create a business, income, and life you love - and make money doing it. We share this as an example of how we do this in our business by following these principles to serve you, and inspire you to do the same in your life.

Building A Team I Love

Acadium:  For Internships + Apprenticeships

Why?  Because I love to teach, experiment and learn. Acadium partners me with driven marketing students who want to work in a business. As a mentor, it's my responsibility to give my interns meaningful work, teach them by giving them tangible work, and help them meet their goals.  In exchange, interns work in my business for 10 hours a week and as a business owner, I pay a nominal fee to cover their training and apprenticeship expenses.  It's a full win-win-win.  

Why an Apprentice? It's a great way to test out processes, start to build your team and delegation skills, and bring in new talent to your business in an affordable way. It's also a great way to give back and develop leadership skills (important at every stage).  Internships can start at $100 for 3 months, but please check Acadium's website and book a call for more information as they are a new and evolving program.

Remember: As with any hiring, you'll want to do your due diligence. I've successfully worked with 4 amazing interns and gone on to hire them for various roles in my business (and hope to work with all of them even more!).  

Some of the things that have helped me find successful interns include:

• Being clear for what I'm looking for, what kind of a mentor I am, the opportunities and growth I can provide and what will be helpful in my business
• Being transparent and up-front about sharing the pros and cons of working with me and all the things I said above: the kind of mentor I am, what my expectations are, what I need, and how we'll work best together
• I conduct full interviews and am willing to wait for the RIGHT person
• When I have the right person, we meet weekly, communicate frequently, and I ensure I support them to achieve their goals. This has resulted in my interns going above and beyond for me: from helping me launch my podcast, my programs, creating social media templates, graphics and more.

Check out more about Acadium here. I recommend booking a call (no pressure!) to get the best information on what YOUR business needs and how to find the right apprentice for you. Apprentices can start as low as $100 USD but please check with Acadium as they are a relatively new program and always evolving. 

PS. I've even had the pleasure of meeting a few of my interns in person and absolutely ADORE them all!