Tools That Actually Work

Every tool on this page I use personally. No fluff, no filler — just the automation and AI stack that runs my business. Affiliate links help keep this site free.

Workflow Automation

Replace repetitive work with automated pipelines. These two tools are the backbone of every system I build.

Best Overall · 35% Recurring

Make.com

Visual automation builder that connects 1,000+ apps. I use Make to automate my content pipeline from HeyGen to Google Drive to social scheduling. Handles complex logic better than Zapier at a fraction of the cost.

1,000+ integrations Visual drag-and-drop builder Free tier available 35% recurring commission
Try Make Free →
Open Source · 30% Recurring

n8n

Self-hostable automation with AI-native nodes. If you want maximum control and don't mind a steeper learning curve, n8n is unbeatable. Run it on your own server for near-zero cost.

Self-hostable (free) Built-in AI agent nodes 400+ integrations 30% recurring commission
Try n8n →

Customer Management

Track leads, automate follow-ups, and build email sequences in one place.

Top Pick · 30% Recurring

HubSpot CRM

Free CRM that scales with your business. I use HubSpot to manage affiliate partner contacts, track newsletter subscriber journeys, and automate email sequences. The free tier is genuinely powerful.

Free forever CRM Email marketing included Native Make.com integration 30% recurring commission
Start Free with HubSpot →

WHY I USE IT

"HubSpot replaced three separate tools for me. CRM, email, and automation — all free to start. It's the first tool I recommend to anyone building an online business."

— Elliot Cairn

Content Creation

The tools that power my entire content pipeline.

HeyGen
AI Video · 20% Recurring

AI avatar video platform. I create all my TikTok and YouTube content through HeyGen — no camera, no editing, no studio. Record once, batch produce dozens of videos.

Start creating with HeyGen →
ElevenLabs
AI Voice · 22% Recurring

Best AI voice cloning on the market. My HeyGen videos use an ElevenLabs v3 voice clone that sounds indistinguishable from a real person. Game-changing for content at scale.

Clone your voice free →

AI Copywriting

For long-form content, ad copy, and scripting at scale.

Jasper AI
AI Writing · 25% Recurring

Enterprise-grade AI writing with brand voice training. Jasper learns your style and maintains consistency across blog posts, email sequences, and social copy.

Try Jasper free →
Writesonic
AI Writing · 30% Recurring

Best value AI writer for SEO content. Writesonic produces optimised articles faster than any other tool I've tested. Strong free tier for beginners getting started.

Try Writesonic →

Everything Else I Use

Solid tools that complement the core stack.

Design

Canva Pro

Thumbnails, Pinterest pins, lead magnets. Essential for visual content creators.

Get Canva Pro →
Scheduling

Tailwind

Pinterest and Instagram scheduling. Tailwind Communities amplify reach significantly.

Try Tailwind →
Video Editing

DaVinci Resolve

Professional video editor — free version is exceptional. Studio ($300 one-time) unlocks AI tools.

Download Free →
AI Model

Claude

My primary AI assistant for strategy, writing, and code. Best model for business use cases.

Try Claude →
Email

Beehiiv

Newsletter platform built for monetisation. Better analytics than Substack, built-in ad network.

Start on Beehiiv →
Hosting

Netlify

This site runs on Netlify. Free tier covers most personal sites. Instant deploys from GitHub.

Deploy free →
E-commerce

Gumroad

Sell digital products instantly. Zero monthly fee — best for starting your first product.

Sell on Gumroad →
Analytics

Plausible

Privacy-first analytics. GDPR compliant, no cookie banners needed. Simpler than Google Analytics.

Try Plausible →

Get the AI Starter Toolkit

Free PDF: the exact workflow I use to batch-produce a week of content in 2 hours using HeyGen, ElevenLabs, and Make.com.

Download Free →