My Marketing Tech Stack: 5 Tools I Use to Run My Freelance Business
DISCLOSURE: This post contains affiliate links. I may earn a commission if you purchase through these links at no additional cost to you.
There are SO MANY marketing tools out there. It’s hard to know what you should do when you’re starting a business or assessing your budget for tools you may need.
I've worked in marketing for nearly a decade and currently run an email marketing freelance business. These are the tools I personally use every week to manage my website, email marketing, client work, and digital products.
And as a DIYer of my whole business, I did a TON of research into tools I might need. I paid for ones that were unnecessary or ones that didn’t fit me well.
That was the inspo for this post: to give you all the tea about what I use to run this lil biz of mine.
Because it’s true what they say: time IS money and the less time you take to get yourself set up, the better!
But first, what actually is a marketing “tech stack”?
What Is a Marketing Tech Stack?
A marketing tech stack is all the platforms and technology you use to execute your marketing efforts. It can include CRMs, email marketing platforms, website hosting, social media tools, or anything else you use to market your products and services.
I find “tech stack” a helpful way to think about marketing tools because it helps you see how your systems relate to each other.
Also, most platforms are not free. 🤑 So, it’s good to know what each marketing tool is adding to your business (and what they offer) so you’re not overpaying for services!
Of course, the marketing tools you use rely heavily on the type of business you run. But if you offer online freelance services like I do (social media, copywriting, email, etc.), I hope you find this helpful!
In this post, I’m going to walk you through the marketing tech stack I use, how these tools work together in my business, and what they cost me each month. From there, I hope you can make an informed decision based on your budget, business, and goals!
Drum roll please 🥁🥁🥁
My online marketing tech stack:
Marketing Tool #1: Squarespace (Website)
When I looked at other freelancers’ websites, I always wanted to know which builder they used! Especially if you’re DIYing, you want to get a feel for how certain website builders look.
For my website, I use Squarespace.
I find it easy to use and search engine optimization (SEO) is baked into it. As a result, my blog posts have picked up significant traffic, and I love that Squarespace makes it easy for that to happen!
Other options I’ve seen online businesses use are ShowIt or WordPress. I’ve used WordPress before, but it’s a bit more complicated. That’s why I generally recommend Squarespace.
Marketing Tool #2: Stan Store (Digital Storefront)
Even though I’m not a content creator in the traditional sense, I think Stan Store offers a pretty comprehensive suite of tools for any online business owners.
Stan is an all-in-one creator tool that many content creators put as their link in bio to sell digital products, memberships, and more.
I use it to book 1-1 calls and invoice clients, but I’ll eventually be using it to sell digital products too.
Right now, I primarily create content on LinkedIn and my blog. I’m usually leading people from those places to my email list or Stan Store!
Stan is also great if you’d like to create a membership, community, course, or webinar.
Marketing Tool #3: Flodesk (Email Marketing)
Flodesk is my primary email service provider. It’s where I send my weekly newsletter.
Here’s why I recommend it:
The emails are easy to set up and look beautiful.
Flodesk listens to their customer base. They’re constantly adding new features based on what people want!
It’s easy to set up a landing page to capture emails.
I used Kit before and switched to Flodesk because I loved how the emails looked. They were both pretty easy to use, but enjoy the functionality of Flodesk more.
As an email marketer, the best email service provider is the one you’ll use! So do some research on which one fits you best.
(Psst: You can try Flodesk and get 25% off your first year!)
Marketing Tool #4: Notion
Admittedly, I am a “write it down” kinda person, but for online productivity, I use Notion!
I am an amateur with that platform, but I created a “central business hub” to keep myself organized. It’s essentially a place where I can access all my Notion pages easily.
I have also used Asana, but I greatly prefer Notion for its simplicity. Plus, for most use cases, it’s free!
Marketing Tool #5: Carrd (One-Page Websites)
Carrd is more of an honorable mention for me. It’s a one-page website builder you can use for pretty much anything (and their Pro Plan is only $19 a year!)
Every once in a while, I’ve helped local businesses create a one-page website, and Carrd was the easiest way to do it.
If you need a quick portfolio or landing page mocked up, it’s good for that too! But if you have Stan Store, you can easily create a landing page. In that case, Carrd is not necessary.
Other Marketing Tools I Use
Besides these bigger platforms, I use some other tools too:
Canva (for graphic design, who doesn’t?)
ChatGPT or Gemini for brainstorming/repetitive tasks
This cool email signature generator
And probably some others I’m forgetting. 😁
How My Marketing Tech Stack Works Together
Unintentionally, I listed my marketing tech stack above in order of importance. This is generally how I see the platforms I use “flowing” together.
My Squarespace website is the public-facing hub of my business. All the other platforms I use can be accessed on my site.
For example, whether you sign up for my email list, download a digital product, or inquire about my services, my site is the “central place.”
Stan Store and my site have a reciprocal relationship. I use Stan Store on my socials and some of the links go back to my site. On my site, some links go to Stan Store for digital downloads.
Personally, I think a website and Stan Store work very well together. Even if you’re not a creator, Stan Store is an easy way to sell digital products, memberships, or courses.
Also, you can manually invoice someone through Stan Store, which is great for freelancers!
I manage my email list through Flodesk. I advertise my newsletter signup on social media and my site through that platform.
As you can see, these platforms form a kind of “flywheel” where they all work together. I also enjoy that I don’t have too many platforms to manage!
How Much My Marketing Tech Stack Costs
This is the juicy part! 🤑
I spend roughly $82 per month on these marketing tools for my business.
Here is the breakdown:
Squarespace: $16/month ($192/year)
Stan Store: $29/month
Flodesk: $35/mo
Notion: Free!
Carrd: $1.50 ($19/year)
Not too bad for a solo online business owner!
Marketing Tech Stack for Beginners
Just beginning and figuring out your offers? Use Flodesk + Squarespace. A website and an email list are pertinent.
If you have a following already, Stan Store is the best way to start selling digital products fast. (PS: Stan Store DOES have basic email marketing capabilities
Final Thoughts
To keep your marketing tech stack simple, only add a platform when you see a real problem that needs to be solved.
Simplicity is key! I hope this blog helped you make some decisions.
Frequently Asked Questions:
What Is a Marketing Tech Stack?
Your marketing tech stack is the group of tools, software, or other online platforms used to conduct marketing activities for your business.
How Do I Build a Marketing Tech Stack?
Start with your offer(s) (products, services, content) and see what you need to bring customers to them. This is the first step I’d take in determining what your tech stack should be. In general, you need a website, email list, and a way to deliver products digitally.
Which Platform Should I add FIRST to My Marketing Tech Stack?
This really depends on your business. If you have a social media presence, start with Stan Store so you can start selling right away.
If you need a website and have some time to build one out, start with Squarespace. I *do* believe a website is crucial for any business, so if you don’t have time to build one just yet, at least get a one-page one going with Carrd!
Do the Platforms You Use Offer Free Trials?
Yes!
(Disclaimer: Some of these are affiliate links, and I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. If you choose to use it, thank YOU for supporting my business! I’m always available to help you or answer questions on how I use these products. Just shoot me an email.)
🚀 Squarespace offers a 14-day trial.
🚀 Stan Store offers a 14-day trial.
🚀 Flodesk offers 25% off your first year and has a free plan.
🚀 Carrd offers a 7-day trial (and also has a free tier).