Let's face it: the legal profession's salary structure is old AF. Yes, you can make a lot of money. But those golden handcuffs come with a price, especially if you still have billables to meet. Even if you don't, you're still trading your time for money, and if you want to live a full life, reach your potential, or just have more time to spend with your loved ones, why follow such an antiquated system that inevitably leads to burnout anyway??
The good news is that with AI, automation software, and inexpensive content creation tools,
ANY busy professional can start their own online business and make money in their sleep.
That's right- no bosses and no billables required.
As an ex-lawyer turned online business owner, I've spent years finding the best tools that will earn me money in my sleep and keep me from ever having to bill hours again. Below, I share my top five business tools that have been instrumental in helping me thrive in my new venture. So, whether you're just starting out or looking to streamline your existing online business, these tools are definitely worth considering.
And read to the end to see how I put all these tools together with a free training.
Disclosure: The following may contain affiliate links that, at no additional cost to you, may earn me a small commission. (It's also one way that I've monetized my blog ;)
You may already have a website for your new business idea, but you also need a blog on your website!! Unlike social media platforms, it is the only content you truly own. And no, blogs are NOT dead. Unless people are going to suddenly stop searching the world wide web for answers, you must have a website for your brand. And you need to be providing information on your blog to your potential customers so they can find you through a Google search.
Why I like WIX:
It's intuitive. It also has a built-in SEO Assistant which is the key to getting your website visitors and traffic.
It's affordable.
It's safe.
Why I DON'T use WordPress:
There is a steep learning curve and clunky to use. Don't get me started on the plug-ins.
It is open-source and thus there is no accountability, no customer service, and no protection for your brand. There are constantly bugs and errors and no team accountable to fix it.
Think about it: What if one day, the volunteers decide to stop updating WordPress? Your brand is gone. There is no recourse, no customer support to talk to, and no legal remedies. Bloggers who are making thousands of dollars of revenue a month from WordPress really need to rethink their choice and choose a paid system like WIX, especially for these reasons.
Tool #2: Marketing Magic
Blogging and social media magic for the lawyer who doesn't have time
If you think that a blog may be overwhelming, don't know where to start, or simply don't have the time to think about what you would even write about, then you will definitely want to invest in Marketing Magic by Marketing with Meneske.
Created by a savvy woman developer and marketing guru, this tool is run by ChatGPT but works BETTER. She also designed it so that ChatGPT doesn't steal or see your data like the "free" version out there.
I simply plug in what my brand is about or what I'd like to talk about, and it does the rest, creating various types of content for my blog, ads, and even social media platforms.
The tool uses YOUR brand’s tone of voice with over 58 tools that help you create things like:
Blog titles, outlines, and FULL BLOG POSTS to attract organic traffic to your website at each stage of the customer journey
A full sales page, from headline to final call-to-action
A welcome sequence for your email list, with 13 fully drafted emails you just need to tweak, review, and put into your email provider
Facebook ads for the top, middle, and bottom of your advertising funnel
You can even use this tool to write the product descriptions for your digital products like I do:
Watch Marketing Magic write my 1) Blog Title 2) Blog Outline and 3) Blog Post Draft:
When it comes to online businesses, building and nurturing an email list is a goldmine for growth. In fact,
email lists are 40 times more effective at making sales than social media.
And unlike social media followers, an email list is something that you "own."
What I like most about Drip are its built-in "Onsite Campaigns.'" These work similarly to ConvertBox's pop-ups that collect email addresses, offer free lead magnets, or sell products based on the type of visitor and/or the specific website page someone has landed on. The "Sign up for my Free Training" popup you see on this page is an example of a drip Onsite Campaign :)
By leveraging OnSite Campaigns on my website, together with personalized email campaigns and Drip's automation features, I've seen a significant increase in customer engagement, repeat purchases, and overall revenue. It's a tool that cannot be overlooked in today's competitive online landscape. And don't worry- I go over all of Drip's functionality in my free training!
Tool #4: Shopping cart platform: ThriveCart
If you are done with billables, then you are probably also done with trading your time for money. That's why whatever you decide to sell or offer online, you should definitely make sure you offer a digital component so that you can make money in your sleep. This is the key to keeping any side hustle or business sustainable; you want to automate your offerings and services wherever you can.
Digital products can be anything, from PDF guides to video courses to monthly subscriptions where you show up live once or twice a month.
The best tool I found for
Creating a sales page with free offers, bumps, and upsells
Collecting payment AND
Delivering products and courses
is Thrivecart.
Here are examples of digital products I sell via ThriveCart (click to see examples):
Instead of paying monthly forever, you can use my affiliate link to purchase it for a ONE TIME FEE! That's right- you'll have this platform for life after one payment.
Tool #5: Social Media Platforms
Love it or hate it, social media plays a vital role in the success of modern businesses. As an ex-lawyer navigating the online world, I rely on a social media platforms for marketing purposes and to nurture potential leads.
Unfortunately it can be very time-consuming to run a consistent social media brand. Even without billables, I find that I easily burnout from constantly having to create new content. That's where Marketing Magic's "Content Pillars" and "Content Outlines" come in handy.
It literally WROTE ALL OF THESE SOCIAL POSTS FOR ME:
Using Marketing Magic has allowed me to stay consistent and strategic on social media, and thus I've been able to build a strong brand presence and attract more potential customers.
If you are selling any type of services (as an upsell to your digital/passive income products), you'll want a calendar app that immediately:
Shows leads your availability;
Allows instant bookings;
Sends email and text reminders, and even;
Charges leads for your time (if applicable)
My favorite tool is still Calendly, as I find it super easy to use and setup. You can start with the free version, but the paid version will setup all of your automations (reminders, PayPal and Stripe payments) for you and allow you to share multiple calendars and different booking options if you need to segment your leads, clients, or services offered. You can even embed it directly onto your WIX website so visitors can book directly from your site.
It integrates seamlessly with apps like Zoom, PayPal, and more. Here is an example of how I charge for my consultation calls:
Tool # 7: Customer Relationship Management (CRM) Software: (optional)
In addition to providing free content and digital products through my blog, I offer coaching services and teach others how to change careers or start their side hustles. That's why I swear by powerful CRM software that helps me keep track of leads, nurture client relationships, and send and manage communication effectively.
Honeybook's software includes:
Fast scheduling (with a seamless Calendly integration, or its own built-in scheduling app)
Professional, ready-to-use invoices
Automatic and secure payments
Ready-to-sign contracts; and
Powerful automations with built-in AI tools
You can try Honeybook FREE for 7 days, and then get 25% off with my link and get it for less than $8/month.
Honeybook has allowed me to book clients (with a seamless Calendly integration), charge clients automatically, track interactions, and automate follow-ups with its AI functionality. It has significantly improved my efficiency and helped me provide a stellar customer experience.
Conclusion
As an ex-lawyer turned online business owner, I've learned that having the right tools can make all the difference in running a successful online venture. By using affordable tools, letting AI do most of the work for me, and hosting a blog that collects email addresses, you'll be well-equipped to take your online business to new heights. So go ahead, give these tools a try, and watch your business thrive!
Let me know if you have any questions below and don't forget to sign up for the FREE training!