Web Tools Radio Dave Jackson

If you're a WordPress user, you know how crucial it is to find a reliable and powerful page builder that doesn't require a long-term commitment. Well, look no further! Spectra Page Builder is here to revolutionize your website-building experience.
In this episode, we'll dive deep into the features and benefits of Spectra, a lightweight and lightning-fast alternative to other popular page builders like Divi, Elementor, and Beaver Builder. I am going to be checking out this tool as well as a theme they have called Astra
But before we get into the nitty-gritty of Spectra, we'll touch on the renowned Astra theme, known for its speed, versatility, and customization options. I plan on switching to Astra myself and experimenting with its powerful tools in the future, although it may come with a slight learning curve.
Speaking of other page builders, I'll also share my experience with Divi, a fantastic tool that offers a plethora of templates for quick website creation. Whether you prefer customizing existing templates or building from scratch, Divi has got you covered.
However, website building with page builders can sometimes introduce a new language to navigate. I'll share my recent frustrations and the journey to find a tool that simplifies things without sacrificing functionality. Enter Spectra, a game-changer in the WordPress ecosystem.
But what sets Spectra apart? It integrates seamlessly with the default WordPress editor and enhances the functionality of Gutenberg blocks.
There is a monthly price as well as a lifetime pricing.
Are you tempted to give Spectra a try?
Before we wrap up, I want to express my gratitude to our amazing listeners. Your support keeps us going, and we can't wait to bring you more exciting web tool recommendations in future episodes. Stay tuned and remember to follow us on Apple, Google, Spotify, Amazon, and our website to never miss an episode.
Value For Value
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend and if you feel so moved, consider buying me a coffee.
Disclosure: Some of these links may result in me earning a commission.I never recommend anything without checking it out.

Enter Voomly
Voomly is perfect for content creators, digital marketers, video marketing agencies, and Ecommerce and online store builders.
You can turn your video into a funnel and grab email addresses from viewers, and segment them by creating what I call a "pick your own ending" feature. It really had me going, "WHAT???" when I went to their site. The best part is you can use their 30-day trial to see if it's for you. If you like it plans start at free, or $9 and go on up.
Check it out (aff)
But Why Not Just Use YouTube? It's Free!While YouTube can be a powerful platform for marketing videos, it also comes with some disadvantages. Here are some of the drawbacks to consider:
Ad saturation: YouTube is filled with advertisements, and viewers have become accustomed to skipping or ignoring them. Your marketing videos might get lost among numerous ads, making it challenging to stand out and capture the audience's attention.Competition: The platform is incredibly competitive, with millions of creators and businesses vying for viewers' attention. Getting your videos noticed and recommended by YouTube's algorithm can be difficult, especially for new or smaller channels.Content restrictions: YouTube has community guidelines and content policies that can limit what you can show or say in your marketing videos. If your content goes against these guidelines, it may be demonetized, removed, or even result in channel strikes or suspensions.Limited control over the viewing experience: Once viewers are on YouTube, they can easily be distracted by other content or recommended videos. This can reduce the chances of converting them into customers or driving them to your website.Audience targeting limitations: While YouTube offers some targeting options for ads, it may not be as precise as other advertising platforms. This could result in your marketing videos being shown to viewers who are not your target audience, leading to lower conversion rates.Brand association: Your marketing videos might appear alongside user-generated content, including videos that may not align with your brand values. This association might impact your brand perception negatively.Lack of ownership: Your content is hosted on YouTube's platform, and you have limited control over potential changes to the platform's algorithms or policies. A sudden algorithm change could significantly impact your video's visibility and reach.Data privacy concerns: As a marketer, you might not have access to as much user data as you would on your website or other owned platforms. This can limit your ability to understand your audience fully and retarget them effectively.Limited customization: While YouTube allows some customization for your channel, it may not provide the full branding experience that you could achieve on your website or dedicated landing pages.
Using Voomly you end up with insights about your potential client that you can't with other video tools. Take it for a ride and let me know what you find out. I'm definitely checking it out.

You are on a tight budget, so you use YouTube for your video. However, now your viewers are subjected to ads, recommendations, the title at the top, and the YouTube logo.
Just when you want them to take action, they get distracted and go someplace else. This is where Killer Player comes into play.
It lets you remove all of those items and put your video into one of their five premade themes, AND with unlimited colors, you can have it fit your brand.
Best of all, it's budget-friendly where you can purchase Killer Player ONE TIME and have LIFETIME access to future updates.
The software has been around since 2015, so you know you're not going to get hosed when YouTube changes something.
Check it out at https://supportthisshow.com/videokiller (aff)

I discovered Product Lift on App Sumo and thought, "Yes, FINALLY an affordable roadmap."
This is a great tool for harvesting feedback. You can get it from customers, teams, stakeholders, or in my case, a podcast audience.
It makes it so easy to get feedback but also build roadmaps, publish changelogs, vote and discuss, and more.
There is a free version on their site, but I recommend (while it is available) purchasing it on App Sumo. Their regular price is $48/month, and you can buy it for $49 FOR LIFE.
Here is my affiliate link
Check out this video from the founder

If you're using bit.ly and sharing those publicly, you're not doing your brand any favors. Today I introduce you to Switchy. It makes it super easy to track your links (in and out) as well as makes QR codes, and Smart Pages (think Linktree) while enabling you to place pixels, and more.
As I record this, you can get Switchy on App Sumo for a one-time purchase of $39. The starting price on their website is $47/month so it's a steal.
I love that you can tie a domain to it, and even the core domain can be redirected. See, www.supportthisshow.com will go to my buy me a coffee page whereas www.supportthisshow.com/switchy goes to either the App Summo deal (if it's still there - an affiliate link) or their website.
I recently discovered you can use it as a Linktree alternative and make what they call "Smart Pages" Check out a casual video I did on this for the member of the School of Podcasting.
WATCH VIDEO
It also allows you to:
Place a pixelDo A/B Split testingGeographic splitsExpiring linksUse a chrome extension to make links
I'm thinking it will soon do your laundry.
Check it out at www.supportthisshow.com/switchy
TOPICS
01:42 What’s so great about this tool?
04:13 You can also add a redirection based on location.
06:02 How to make a direct link to your website.
07:18 You can get it for $39 a month or a lifetime deal.
08:56 You don’t really need support because they have a great knowledge base.
Mentioned In This EpisodeSwitchy
Tidy Cal
Acuity Scheduling
Power of Podcasting Smart Page
School of Podcasting

There's no doubt about it, email marketing is still one of the most effective ways to reach your target audience. But if you're a solopreneur, you might be wondering how you can get started with email marketing without spending a lot of time or money.

Enter MailerLite. This powerful email marketing tool is designed specifically for small businesses and solopreneurs. It's easy to use and very affordable, making it the perfect solution for anyone just getting started with email marketing.

With MailerLite, you can create beautiful newsletters, automated emails, and targeted campaigns that will engage your subscribers and help you achieve your business goals.
My favorite option is I'm sending out a survey where my audience can click on what they want to see in their email and when I create the email, I can say, "Only show this section to people who like this."
You can see the form here
Pricing Email Marketing ToolsI had tried Sendfox, and it worked, but I had to have support help me if I wanted to clean up my list (they have to do it)
I tried to get them all on the same playing field (3000 subscriber list)
Convertkit is $42/month for 3000 subscribers .014/per subscriber
Aweber was $30 for 2500 subscribers .012/subscriber
Mailchimp is $34/month for 3000 subscribers or .011/subscriber
Mailerlite is $25/month for 2500 subscribers or .006/per subscriber
Mailerlite is serious about delivery as well. You have to apply and be used to use it.
Here is a demo of my using the dynamic tool.
So if you're ready to take your email marketing to the next level, start using MailerLite today!
In full disclosure, I am an affiliate, but you can see where I am putting my money where my mouth is. :)