We all know that I am not "techy". In fact, I admit to being very technology-challenged. So for me to write an article on technology might seem funny to some. But that's exactly the point. I have embraced technology. Couldn't run my business without it! And if I can do it, you can too - and you should. You just need to know how to do it effectively!
Don't Get Caught Up in Shiny Object Syndrome
For years, I've been using MLSP, a platform that allows me to easily build sales funnels, lead magnets, and training courses. I love the platform and what it does.
Recently, a client asked, “Why are you still part of MLSP when there are so many newer tools available now?”
There’s a reason I chose to stay with MLSP and that’s the stability of their service. They’ve made a commitment to continuously improve their software. They’re consistently adding cool, new features to make my marketing more effective.
The support is fantastic. I could move to another tool and cut a monthly expense but because of my membership with MLSP, I get access to top-notch training any time. I can attend the Wednesday webinar, reach out to support, or even post a question in the Facebook group to get expert advice.
I believe technology can do many good things for your business. But it’s easy to get trapped in a cycle of always seeking the next best thing. You’re constantly tinkering with your software, moving between different platforms, or searching for the perfect tool.
New Tech Can Result in Lost Sales
While it can be tempting to jump on the latest shiny tool, it’s easy to lose sales without realizing it. That’s because while you’re busy tinkering with new tech or testing out the latest software, you aren’t running your business.
Meanwhile an entrepreneur who is committed to the tools she’s using is experiencing growth in her business. She’s selling products. She’s growing her email list. She’s networking with other industry leaders.
New Tech Requires Transferring
Many times, opting for new software or buying a new product results in extra work for you. For example, if you’re constantly searching for the best hosting deal, you may move your WordPress website from one host to the next. The problem is that this keeps you from making progress in other areas of your business.
Sometimes, it’s not about transferring as much as set-up. Yes, you could buy that new video software. But how many hours will it take for you to set it up? How long will it take to install? Will you need to update other software in order for it to work with your computer?
New Tech Can Distract You from the Real Work
For some online business owners, new tech is about avoiding another area of business. If you don’t feel confident about your product, you might create a mailing list with AWeber then transfer to Drip two weeks later. You keep moving from service to service, so you don’t have to launch your product.
But working through your fears so you can launch is a much better choice. You may still feel nervous and it may be difficult, but your business will be better for it.
Distracting yourself with new tech can be tempting but it’s not going to help your business long-term. You need to focus on what really matters—building your community and selling your products.
Give
Yourself Time to Learn New Tech
My friend Jen wanted to use videos to market her new coaching business. She planned to create videos that she could upload as social media advertisements in order to attract her ideal clients.
She discovered Wave Video and used that for a couple of days. Then a video expert she followed recommended a different service, so she canceled her Wave Video subscription and tried out the other program.
The next week, a friend recommended Animoto and she signed up for that, too. By this point, Jen felt overwhelmed by all the tools she had. She didn’t know what to do next and she was frustrated.
When Jen asked me for advice, I admitted that video is not my strongest skill. I suggested that she pick one tool to focus on. Sometimes, the problem with using several different tools is that you don’t take the time to fully learn how to use any of them.
If you’re like Jen and you have a lot of tools that do similar things, it’s time to choose one and learn how to use it correctly. Use these tips to guide you…
Find a Resource
Some companies do regular webinars where they teach new customers everything they need to know about their product. If you have the chance, attending a live webinar is a great idea. Not only will you learn more about the product, you’ll also have the chance to ask questions and get more detailed support.
Not every company provides training for their products. But that doesn’t mean that there’s no resource guide. You may still be able to find helpful tutorials by looking on Amazon. Go to the books section and enter the software you’re using. If there are books on the subject, they should appear in the results.
Hire a Virtual Assistant
Another option to master your tech tools is to hire a virtual assistant. Choose someone who specializes in your particular area. For example, if you want to master a mailing list tool, then find a VA who specializes in email marketing. She’s likely to be more knowledgeable than a general virtual assistant.
Ask the VA you hire to perform a few tasks for you and use screenshot software to record her work. For example, send a VA the newsletter you want added to AWeber. When she records her actions, you’ll be able to see step-by-step how to use the new software.
Reach Out to Your Community
You can also reach out to your business community for guidance. If you belong to a Facebook group or LinkedIn group where members are known to be helpful, make a post about the software you’re using and what you’d like to learn to do.
You may find a virtual assistant or a software expert that you can hire. You may also have another entrepreneur who volunteers to assist you. If that happens, try to barter with someone who is need of your skills, too. For example, if another member is willing to guide you through graphic design software, you could offer to write the copy for her sales page.
When it comes to new tech, don’t rush out and buy the latest tools. Instead, spend time learning how to use what you already have. Not only will you save money, you’ll also be more knowledgeable about the software you own.
Why
Do You Keep Getting Swept Up in the Latest Launch?
Danni spent eighteen months learning to become a certified life coach. She already knew her ideal clients were women in their forties going through a divorce. She had a WordPress website set up and she’d hired a business manager to help her stay on track.
But she kept re-working her branding. One week she used Canva to create a beautiful logo in bright purple. The next week, she’d decided to try Adobe Spark and she changed her logo font and the colors. After that, she switched to PicMonkey where she redesigned her brand colors to be bright red.
Finally, Danni’s business manager arranged a call. As Danni talked with the other woman, she had an epiphany – she was using her branding work and the graphic design tools to put off her launch.
It’s easy to get caught up in finding the perfect tool rather than launching your services or products. If you find yourself in a situation like Danni’s, here are a few reasons you might be putting off your launch…
Fear of Failure
Once you publish your services package or upload your book to Amazon Kindle, it’s hard to take it back. It’s out there and you may feel nervous, excited, and scared all at the same time.
If failure’s what you’re afraid of, don’t try to avoid this fear. Instead sit with it for a few minutes. Ask yourself, “What’s the worst thing that will happen if I fail?”
Your answer might be, “Well, if my book doesn’t sell any copies, my writing dreams will be over.”
When you get to the root of your fear, consider whether your fear is really telling the truth. For example, your writing career won’t be over if your book doesn’t sell. You can still publish more books. Remind yourself of this truth when you’re tempted to put off your new book launch.
Procrastination
Another reason you may be hesitant to pull the trigger on your new launch is because you’re procrastinating. On the surface, procrastination may not look that bad. After all, you might tell yourself that you’re just getting one more certification or finalizing the details.
But be honest with yourself. If you’ve been finalizing your launch for six months or pursuing more certification when you already hold two dozen certificates, you’re procrastinating.
One of the simplest ways to end procrastination is to announce a public deadline. Tell your friends, your family, and your business group that you’re launching on June 1st or whatever date you prefer. Knowing that your friends and colleagues are waiting on your launch can motivate you to get it done. A public deadline encourages accountability.
Lack of Confidence
Sometimes, getting swept up in the latest tools happens because you lack the confidence to move forward. You keep thinking that confidence will come once you’ve mastered a new tool or have the best software available.
Confidence comes after you launch, not before it. That means, you have to be willing to do it afraid. You’re going to feel nervous and that’s natural. But don’t let a lack of confidence keep you from pursuing your dream. Stop paying attention to the latest new tools. Instead, focus on launching your product or your services so you can grow your business. You’ll be happier and more confident after your launch!
4
Questions to Ask before You Say Yes to New Tools
Sometimes in the excitement of a new launch or the rush of discovering cool software, it’s easy to rush ahead. But before you click that buy button, it can be helpful to take a step back and ask yourself a few questions. These questions are designed to help you decide if a new tool or the latest software is the right fit for you…
Who Is Promoting This New Tool?
There's always another bright, shiny tool. The people talking about these products are affiliates and it’s in their interest to promote it. That’s not to suggest that there's anything wrong with affiliate marketing. It's one of my main income streams!
But keep in mind that it's in your best interest to stay focused on the tools you already have. It’s easy to get caught up in moving from one tool to the next. But while you’re busy chasing new things and mastering the latest software, another entrepreneur is growing her mailing list. She’s selling her products and enjoying the profits.
How Much Time Will You Need to Invest in Learning?
In The Big Leap by Gay Hendricks, he shares that there are four zones in life. These four zones include:
· The Zone of Incompetence
· The Zone of Competence
· The Zone of Excellence
· The Zone of Genius
The Zone of Incompetence is for tasks that bog you down. You’re not skilled at them and they take a long time to complete.
Every time you tackle new tech, you're volunteering to spend time in the Zone of Incompetence. The time you spend in this zone when you're a new entrepreneur is acceptable.
But when you've been sitting in the same zone for years, there's a problem. You've been hiding out and holding onto excuses. There comes a point in every entrepreneur's journey when they need to stop living in the Zone of Incompetence.
Will 10 Hours Make a Difference?
If you only had 10 hours available in the next two days and you knew you could use those 10 hours to leverage your existing tools and make a nice profit, then do it.
But if you look at it and say 10 hours invested in new tools will make a difference in your long-term profits, then making the switch might be the next best move for your business. If you don't know if switching will make a difference, then don't make the move. Instead, focus on building your business with the tools you already have on-hand.
Is Your Old Tool Still Serving You?
When I moved from SBI to AWeber, I did it because the SBI mailing list service was no longer a good fit for my business. I could clearly see that investing 10 hours in making the switch would boost my long-term profits.
Likewise, there may come a day when you wake up and realize your tech needs to go. Be honest with yourself about that.
There’s a difference between buying dozens of bright, shiny objects and making smart timely decisions about the tech that you're using. Knowing the difference between the two is important.
Keep in mind that this is not about being anti-tech or even anti-new tools. It’s not about making you frown on new things or doubt the people who recommend cool products to you. Rather, the goal here is for you to realize that you cannot chase new tech forever.
If you’ve been shifting to new tools more than once a year, you’re doing it too often. Be patient and give yourself time to learn about the tools you already have, rather than buying new ones.
How
to Be Choosy about New Tech
You’re making good progress on a big project when suddenly your inbox dings a notification that you have a new message. You stop what you’re doing and pause to read it. A fellow business owner has written a glowing review of a new tech tool.
You click through her link and begin reading about it. There’s the promise of a free trial, so you sign up and spend the afternoon experimenting. Pretty soon, you’re wondering if you should buy this software. And you've completely lost the momentum you had going on your project...
If you’ve found yourself debating a new business purchase, here are a few tips to help you think it through…
Challenge Yourself to Wait
Many affiliates and software creators use urgency to encourage visitors to click the buy button the moment they see it. While there’s nothing wrong with using urgency to prompt your community to take action, you have to understand that sometimes, the urgency is false.
For example, one well-known software creator has a countdown timer on his sales page. His “deal of a lifetime” expires in two days. But if you revisit the page on day 3, you’ll discover the countdown timer has been reset.
When you’re deliberating a decision about software, try to delay it by a week. See if you still feel that same sense of urgency after a few days have passed. If not, then you can safely skip the purchase.
Set Aside Time to Review It
It’s easy to get swept up in the urgency of the sales page or a shiny, new launch price. This causes many entrepreneurs to buy software that doesn’t fit their needs. By the time you realize the tool isn’t right for you, the refund period has ended.
Instead of buying a product blindly, plan to review the sales page in-depth. One entrepreneur puts a star beside messages with tools he may want to use. On Saturday afternoons, he carefully reads the sales page for the items that caught his eye that week. This gives him the space to make a calm, logical decision.
Put It on Your Long-Term List
Sometimes, you’ll see a product and know that while it would be a good fit for you, the timing is off. Perhaps you found video software that will let you make social media advertisements but you’re in the middle of lengthy copywriting course. You don’t want to lose the link to the video software but you also know you can’t afford to split your focus.
If this happens to you, create a long-term list that you review once every 3-6 months. This list could have links to products you’re interested in, notes about future goals, and other business opportunities.
Ask a Mentor
Another option when you encounter a new object is to talk with a business owner with more experience. Often, a mentor or coach can help you see through the hype and urgency so you can make the best decision for your business.
Your coach might say, “What about your goal to improve your copywriting? Does this video software bring you closer to reaching it?” Or she might say, “Yes! That would be a great tool since one of your goals for this year was to focus on video marketing!”
Don’t feel pressured into making a rush decision. Even if you have to pay a little extra, it’s worth it to know that you made a purchase that was in line with your goals.
Still a bit unsure about all the new tech? Join the Ninja Marketers FB Group. We regularly share the scoop on the newest software, apps, and gadgets. And the best part is - if I recommend it, you know I have tried it and it works!
Still a bit unsure about all the new tech? Join the Ninja Marketers FB Group. We regularly share the scoop on the newest software, apps, and gadgets. And the best part is - if I recommend it, you know I have tried it and it works!
