In this guide, I’ll walk you through how to use Zoho Start, Zoho Domains, and Zoho Mail to set up your entire business foundation—legally and professionally—in less than an hour. It’s all part of our 90-day plan to build a profitable business on one secure platform.

No consultants. No complicated tech. Just simple steps and one Zoho login.

Why You Should Register Your Business

Before we jump into the how, let’s talk about the why. Registering your business isn’t just a formality—it’s your first real move as a business owner. It unlocks bank accounts, tax deductions, vendor relationships, and builds immediate trust with customers and partners.

The 3 Most Common Business Structures:

• Sole Proprietorship: Easiest and cheapest to start, but you’re personally liable for everything.
  
• LLC (Limited Liability Company): The sweet spot for most solo businesses. Protects your personal assets and is simple to manage.
  
• Corporation (S or C): Best for startups planning to raise money or bring on investors. More paperwork and tax rules.
  

Our Recommendation:

If you’re a service provider, freelancer, or coach, go with an LLC. It gives you personal protection without the hassle of corporate formalities.

Now let’s walk through setting it all up with Zoho Start.

Zoho One - The Operating System for Small Business

Imagine a world where all your business tools play nicely together (cue angelic choir). Whether it’s handling your finances, projects, or marketing, Zoho One keeps everything seamless and oh-so-simple. Plus, the price? A fraction of what you'd pay for piecing together different apps. Talk about a BARGAIN!

If you’re ready to take the leap from surviving to thriving, Zoho One is your trusty steed. Let’s ride into the sunset of efficiency, my friends. Click that button and get ready to supercharge your hustle!

Buy Now

We earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.

Step 1: Register Your Business with Zoho Start

Zoho Start is like the friend who knows what paperwork to fill out and exactly where to send it.

Here’s your step-by-step:

1. Go to Zoho Start and create an account

2. Choose your business structure (LLC recommended)
   
3. Enter your desired business name and check for availability
   
4. Input your business address and member/owner details

5. Select any add-ons you want (like an EIN or Registered Agent)

6. Review and submit your application
   

Zoho handles the filing with your state and will keep you updated on the status. Most people complete the setup in under 30 minutes.

👉 Click here to launch your business with Zoho Start

You should be able to complete this in under 30 minutes—and Zoho will update you as your paperwork is processed.

Step 2: Grab a Domain with Zoho Domains

Before we dive into the setup, let’s talk about why this matters.

Buying a custom domain isn’t just about looking professional—it’s about building trust, securing your identity, and creating a brand that sticks.

Here’s why it matters:

• Branding: A domain like “janesmithcoaching.com” tells the world you’re serious. It helps people remember you and builds authority in your niche.
  
• Email Credibility: Using your domain for email (like you@yourbusiness.com) improves email deliverability and looks way more legit than Gmail or Yahoo.
  
• Privacy Protection: When you register through Zoho, you get domain privacy included. That means your personal information isn’t exposed online.
  
• Security & Control: Domains registered through Zoho are automatically integrated with Zoho Mail and other apps. You get full control over DNS, renewals, and user management—all in one place.
  

Now that you know why it matters, here’s how to do it with Zoho Domains.  If you’ve ever purchased a domain with GoDaddy, the process is exactly like that.  If you’ve never purchased a domain, you’ll find it a breeze.

Zoho Domains is built for solo founders who want simplicity and security. 

Here’s how it works:

• Buy or Bring Your Domain: You can register a brand-new domain or connect one you already own. If it’s registered elsewhere, you’ll verify it by adding a TXT or CNAME record. I’ll show you how to buy a domain name below.  Here is how I’ve added my existing domain. 

• Instant Email Integration: Domains registered with Zoho are pre-configured for use with Zoho Mail. That means no complicated DNS setup—email just works.
  
• Centralized Admin Console: You manage everything—email accounts, user access, DNS records, security settings—from one clean dashboard.
  
• Advanced Features: Use catch-all addresses, subdomain aliases, and domain-wide disclaimers without extra tools or tech help.
  

It’s all designed to support your small business operations without adding complexity or cost.

👉 Get your domain now with Zoho Domains

Step-by-Step: How to Purchase a Domain with Zoho Domains

1. Go to Zoho Domains and either sign in with your Zoho credentials, or open an account. 

2. Search for a Domain Name: Enter your desired domain name in the search bar to check availability. Try to get a .com if possible.

3. Select Your Domain: Choose from the available domains and click “Buy Now.”
4. Choose the Duration: You can register your domain for 1 to 5 years. One year is usually fine to start.
5. Enable Domain Privacy: Make sure this option is selected to protect your personal contact information from public WHOIS databases.

6. Review Your Cart: Confirm the domain name, duration, and privacy settings.
7. Make Your Payment: Enter your billing information and complete the checkout process.
8. Domain Activation: Once purchased, your domain will be listed in your Zoho admin console, pre-integrated for Zoho Mail and ready for further configuration.

That’s it—you’ve officially claimed your online real estate.

Step 3: Set Up Your Branded Email with Zoho Mail

Now that you’ve secured your domain, it’s time to tie it all together with a branded email address. This is the step that often takes down even the most determined DIY business builders. Why? Because setting up custom email on your domain usually involves digging through DNS settings, adding confusing MX records, and hoping you don’t accidentally crash your website in the process.

But this time, you’re using Zoho. So, it’s going to be easy.

When you get your domain through Zoho and use Zoho Mail, the entire process becomes nearly automatic. That’s not just easier—it’s smarter. You don’t need to call in a tech-savvy friend or spend hours Googling instructions. Zoho Mail does the heavy lifting for you.

Even better? Zoho Mail is one of the best Gmail alternatives out there—especially if you care about your data privacy. Zoho doesn’t scan your emails, doesn’t serve you ads, and doesn’t sell your data. It’s a secure, business-class inbox designed for entrepreneurs who want control without complexity.

And when you bundle it all with Zoho One? You’re looking at a full Google Workspace alternative—email, calendar, contacts, file sharing, and more—without the monthly shock to your wallet.

Once your domain is live, you’ll create a professional email address using Zoho Mail. Something like you@yourbusiness.com instantly upgrades how people perceive your brand.

With Zoho Mail, you get:

• A clean, ad-free inbox that feels like Gmail (without the tracking)
• Built-in calendar, tasks, and contacts
• Seamless integration with your new domain

Now let’s set up your Zoho Mail account. 

Step-by-Step: How to Set Up Zoho Mail

1. Log in to your Zoho Admin Console: Start at mailadmin.zoho.com and sign in with your Zoho credentials.

2. Add Your Domain (if not already integrated): If you registered your domain through Zoho, it’s pre-configured. Otherwise, follow the on-screen steps to verify and configure DNS.
3. Create User Accounts: Add yourself and any team members as users. Assign email addresses (e.g. you@yourbusiness.com).

4. Set Up Email Delivery: If you purchased or registered your domain through Zoho Domains, this will be done for you.  Zoho will guide you through updating MX records if needed (for outside-registered domains like from GoDaddy).  
5. Enable Security Features: Turn on two-factor authentication and SPF/DKIM for email security. 

• Go to Security and Compliance > TFA (Two-Factor Authentication).
• Toggle it ON and enable for your entire organization.
• Users will be prompted to set up their preferred 2FA method (Zoho OneAuth, SMS, etc.).

6. Set Up SPF Record: Setting up an SPF (Sender Policy Framework) record tells email providers that Zoho is authorized to send emails on your behalf. This helps prevent spoofing and improves your email deliverability.

• Navigate to Domains > [Your Domain] > Email Configuration > SPF.
• Copy the SPF TXT record (typically v=spf1 include:zoho.com ~all).
• Paste it as a TXT record in your DNS provider.
• Click ‘Verify SPF Record’ in Zoho.

7. Set Up DKIM Record: DKIM (DomainKeys Identified Mail) adds a digital signature to your emails, verifying they came from your domain and weren’t tampered with in transit. This is critical for brand trust and inbox placement.

• Go to Domains > [Your Domain] > Email Configuration > DKIM.
• Click ‘Add’ and generate a selector (e.g., zoho).
• Copy the DKIM TXT record.
• Add it to your DNS provider under the name zoho._domainkey.
• Verify and enable DKIM in Zoho Mail.

👉 Set up Zoho Mail with your domain

If you bought your domain through Zoho, setup is nearly automatic. If not, Zoho gives you a step-by-step guide to update your DNS settings.

Why Zoho Is the Best Choice for Solo Founders

Most people spend $250–$500 cobbling together tools to get their business off the ground. With Zoho, you can:

• Register your LLC
• Buy your domain
• Set up a branded email
  

…all for around $120–$150 total. And you do it all in one place. No juggling logins, no hidden fees, and no waiting weeks for approvals.  And these are basically one time set up costs.  After you’ve done that, if you’re using Zoho One, you are at about $37 per month per user,

Plus, Zoho’s values align with yours. They don’t answer to shareholders—they answer to you. They’re committed to privacy, small business support, and tools that make sense for founders who want to run lean.

Final Thoughts: Don’t Let This Be Another Thing You Put Off

Whew, that was a lot of work—but here’s the thing: you could literally do all of this in one sitting. No tech help. No 12-tab YouTube rabbit hole. Just a streamlined, professional setup that gives you everything you need to get started.

And the result? Your business is legit (literally). You’re officially registered and you’ve hung out your shingle—on paper and online. You’ve claimed your name, your email, and your presence. That’s more than most would-be entrepreneurs ever do.

Next week, we’re going to get you paid. We’ll walk through how to set up Zoho’s payment tools and connect them to your bank account, so you’re ready to make your first sale and actually collect money like a real business.
Need Help? Book a Fix-It Session

If you’re feeling stuck or just want someone to walk through this with you—I’m here to help. I offer personal Fix-It Sessions where we go through your Zoho Start, domain setup, and email configuration step-by-step.

Whether you’re stuck at the beginning or just want to make sure it’s done right, we’ll get your business set up fast—and right the first time.

👉 Book Your Fix-It Session Now

Placeholder for video:
How to Set Up Your Business in 30 Minutes Using Zoho Start (walkthrough of all 3 tools)

FAQ: What New Business Owners Want to Know

1. Do I have to use Zoho for everything?
Nope—but using Zoho for your business foundation means everything is designed to work together. No duct tape. No Frankenstacks. Just clean integrations and one login to rule them all.

2. What if I already registered my business—can I still follow along?
Absolutely. You can skip the Zoho Start part and jump straight into getting your domain and setting up your email with Zoho Mail. Everything else still applies.

3. Can I use a domain I already own with Zoho Mail?
Yes! You can connect any domain to Zoho Mail with a few simple DNS tweaks. Zoho provides clear, step-by-step instructions.

4. What if I’m not tech-savvy—will I need help?
That’s the beauty of Zoho Start and Domains. These tools are made for non-techies. No coding. No jargon. You can truly do this in one sitting without outside help.5. Is Zoho really a good alternative to Google Workspace?
Yes, and in some ways it’s better—especially if you care about data privacy and cost. Zoho gives you email, calendar, documents, and even CRM in one affordable platform.

That’s not just a smart question—it’s a necessary one. Especially if you work in healthcare, finance, law, or any industry where data privacy is non-negotiable. This article breaks down the safest AI tools for small business use, which ones to avoid, and how to use them without compromising client trust.

Use this guide to find the best safe AI options for small business so you can work faster without putting sensitive data at risk.

Is Your Company Data Safe With AI Tools?

Sometimes. It depends entirely on which tool you use and how it’s configured. Free versions of AI chatbots are often less private, while enterprise versions usually offer stronger protections.

Let’s break down the differences between popular platforms.

ChatGPT (OpenAI)

ChatGPT is widely used by small business owners. It’s fast, intuitive, and versatile. But if you’re using the free or Plus version, it’s important to know that your inputs may be used to train the model.

Free and Plus Versions (chat.openai.com)

• Conversations may be used for model training
  
• Staff may review your prompts
  
• Chat history can be turned off, but training use still applies
  

Enterprise and Teams Plans

• Your data is not used for training
  
• All data is encrypted and private
  
• You retain full control and ownership
  

Privacy Details

Bottom Line: Don’t share client data in the free version. If privacy matters, upgrade.

Claude (Anthropic)

Claude is built with privacy in mind. Whether you’re on the free or Pro version, Anthropic does not train its model on your inputs. It’s one of the safest AI options for small business owners who don’t want to worry about data collection.

Claude 2 and 3 (claude.ai)

• No training on your prompts
  
• Temporary storage for system stability
  
• Pro users get the same protections
  

Privacy Statement

Bottom Line: One of the most secure and user-friendly choices for small business.

Gemini (Google)

Gemini, formerly Bard, is integrated across Google products. That can be convenient, but also comes with privacy trade-offs. Unless you’re using Gemini for Workspace, assume that your data might be used to improve the tool.

Gemini (Public Version)

• Prompts may be reviewed and stored
  
• Data can be used to improve AI
  
• Privacy settings are customizable through your Google account
  

Gemini for Workspace

• Offers stronger data controls
  

Privacy FAQ

Bottom Line: Free version isn’t one of the safest AI options for small business. Use the enterprise version for stronger protection.

Grok (xAI / Twitter)

Grok is Twitter’s AI assistant created by xAI. It’s designed to entertain more than serve regulated business use. If you’re wondering about its privacy policies—there’s not much transparency.

Grok (via X Premium)

• Tied to your Twitter account
  
• No clear enterprise-level protections
  
• Minimal data policy documentation
  

Privacy Policy

Bottom Line: Grok isn’t a safe AI option for small business tasks involving real data.

Zoho One - The Operating System for Small Business

Imagine a world where all your business tools play nicely together (cue angelic choir). Whether it’s handling your finances, projects, or marketing, Zoho One keeps everything seamless and oh-so-simple. Plus, the price? A fraction of what you'd pay for piecing together different apps. Talk about a BARGAIN!

If you’re ready to take the leap from surviving to thriving, Zoho One is your trusty steed. Let’s ride into the sunset of efficiency, my friends. Click that button and get ready to supercharge your hustle!

Buy Now

We earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.

Zoho Zia

Zia is Zoho’s built-in AI assistant and one of the most secure choices available to small business owners. It doesn’t rely on public data or third-party models, and it stays entirely inside your Zoho environment.

While tools like IBM WatsonX or Salesforce Einstein can cost tens of thousands annually, Zoho Zia comes included with Zoho One—making it one of the most cost-effective and safe AI options for small business.

Where You’ll Use Zia

Zoho CRM

• Suggests optimal follow-up times
  
• Flags deals at risk
  
• Analyzes trends in your pipeline
  

Zoho Desk

• Summarizes customer service tickets
  
• Recommends help docs
  
• Detects churn risk
  

Zoho Books and Projects

• Flags unusual expenses
  
• Helps organize tasks
  
• Answers accounting questions in plain English
  

Zoho Privacy Commitment

Bottom Line: Zia is a powerful, private AI built for business—and it doesn’t share or train on your data.

AI Tools by Small Business Type

Here’s a quick comparison of the safest AI tools for small business use based on what kind of company you run:

How to Use AI Safely in Your Business

• Don’t paste sensitive client or financial info into free AI tools
  
• Use business or enterprise versions whenever possible
  
• Regularly clear chat history and review platform settings
  
• Stick to tools like Claude, Zoho Zia, or enterprise ChatGPT
  
• Write and share a simple AI usage policy with your team
  

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the safest AI options for small business?

Claude and Zoho Zia are currently the most secure, small business-friendly AI tools. They don’t use your data for training and have clear privacy protections built in.

Can I use ChatGPT for business without sharing data?

Only with the Enterprise or Teams version. The free and Plus versions collect and store your inputs unless you opt out—and even then, there’s still risk.

Is it safe to upload client documents into AI tools?

Not on free versions. Always avoid uploading anything that includes personal, financial, or protected information unless you’re using a secured, private AI platform.

What kind of businesses need private AI tools?

Any business that deals with legal, financial, or medical information—or simply wants to protect internal strategy and customer trust—should prioritize privacy in their AI tools.

How do I know if an AI tool is training on my data?

Check their privacy policy. Look for phrases like “used to improve our services” or “data may be reviewed.” That usually means it’s fair game for training.

Additional Frequently Asked Questions

Can I turn off data sharing in AI tools like ChatGPT or Gemini?

In some cases, yes. ChatGPT allows you to turn off chat history, which limits data from being used for training—but doesn’t guarantee full privacy unless you’re on an enterprise plan. Gemini users can manage activity in their Google settings, but complete opt-outs usually require Workspace.

What does it mean when a tool says it doesn’t “train on your data”?

It means your inputs aren’t being used to improve the AI model. Claude and Zoho Zia are examples of tools that keep your data private and do not use your content to refine their systems.

What if I already used sensitive data in a free AI tool?

Go back and delete the conversation history if the platform allows it. Also, review your privacy settings and consider switching to a business-grade tool moving forward.

Can I use AI tools with encrypted email or cloud services?

Yes, but it depends on how the AI is integrated. Tools like Zia, which operate inside secured platforms like Zoho, are better suited for working alongside secure services. Always check that both ends—your AI and your storage—follow strong encryption standards.

What AI tool works best for solopreneurs or startups with tight budgets?

Zoho Zia is a strong option if you’re already using Zoho One. It gives you enterprise-grade AI features without the massive cost. Claude’s free version is also a solid pick if you want privacy without paying upfront.

Final Take

You don’t need to avoid AI—you need to use it smartly. Choose platforms that are built for business, respect your privacy, and give you control over your data.

Looking for a simple list? Download the Safe AI Use for Small Business checklist.

If you care about your clients, your brand, and your bottom line, finding safe AI options for small business isn’t optional—it’s essential.

Fix It Session

$150.00

Send me one thing you’re stuck on in your business — a page, funnel, or offer. I’ll review it and send you a short video with clear feedback and next steps. No pressure, just a simple, actionable fix to get you unstuck.

Schedule Now

You’ve got a login for email marketing, another for your CRM, maybe something else for scheduling, accounting, file sharing, team messaging, and project management. And every one of those platforms is billing you separately. Monthly.

Now, imagine if all of that came bundled into one suite. One login. One invoice. Less than a buck a day.

That’s Zoho One. And it’s the best-kept secret in solopreneur success.

What is Zoho One?

Zoho One is the perfect suite of 50+ business productivity apps for entrepreneurs overwhelmed by the technology they need to run their businesses. In some ways it’s very similar to Google or Microsoft — but better.

All of these companies offer basic “office” software such as spreadsheets, documents, presentations, and meetings. But then Zoho went off and did something crazy by bundling all of its apps into a single platform for a low price that’s honestly hard to beat.

But there’s so much more to Zoho One than the features and the apps. Zoho’s leadership has made a firm commitment to you, the small business owner and put their money and their efforts where their mouth is.

Every year, Zoho makes running your entire business from one platform at an insanely low cost. You simply cannot get high performing software like this to run your business — no how, no way.

Who Should Use Zoho One?

If you’re a consultant, coach, creative, or small agency owner wearing all the hats — this is for you. Zoho One gives you a powerful, integrated foundation to:

• Capture and convert leads
  
• Deliver services efficiently
  
• Automate your follow-ups
  
• Get paid faster
  
• Measure your business performance with real dashboards

Why You Want an All in One, Unified Platform

Zoho One is a unified platform. That means that all the software you need to do just about every function of your business is in one place; one tab, one platform, and one price.

Having a unified business software platform means that you choose a single brand of software and use all of the apps from that brand. Google is a unified platform. Microsoft is a unified platform. Zoho One is a unified platform.

The trend right now is to shift from a patchwork of software to a unified and integrated software. Here’s why:

• You’ll save time. You make ONE decision. Choose the platform and all the apps come with it. That’s it.
• You’ll save money. You’ll pay a small monthly fee for the platform and all the apps are free. Since they are already integrated, you don’t need to spend money on any additional apps or software.
• Unified platforms work well together. The integrations are built in and all the appropriate data is shared without your having to do anything.
• Unified platforms collect and share data across all the applications. This makes it easy to get a solid picture of your business performance.
• With all your business data in one place, you can leverage the power of artificial intelligence to help you gain insights you might have missed in your business.

Why You’re Missing Out on New Customers

You know what the biggest lie in small business is? That the most important thing you bring to the party is your technical skill or knowledge. I hate to burst your bubble, but just because you bake the best cupcakes, doesn’t mean your cupcake bakery will succeed. Just because you are a yoga pro, doesn’t mean your yoga studio will attract enough students to pay the bills. And, just because you make beautiful jewelry, doesn’t mean anyone will buy it!

The most important skill in running a business is — running a business. That includes all those tedious. technical, stick-a-fork-in-your-eye stuff that you’d rather pay someone to do like marketing, sales, accounting, building a website, HR, customer service,etc.

In 2019, BizSugar collected feedback from more than 600 small business owners just like you. And the results uncovered the great unsaid — most small business owners think that their biggest challenge is generating leads and customers. But the real problem is something more insidious.

30% of our respondents said they were working in their business instead of on their business. In other words, sales and marketing is only a challenge because you don’t have the time and energy to devote to them.

This is why you need to take a fresh look at Zoho One.

Why I Love Zoho One and Recommend it

My admiration for Zoho goes way beyond the software or what a great value for the money it is. Zoho excels in four major categories that I use to choose a platform; people, platform, price, and promise.

Zoho is a people-first company. That means that the small business owner is at the center of every software development.

The Zoho platform is seamlessly integrated so that you only have to make one decision; to use the platform. Other than that, there’s an app for anything you need for no extra cost. Use as much or as little as you like.

Of course, the price is insanely affordable. Just $37/mo per user. That’s it. There are no levels, no limits on features.

All this is great, but let’s get to what really matters. What can Zoho One do that you can’t do or don’t want to do?

Zoho One - The Operating System for Small Business

Imagine a world where all your business tools play nicely together (cue angelic choir). Whether it’s handling your finances, projects, or marketing, Zoho One keeps everything seamless and oh-so-simple. Plus, the price? A fraction of what you'd pay for piecing together different apps. Talk about a BARGAIN!

If you’re ready to take the leap from surviving to thriving, Zoho One is your trusty steed. Let’s ride into the sunset of efficiency, my friends. Click that button and get ready to supercharge your hustle!

Buy Now

We earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.

Zoho One Replaces $400 per Month in Small Business Tools for $37/mo

What would you do with an extra $400 per month? That’s nearly $5,000 per year! While you think about that, check out some of the tools I’ve been paying for before using Zoho One.

• Microsoft 365 ($8.25/mo)
• Dropbox Business ($20/mo)
• Zoom ($14.99/mo)
• Keap.com ($100/mo)
• Kajabi ($119/mo)
• Constant Contact ($20/mo)
• MailChimp ($14.99/mo)
• Buffer ($5/mo)
• Evernote ($9.99/mo)
• Quickbooks Online ($40/mo)
• Calendly ($12/mo)
• SurveyMonkey ($32/mo – billed annually)
• Zapier ($19.99/mo)
• Zendesk ($19/mo)
• WebinarJam ($42/mo)

I’m pretty sure there are more, but these are just the tools I’ve replaced with Zoho One.

Zoho One has two pricing plans:

1. Flexible user pricing: Starts at $90/user/month. Under this pricing model, companies can purchase any number of licenses for managing their business better.
2. All employee pricing: Starts at $37/user/month. Under this pricing model, companies must purchase licenses for all their employees. For more information please head to https://www.zoho.com/one/pricing/

The pricing I’m quoting here is for an annual contract. You can also pay monthly at $45/mo.

Saving money is great! But the real benefit of using Zoho One as your business operating system is in how it either eliminates some of those tasks that everyone says you should do — but you don’t do because it’s a complete pain in the neck.

I’ve made a list of tasks and responsibilities from some of the small businesses I’ve worked with and outlined how Zoho One either eliminates the problem or makes it easier to do.

17 Dreaded, Annoying and Tedious Tasks Zoho One Will Do For You

Typical software reviews talk about features. But in this Zoho One review, I want to talk about how Zoho One simplifies your life. I’ve pulled together all of those tasks that keep you from working ON your business that Zoho One simplifies for you.

1. Choosing software to run your entire business.

It can take as long as two years to choose a software for your business. Imagine how many more new customers you could get in that time? Zoho One’s cloud software combines CRM, project management, email marketing, website design, HR, and more into one platform. All you need to do is choose it and use it.

2. Making software work together.

Even after choosing your software, the next challenge is having it all work together. Integrations often break down and it takes an expert to set them up and fix them when they break down after an update. Because Zoho One is an all-in-one unified platform and the integration is already set up — not a problem.

And another thing.

Business software tends to multiply. As soon as you choose two different platforms, you’ll usually need a third to integrate it. But wait, then you want to look at everything in one dashboard – now you need a fourth platform. Most businesses aren’t that technical. This means that you have to jump from one application to another to measure your progress. As a result, you’re missing out on new leads and opportunities.

If you’re using the Zoho One platform, the integrations are seamless. Not only that, but Zoho One also pulls your data together all in one dashboard.

3. Put all your business performance data in one unified dashboard

How many times have you tried to pull together a business performance report and gotten different numbers from a team member who pulled the report?

This happens All. The. Time. It’s insanely frustrating because you might choose one set of criteria and someone else will choose another set.

Because Zoho One seamlessly integrates all your apps, all you need to do is set the criteria and select what you want in the dashboard. BOOM. Everyone sees the same numbers and track progress consistently.

4. Figuring out what customers want.

Experts tell you that you should always be gathering feedback from your customers. You can run a survey and get the numbers, but wouldn’t it be great if you could include a survey link at every step of the buying process and then have that data all in one place?

Zoho Surveys is the answer. Imagine being able to collect customer feedback and then have their responses synchronized to their Zoho CRM record!

5. Capture leads from everywhere and put them in one place.

Every small business wants more leads and customers. But the challenge isn’t “getting them” so much as collecting them all in one place.

Prospects enter your business from email, from social media, from forms on your website, from recommendations, and from direct phone calls.

With Zoho One, you can capture those leads, categorize them and put them in one place.

6. Automatically follow-up and move leads through your sales process.

Did you know that the number one reason you aren’t converting leads to customers is because it’s difficult to keep track of all your leads as they go through your sales and marketing funnel.

Zoho One helps you automate your entire sales process. You can create automated workflows that instantly label or tag leads and make it easy to follow up.

7. Run and manage all of your marketing campaigns from one place

Of course you’re frustrated with sales and marketing! You’re losing leads because they come in from all over, you aren’t following up with them, and nurturing those leads with emails takes so much time!

Most integrated sales and marketing platforms can cost hundreds of dollars per month — and they aren’t connected to the rest of your business. That’s no help!

The new Zoho One has a suite of sales and marketing apps that are already synchronized in a way that allows you to capture leads from a form, your site, or a phone call and then automatically place them into your CRM and the proper marketing campaign. No matter where a new lead comes from, you can make sure that they receive timely and relevant follow-ups.

Let’s not forget about the relationships you build and nurture on social media. Zoho Social is also included in Zoho One. Use Zoho Social to post, track and run reports on your social engagements.

But here’s where Zoho Social shines — you can capture LEADS from social and automate their progress through their sales funnel. All you need to do is tell Zoho Social when you want to move a lead into your marketing funnel.

8. Building and managing a website or ecommerce site.

The trouble with small business websites is that you often need a team of technical folks like designers, developers, SEO experts, analytics experts and social media experts to make your website do what it’s supposed to do.

If you’ve been in business for any length of time, you’ve been burned by this entire process. You’ve thrown money at it and gotten nothing in return.

What you need is a website that funnels new leads to your business! That’s what Zoho Sites does. And yes, Zoho Sites is included in the Zoho One platform.

Zoho Sites has all the awesome features of most DIY website builders:

• Tons of gorgeous professional templates
• No code, drag and drop building
• A/B testing and analytics
• SEO optimization
• And more….

But none of this is all that different from other site builders like Wix or WordPress. What makes Zoho Sites so powerful is….its ability to automatically integrate with your entire business system:

• Collect leads and add them to CRM and your marketing automation (Zoho Campaigns).
• Optimize for user experience and SEO with Zoho PageSense
• Provide chat support with Zoho Sales IQ

If you’re a brick and mortar business, ecommerce business, manufacturing business or service business — this is an ideal platform for you.

9. Automatically track your business success with pre-built reports and dashboards.

Whoever said “You can’t track what you don’t measure” hasn’t tried to integrate a dozen custom apps into one dashboard without custom coding or spending a fortune on reporting software.

The new Zoho One provides more than 1500 pre-built reports and dashboards so you can finally be the one to boast about your business growth.

10. Got a question about your business? Ask “Zia”.

One of the most frustrating things about running a business is data analysis. Luckily Zoho One has an AI, lovingly named Zia.

If you’re a Star Trek fan, it’s like having your own “Enterprise Computer”!

The great thing about Zia is that “she” can search your entire Zoho One database and answer some of your basic questions.

You can type your question or even use voice search to ask your question.

11. Easily onboard and train new team members.

You’ve worked tirelessly to create a business process that delivers quality – but it seems to take forever (and cost a fortune) to train everyone on your team to follow them. Zoho One includes a powerful Learning Management System so that you can quickly, easily and automatically onboard employees and create on-going training programs.

12. Be two places at the same time!

Zoho One’s “Lens” custom app gives you the ability to troubleshoot virtually. This is an ideal app for service businesses like HVAC repair that have a service team on the move who need to solve problem.

13. Eliminate email overwhelm and critical tasks falling through the cracks

Another major annoyance for small business owners is dealing with a flooded email inbox that mixes external emails with team communication. This can lead to missing important information makes collaboration and follow-up difficult.

This is where TeamInbox saves the day. This is a shared inbox for teams so that every team member can see all the messages related to a project or customer issue. You can assign owners to each incoming message so that no email is left without a response. You can see what everyone is working on, share thoughts and ideas, and most importantly, make sure that all of your customers get the right answer as fast as possible.

One feature I really love is that you can configure all of your channels in one place so that you’re not jumping from one tab to another.

The great thing about TeamInbox is that you can run ALL of your emails (internal and external) through this app. Not only that, but you can also create tasks and communicate ALL from your inbox! This is especially useful when dealing with online reviews.

14. Backup and secure your data without an IT department.

Most small business owners don’t have an IT department. We count on the tools we use to keep our data private and secure.

Well, get this. When you have Zoho One, you also get “Vault”. This is an app that allows you to easily and securely backup all your data.

15. Don’t work alone! Stay connected, chat and meet with your team anytime, anywhere

The biggest challenge business owners face when working virtually is connecting with their team — not just for meeting, but for quick questions, announcements and even a quick video chat.

Zoho One’s Cliq app is your alternative to Slack.

16. Schedule meetings and even get paid for your advice with one click

One of my biggest peeves is going back and forth with someone to schedule a simple meeting. Zoho One’s “Bookings” app is how I schedule meetings with one click.

Another peeve is not making money on the advice I give and not knowing what types of meetings yield new clients and customers.

One of the features I love most about Zoho Bookings is that you can turn a meeting into a lead and that lead into a customer! Again — this is the benefit of a unified and synchronized operating system that doesn’t let a single interaction go to waste.

Sure, you can use other Calendar tools — but they won’t give you REPORTS the way Zoho Bookings does.

You can create reports by meeting type, revenue reports and so many more!

I’ve also created “breakthrough sessions” as a meeting type that allows clients to schedule 1-hr consulting meetings and where I can get PAID for my advice. This has been a game changer for me — because I hate asking for money. Instead, I simply tell my client to schedule a “breakthrough” session. This is a low-investment for them and allows me to get paid for my advice.

17. Leaving money on the table because you aren’t keeping the books

You know that feeling when you put on a coat and stick your hand in the pocket and find a $10 bill? I can see you smiling already.

Well, your business has money hidden in the nooks and crannies; phone consultations that go unbilled, getting lost in a project and not billing for all your time, pricing too low because you don’t understand your costs — and so much more.

Luckily Zoho One has Zoho Books.

When you use Zoho Books along with apps list Zoho CRM, Zoho Bookings, Zoho Sites and other integrated apps, you’re not leaving any money on the table.

New and Improved Zoho One Pulls Everything Together at a Price You Can Afford

Zoho One is a robust suite of business applications, designed to help entrepreneurs handle their most important tasks from anywhere with just an internet connection. They have the tools to run your entire company from accounting and finance to sales and marketing. 

I’ve been using Zoho for about two years now, and I’m very happy with it! I love that you can share documents with other users so we don’t have to email around spreadsheets or files anymore! There’s also a chat function where we can communicate in real-time – it’s great for brainstorming sessions or getting feedback on a proposal before submitting it. 

So Many Apps — Where Do You Start?

This is the most important question you can ask yourself. The best way to start using Zoho One is to start with a single app, get familiar and comfortable with it, then add the next most obvious app.

Here are some basic “triggers” or entry point apps to Zoho One:

Bookings (Calendly Alternative): This is how I started. A calendar booking app is simple, we all understand how they work, and, because it’s connected to your calendar, you’ll get some basic experience with connecting or integrating Zoho One to your existing calendar tool.

Bigin (Simple CRM): Another great way to start with Zoho One is with their basic, simple CRM, Bigin. This is a “Trello” like CRM that is ideas for anyone who has NOT used a CRM before. Again, you can use it out of the box, without integrating to anything. So it’s a great place to start.

Invoice: A lot of my friends start with this one. It’s a free invoice tool, you can also connect it to Bigin and just work on managing and growing your sales.

Zoho CRM (Salesforce alternative): This is the most popular way to start using Zoho One and a lot of companies choose this one. It’s not at the top of my list for solopreneurs because it can feel overwhelming (That’s why I recommend you start with Bigin). Now, you can start with some bare bones features because EVERY Zoho One app integrates with CRM, like everyone. So I’d recommend you connect your apps to Zoho CRM and you can jump into it when you are ready.

Ultimately the answer of where you start is up to you. Just start. Start with one app at a time and work your way up.

How to Get Started Without Overwhelm

Start with one app. Here’s what I recommend:

• Beginner? Start with Bookings or Bigin CRM
  
• Need to get paid? Use Invoice or Books
  
• Ready to scale? Start with Campaigns and CRM
  

Each app plays nice with the others. No integration headaches. Just activate, connect, go.

The Bottom Line

Zoho One is the ideal choice for a startup or new business that hasn’t committed to a wide variety of software just yet. Zoho One works best when you have all of your information in the single platform. That’s where the magic happens.

If you would rather spend your time working on your business, serving customers and seeing how your business is doing by glancing at a dashboard – Zoho One is for you.

Overall Zoho One and its apps are outstanding and will serve the needs of 90%+ of small business owners. Granted if you are very specific in a particular area, you may want to use particular tools or you might find that some Zoho apps don’t have the advanced features you want. BUT — Zoho One is very customizable. And if you struggle with measuring business results and making business decisions because you can’t see all the data, investing in some customizations will be well worth it.

Zoho One has made it easier for small businesses to operate out of one secure platform by seamlessly connecting all their apps so they don’t have to worry about data silos or multiple logins anymore. They can now focus on what matters most – growing their business!

FAQ

Is Zoho One good for solopreneurs? 

Yes! It’s built for small teams and solo operators who want affordable, integrated tools.

What’s the difference between Zoho CRM and Zoho One? 

Zoho CRM is one app. Zoho One includes CRM + 45 more apps.

Can I try Zoho One free? 

Yes — you get a 30-day free trial without a credit card.

How much is Zoho One? 

$37/month per user (annually). $45/month if billed monthly.

How is it different from G Suite or Microsoft? 

Zoho One includes CRM, marketing, accounting, analytics, and more. It’s a full operating system.

Can I cancel Zoho One anytime? 

Yes, Zoho One offers both monthly and annual plans. Cancel monthly anytime without penalty.

Is Zoho One customizable for my business? 

Absolutely. Most apps are modular, and you can enable only what you need.

Do I need to hire someone to set it up? 

Nope. Start simple. Use one app. As you grow, the platform grows with you.

Will Zoho One work for my team? 

Yes, you can add users as your business grows. Permissions and roles are built in.

You already know referrals are gold. But let’s be honest—getting consistent, high-quality referrals can feel like trying to catch smoke with your bare hands. You ask, you remind, you incentivize… and still, the results are hit or miss.

Here’s the thing: most businesses fail at referrals not because their service isn’t great, but because their process is messy.

And that’s where the right referral network tools comes in. Imagine having a system that finds ideal leads, nurtures relationships, and makes referring your business as easy as clicking a button. That’s what we’re about to dive into.

Let’s break down the best tools that can supercharge your referrals and why they might just be the game-changer you’ve been looking for.

Top Picks

• Best Overall: LeadRocks – $79 
• Best Value: SmatLeads – $69 
• Most Innovative: FacePop – $49 

How to Choose the Right Software

If you’re still relying on spreadsheets and guesswork, you’re leaving money on the table. Modern referral network software doesn’t just collect names—it helps you build a system that turns satisfied customers into an ongoing source of high-quality leads. With the right tool, you can create referral programs that integrate seamlessly with your CRM, making referrals a predictable revenue stream rather than a lucky break.

LeadRocks

After you’ve gone through your LinkedIn referral network – you’re going to need a new source.

LeadRocks is a B2B contact database that boasts over 100 million records, including emails, phone numbers, and LinkedIn profiles. It’s designed to help you find high-quality leads for your outreach efforts with just a few clicks. Whether you’re a marketing agency, recruiter, or sales manager, this tool can streamline your lead generation process. While it has some great features, like GDPR compliance and the ability to search leads based on various criteria, it’s essential to keep in mind that the quality of the data can vary. If you’re looking for a reliable way to supercharge your referrals, LeadRocks might be worth considering, but be prepared to sift through some outdated information.

What People Say

While some users appreciate the extensive database and the potential for targeted outreach, others have raised concerns about the accuracy and timeliness of the data. It’s a mixed bag, so it’s crucial to weigh the pros and cons before diving in.

I was looking for a B2B tracking and scrapping platform, one that I could upload my own leads as well as get new ones, then track interactions with that client. It does NOT do this. I gave it 4 tacos because it took awhile for support to get back to me and answer this question, even after they responded to my first few questions. If they add the upload the ability of my own contacts and tracking of interactions, this would be a stellar app.- akdia

Pros and Cons

Pros:

• Large database of contacts
• User-friendly interface
• Fast customer support response

Cons:

• Data can be outdated
• Limited functionality for tracking interactions
• Some leads may not be valid

Why You Might Like LeadRocks

• Access to a vast database of leads
• Ability to search by job title, company name, and more
• GDPR-compliant for peace of mind

Is It Worth the Investment?

Investing in LeadRocks could save you time and effort in lead generation, potentially leading to higher conversion rates. However, be mindful of the quality of leads you receive, as this could impact your long-term success.

Current Price: $79

Rating: 4.58 (Total: 354+)

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SmatLeads

SmatLeads is your go-to tool for finding new leads and closing deals more efficiently. With its user-friendly interface, you can easily extract valuable contact information from platforms like Google Business Profile, Bing, and LinkedIn. Whether you’re a marketer, a solopreneur, or part of a marketing agency, this software can help streamline your lead generation process. It’s designed to save you time and effort, allowing you to focus on what really matters—growing your business.

What People Say

Users appreciate the ease of use and the ability to extract leads from multiple sources. However, some have pointed out limitations in functionality, especially for European markets. It’s a good idea to weigh these insights before making a decision.

• As a digital marketing agency, I’ve found SmatLeads to be an invaluable resource for my Google Business Profile prospecting needs. The platform excels at extracting GBP data across various regions and displays it through an intuitive, user-friendly interface. Their support team even scheduled a complimentary training session to address my questions.

– andre_ascot

Pros and Cons

Pros:

• Intuitive and user-friendly design
• Strong support team with training options
• Effective lead extraction from various platforms

Cons:

• Limited functionality for certain regions
• Some users experienced technical issues
• PDF reports could use better formatting

Why You Might Like SmatLeads

• Find high-paying, easy-to-close leads
• Efficiently discover and manage leads
• User-friendly interface for quick navigation

Is It Worth the Investment?

Investing in SmatLeads can lead to significant time savings in your lead generation efforts, which could translate into higher conversion rates over time. Just keep in mind the potential limitations based on your specific market needs.

Current Price: $69

Rating: 4.63 (Total: 100+)

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Google Maps Scraper

I love this referral network tool for local businesses.

Google Maps Scraper is a handy tool that lets you export local business contacts directly from Google Maps into various file formats like CSV, XLSX, and JSON. Imagine being able to gather leads effortlessly, whether you’re looking for new clients, monitoring reviews, or analyzing competitors. This software is designed to simplify your lead generation process, making it a great fit for marketers, sales managers, and agencies alike. Plus, it operates in the cloud, so you don’t have to worry about installations or keeping your IP safe.

What People Say

Users appreciate the ease of extracting leads and the advanced filtering options. However, some have raised concerns about unexpected charges if you’re not careful with your usage. It’s worth considering these insights to ensure it aligns with your needs.

I found the Google Maps Scraper to be a game-changer for my lead generation efforts. The ability to filter businesses by rating and status helped me target my outreach effectively. Plus, the cloud execution means I can work from anywhere without worrying about my IP being exposed.- webmaster398

Pros and Cons

Pros:

• User-friendly interface for easy navigation
• Effective filtering to get targeted data
• Cloud execution keeps your IP safe

Cons:

• Potential for unexpected charges if limits are exceeded
• Some users reported issues with customer support
• Limited functionality for certain additional services

Why You Might Like Google Maps Scraper

• Effortlessly gather local business contacts
• Advanced filtering options for targeted leads
• Cloud-based for easy access and safety

Is It Worth the Investment?

Investing in Google Maps Scraper can save you time and help you generate leads more efficiently, potentially leading to increased sales over time. Just be mindful of the pricing structure to avoid any surprises.

Current Price: $129

Rating: 3.94 (Total: 89+)

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FacePop

I love any referral tool that helps you leverage your website for sales.

FacePop is an innovative video pop-up widget designed to transform your static website into an engaging platform that captures leads and gathers valuable feedback. Imagine being able to connect with your visitors in a dynamic way, making your site not just a place to browse but a space to interact. With features like customizable video pop-ups, FacePop is perfect for marketers and agencies looking to boost conversions and enhance user experience. Plus, it’s user-friendly, so you can get started without a steep learning curve.

What People Say

Users rave about FacePop’s ability to enhance engagement on their websites and its effective lead capture capabilities. However, some have pointed out minor issues with the login interface and the learning curve for navigating the workspace, which are worth considering.

FacePop has been a fantastic lead generation tool for me. The clean interface and effective lead capture features have significantly boosted my conversion rates. I particularly love the range of integrations available, which makes it easy to fit into my existing workflow.- mirajadesign

Pros and Cons

Pros:

• Highly effective for lead generation
• Great list of integrations available
• Responsive customer support team

Cons:

• Some users experience login UI issues
• Initial learning curve for workspace navigation
• Limited integrations with certain email platforms

Why You Might Like FacePop

• Create engaging video pop-ups to capture leads
• Seamless integrations with various platforms
• User-friendly interface for easy setup

Is It Worth the Investment?

Investing in FacePop can lead to significant long-term benefits as it helps you capture leads more effectively, ultimately driving more sales. The initial cost is offset by the potential increase in conversions and customer engagement over time.

Current Price: $49

Rating: 4.81 (Total: 43+)

Buy Now

FAQ

What should I consider before purchasing referral software?

Before you make a purchase, think about your specific needs and goals. Consider how many leads you want to generate and the types of businesses you’re targeting. Look for software that offers a robust database and reliable data accuracy. Check user reviews to see if others have had positive experiences, and ensure the software integrates well with your existing tools. It’s also wise to evaluate the pricing plans and see if they fit your budget while providing the features you need.

How can I effectively use referral software to maximize my leads?

To get the most out of your referral software, start by defining your target audience clearly. Use the software’s filtering options to narrow down leads based on criteria like industry, location, or job title. Regularly update your lead lists and engage with them through personalized outreach. Utilize any built-in tracking features to monitor interactions and adjust your strategies based on what works best. Don’t forget to leverage any training or support resources offered by the software to enhance your usage.

What if I encounter issues with the software after purchasing it?

If you run into problems, first check the software’s help center or FAQ section for common issues and solutions. Many platforms also offer customer support via email or chat, so don’t hesitate to reach out for assistance. Document any specific issues you’re facing to provide clear information to the support team. Additionally, consider joining user forums or communities where you can share experiences and tips with other users. Remember, many software solutions are continuously updated, so keep an eye out for new features or fixes that may address your concerns.

Wrapping Up

In summary, utilizing cutting-edge software solutions can significantly enhance your referral strategies. By choosing the right tools, you can streamline your processes, improve the quality of your leads, and ultimately drive more conversions. Whether you opt for LeadRocks for its comprehensive database, SmatLeads for its user-friendly interface, or FacePop for its innovative engagement features, each of these solutions offers unique benefits that can help you supercharge your referrals.

Collecting customer feedback can feel like pulling teeth. You know you need it to grow your business, but the process? Exhausting. Traditional surveys are too rigid, user interviews eat up your calendar, and managing all that data? Overwhelming. But what if there was a tool that handled all the heavy lifting? Enter Looplytic, a smart survey and user research platform that automates data collection and analysis so seamlessly, it’s like having a full-time research assistant without the hefty salary.

Whether you’re testing a new product idea, trying to understand why users drop off, or figuring out what your customers really want, Looplytic helps you gather insights without drowning in spreadsheets or juggling interviews. This review breaks down what makes Looplytic stand out, how it works, and why it might just be the secret weapon your business needs.

Looplytic Isn’t Just Another Survey Tool

If you’ve used tools like SurveyMonkey or Google Forms, you know they get the job done, but they’re far from perfect. Surveys often feel generic, asking the same questions no matter what users say. That means you either miss out on deeper insights or spend hours chasing follow-ups. Looplytic changes that by automating customer research through dynamic, adaptive surveys that evolve based on user responses.

Imagine having a conversation with your customers where every question naturally flows from the last, digging deeper into their needs, frustrations, and ideas. That’s Looplytic. Instead of a one-size-fits-all questionnaire, it adapts in real-time, making your feedback sessions more useful and way less time-consuming.

What Makes Looplytic Stand Out

Most survey tools feel like glorified forms. You send them out, wait for responses, and then spend hours trying to make sense of them. Looplytic is built differently.

Imagine just stating the overall goal of your survey — what kind of information you’re looking for, and then leaving it up to the survey tool to ask the questions that will get to your answers.

Dynamic surveys that evolve with responses.

Traditional surveys are like those awkward first dates where you ask all your questions up front, no matter what the other person says. Looplytic is like a great conversation that flows naturally. Each question changes based on what the respondent just said, making your feedback more detailed and helpful. If someone says they’re frustrated with your app’s checkout process, Looplytic doesn’t just move on to the next question about pricing. It asks why checkout is frustrating, what they expected instead, and how it could be better. It’s like having a UX researcher on autopilot.

Easy survey setup with contextual relevance.

Creating surveys in Looplytic is quick and painless. You can even input your website URL, and Looplytic will tailor questions to your product or service. Every question feels relevant, and you can set limits on the number of questions so users don’t get survey fatigue.

Automated research management that saves you time. Collecting feedback is one thing. Making sense of it is another. Looplytic doesn’t just gather responses—it analyzes them automatically, giving you clear, actionable insights in a clean, intuitive interface. No more wrestling with spreadsheets or manually coding responses. Looplytic does the hard work for you.

How Looplytic Works Without Wasting Your Time

Most survey tools feel like a chore. You create questions, send them out, and hope for the best. If the responses are vague, too bad—you’ll need to follow up manually. Looplytic changes that by mimicking a real-time user interview. It figures out the next question based on what the respondent just said, so you get deeper insights without lifting a finger.

“I can see how this tool would really help customers fine tune their goals, objectives, visions, etc. Some of my clients have a hard time with analysis paralysis and not fine tuning their true desires. A tool like this one, that gets to the heart of their pain point would help in their brainstorm efforts. Sometimes its hard just to get started.” — Michael Swartz, President, Reachpoint

Picture this. You run an e-commerce store and want to know why customers abandon their carts. A traditional survey might ask, “Why did you abandon your cart?” and give options like shipping costs, prices, or timing. Looplytic goes further. If someone picks shipping costs, it follows up with, “What about the shipping costs felt too high?” and “Would free shipping over $50 make you more likely to complete your purchase?” Instead of guessing what your customers need, you get clear, detailed answers.

Who Should Use Looplytic? Probably You

Whether you’re starting a new business or you’re struggling with understanding your customer, you’re going to LOVE Looplytic. As I said before, the great thing about Looplytic is that you only need to know what you want to know — the tool will do the rest.

If you’re building, improving, or scaling a product, Looplytic helps. Product teams can validate new features and fix problem areas without endless guesswork. UX researchers can conduct deep user research without manual interviews. CX teams can enhance customer satisfaction by getting direct insights fast. Market researchers can collect and analyze data without headaches. Startup founders can test and validate ideas without blowing the budget. Even UX/UI designers can gather feedback on designs to make user experiences smoother.

Pricing That Fits Your Budget

Let’s talk money. Looplytic offers both free and paid versions, so whether you’re a solo entrepreneur or scaling up, there’s an option for you. The free version lets you test the waters with basic features, while the paid plan gives you advanced analytics, unlimited surveys, and premium support. There’s no trial period for the paid plan, but the free version gives you enough to explore before you commit.

Why Looplytic Deserves a Spot in Your Toolkit

User research can feel like a luxury for companies with deep pockets and big teams, but Looplytic changes that. You can make better product decisions without second-guessing yourself. You can collect and analyze data without blowing your budget or losing your weekends. And you can get insights fast, without becoming a data scientist overnight.

Looplytic isn’t just another tool. It’s the sidekick you didn’t know you needed, helping you stay ahead without burning out.

Is Looplytic Worth It? Yes

The survey was quick, to the point, and engaging. Super user-friendly and easy to complete. I can see how it would help understand customers’ needs and struggles, depending on the type of survey. Great tool! — Vivian, Vivian’s Creativity Lab

In a world where customer feedback can make or break your business, Looplytic gives you a way to collect, analyze, and act on that feedback without all the stress. Whether you’re testing a new idea, refining a product, or figuring out what your customers really want, Looplytic helps you do it faster and smarter. So if you’re ready to ditch the manual scheduling, static surveys, and data overload, give Looplytic a shot. Your business—and your sanity—will thank you.

And guess what? Most small business owners have no idea what’s being said about them until it’s too late.

That’s where Brand24 comes in. This AI-powered media monitoring tool keeps an eye (and an algorithm) on what’s being said about your business, your competitors, and your industry—across news sites, blogs, social media, forums, and more. It’s like having a full-time reputation manager, minus the six-figure salary.

Brand24 - #1 AI Social Listening Tool

If you’re running a business, people are talking about you online—but are you listening? Brand24 is an AI-powered media monitoring tool that tracks brand mentions, analyzes sentiment, and delivers real-time insights from social media, news sites, blogs, and more. With its AI Brand Assistant, influencer identification, and competitor tracking, Brand24 helps you stay ahead of trends, respond to feedback before it escalates, and make data-driven marketing decisions.

I personally recommend Brand24 because it takes the guesswork out of reputation management and competitive analysis. Whether you’re a solopreneur or a growing business, this tool gives you the power to track, analyze, and improve your online presence—all from one easy-to-use dashboard. Try Brand24 today with a free trial and take control of your brand’s digital footprint!

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I tested out Brand24, and I can confidently say: If you’re serious about staying ahead of your competitors, responding to customer concerns before they escalate, and spotting new opportunities, you need this tool.

Let’s break it down.

What Exactly Does Brand24 Do?

Brand24 is essentially your eyes and ears on the internet. It scours millions of conversations happening in real-time and delivers actionable insights so you can:

Know what people are saying about your brand (and whether it’s good, bad, or neutral).

Brand24 continuously scans the web for mentions of your brand, products, or relevant keywords and categorizes them based on sentiment analysis—positive, negative, or neutral.

How it works:

• Real-time mention tracking: Brand24 monitors social media, blogs, forums, and news sites to detect whenever someone talks about your brand.
• AI-powered sentiment analysis: Instead of manually reading through thousands of posts, Brand24 uses AI to determine whether a mention is positive, negative, or neutral—even picking up on sarcasm and emotional context.
• Custom alerts: Get instant notifications when your brand is mentioned, so you can celebrate positive feedback or address complaints before they escalate.

Monitor competitors to see what’s working for them—and what’s not.

Why reinvent the wheel when you can learn from your competitors? Brand24 lets you spy on the competition (ethically, of course) and see what’s making them successful—or what’s causing them trouble.

How it works:

• Competitor tracking: Add your competitors’ names, product keywords, or industry hashtags, and Brand24 will pull in all their online mentions.
• Comparison Tab: This feature lets you compare your brand’s performance side by side with competitors on key metrics like engagement, reach, sentiment, and share of voice.
• Content strategy insights: Discover what types of posts and campaigns are getting your competitors the most engagement, so you can adjust your marketing accordingly.

Track industry trends before they blow up.

One of my biggest peeves with digital marketing tools is that they have specific features and buttons that don’t always answer your specific questions. This is where Brand24’s new AI feature really shines.

How it works:

• AI-powered trend detection: Brand24 scans millions of conversations and detects patterns in emerging topics, discussions, and keywords.
• Topic analysis: The AI identifies which themes and issues are getting traction, so you can jump on new opportunities before your competitors do.
• Hashtag tracking: Discover which hashtags are gaining popularity in your industry, so you can tailor your content strategy for maximum reach.

Identify influencers who are already talking about your niche.

Influencer marketing is a goldmine—but only if you work with the right people. Instead of blindly picking influencers based on follower count, Brand24 finds the ones who actually have influence in your niche.

Influencer identification: Brand24 scans mentions and engagement to pinpoint influential voices in your industry—even if they don’t have millions of followers.Share of Voice analysis: Measures how much an influencer’s audience is actually engaging with your industry’s topics.Engagement tracking: See which influencers are already talking about your brand and reach out for potential collaborations.

Prevent PR disasters by catching negative mentions early.

Negative press can spread faster than wildfire, and if you’re not monitoring your brand in real time, you might not even know a PR crisis is happening until it’s too late. Brand24 acts as an early warning system to help you handle issues before they explode.

How it works:

• Anomaly detection: The AI detects sudden spikes in negative mentions and flags them as potential PR threats.
• Sentiment tracking: If customer sentiment starts shifting toward negative, Brand24 alerts you immediately.
• Crisis management alerts: You can set up automatic notifications to let you know when your brand is mentioned alongside words like “scam,” “problem,” or “complaint.”

Fine-tune your marketing strategy based on real audience engagement.

Marketing is a lot easier when you know exactly what your audience likes and engages with. Brand24 takes the guesswork out of marketing by showing you what’s working and what’s not.

How it works:

• Performance tracking: See which of your marketing campaigns are getting the most mentions and engagement.
• Content insights: Discover which blog posts, social media updates, or promotions resonate most with your audience.
• AI-generated reports: Brand24 summarizes what’s driving engagement so you can optimize your content strategy.

In other words, it makes sure you’re not flying blind when it comes to your online reputation.

AI-Powered Insights: No Guesswork, Just Data

Small business owners don’t have time to sift through thousands of tweets, blog posts, and reviews to figure out what’s happening. Brand24 does it for you, with AI-powered analytics that make sense of all that noise.

Some standout features:

1. Sentiment Analysis – Find Out If People Love or Hate You (Or Worse, Feel Nothing)

Brand24 doesn’t just tell you when someone mentions your business—it tells you how they feel about it.

Instead of manually sorting through comments to see if people are raving or ranting, Brand24’s AI automatically categorizes mentions as positive, negative, or neutral. Even better? It picks up on sarcasm, frustration, excitement, and other emotions, so you get real insights, not just surface-level data.

2. Competitive Analysis – Spy on the Big Guys and Steal Their Secrets (Legally, of Course)

Ever wonder why your competitor’s social media is exploding while yours is crickets? Brand24’s Comparison Tab lets you stack your brand against your competition and track key metrics, like:

• How much people are talking about each brand
• The overall sentiment (positive vs. negative mentions)
• The reach of those mentions
• Who’s engaging and what’s resonating

Instead of guessing what works, you get hard data on what’s working in your industry.

3. AI Brand Assistant – Your Personal Digital Strategist

Brand24’s AI isn’t just about data—it gives you smart recommendations. Want to know why your latest campaign flopped? Or which hashtags are gaining traction in your industry? Just ask the AI Brand Assistant.

Unlike generic chatbots, this assistant is trained specifically on your data, meaning it delivers insights tailored to your business.

Real-Time Monitoring: Catch Problems Before They Go Viral

In today’s digital world, one bad review can spread like wildfire—and before you know it, your business is trending for all the wrong reasons.

Brand24’s real-time alerts ensure that you know about issues before they become full-blown PR nightmares. You can set up notifications for:

✅ Negative mentions of your business
✅ Sudden spikes in online chatter
✅ Changes in competitor performance
✅ Industry trends gaining momentum

It’s like having an early warning system for your brand.

Influencer Marketing: Find the Right People to Promote Your Brand

Not all influencers are created equal. Some have millions of followers but zero influence, while others can drive real engagement in your niche.

Brand24 doesn’t just count followers—it measures actual influence by tracking:

• Share of Voice – How much of the industry conversation an influencer dominates
• Engagement Metrics – How actively their audience interacts
• Reach – How far their content spreads

This means you can partner with influencers who genuinely move the needle for your business.

Is Brand24 Worth It? Let’s Compare Features and Pricing

Let’s be real—tools like this can get expensive. But compared to hiring a PR firm or a data analyst, Brand24 is a steal.

Here’s how it stacks up:

Brand24 offers a free trial, so you can test it before committing.

How to Use Brand24 in Under 10 Minutes

Not a tech whiz? No problem. Setting up Brand24 is incredibly easy:

1. Sign up for a free trial – No commitment necessary.
2. Enter the keywords you want to track – Your brand name, competitors, industry terms.
3. Set up alerts – Get notified only when important stuff happens.
4. Check your dashboard – See real-time insights in one place.
5. Take action – Respond to comments, track trends, and outsmart competitors.

You don’t need to be a data scientist to use Brand24. It’s designed for small business owners who want powerful insights without the hassle.

Final Verdict: If You’re Not Monitoring Your Reputation, You’re Losing Business

The internet is talking about you—whether you’re listening or not.

Brand24 ensures that you’re not the last to know when customers, competitors, or industry leaders mention your business. It’s a game-changer for small business owners who want to:

✔ Get ahead of competitors
✔ Protect their reputation
✔ Spot trends before they go mainstream
✔ Find influencers who actually matter
✔ Improve marketing with real data

With AI-powered insights, competitor tracking, and real-time alerts, Brand24 is the affordable and easy-to-use tool small business owners have been waiting for.

So, what’s stopping you? Start your free trial today and take control of your online reputation before someone else does.

Yeah.  Well, AI is the new internet.  And AI agents are the new social media.  And if you’ve learned anything from the internet, websites, and social media is that you simply HAVE to get on board.  Technology is moving forward and if you don’t move with it and at least understand how it works, you’re going to regret it because you’ll be so far behind that you won’t be able to catch up. 

Let’s cut to the chase: AI is here, and it’s not just a trend—it’s a seismic shift in how we do business. But here’s the kicker: to make AI work for you, clarity is non-negotiable. That means knowing your business inside out: your mission, vision, and ideal customer. You need to be crystal clear about how your customers buy, how you sell, and how you manage the customer experience. Even internally, you must define what you want and how you want it.

Why? Because AI amplifies what’s already there. If your processes are a mess, AI won’t magically fix them—it will automate chaos. But if you’re clear and intentional, AI becomes the ultimate sidekick, automating the grind so you can focus on strategy and creativity. Let’s explore how AI is revolutionizing business and the tools that are leading the charge.

What Are AI Agents?

To understand AI agents, think of them not as robots following pre-set instructions but as digital colleagues who strategize and adapt like humans. Imagine having a super-intelligent assistant who’s not only great at juggling data but also at learning and improving over time. While traditional automation tools like Zapier and Make are great for task execution based on fixed rules, AI agents independently plan and achieve objectives.

With AI agents, you don’t program all the steps. Instead, you assign a goal—say, expanding your social media reach—and these agents autonomously create strategies, write posts, and tweak approaches as they see what works best. They operate as if the term “manual input” is not even in their vocabulary!

What You Need to Have BEFORE You Create AI Agents

So, AI agents are literally replicants of you, what you know, and how you make decisions.  And that means, that you have to be very clear about what you do, how you do it, and why you do it the way you do. 

In short, creating an AI agent is a lot like sitting down with a super smart intern or new employee and training them on your process, your systems, and most importantly, your decision making processes. 

I’m going to say this again and another way:

AI agents thrive on clarity. You need to have well-defined goals, clear processes, and keen decision points already in place. Think of it as setting rules for this autonomous playground.

1. Goals Before Gadgets: Define specific marketing outcomes you want to achieve.

2. Processes That Pop: Have clear, efficient processes that can be enhanced by AI agents.

3. Data Delight: Make sure your data is organized and ready for your new AI buddies to access and analyze. 

What’s the Difference Between AI Agents and Automation

I’ll bet you read this and thought “This sounds a lot like automation – what’s the difference?” That was a BIG question for me too.  

Here’s a simple way to look at it:

All AI agents are automation, but automations are not AI agents.

• AI Agents make decisions in data-based environments.  The key phrase here is “make decisions”. When creating AI agents, you will feed (teach), program the AI with detailed particulars around your business. This includes goals, objectives, and messaging.  But you will also have to know specifically what to do in certain situations – think “If this, then that” instructions. 
• Automations make decisions based on rule-based environments. Automations also run on “if this, then that” patterns, but they do NOT make complex decisions. 

Here’s a simple table I created to show the differences between AI agents and Automations:

What AI Agents Can Do for Your Business

AI agents are reshaping what’s possible by automating repetitive tasks and freeing you up to focus on what truly matters. Here’s what they bring to the table:

Task Automation

AI agents excel at handling repetitive and time-consuming tasks. Whether it’s processing invoices, managing calendars, or analyzing customer data, they do it faster and more accurately than humans ever could.

Improved Productivity

By delegating mundane tasks to AI, your team can focus on creative and strategic projects that drive growth. Think of AI as your digital intern—except it doesn’t need coffee breaks or training.

Cost Reduction

With fewer errors and faster processes, AI not only saves time but also reduces costs. Imagine an assistant that speeds up your workflows while keeping your budget in check.

Data-Driven Decision Making

AI agents analyze mountains of data at lightning speed, delivering actionable insights. Whether you’re predicting trends or optimizing inventory, they make decision-making faster and smarter.

Enhanced Customer Experience

From personalized product recommendations to real-time support, AI elevates customer service. It’s like having a concierge for every customer, 24/7.

24/7 Availability

AI agents don’t sleep, which means your business can run smoothly around the clock. They can handle multiple tasks simultaneously, ensuring nothing falls through the cracks.

The Limitations of AI: What It Can’t Do (Yet)

While AI is powerful, it’s not a magic wand. Here’s where it falls short:

Strategic Thinking

AI can process data, but it can’t brainstorm your next big idea or craft a marketing strategy. Those creative leaps remain firmly in the human domain.

Emotional Intelligence

AI lacks the ability to interpret human emotions or navigate complex interpersonal dynamics. Whether it’s a delicate negotiation or understanding subtle feedback, this is where humans shine.

Ethical Decision-Making

AI can follow programmed rules, but it can’t make nuanced ethical choices. Moral dilemmas require human judgment and values.

Tools That Are Changing the Game

Not all AI tools are created equal. Whether you’re automating workflows or scaling content creation, the right tool can make all the difference. Let’s look at three standout platforms: Make.com and Relevance.

Best Automation Tool for AI: Make.com

Make.com (formerly Integromat) is a powerhouse for workflow automation.

• Key Features: Integration with over 2,000 apps, a visual drag-and-drop interface for creating workflows, and advanced options like error handling and data stores.
• Why Use It: Perfect for businesses that need customizable solutions to manage complex processes.

Best Tool to Build AI Agents: Relevance.ai

Relevance AI is a powerful platform that enables businesses to create and manage AI-powered tools and agents without coding13. It serves as a home for the “AI Workforce,” allowing subject-matter experts to design AI tools, agents, and multi-agent teams to streamline various business processes.

Key Features

1. AI Agent Creation: You can build highly-skilled AI agents that follow unique company processes and integrate with existing tech stacks.
2. No-Code Tools: The platform offers a no-code environment for building AI tools, making it accessible to non-technical users.
3. Task Automation: Relevance AI can automate repetitive tasks such as lead generation, personalized outreach, and sales automation.
4. Multi-Agent Systems: The platform supports the creation of complex workflows involving multiple AI agents working together or reporting to a manager agent.
5. Integration Capabilities: Relevance AI offers native integrations with various software, including Gmail and CRMs, allowing for automated triggering of AI agents.

Use Cases

• Lead Generation: Automatically identify and qualify leads.
• Personalized Outreach: Tailor messaging to individual leads for increased engagement.
• Market Research: Utilize pre-built agent templates like Marco for qualitative data coding and survey response analysis.
• Customer Support: Create AI chatbots to assist users in determining product suitability

While Relevance AI is powerful for task automation, it may not be the ideal solution for creating conversational chatbots. The platform is particularly beneficial for small to mid-sized businesses looking to enhance their sales processes and overall efficiency

Training Your AI: The Secret to Success

AI isn’t a “set-it-and-forget-it” solution—it needs guidance to perform at its best. Here’s how to train it effectively:

Define Clear Objectives

Before you deploy AI, clarify its role. What tasks will it handle? What outcomes do you expect? The clearer your instructions, the better the results.

Use Quality Data

Garbage in, garbage out. Feed your AI clean, relevant, and well-structured data to ensure it learns and performs accurately.

Choose the Right Tools

Not all AI platforms are created equal. Evaluate your options based on your business needs, data privacy concerns, and scalability.

Be Specific

When training AI, concise and clear instructions are key. Ambiguity leads to errors, so spell out what you need in plain terms.

Prioritize Security

Ensure your AI operates within a framework that protects sensitive data. Encryption and anonymization aren’t just optional—they’re essential.

Monitor and Refine

AI requires ongoing attention. Regularly review its performance, gather feedback, and tweak its training to keep it aligned with your goals.

Why Clarity Is the Foundation of AI Success

AI is like a magnifying glass for your business. It amplifies what you’re already doing—good or bad. That’s why clarity is crucial. Without a clear mission, processes, and goals, AI will simply automate inefficiencies. But if you approach it with intention, it becomes a force multiplier for your business.

So, get clear about what matters most in your business. Define your vision. Sharpen your processes. Then let AI take care of the grind while you focus on strategy, creativity, and growth. This is the future—and it’s yours for the taking.

A lot of small businesses have their web sites hosted with a “friend” or even with an industry group. This isn’t always the best idea. The businesses that I’ve worked with who have this arrangement have clunky, poorly designed sites that aren’t keeping up with the times.

Look, your web presence is important. So if you want to attract and convert the most customers, you need a hosting package that provides the best experience for your customers.

This is why I’ve pulled together this short list of tips for choosing the best web hosting services that no one talks about.

How to Choose a Web Host: Invest in the Best Hosting Provider for Your Business

Remember, you get what you pay for. It’s tempting to use a free or super-cheap web hosting provider. But your web site’s performance and security can be affected. If you’re running an online business, you need to make sure that your site is up and running all the time. So it’s worth spending a bit more on a quality web host. An uptime guarantee is crucial to ensure your site is always available.

Here’s a hint – pay special attention to your web hosting plan and what server resources the web host offers.

Today, every website needs SSL certificate support. The good news is that most web hosts offer that as a standard part of any plan.

Here’s an example of WPEngine pricing. WPEngine has a great overall reputation for speed, service and it’s pretty affordable too.

1.1 What is Web Hosting and Why is it Important?

Definition of Web Hosting

Web hosting is a service that allows individuals and organizations to host their websites on the internet. Essentially, it involves storing your website’s files, data, and applications on a server, which is then made accessible to the public via the internet. Web hosting services provide the necessary infrastructure, including servers, storage, bandwidth, and security, to ensure that websites are always available and accessible to users. Without web hosting, your website wouldn’t have a place to live on the internet, making it impossible for people to find and visit your site.

Importance of Web Hosting for Businesses

For businesses, web hosting is crucial. It enables them to establish an online presence and reach a global audience. Your website often serves as the first point of contact between your business and potential customers. It plays a critical role in building brand awareness, generating leads, and driving sales. A reliable web hosting service ensures that your website is always available, secure, and performing optimally. This is essential for building trust and credibility with your customers. In today’s digital age, having a robust web presence is not just an option; it’s a necessity.

Brief Overview of Web Hosting Services

Web hosting services come in various forms, each catering to different needs and requirements. Shared hosting is like renting an apartment where you share resources with other websites. It’s cost-effective but may not offer the best performance. Virtual Private Server (VPS) hosting provides a middle ground, offering more resources and better performance than shared hosting. Dedicated hosting is like owning a house; you have an entire server to yourself, offering the best performance and security but at a higher cost. Cloud hosting is flexible and scalable, making it ideal for growing businesses. Each type of hosting has its own advantages and disadvantages, so it’s essential to choose a web hosting service that aligns with your specific needs.

2. Domain registrars (where you buy your domain name) aren’t always the best web hosting services.

“Back in the day” there were registrars and web hosts. Today, registrars have gotten into the hosting business and web hosts have gotten into the registrar business. You can certainly keep everything with the same company, just remember that with a registrar, you aren’t getting the best web hosting and with a web host, you aren’t getting the best registration service.

Definition of Web Hosting

Web hosting is a service that allows individuals and organizations to make their website accessible via the World Wide Web. Web hosts provide space on a server owned or leased for use by clients, as well as providing Internet connectivity, typically in a data center. Web hosts can also provide data center space and connectivity to the Internet for other servers located in their data center, called colocation.

Web hosting services include a variety of features, including servers, storage, bandwidth, and security. Bandwidth refers to the amount of data that can be transferred between the website and its users over a specific period. It is important for web hosting because it affects the speed and accessibility of the website, especially during high traffic periods.

3. Choose a web host that offers great support (including chat).

When is your site most likely to have issues? In the middle of the night, on a holiday or some other supremely inconvenient time. You want to look at web hosting providers that are open 24/7 with a solid support team who can fix what’s wrong over chat. The best web hosting service will have enough staff and tech support to keep your site up and running.

If your domain registrar doesn’t offer 24/7 support, you aren’t getting the best registration service. Domain registration is the process of reserving a name on the internet for a certain period, usually one year. It might be better to keep domain registration separate from web hosting to avoid potential issues with support and management.

4. Choose a web hosting service that’s built for speed.

Did you know that a slow website is costing you customers? Great customer support is crucial for resolving issues promptly. You know from your own experience that if a site takes too long to load (especially on mobile) you are out of there. Your web hosting company plays a BIG role in how quickly your website loads on desktop and mobile. Here’s what to look for:

• Look for server response time between 100ms and 200 ms. Between 200ms and 1 second is considered acceptable, but should be improved. Above 1 second, your site is considered too slow.

• Make sure that your web host is using SSD’s (Solid State Drives) this is the latest, greatest and fastest type of drive.

• RAM (Random Access Memory) is another important ingredient for a fast web site. Just like with your computer – more RAM is better. Get as much as you can afford.

• Lots of Bandwidth. Think of bandwidth as a pipe through which information goes through. The bigger the pipe, the faster the site.

5. Fastest Web Hosting Services

Many web hosting services talk about how “fast” they are. But which cloud hosting is fastest? That depends. So, I did some research to see which web hosts were mentioned most often for providing the fastest speeds.

One of the key factors in determining the speed of a web host is server performance. These are the web hosts that were mentioned most often as being the fastest:

Kinsta

Kinsta offers managed hosting services, which include automatic updates and enhanced security.

WPEngine

WPEngine offers scalability, allowing businesses to easily handle increased traffic and growth.

SiteGround

SiteGround offers robust security features to protect websites from threats.

6. Use dedicated hosting if your site gets more than 10,000 visitors.

Think of “shared” hosting like an apartment building. You are sharing space with other web sites. Many small web sites can get by with shared hosting, but when you reach a certain level of traffic and need the capacity to grow, then it’s time for a dedicated server. Dedicated servers also allow better isolation and security in managing your site. Additionally, dedicated hosting provides more server resources, which can improve site performance.

7. If you have a WordPress site – choose managed WordPress hosting.

A managed WordPress hosting service provides an additional layer of security for your site. They are experts at updating both WordPress software and the plugins you’re using on your site, so you don’t have to worry about doing it yourself. Managed WordPress hosting often includes automatic updates for both WordPress and its plugins. Not only that, but they’ll know how to troubleshoot problems with themes or widgets, which can save you time on the phone with a third-party customer service representative who doesn’t know what they’re talking about.

8. Check their contract for uptime — 99% isn’t enough!

Many web hosts will say that they have 99% or 99.5% uptime. That seems like a good deal, but remember, if they say 99% that can be 87 hours of downtime- so if you get 10 visitors per hour that’s 870 lost leads! Granted, if your website doesn’t get as many visitors, that may not be as important. But if you get leads from your website, this can be a critical factor.

9. Make Sure They Offer a “Staging Site” or Sandbox

A staging site or sandbox is a test environment that allows you to test and preview your website before making it live. This feature is essential for businesses that want to ensure that their website is thoroughly tested and debugged before it is launched. A staging site or sandbox provides a safe and isolated environment where you can test new features, themes, and plugins without affecting the live website.

When choosing a web hosting service, make sure that they offer a staging site or sandbox feature. This feature can save you time and effort in the long run, as it allows you to test and debug your website in a controlled environment. Look for web hosting services that offer a staging site or sandbox feature, and make sure that it is easy to use and manage.

Some web hosting services that offer a staging site or sandbox feature include:

• WP Engine: Offers a staging site feature that allows you to test and preview your website before making it live.

• SiteGround: Offers a staging site feature that allows you to test and preview your website before making it live.

• Bluehost: Offers a staging site feature that allows you to test and preview your website before making it live.

When evaluating web hosting services, make sure to check if they offer a staging site or sandbox feature, and how easy it is to use and manage. This feature can be a game-changer for businesses that want to ensure that their website is thoroughly tested and debugged before it is launched.

9. Make sure they offer a “staging site” or sand box.

One really terrific feature that’s offered by the best web hosts is “staging“ or a “sand box” feature. A staging site is a preview website that you can use to test out things like new features, blog posts or web pages before putting them live on the production site. A staging site provides a test environment to ensure everything works correctly before going live.

The great thing about a staging site is that it lets an online business experiment without impacting the main website at all. Unlike developing locally and testing in a browser, if something goes wrong with a staging site it has no effect on your live site.

10. Features web hosts offer you might consider

• Virtual Private Server: If your business deals with a lot of sensitive data, you want to consider using VPS hosting.

• Site Builder: If you aren’t running an online business, but still need a website, this is a great feature to have. GoDaddy has a great hosted website builder. You can also choose Wix, Weebly, or Squarespace.

• Free SSL certificate: SSL certificates are essential if you want to do e-commerce or process credit card information. They make sure your business data is safe and secure.

  • Some web hosts offer free website migration services, making it easier to switch hosts.

• Free Website Migrations: Some web hosts will upgrade your site for free when you sign up with them. This makes planning a website move much easier on you, the business owner!

11. Hosts I recommend

Feature Summary Checklist

To keep things simple and in one place, here’s a feature summary checklist.

• Site backups and backup services: You must, must, must have backups for your site. Things happen and you want to make sure that keep a backup that you can restore.

• Hosting plans that include: managed hosting, shared hosting or shared server, virtual private servers (VPS hosting plans), a CDN (content delivery network), unlimited storage.

• Website builders: If you really want to keep things simple, you can take advantage of easy website building straight from the host.

• Optimized website performance: A great host will always be updating their systems to keep your website optimized.

Conclusion

Choosing a web host is an important decision, so it’s worth taking the time to do your research before making a commitment. The article gave you some helpful hints for choosing a great web host that will give you everything you need and more without any of the hassle or headaches!

Which hosting company have you chosen? Let us know what led you to their site — maybe they offer features that were unexpected or perhaps there was another factor which influenced your decision?

If there’s one thing all of this experience has taught me, it’s this: choosing the right hosting can either make or break your website. Trust me, I’ve had my fair share of hosting nightmares from budget hosting plans and sudden website crashes at the worst possible time.

However, everything changed when I switched to managed WordPress hosting with Kinsta. I finally found a solution that gave me peace of mind and the features I needed to grow and manage my websites without hassle. In this article, I’ll walk you through the essential things I look for in a good WordPress host and how Kinsta checks off all of those boxes — and then some.

What to Look for in a WordPress Host

Before I tell you why I’m such a big fan of Kinsta, let’s look at some non-negotiables when evaluating WordPress hosting services. After years of working with websites, these are the things I wish I’d prioritized from the get-go.

1. Managed WordPress Hosting

What exactly is managed WordPress hosting? Simply put, it’s a type of hosting service where WordPress specialists handle all the complicated technical stuff — that way, you don’t have to.

This includes everything from routine updates and rock-solid security to reliable backups and website performance optimization. If you’re not a developer — or maybe you are but don’t want to deal with the stress of constantly maintaining your website — this feature is a must.

Why It Matters: Think of managed website hosting like taking your car in for a free tune-up monthly, with a mechanic on-call 24/7 in case anything goes wrong. This takes the pressure off you because you don’t need to be a tech expert to keep your site running. The hosting provider takes care of everything so you can focus on what you do best.

2. 24/7 Customer Support

Imagine this: You pour your heart and soul into planning an epic product launch with a strategic marketing campaign. Then, right when you think things are going great — BAM. Your website crashes, and it always seems to happen at the worst times.

This is why choosing a hosting service that offers 24/7 customer support is essential. This way, you know that there’s always somebody you can contact if your site goes down.

Why It Matters: Website downtime is the worst — not only because you’re missing out on potential customers but because it also affects your sales. It can damage the trust you’ve worked hard to build and negatively affect your SEO ranking. And since most website issues seem to occur at the most inconvenient times, Kinsta‘s dedicated team of WordPress experts is available 24/7 and is known for providing prompt and reliable support via live messaging.

3. Easy Backups

Here’s something I think we can all agree on: websites crash. It’s inevitable, and you must be prepared when you run any website. When those unfortunate situations happen, you’ll be glad you opted for a host that offers easy backups. Seriously, it’s a website owner’s lifeline.

Why It Matters: Having an easily-accessible backup available can mean the difference between a minor, stress-free inconvenience and a full-on website disaster that takes days or even weeks to recover from. One time, I ran into an issue where I had to restore a backup. Thankfully, I used a hosting service with a simple one-click restore option, and I was back in business within minutes. Disaster averted. With Kinsta, backups are automatic, so you can breathe a little easier knowing they’re there if you need them.

4. Top-Notch Security

It doesn’t matter how large (or small) your website is, if you’re a small business, or a solopreneur just getting started; hackers want to target your website.

Strong security measures are essential, and this is another area where Kinsta truly excels. Their robust security protocols include always-on malware scanning, automatic malware removal, and continuous security updates to fix those pesky vulnerabilities hackers love to exploit.

Why It Matters: Having great website security isn’t just about making sure that your valuable data is protected — it’s also about showing your visitors that you’re trustworthy. Nobody wants to give their information to a website they feel isn’t safe. Nobody wants to deal with trying to restore their website and reputation after it’s been compromised. It’s just not worth the risk, especially when there are excellent hosting providers like Kinsta that offer features like Secure File Transfer Protocol (SFTP) and Secure Shell (SSH) connections to improve your overall security. Kinsta takes security very seriously and even offers free SSL certificates through Cloudflare to add an extra layer of protection against DDoS attacks. And if, by chance, your website is compromised, the support team will help with their “hack fix guarantee.”

5. Speed

In today’s fast-paced digital environment, nobody’s going to wait for a slow website to load — they’re just going to move on to one that’s faster. That’s why choosing a hosting provider that prioritizes speed is critical.

While a great hosting provider won’t magically guarantee your website is fast — there are many other factors — it’s one of the biggest determining factors that can make or break your website speed.

Why It Matters: A slow website impacts user experience and makes your website visitors frustrated. To top things off, it also tends to impact your SEO ranking, which ultimately means fewer visitors and sales for your business. Kinsta gets this so they exclusively utilize Google’s Cloud Platform, which gives them access to cutting-edge technology known for lightning-fast speeds.

6. Automatic WordPress Updates

Anytime you let things like WordPress core or plugin updates lapse, you might as well put up a giant “Welcome” sign for hackers to target your website. These updates often include security patches and other important things that help to prevent bad things from happening.

Thankfully, you can prevent all this hassle with a quality managed WordPress hosting service that automates all of these updates, meaning you never even have to think about whether things are up-to-date or not.

Why It Matters: The automatic updates you get with a great hosting service free you to focus on other tasks without worrying about things being up to date.

7. Storage and Bandwidth

As your website continues to evolve and grow over time, so will your content library, high-quality images and video, and website traffic.

That’s why picking a website hosting service that provides a high level of scalability is critical. What does this even mean? It means that the host you choose should easily accommodate your website traffic without affecting things like load time, functionality, or security as it continues to grow.

Why It Matters: Imagine putting all your effort into making an awesome website only to find out a few months later that the plan you’re on isn’t able to support things like increased website traffic. Now you’ve got to go through the hassle of upgrading, changing plans, or switching providers because your current one just isn’t cutting it. Save yourself a headache by picking a host with plans designed to grow with your business. This way, you only pay for the storage and bandwidth you need, and you can feel confident knowing that things can scale up as needed in a few clicks.

How Kinsta Delivers (And Then Some) on These Must-Have Features

Now that we’ve talked about the critical non-negotiable things I look for in a great WordPress hosting service let’s see how Kinsta stacks up. But first, check out these rave reviews. This will give you an even greater sense of what a quality web host they are.

I’ve put together a helpful table to show you how Kinsta stacks up to our must-have list:

User Experience

Kinsta’s MyKinsta dashboard is one of my favorite things about their hosting plans. The dashboard lives up to the hype. It’s streamlined, well-organized, incredibly intuitive, and very easy to use.

Even if you don’t consider yourself techy, you’ll have no problem navigating this dashboard, designed specifically for those more familiar with using WordPress. You can quickly access things like routine backups, performance monitoring, and exceptional 24/7 customer support. Everything you need is right there, just a click or two away.

It can be a bit of an adjustment if you’re switching from a traditional shared hosting provider, like Wix. Even if you have used these other providers, Kinsta’s intuitive onboarding process makes the transition simple, with a knowledgeable and helpful customer support team to walk you through any questions or technical issues.

Performance & Reliability

One of the main reasons why I finally caved and switched to Kinsta was their impressive performance and reputation for high-speed, reliable hosting. Their leverage of Google’s Cloud Platform was a huge selling point for me. For websites that run on WordPress, this is a great feature because it gives you access to super-fast hosting, global data centers for even greater reliability, and powerful hardware infrastructure — basically everything you need for optimal website performance.

What I’m about to say next is a huge deal, so listen closely: You always want to select a website host with a high uptime level because even a little downtime can be costly for your business. Kinsta‘s dedication to providing customers with an exceptional 99.9% uptime guarantee is a key selling point. After using them for a considerable time, I can honestly say this isn’t some empty promise; It’s legit and something I’ve rarely seen them fail to deliver on. When it comes to exceptional hosting, performance and reliability are super-critical and two of the biggest reasons why Kinsta has maintained its position as a market leader.

Pricing & Plans

With plans starting at $35 a month for their most basic option, there’s no question that Kinsta’s plans aren’t the cheapest — but when it comes to high-quality website hosting, you get what you pay for. While cheaper options are available that can meet basic website needs — if you’re ready to take your online business to the next level and choose a provider that delivers unparalleled performance, solid security, and hassle-free website management — the higher price point of Kinsta’s premium managed hosting services is definitely worth it. To put it simply: Choosing Kinsta is like making a solid, worthwhile investment in your online business.

Let’s break down those pricing tiers:

Starter Plan: $35/month

This plan is a great option for new bloggers or small, single-site owners who don’t get a crazy amount of website traffic. You’ll still want access to great features and resources but don’t have a huge hosting budget to work with.

Pro Plan: $70/month 

The Pro plan is usually a great option for service-based businesses that need access to more resources, such as storage space and bandwidth, to keep their websites running smoothly. If you have a larger site and generate more traffic — and are ready to take your business to the next level — it makes sense to opt for a Pro Plan with unlimited free premium site migrations, which lets you move your website over from another host free of charge.

Let’s say your website gets more traffic than your current plan covers. What happens? While Kinsta assesses an additional charge when your site goes over their allotted monthly website traffic limit (you can find the complete list of these details here), it’s a reasonable fee of $1 for every additional 1,000 website visitors until the next billing cycle. Trust me, this beats frantically trying to figure out what to do if your current hosting provider kicks you offline or — even worse — shuts down your site because of excessive traffic.

Weighing the Pros and Cons:

I’ve already touched on a lot of Kinsta’s best features, but, like every other hosting platform, a couple of downsides exist. Below are some of the pros and cons of using Kinsta.

Pros

• The MyKinsta dashboard has a great look and is one of the simplest, most intuitive, and user-friendly control panels around. If you aren’t very technical you’re going to love using this dashboard.
• They use the fastest network in the world, delivering incredible speeds people look for in a hosting provider.
• Kinsta consistently goes above and beyond to ensure its customers get the help and resources they need — even including small helpful extras like a redirect tool.
• The company utilizes Google’s premium Cloud Network for the speed and stability it’s known for.
• Each website hosted on the Kinsta platform has its container, including all the software and resources needed to operate independently. So, even if someone else’s site experiences technical difficulty, your site is completely isolated from those problems, keeping you up and running.

Cons

• It’s expensive, with no free plan available and the cheapest plan starts at $30 a month. You can view their latest pricing here. Budget-conscious businesses, bloggers, and entrepreneurs will likely want to opt for more affordable hosting services (at least initially).
• Although Kinsta does an excellent job of providing access to everything you need, you will need to use an additional service for things like a personalized business email because Kinsta doesn’t offer its own email hosting.
• Their support system is one of the best in the business, but if you’re someone who absolutely needs access to phone support you will have to decide whether the other features of their 24/7 chat support are good enough for your needs or if having direct access to a human on the phone is something you aren’t willing to compromise on.
• Some hosts allow clients to pick their data center location, but Kinsta selects this for you.

Who Would Benefit from Using Kinsta?

Although Kinsta provides top-notch website hosting, the reality is that their hosting plans aren’t great for everyone. They focus on businesses that generate higher revenue. If you are a smaller company on a limited budget, you’re probably better off opting for a more basic host at a lower price point until your revenue consistently increases enough to where upgrading makes good financial sense. So who is Kinsta best suited for? Glad you asked.

Small Businesses

If your website serves as a core part of your overall revenue, a reliable host is critical to keeping things running smoothly so clients can continue accessing your website to browse your content, schedule consultations or book appointments online, purchase products, and more. Because Kinsta goes to great lengths to offer super fast website speed and uptime, choosing them as your web host makes you look more credible in the eyes of prospective clients.

Faster sites are more likely to get higher SEO rankings. Here’s why: 1️⃣ Better user experience = longer visits 2️⃣ Google’s Core Web Vitals rewards speed 3️⃣ Faster crawling = more pages indexed 4️⃣ Mobile speed boosts SEO rankings Learn more ↓ kinsta.com/blog/wordpre…2 days ago

Bloggers

Exceptional performance and user-friendly dashboards let you devote your energy to creating awesome content, honing your writing craft, growing your email list, expanding into additional digital products or affiliate marketing, or networking with and learning from other creators. You can focus on these activities instead of stressing about whether your hosting provider meets all of your website needs.

Agencies

You juggle so many moving parts as it is; constantly managing numerous websites adds unnecessary complexity. Kinsta completely understands this challenge, so they offer a multi-site feature where you can effortlessly manage each of your clients from a single convenient, user-friendly platform. Easy, stress-free, and exactly what busy creative agency professionals look for in a high-quality hosting service that grows as your clientele expands. This is an incredibly useful feature if you’re managing multiple client websites at once.

Conclusion

When deciding if a hosting platform is the right fit for you, remember this — just like relationships and job hunting — there is no perfect hosting service or platform that’s going to check off every single box for everyone. People’s wants and needs vary. However, after switching to Kinsta, I can rest easy knowing they are constantly evolving and adapting to the digital landscape.

FAQs about Kinsta

What is Kinsta used for?

If you have a website built using WordPress, Kinsta is a perfect high-quality hosting solution. They simplify a lot of those more tedious and technical backend elements that make even the most seasoned developers want to pull their hair out. They deliver everything you need (and then some.), from rock-solid security protocols and exceptional load times to great uptime and unparalleled customer support.

Why is Kinsta so expensive?

I totally get it. When I was evaluating hosting solutions and saw Kinsta‘s monthly prices — which are more than the budget options — my first reaction was, “Ouch.” Kinsta prioritizes only the very best features, security, support, performance, and stability because they know those are make-it-or-break-it factors for most businesses. So, keep that in mind when you’re deciding which hosting service makes sense for you.

Is Kinsta worth the extra expense?

In short: yes. Although it may not be ideal for people with websites that have little to no traffic, if your business depends heavily on your website — Kinsta is definitely worth a closer look.

What type of hosting does Kinsta offer?

Unlike other companies that provide more generalized website hosting services, Kinsta takes things up a notch by offering premium managed WordPress hosting. Their WordPress-centered services were designed with websites like yours in mind. It’s what they do best, and it really shows.

How does Kinsta Hosting Compare to WP Engine?

Both Kinsta and WP Engine offer premium managed WordPress hosting, but there are a few key differences that set them apart. Kinsta uses the Google Cloud Platform, which allows for top-tier speed, scalability, and global reach. This infrastructure provides an edge in terms of performance and site speed, especially for larger, traffic-heavy websites. Kinsta WordPress hosting is also known for its intuitive, user-friendly dashboard and superior customer support, which is available 24/7 from WordPress experts. WP Engine, on the other hand, offers a more robust feature set specifically designed for developers, with tools like staging environments and Git integration, making it a better choice for agencies or those who need advanced developer tools. While both hosts offer excellent security features, automatic backups, and updates, Kinsta tends to be preferred by users looking for high performance with simplicity, while WP Engine caters more to developers needing granular control. Pricing is competitive for both, though Kinsta may offer more value at certain tiers for businesses needing exceptional speed and ease of use.

Conclusion

While Kinsta may not be the best option for brand-new sites with limited traffic, once your website starts to gain traction and brings in more revenue — you’ll want to select a top-notch host like Kinsta who’s committed to your online success.

Do you have a buyer persona? I’m sure you do — in your head. But having an actual document with data on your user persona laid out is a powerful tool that will help you attract more of your ideal potential customers.

Now, there are a ton of buyer user persona examples and templates out there. But today, there’s an awesome AI-powered tool that will generate your user persona template in 10 seconds — no kidding.

How to Use a Buyer Persona Generator

Let’s be real, no AI or machine is going to create the perfect buyer persona right off the bat. That’s your job. But, a decent buyer persona generator, especially one of the best persona generators, can give you that jump start in the creation process, creating a solid, buyer persona template that you can use to craft hyper-targeted marketing messages and get those conversions you’ve been looking for.

Persona generators are essential in crafting effective marketing strategies and understanding target audiences. They help businesses identify ideal clients based on demographics and behaviors, ensuring long-term customer engagement and brand loyalty.

What is a Buyer Persona?

A buyer persona is a semi-fictional representation of your ideal customer, crafted from market research and data analysis. Think of it as a detailed profile that captures the essence of your target audience. But it’s not just about demographics like age or income; a buyer persona dives deeper into the characteristics, needs, goals, and behaviors of your customers. It’s about understanding their thoughts, feelings, and motivations. By creating a buyer persona, you can gain a comprehensive understanding of your customers’ needs and tailor your marketing efforts to engage with them more effectively.

What is UserPersona.dev

UserPersona.dev  is the perfect tool for marketers and designers who want to learn more about their clients and their customer experiences and personas.

UserPersona.dev can generate multiple online personas for different customer segments, helping you better understand and engage with unique customer groups. UserPersona.dev utilizes cutting-edge AI technology to have users create realistic customer personas that are tailored specifically for your business product or service.

How to use UserPersona.dev to Generate Your Ideal Customer Profile

I honestly don’t know how they do it — it’s truly the power of AI.

I put it to the test by adding the following description of DIYMarketers.com. It went something like this:

“DIYMarketers is an online magazine for solopreneurs who are looking for tools, sales tips, and strategies to help them do marketing on less than $17 a day.”

And this is what I got:

First, let me say that this is extremely accurate. I know this because my Google Analytics data proves it out.

Of course, you can always have more details about your ideal customer, but based on the fact that I only gave it the description I outlined above — DAMN — that’s pretty good.

Using buyer persona templates can significantly enhance team collaboration and communication. These templates are visually appealing and can be exported to various formats, making it simpler for teams and clients to understand and utilize buyer persona research effectively.

Of course, I thought it was beginner’s luck, so I decided to try another one. This time, I used one of my online products, the Micro-Marketing Masterclass.

Here’s the description I wrote:

“Micro-Marketing Masterclass is a $97/mo library of tutorials helping solopreneurs and businesses without a lot of marketing experience do marketing on a budget. The course includes low-cost marketing hacks to save time and money”

And here’s the persona I got — in less than 10 seconds! I mean, it took me longer to write out the description!

And it couldn’t be easier – UserPersona.dev only requires a few clicks, and you’ll have an in-depth depiction of your company and ideal user persona in no time! With UserPersona.dev, having an understanding of your full target market and customer base has never been simpler!

Benefits of Creating Buyer Personas

Creating buyer personas offers numerous benefits for businesses. Here are some of the most significant advantages:

1. Improved customer understanding: Buyer personas help you gain a deeper understanding of your customers’ needs, preferences, and pain points. This insight allows you to connect with your audience on a more personal level.

2. Targeted marketing: With buyer personas, you can tailor your marketing efforts to specific segments of your target audience. This means your campaigns will be more relevant and effective, reaching the right people with the right message.

3. Increased conversions: When your content and messaging resonate with your target audience, it naturally leads to higher conversion rates. Buyer personas help you create that connection.

4. Enhanced customer experience: Understanding your customers’ needs and preferences enables you to create a more personalized and engaging customer experience. This can lead to increased loyalty and satisfaction.

5. Better product development: Buyer personas provide valuable insights into what your target audience is looking for. This information can guide your product development efforts, ensuring you create products and services that meet their specific needs.

What to Include in Your Buyer Persona

A comprehensive buyer persona should include the following elements:

1. Demographic information: This includes age, gender, income, education level, occupation, and other relevant demographic details. These basics help you understand who your customers are.

2. Goals and challenges: What are your customers trying to achieve? What obstacles do they face? Knowing this helps you address their needs more effectively.

3. Values and motivations: What drives your customers’ behavior? What are their core values and motivations? Understanding these factors can help you connect with them on a deeper level.

4. Behavior patterns: How do your customers behave? What are their habits and preferences? This information can guide your marketing strategies and tactics.

5. Preferred communication channels: How do your customers prefer to communicate? What channels do they use most frequently? This helps you reach them where they are most active.

6. Pain points: What are your customers’ biggest pain points? How can you help solve their problems? Addressing these issues can make your offerings more appealing.

7. Buying behavior: What triggers your customers to make a purchase? What factors influence their buying decisions? Understanding this can help you craft more effective sales strategies.

By including these elements in your buyer persona, you can create a comprehensive and accurate representation of your ideal customer. This will help you develop targeted marketing strategies, improve customer engagement, and ultimately drive business growth.

7 Powerful Ways to Use Your New User Persona

But what do you do with these handy-dandy customer persona infographics? Glad you asked. Here’s a short list that I’ve come up with.

It is crucial to ensure that all team members and external partners are on the same page when it comes to understanding and communicating buyer personas effectively. This unified understanding enhances collaboration, prevents miscommunication, and facilitates better decision-making across departments.

1. Product development: Since these buyer personas contain a list of challenges, goals, and motivations, you can easily start brainstorming new products and services that will help your customers generate their ideal outcome.

2. Targeted advertising: Now you can start targeting specific demographics and interests with your ads.

3. Social media presence: Use your personas to generate engaging social media content and targeting. Post content that resonates with each persona and target your social media advertising to reach them.

4. Email marketing: Personalize your email campaigns for each persona, using language and messaging that speaks to their specific interests and needs.

5. Customer service: I suppose you can call this customer profiling. One of the things you can do is come up with a series of FAQs and answers for each profile, so your team is always prepared.

6. Website optimization: This is one of my favorites. User experience and time on your site is so important. Once you understand what your user persona is looking for, you can optimize your website for each persona, making sure that the information and call-to-actions are tailored to their specific needs.

7. Event marketing: Here’s a fun idea. Host events and promotions that are tailored to each persona, which will help you to better engage with your customers. You can create interest segments or “challenge” segments and when your event attendees register, you can give them a banner or a sticker. This will not only help you and your team, but will also help your attendees network and get to know each other.

Pricing: It’s free to use

Not much to talk about pricing — it’s free. While this isn’t a full-out user or customer persona platform it will get you 80% there. You can take the information you’ve learned and then tweak your user persona template as you learn more.

What I love about User Persona

UserPersona.dev is a fantastic way to get user persona templates get the customer insight you need quickly and easily! With a few clicks, I was able to create comprehensive user personas, giving me detailed insights into my target customer and the experience they are looking for. It’s easy to understand, fast, and helped me better focus my messaging right away. Plus, their customer service team is incredibly responsive and helpful – if I ever run into any questions or problems, I know they are there to help. All around UserPersona.dev gets an A+ from me- it’s a great tool for generating user personas of any kind!

I highly recommend giving it a try – it’s helped me better understand my target market research audience and market and how to reach them effectively.