1️⃣Shopify
I spun up a conversion-ready store in a weekend and started taking orders the same day. Built-in checkout, apps, and themes let me test offers fast and scale without hiring a dev.
- launch in hours
- high-converting checkout
- massive app ecosystem
- built-in payments and subscriptions
- excellent analytics and reports
- fast global delivery integrations
- scales from one product to thousands
- monthly fees add up with apps
- advanced design tweaks require Liquid or a dev
2️⃣Stripe
Simple links and hosted checkout let me take payments anywhere - site, email, or DM. It boosted conversion and reduced cart friction for high-ticket invoices and subscriptions.
- hosted checkout converts well
- payment links and invoices in minutes
- subscriptions and trials built-in
- global cards and wallets supported
- powerful fraud tools
- clean reporting and payouts
- developer-friendly but works no-code
- processing fees are unavoidable
- periodic account reviews can delay features
3️⃣Google Ads
When I needed demand now, search campaigns delivered buyers with intent. It is profitable if you track conversions ruthlessly and prune keywords weekly.
- buyers with high intent
- fast traffic and testing
- granular targeting and schedules
- excellent conversion tracking when set up right
- costs rise quickly in competitive niches
- steep learning curve
- bad matches burn budget without negatives
- policy disapprovals can stall campaigns
4️⃣Ahrefs
This is my long-game money maker: find keywords, spy on competitors, and build content that compounds. It will not pay tomorrow but it stacked leads month after month.
- industry-leading backlink data
- keyword research that uncovers gaps
- site audit surfaces revenue-blocking issues
- content planner saves hours
- expensive for solo operators
- limits on rows and exports
- data can lag in tiny markets
- steeper learning curve for beginners
5️⃣Zapier
Automations handled lead routing, invoice reminders, and fulfillment pings so I could sell more. The time saved showed up straight in margins.
- connects almost every app
- no-code workflows
- templates to launch fast
- logs and retries help troubleshoot
- task caps force plan upgrades
- complex zaps can break on API changes
- latency on multi-step flows
- cost scales with volume
- debugging can be tedious