If you’ve ever wondered what it really takes to run a successful online business without drowning in expensive software and complicated tech stacks, you’re in the right place.
Today, I’m breaking down the core tools that keep my business humming, how I evolved my setup over time, and what I’d recommend if you’re just getting started.
This isn’t some flashy guru pitch promising you’ll make six figures overnight. It’s raw, real insight from someone who’s built a thriving digital product business—mostly selling PDFs—with simplicity and smart choices at the heart of it all.
Why I Use Only a Few Tools (And Why That Matters)
My entire business runs primarily on two tools. That’s it. Of course, there are a few smaller apps sprinkled in, but the bulk of what I do—from building landing pages, sending emails, to managing my community—happens on just two platforms.
Why keep it simple? Because complexity kills momentum. Confusion kills creativity. And expensive tech stacks can bleed your budget dry. I don’t want to spend hours troubleshooting or paying for tools I barely use. Instead, I focus on what moves the needle and keeps me connected to my customers.
The Early Days: Starting With Systeme.io
Back in June 2021, before Systeme.io became well-known, I jumped on it. Systeme.io is an all-in-one platform where you get everything—emails, funnels, course selling, affiliate programs—the whole shebang. It was a perfect fit for me at the time because I was looking for simplicity.
I even created a couple of viral TikToks that drove millions of views and tons of customers to Systeme.io. Unfortunately, I didn’t have an affiliate link then, so I missed out on some easy cash. Lesson learned!
For a solid year, Systeme.io handled my business well. The platform is affordable (around $17/month), easy to use, and has fantastic customer support. If you’re new and crave simplicity, this is the tool I recommend you start with.
“If I was starting from scratch and I was new, I would start with Systeme.io. It’s everything you need for $17 a month.”
The One Big Drawback: Weak Analytics
Despite all its strengths, Systeme.io had one major pain point for me: their analytics. I’m a numbers guy—I want to know exactly where my sales are coming from, which platform is converting better, and what my average order value looks like by channel. Unfortunately, Systeme.io’s analytics were too weak for my taste.
When you’re running ads and scaling a business, data is everything. Without it, you’re flying blind. So, last August, I made the leap to WordPress to gain more control and better analytics.
My WordPress Journey: More Control, More Responsibility
I’ve been a WordPress fanboy since 2010, so the move felt natural. WordPress powers about 43% of all websites on the internet, and it gives you full control over your site and business. But with control comes responsibility—and some headaches.
Hosting, technical setup, plugin compatibility, and troubleshooting can be tricky. I’ve had to hire help in the middle of the night to fix issues. My checkout page has gone down during peak ad spend days, costing me hundreds of dollars. It’s not always smooth.
But here’s the trade-off: with WordPress, I get killer analytics that tell me exactly how much money I made from each platform, the average transaction size, and where I should double down my efforts.
“I traded simplicity for better numbers… and some days I wonder if it was worth it. But knowing where my sales come from is killer data.”
The Core Tools I Use on WordPress
Here’s the breakdown of my main tech stack since moving to WordPress:
- Funnel Kit: This is my all-in-one plugin for funnels, landing pages, emails, and CRM. It costs $249/year, which is a steal for everything it does.
- Skool: This is where I host my video trainings and run my coaching community. About 425 people are in my Skool community right now. It costs $97/month.
Funnel Kit handles pretty much everything on my website—from blog posts to checkout pages. Skool is my customer hub where I engage daily, answer questions, and deliver video-based trainings.
For course hosting, I don’t use Funnel Kit because it doesn’t have that feature, but since I mostly sell PDFs, I haven’t needed a full course platform. The few video trainings I do have live in Skool.
Other Tools That Help Smooth the Ride
Besides the two main tools, I use a handful of smaller apps that add value without breaking the bank:
- Senja: $29/month tool I use to collect customer testimonials. It’s a game-changer for social proof.
- Wiser Notify: These social proof tools display live notifications on my sales pages to boost conversions.
- Loom: For video creation.
- Canva: For quick graphics and designs.
- ChatGPT: I pay for this AI tool to help with content creation and brainstorming.
- Hosting: I split between WPX ($35/month) and Hostinger ($19/month).
Altogether, my monthly tech spend is about $350. About a month and a half ago, I was spending just $72/month, but as my business grew, I added more tools and upgraded services. Recently, I’ve been trimming the fat—switching to cheaper alternatives when possible and cutting overlapping tools.
Why I Still Love Systeme.io—and Why You Might Too
Even though I’ve moved on, I still have mad respect for Systeme.io. It’s the easiest all-in-one funnel builder I’ve ever used. Their customer support is top-notch, they keep things simple, and for $17/month, you get a ton of bang for your buck.
If you’re a beginner looking for simplicity and affordability, Systeme.io is your best bet. You can build a six-figure business on that platform alone. And if you want to get fancy with analytics later, you can bolt on other software or switch once you outgrow it.
What I Gain From Analytics That Makes Me Stick With WordPress
The biggest reason I’m sticking with WordPress and Funnel Kit is the data. Here are some insights I get that help me make smarter decisions:
- Last month, I made $1,700 in digital product sales from YouTube alone.
- My average order value on YouTube is $91, compared to $46 on Instagram and $29 on Threads.
- I can see exactly which platform is generating the best ROI, so I spend more time and budget on YouTube.
This kind of data is gold. It tells me where to focus my energy and ad spend. Without it, I’d be guessing and wasting time on platforms that don’t pay off.
Lessons Learned: Tradeoffs Between Simplicity and Control
Moving from Systeme.io to WordPress wasn’t a walk in the park. I had to learn new tech, deal with hosting issues, and occasionally scramble to fix broken pages. But the payoff has been worth it.
If you’re the type who loves digging into numbers and optimizing every detail, WordPress + Funnel Kit will serve you well. But if you want a no-fuss, plug-and-play solution that just works out of the box, Systeme.io is the way to go.
Here’s the bottom line: simplicity often means fewer headaches but less control. More control means more responsibility and sometimes late-night troubleshooting. You’ve got to decide what matters most to you.
My Simple Advice for Starting Your Digital Product Business
If you’re reading this and thinking, “I want to start selling PDFs, courses, or digital products,” here’s my two cents:
- Start simple: Use Systeme.io. It’s affordable, easy, and covers all the basics.
- Focus on your offer: Create PDFs or trainings that solve real problems for your audience.
- Collect testimonials: Use tools like Senja to build social proof quickly.
- Promote consistently: Talk about your offer every day on social media and build your audience.
- Use ads wisely: Start small and scale where you see results.
- Upgrade your tech stack: When you need better analytics and control, consider moving to WordPress and Funnel Kit.
Remember, you don’t need the perfect setup to start. Start messy, learn as you go, and build your system as your business grows.
Wrapping It Up: Keep It Lean, Keep It Real
Running a $100,000+ business on just two main tools is proof that you don’t need a complicated tech stack or expensive software to succeed. It’s about choosing the right tools for your needs, keeping things simple, and focusing on what really moves the needle.
For me, that means using Funnel Kit and Skool for my core business operations, with a few strategic tools sprinkled in for testimonials and social proof. But if I were starting over today, I’d absolutely recommend Systeme.io for beginners because it’s affordable, easy, and gets the job done.
Whatever path you take, remember this: the best tool is the one that helps you take action, serve your customers, and grow your business without burning you out or breaking the bank.
If you want to dive deeper into building your digital product business or want access to my free resources and tools, check out the links below. I’m also sharing daily tips and strategies on my YouTube channel, where I keep it real, raw, and unfiltered.
Keep it simple. Keep it lean. And most importantly, keep moving forward.
