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Behind the Scenes

March 18, 2018 by Matt Benson

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Web Design
Branding & Marketing
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Weekly Roundup
Behind the Scenes
Tools We Use to Run Our Business

As small business owners, we are constantly on the lookout for helpful new tools. After being asked what we use and why by multiple entrepreneurs, we thought we’d compile a list of everything we use in our business into a “toolbox” of sorts.  Some of the links below are affiliate links, but we use everything recommended on this page personally and stand behind it 100%. If you have questions about any of the products listed, please don’t hesitate to contact us at [email protected].


Website

GoDaddy – we use GoDaddy both for purchasing domains and hosting packages. After trying other sites for hosting, we’ve always come back to GoDaddy because of their excellent customer service.

WordPress – we build almost all of our client websites on the WordPress.org platform. It is user-friendly and allows our clients to customize and monetize their sites easily.

EnvatoMarket’s ThemeForest – ThemeForest is the number one place we get themes for clients. With over 10,000 WordPress themes, we are never been disappointed. EnvatoMarket also has CodeCanyon, VideoHive, AudioJungle, GraphicRiver, PhotoDune and 3DOcean.

Genesis Framework – this website, along with many other websites we have built use the Genesis framework. This is one of our favourite parent themes and fully customizable with hundreds of child themes to choose from. The streamlined backend of the Genesis Framework means our sites are much quicker than some heavy themes we have purchased in the past.


Marketing

Mailchimp – the email marketing platform we use for this site. With easy WordPress integration, a multitude of newsletter options, and a free option for up to 2000 subscribers, it’s an easy choice for us.

Boardbooster – after reading about Boardbooster from a ton of other bloggers, we tried it out for our business. It has quickly made it to the list of essential tools. In just one week after trying it out, we gained followers, our impressions skyrocketed, and we’ve enjoyed a lot more interaction with our pins.

Follow us on Pinterest

Facebook Ads – we use Facebook Ads to promote posts and build brand awareness. With targeted ads, we have been able to grow our list and reach an audience interested in our services and products.

Like us on Facebook


Plugins

Save yourself some money and start with the free versions of these plugins. We still use the free versions of all of these and haven’t had any problems or needed to upgrade yet. 

Yoast SEO – this is a huge timesaver when working on SEO for a post. You can optimize both SEO and readability with this plugin.

Akismet – is a spam filtering service that filters spam from comments, trackbacks, and contact form messages. We use it on any site we allow comments on.

Nelio Content – A new-to-us plugin, this is one of our favourites. Not only does it have an easy to use editorial calendar, it also connects with social media networks and runs analytics on your posts.


Favourite Free Tools

Google Calendar – Having a free shared calendar is a must with multiple people working on projects and attending client meetings.

Feedly – Candice’s favourite tool for catching up on websites and blogs. Using this RSS feed means she doesn’t have to waste time constantly checking sites to see if something new is posted.

Dropbox & Dropbox Paper – Dropbox is our favourite online storage tool for working with clients, we wrote about that here. Dropbox Paper is also great, get the scoop why here.

Google Drive – Another online storage solution, Drive offers us more free storage so we use this mainly for sharing large files between us for Bold Business. We wrote about Google Drive here.

Teamviewer – Teamviewer is a tool we use frequently here at Bold Business. From sharing a screen for design decisions to walking clients through website processes step by step (to helping our mom), it is a valuable tool for our business. We wrote about its features here


Tech

Second Monitor – We both have a multitude of computers and mobile devices, but neither of us could live without extra monitors. Candice uses this ASUS Monitorand loves it.

Wireless Keyboard and Mouse – When you’re working with multiple monitors, it is handy to not be tied down to the computer. Matt uses this Wireless Keyboard and Mouse

LifeProof Case – Matt absolutely cannot live without his lifeproof case. With daily fatal drops and spills, this keeps him from having to replace his phone every month.

Bose Bluetooth Speaker – whether rocking out in the office, on the go, or using it for client presentations, this baby comes everywhere with us. It’s portability, bluetooth connectivity, sound clarity and loudness have won our hearts.


Lifestyle

Keurig K50 Hot Brewing System – long days and long nights require some help from caffeine. Mike likes to grind his own beans, so this Reusable K-cup is his jam.

Stash Tea – Candice is through and through a herbal tea drinker. Her favourite teas are Apple Cinnamon Chamomile, Blueberry Superfruit, Meyer Lemon all made by Stash.

Fitbit – as a busy entrepreneur, sometimes I forget to exercise. Fitbit keeps track of my activity and pushes me to stop and exercise or walk those extra couple kilometres. Candice uses the Fitbit Alta

Yoga Mat– sitting at a computer all day can lead to achy joints and muscles, so we make sure to get up and stretch or do some yoga frequently throughout the day. Candice has
this one in purple.

matt_and_candice-1024x739

Hello, we're Candice & Matt. We provide tips, tools and resources to help entrepreneurs build their dream businesses. Read More

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Filed Under: Behind the Scenes, Productivity, Uncategorized

April 2, 2017 by Candice Benson

Hi Guys,

Back with another Behind-the-Scenes post. We always love getting a glimpse into other small business owners’ lives, so we thought we’d share in hopes that you do too! Each quarter, we will do a quick and fun update on what we’re working on, what we’ve learned, a favourite new tool, what we’re grateful for and what we’re looking forward to. Here, we’re sharing our Q1 Update for 2017. Some of the links included in this post are affiliate links.

We’d love for you to join in and comment with your answers to the questions too!


Matt

What I’m working on: Website redesign for Bold Business Solutions, wireframe for our charity partner Habitat for Humanity Greater Ottawa, website design for 2 new clients.

What I’m Digging: The Genesis Framework and child themes. With more and more themes having visual page builders, it’s refreshing to be able to work with a simple and quick parent theme without all the heavy and slow components. Page load time is so important and our sites with that operate with the Genesis Framework consistently beat the newer, heavier themes.

Something I Learned this quarter: How great Freedcamp is. It’s a free project management tool that has an integrated task list and calendar and allows you to create multiple boards. We’ve just started using it, but I already know how helpful this will be to our business. We plan on writing a review on it after we’ve had some more time to use all its features and trial the paid version of it.

Favourite new tool: Freedcamp

I’m grateful for: The end of snow season. I consulted for a snow company this winter and with the insane amount of snow we received, it kept me very busy this winter.

Something I’m looking forward to: Getting my boat in the water.


Candice

What I’m working on: new copy for Bold Business Solutions, content audit for HFH GO, finishing touches on Our Toolbox page, a really great freebie coming out later this week!

What I’m Digging: a few new-to-me blogs, Paul Jarvis and Fresh by Sian. I find them both really refreshing and real and love getting updates from them.

Something I Learned this quarter: How to use Boardbooster for scheduling and looping pins on Pinterest. This tool alone has saved me 5-10 hours a week since I no longer have to log into Pinterest every day to manually schedule pins (and get lost down the Pinterest rabbit hole for an hour or two each day, haha!). I use their $10/mo plan and haven’t gone over yet. For me, the cost is definitely worth having the extra 20-40 hours a month back.

Favourite new tool: Boardbooster

I’m grateful for: Sunny days and warmer weather, family dinners, visiting and spending time with friends.

Something I’m looking forward to: Working with some great new clients on their branding and web design

 

We’d love to hear more about you!  Copy and paste your answers into the comments below!

  • What I’m Working on:
  • What I’m Digging:
  • Something I Learned this Quarter:
  • Favourite New Tool:
  • I’m Grateful for:
  • Something I’m Looking Forward to:

Filed Under: Behind the Scenes

February 28, 2017 by Candice Benson

We love getting to know the authors behind our favourite blogs, so since it’s Candice’s birthday today, we’ve decided to share a little more about ourselves with you. If you’d like, introduce yourself and tell us a little more about yourself in the comments below!


Matt

Family: 

I live in Ottawa with my wife, Anik, our two dogs, Coby & Chloe, and our cat, Sox.

Background:

With an education in marketing and management, and an extensive background in business management, I have consulted for small businesses for a number of years.  With my assistance, they were able to increase profits, decrease expenses, and optimize processes for a better bottom line. After working for other small businesses, I decided it was time to open my own. When my wife and I moved to Calgary, I opened a Communications company to continue to assist entrepreneurs.

After four years out there on our own, we decided it was time to move back to Ottawa to be closer to family. With my sister and her fiance moving to Ottawa too, I decided to ask her to join me in starting a new business (she had been freelancing for my communications company on and off four the last four years), and that’s how Bold Business Solutions Inc. came to be.

Interests:

Boating, camping, sport shooting,

Favorite foods:

Steak, fish

Favourite TV shows:

Suits, Sons of Anarchy, House of Cards

Future Goal:

To sail around the world with my wife


Candice

Family:

I live in Ottawa with my fiance, Mike and our two cats, Kashmir (Yes, my fiance is a huge Led Zeppelin fan) and Elf (we rescued him from a shelter a couple days after Christmas).

Background:

I went to school for Psychology with a minor in Sociology. I’ve worked at a business start-up centre, along with a social service organization and a charity. While seemingly unconnected to my degree, every position I held had a large communications component which involved changing or affecting a person’s behaviour. At both the social service org and the charity, I was responsible for convincing supporters to give some of their hard-earned money to the less fortunate. And at the business start-up centre, I helped with research on consumer behaviour and how to change it (an essential component of the sales cycle).

Looking back I never could have guessed I would be designing websites and writing a blog for entrepreneurs today, but I couldn’t be happier with where I ended up.

Interests:

Reading, Sports (playing: volleyball – beach or court, or watching: football or baseball – go Jays!), hosting dinner parties for friends and families, kitty cuddles

Favorite foods:

Dark chocolate, good cheese and wine, seafood, (and really anything Mike makes for dinner!)

Favourite tv shows:

House of Cards, Suits, New Girl, Life in Pieces

Book I enjoyed recently:

Essentialism – Greg McKeown

Future Goal:

To own a piece of property on the lake and retire early.

Filed Under: Behind the Scenes

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