Step 7: Example Tool Stack #1

This tool stack covers what I used to run my test prep business for about 15 years.

I did finally move it over to Thinkific to simplify things. I am using Convertkit and iSpring quiz maker as well. The site is hosted on Liquidweb and is powered by WordPress (using the Blocksy theme now).

When I’m updating this training, I still run both versions (so there’s an old and new platform). I didn’t want to make studying for the test even more complex than it already is, so I decided to keep both for 12 months (the length clients have access to the training). I will discontinue the old platform and am looking forward to cutting out many costs.

Transcript –

I host my test prep site on Liquidweb. I built all the non-course pages (those you don’t need to be logged in to see) with WordPress. I use a theme that has a page builder within it (Avada and Enfold are two good examples). These were the big thing several years back.

The problem with themes like these now is that you’re stuck with that theme. Once you use the page builder features, if you try to change the theme, then all the pages built with it will be broken. But they do work well. I doubt I’ll change it and will stay with my theme for now.

Now that stand-alone page builders like Elementor and Divi will work with any theme, I would suggest using one of them if you’re going this route. They allow you to build out great pages and still change your theme later on.

My course pages were built with Dreamweaver using their template system and a lot of extensions. A long time back, I built all my sites with Dreamweaver because it was the best option. Now I don’t want to change it since it would cost a lot of time and money in custom development.

Over the years, I’ve used several different quiz makers. For at least the last 5 years or so I’ve used iSpring quiz maker which I like. I have a scoring/tracking system built inside the course so clients can see their scores (there are a lot of scores). Amember provides password protection.

I could have done most of this with LearnDash, but upgrading now would be very time-consuming.

If I wanted to build something like this now I would use LearnDash and host it with Liquidweb on a subdomain. Then I would have a separate install of WordPress on the same host for my regular web pages.

I use Infusionsoft to take payments and for email marketing. I had a merchant account, but now I just use WePay which is available through Infusionsoft, and I also accept PayPal. Infusionsofts checkout pages could use a little help so for that I use an application called Gospiffy. I’m not happy that I have to pay extra for this, and I hope that Infusionsoft eventually comes out with better checkout pages.

Amember has an integration with Infusionsoft so when people pay they get access to the paid course.

Here’s my tool stack listed out for you:

• WordPress (regular pages) – Liquidweb
• Dreamweaver (course pages) – Liquidweb
• Liquid web for hosting
• Quizmaker from iSpring
• Amember for password protection
• Infusionsoft for eCommerce and email marketing
• Gospiffy for checkout pages

Fortunately, some of these are one-time costs like amember, iSpring quizmaker, and the custom application. I pay monthly for Infusionsoft, Liquidweb, and GoSpiffy. So the costs are relatively high, but you don’t have to start with all this. I started this business with a bare minimum. All I had was very cheap hosting from Yahoo to begin with.

I’ve got another tool stack example for you in the following video. I’ll see you there!

Task

Plan your full tool stack based on your considerations (tech ability, budget, special features, and tool preference). This includes your learning management solution, site builder, site hosting, email marketing solution, and eCommerce solution.