If I were building my business again, I’d start here then add only what the work actually requires.
CRM · FUNNELS · FOLLOW-UP
Go High Level
Run your client journey.
GoHighLevel is where the lead journey can live. It helps capture inquiries, organize conversations, send follow-up emails, book calls, and move people through the next step without everything sitting in your head.
One place to capture interest, organize conversations, and keep the next step moving without relying on memory.
Best for: Service businesses ready to connect leads, booking, follow-up, and onboarding.
ClickUp is where work becomes visible. It gives projects, internal tasks, client deliverables, and team responsibilities a clear home so you are not constantly asking where things stand.
Give every task, owner, deadline, and deliverable a visible home so the business feels calmer as it grows.
Best for: Teams and service providers managing projects, deadlines, and client delivery.
Manus is not just a chat tool. It is an autonomous AI agent that can take a goal and work through it: researching, writing, building documents, creating pages, analyzing data, and delivering finished outputs. I use it when a task has multiple moving parts and I need more than a draft, I need something done.
Move beyond a blank-page assistant with an AI agent that can research, build, analyze, and finish substantive work.
Best for: Consultants and strategists working through complex, multi-step tasks.
I believe in tools that layer into your existing workflows, not replace them. Every recommendation here is something I use in my own business or have implemented with clients. Some include affiliate partnerships, which means I earn a small commission if you use my link at no extra cost to you. Transparency matters.
FULL Resource library
Choose by function, not by tool popularity.
Each category below gives the tool a job inside the business. That makes the page easier to skim and keeps the recommendations connected to how work actually moves.
CRM & Funnels
Go High Level
What it is
All-in-one CRM, funnel builder, email marketing, booking, and automation platform built for service businesses.
Why I use it
GoHighLevel is where the lead journey lives. It captures inquiries, organizes conversations, sends follow-up emails, books calls, and moves people through the next step — without everything sitting in your head or scattered across five different tools.
All-in-one productivity platform for managing tasks, projects, docs, and team workflows in one place.
Why I use it
ClickUp gives me the structure to run client projects and internal operations without losing track of anything. Tasks, timelines, and team communication all live in one place so nothing falls through the cracks.
Coming Soon
Project Management
Notion
What it is
All-in-one workspace for databases, projects, notes, and documentation.
Why I use it
Notion is my operational HQ. I use it as my CRM, content calendar, SOP library, and resource vault. It is customizable enough to match how I actually work instead of forcing me into a preset system.
Visual automation platform that connects your tools so data flows automatically.
Why I use it
Make's visual workflow builder makes automation accessible. I use it to automate client onboarding, content distribution, and data syncing between tools so I am not toggling between apps manually.
Advanced AI assistant for thinking, writing, research, and analysis.
Why I use it
Claude is exceptional at complex thinking and nuance. I use it for strategic planning, content creation, client analysis, and brainstorming. It is my thinking partner for work that requires depth.
Versatile AI assistant for brainstorming, drafting, ideation, and rapid iteration.
Why I use it
I use ChatGPT for quick brainstorming, social media drafts, data analysis, and prototyping. It is the workhorse AI in my toolkit when I need fast output and broad coverage.
Beautiful email marketing and landing page builder for creators and small businesses.
Why I use it
Flodesk's templates are stunning and easy to customize. If you prioritize beautiful design without technical complexity, it is unbeatable. I use it for newsletters and welcome sequences.
Email platform designed for creators, writers, and educators.
Why I use it
ConvertKit is built for creator workflows. Clean interface, excellent segmentation, and built-in features for creators who want to grow an audience while building a business.
Easy-to-use design tool for graphics, presentations, and social media content.
Why I use it
I am not a designer, but Canva makes me look like one. I use it for social graphics, presentations, and content visuals without needing Adobe or a designer on staff.
Video recording and sharing tool for creating quick tutorials and explanations.
Why I use it
Instead of writing long instructions, I record a 2-minute video showing exactly what I mean. Clients love it. It saves time and reduces confusion on both sides.
Team communication platform that replaces scattered emails with organized channels.
Why I use it
Slack keeps my team and clients connected without email chaos. Clear channels, organized conversations, and integrations with all my other tools make it the communication layer everything else runs through.
No-code automation tool that connects apps and triggers workflows automatically.
Why I use it
Zapier is the quickest way to connect tools that do not natively talk to each other. I use it for lighter automations where Make would be overkill — quick triggers, simple data passes, fast wins.
Education I have personally completed or vetted selected for practical value, not information overload.
AI & Consultingby Alicia Lyttle
AI Consultant Certification
This CPD-accredited program takes you from AI enthusiast to highly paid consultant. Over three months, you'll learn how to integrate AI into businesses, acquire clients, and position yourself as a recognized expert.
Ashleigh's Take
Most people think you need to be a developer to build an AI consulting business. That's not what's actually happening. What businesses really need is someone who can map the technology to their operational friction. This certification gives you the exact education and structure to do that and the credibility to charge for it. If you're an operational thinker ready to scale your impact, this is where you start.
A practical, step-by-step bootcamp designed to help you launch or scale an AI-powered business model in 30 days. It covers everything from finding your niche to automating your marketing and building out your core systems.
Ashleigh's Take
We all hit that wall where working harder just doesn't cut it anymore. This program shows you how to use AI to actually buy back your time instead of just adding more tools to your tech stack. It's a clear, actionable blueprint for building systems that run in the background so you can focus on growth.
A comprehensive system for building and deploying your own AI workforce, even if you have zero technical background. You'll walk away with ready-made agents and the skills to automate your daily operations.
Ashleigh's Take
You don't need to keep carrying everything on your own. Once you can see your daily tasks clearly, you can actually move them off your plate. This course takes the mystery out of AI agents and gives you practical, usable tools to build a team that doesn't sleep. If you want to scale without burning out, building your AI workforce is the most sustainable next step.
“A tool should remove friction from a clear process. It cannot create clarity for you.”
Start with the business problem. Define how the work should move. Then choose the smallest, strongest stack that supports it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Before you choose another tool.
Are you just recommending these to make money?
No. I spend most of my working hours in these tools. The affiliate income is a bonus—my actual goal is helping you find tools that match how you work.
Can I use these tools without your affiliate link?
Absolutely. You'll get the exact same tool at the exact same price. Use my link only if you're comfortable supporting my work. Either way, I'm happy to help you implement it.
I'm using [tool] and it's not working. Can you help?
Depends on the tool. If it's something I use daily, yes. For specialized issues, I can point you to better resources. Book a consultation.
ready to build the system
The right tools only work inside theright system.
Stop collecting software. Start building a business that can run with more structure, visibility, and ease.
