Step 8: Example Tool Stack #2

This tool stack covers what I use to run coursemethod.com. Nothing has changed here except that I switched from Elementor to the Blocksy theme. The site does run faster now that Elementor is not installed, but I did like Elementor forms. Since I deactivated it, I’ve had to install OptinMonster, which I’m sure is just as clunky. There just doesn’t seem to be a way to get suitable opt-in forms without sacrificing some site speed. I will update here if I find something that works better.

I still use Teachable to run the training and like Teachable. It is a toss-up between Thinkific and Teachable, as I use both now, one for each business.

Transcript –

coursemethod.com was built much more recently.

The external site is built with WordPress and Elementor. My entire site is currently hosted on Kinsta.

I initially used Kajabi as the LMS since it has email marketing, e-commerce, and affiliate marketing built in together.

The problem is I took the digital training in a different direction soon after. Since I decided to offer micro training instead of full-blown courses, I would be at over 100 courses soon after I launched.

There are course limits with Kajabi. The highest price advertised on their site is $400 a month for up to 100 courses. So I asked them what would happen if they went over that. I was told it’s $900 a month! I thought $400 a month was already pushing it.

So I had to switch out of Kajabi, which is a pain, but sometimes things happen.  I’m telling you this because I know some people are afraid to start. They don’t want to pick because they might pick the wrong thing.

Well, I do that all the time. It’s a pain, but it’s OK.

I change hosting, I’ve changed directions with my businesses, and I’ve changed LMS options. And it still works out.

You do have to get started. Sometimes that’s the only way to see where the shortfalls are with what you’ve chosen. It’s not like you’re locked in like you are with a 30-year mortgage. Just change. Correct your path and keep moving forward.

So I thought I needed to go in a more custom direction. But then I decided to keep things easy and went with teachable.

My email opt-in forms are built with Elementor. I use Zapier to get people from my forms to ConvertKit (my email marketing solution) and into my LMS after they opt in.

So here’s a complete list of my tool stack for coursemethod.com at this time:

• WordPress (Ocean WP theme)
• Elementor page builder pro (one-time cost)
• Kinsta hosting
• Convertkit for email marketing
• Teachable as my LMS
• And Zapier to connect my elementor forms with convertkit and teachable.

So that’s it!

I hope this micro training helps you start selecting your tools!

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.

Conclusion

At this point, you should have your tool stack figured out. You don’t need to do anything until now other than make decisions. You want to have tried out the online course platforms and decided on that and the rest of the tools mentioned here.

In the next module, you’ll start building out a minimal platform. This includes the pages everyone can see on your site. I’ll walk you through what needs to go on each of them. We start with building the site so you can eventually start gaining traffic and building an email list (both covered in later training). That way, you have someone to market your course to once you’ve created it!