TOOLKIT

Once you've registered your business, securing a domain name and setting up reliable hosting and email is one of the most important first steps in getting online.

Cyberstart is Secret Service Business' own hosting and domain name service, created specifically for small skill- and service-based businesses. It provides reliable, no-fuss hosting, straightforward plans and practical support to help you get online without the overwhelm.

CLICK HERE to get online and websmart with Cyberstart

Google Workspace is a cloud-based productivity suite (the most important piece of a business' IT setup) that combines professional email, cloud file storage, document creation, calendars, video meetings and more into one integrated platform.

For small businesses, Google Workspace offers an ideal balance of simplicity, flexibility and scalability. Whether you're working from the office, home or on the road, your emails, files and systems stay synchronised and accessible across all your devices.

CLICK HERE for features, pricing and a free 14-day trial of Google Workspace *

BONUS OFFER: Request an exclusive Google Workspace discount code via the Secret Service contact form

If you're more comfortable in the Microsoft ecosystem, Microsoft 365 is a solid alternative to Google Workspace. It provides everything most small businesses need to communicate, manage documents and work efficiently, including professional email, cloud storage, collaboration tools and familiar favourites such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook and Teams.

CLICK HERE to get started on Microsoft 365

If neither Google Workspace nor Microsoft 365 feels quite right, Zoho Workplace is well worth a look. Like the others, it provides professional email, cloud storage, document creation and collaboration tools in one integrated platform, but at a lower price point.

Established in the mid-1990s, Zoho has come a long way over the years and offers excellent value for businesses looking to keep software costs under control. If I were starting out in business again today, I'd be looking closely at the Zoho ecosystem and its impressive range of business software.

CLICK HERE for features, pricing and a free trial.*

Whether you're using Zoho Workplace or not, Zoho Books is one of the best-kept secrets in small business software. An affordable alternative to Xero and other mainstream accounting platforms, it makes invoicing, expense tracking, bank reconciliation and financial reporting refreshingly straightforward.

For businesses looking to keep costs under control, Zoho Books offers excellent value. Better still, businesses with annual revenue under AUD $50k can access a free plan, making it an attractive option for start-ups and smaller service businesses.

CLICK HERE for Zoho Books features and pricing *

Looking for the simplest possible way to get online? Google Sites is a basic website builder available to anyone with a Google account, with no web hosting or technical know-how required.

While it's unlikely to produce a Lead Machine, it's a great way to establish a basic web presence and help potential customers find your business online.

CLICK HERE to learn more about Google Sites via Cyberstart

Included free with Cyberstart web hosting, SiteJet is a surprisingly capable AI-powered website builder with the capacity to create a complete, mobile-responsive website from a simple business description in minutes.

It's a great option for small service businesses looking to get a website up and running quickly, without needing advanced technical skills or web design experience.

CLICK HERE to learn more about SiteJet via Cyberstart

WordPress powers around 40% of the web – and for good reason. Flexible, scalable and highly customisable, it's the platform of choice for businesses that want complete control over their website and room to grow.

While there is a steeper learning curve than Google Sites or SiteJet, WordPress is hard to beat for flexibility, functionality and long-term potential.

CLICK HERE to learn more about WordPress via Cyberstart

Once WordPress is installed, you'll need either a web designer or a theme to build your website. Divi is both a powerful WordPress theme and a visual page builder, making it ideal for designers and DIY website builders alike.

With its drag-and-drop editor, extensive template library and remarkable flexibility, Divi makes it possible to create almost any type of website without needing to write code. As an example, both the Secret Service Business and Cyberstart websites are built with Divi.

CLICK HERE for to see if Divi is right for you *

If you've read my books, you'll know I love finding affordable alternatives to expensive subscriptions. That's exactly why I've become such a fan of the Fluent plugin suite by WPManageNinja. Designed to work beautifully together, these lightweight WordPress plugins can add forms, email marketing, appointment bookings, online communities, ecommerce functionality and more – often at a fraction of the cost of competing solutions. Many offer generous free versions, with affordable Pro upgrades available for businesses that need additional features and automation.

CLICK HERE to explore the Fluent ecosystem, or below for those I personally use and/or recommend:

To send emails from FluentCRM, you'll need a behind-the-scenes email delivery service. While there are several options available, Brevo is one of the easiest to set up and manage, making it a great fit for small service businesses.

With generous free allowances, support for multiple domains and both transactional and marketing email capabilities, Brevo offers an excellent balance of simplicity, reliability and value.

CLICK HERE to explore Brevo *

Keeping your WordPress website secure doesn't need to be complicated. Kadence Security Basic provides practical protection against common threats, including login attacks and unauthorised access attempts.

Unlike some security plugins that seem determined to frighten you into upgrading, Kadence Security takes a quieter, more user-friendly approach while still doing an excellent job behind the scenes. Better still, the free version is more than adequate for many small business websites.

To install, go to your WordPress Dashboard > Plugins > Add Plugins, then search for 'Kadence Security' (Password, Two Factor Authentication, and Brute Force Protection)

If you've ever felt overwhelmed by SEO plugins, The SEO Framework may be exactly what you're looking for. Lightweight, fast and refreshingly uncluttered, it focuses on sensible defaults rather than endless notifications and configuration screens.

The free version provides everything most service businesses need, while premium extensions add additional functionality for those wanting more advanced SEO tools.

To install, go to your WordPress Dashboard > Plugins > Add Plugins, then search for 'The SEO Framework'

Once the most affordable alternative to Adobe Creative Cloud, Affinity has just become even more compelling. Now owned by Canva and – astonishingly – available free of charge, Affinity combines professional-grade photo editing, graphic design and page layout tools into a single, powerful application.

If Canva feels a little limiting and you have a flair for graphic design, Affinity is well worth exploring. Whether you're editing photos, creating logos, designing brochures or preparing marketing materials, it offers significantly more creative control while avoiding the subscription costs traditionally associated with professional design software.

CLICK HERE to download Affinity.

Ever find yourself needing to merge, split, compress or convert PDF files, but don't have the right software? iLovePDF is one of those simple online tools that quickly becomes indispensable.

Whether you're combining documents, reducing file sizes or converting PDFs to Word and other formats, it's fast, easy to use and surprisingly capable.

CLICK HERE to access iLovePDF

Need a QR code for your website, Google review link, social media profile or marketing materials? QR Code Monkey makes it quick and easy to create custom QR codes for free.

With options to customise colours, add logos and download high-resolution files, it's a handy little tool for both digital and printed marketing materials.

CLICK HERE to create your first code with QR Code Monkey

Good photography builds trust, but not every project has the budget for a professional photoshoot. Unsplash provides access to a huge library of high-quality, royalty-free images contributed by photographers from around the world.

While original photography is always preferable for a Lead Machine website, Unsplash can be a useful source of quality imagery when you're getting started or need to fill the occasional gap.

CLICK HERE to browse Unsplash