My Go-To Tools for Epic Client Experience & Community Building (Tested & Actually Worth Your Money)

Anyone else tired of signing up for tools that promise the moon but deliver… well, something way less sparkly? Same. That’s why I’m breaking down my actual tech stack – the tools I use daily and would genuinely recommend for leveling up your client experience and community building.

Let’s cut through the noise and get to the good stuff.

Client Experience Tools That Actually Deliver

Project & Client Management 

1. Dubsado ($35/month)

   – Why I love it: Completely customizable, makes you look super professional

   – Perfect for: Client onboarding, contracts, invoicing

   – Best feature: Automated workflows that feel personal

   – Worth it because: It saves about 5-7 hours per week in admin time

2. ClickUp ($9/user/month)

   – Why I love it: The flexibility to manage both team and client projects

   – Perfect for: Project tracking, client collaboration

   – Best feature: Custom views for different work styles

   – Worth it because: Everything’s in one place (goodbye tab overwhelm)

3. Acuity Scheduling ($23/month)

   – Why I love it: Makes booking calls effortless for clients

   – Perfect for: Client meetings, discovery calls

   – Best feature: Time zone automation (no more scheduling headaches)

   – Worth it because: Eliminates the back-and-forth email dance

Client Communication & Support

1. Slack (Free – $12.50/user/month)

   – Why I love it: Quick, organized client communication

   – Perfect for: Daily client check-ins, team collaboration

   – Best feature: Channels for different projects/topics

   – Worth it because: Email feels ancient in comparison

2. Loom ($8/month)

   – Why I love it: Personal touch in async communication

   – Perfect for: Quick tutorials, feedback, updates

   – Best feature: Screen + face recording

   – Worth it because: Saves time and adds personality

3. Help Scout ($20/user/month)

   – Why I love it: Professional support that scales

   – Perfect for: Client support, knowledge base

   – Best feature: Shared inbox with team assignments

   – Worth it because: No support tickets fall through the cracks

Community Building

1. Circle ($99/month)

   – Why I love it: Clean, professional, and actually built for communities

   – Perfect for: Paid memberships, courses, programs

   – Best feature: Space organization + member directories

   – Worth it because: Members actually enjoy using it

2. Mighty Networks ($98/month)

   – Why I love it: All-in-one community + course platform

   – Perfect for: Course creators, membership sites

   – Best feature: Native mobile app

   – Worth it because: Keeps everything under one roof

3. Discord (Free – $9.99/month)

   – Why I love it: Highly engaging for tech-savvy audiences

   – Perfect for: Real-time community interaction

   – Best feature: Voice channels + server organization

   – Worth it because: Creates genuine connection

 Community Engagement Tools

1. Riverside ($15/month)

   – Why I love it: Professional-quality community calls

   – Perfect for: Live sessions, interviews, recordings

   – Best feature: Local recording (no more internet issues)

   – Worth it because: Makes you look like a pro

2. Butter ($49/month)

   – Why I love it: Makes virtual workshops actually fun

   – Perfect for: Interactive community sessions

   – Best feature: Built-in engagement tools

   – Worth it because: No more awkward Zoom silence

3. Typeform ($25/month)

   – Why I love it: Beautiful community surveys & forms

   – Perfect for: Member feedback, applications

   – Best feature: Logic jumps + beautiful design

   – Worth it because: People actually complete your forms

 The “Nice to Have” Stack

These aren’t essential, but they make life better:

1. Canva Pro ($12.99/month)

   – Why I love it: Quick, professional-looking graphics

   – Perfect for: Community content, client presentations

   – Best feature: Brand kit + resize tool

   – Worth it because: No designer needed for basic stuff

2. Notion ($8/user/month)

   – Why I love it: Central hub for all documentation

   – Perfect for: SOPs, client resources, team wiki

   – Best feature: Templates + databases

   – Worth it because: Organization becomes effortless

3. Later ($18/month)

   – Why I love it: Scheduled social content for community

   – Perfect for: Consistent social presence

   – Best feature: Visual Instagram planning

   – Worth it because: Keeps you consistent

 How to Choose Your Stack

I don’t care what the latest tech roundup says – here’s how to actually pick your tools:

1. Start With the Basics

   – What’s your biggest time suck right now?

   – Where do clients get confused?

   – What manual tasks could be automated?

2. Consider Your Budget

   – Start with 1-2 essential tools

   – Add others as you grow

   – Look for annual discounts

3. Think About Integration

   – Do your tools play nice together?

   – How much manual work is required?

   – What’s the learning curve?

 The Bottom Line

Listen, you don’t need ALL these tools to create amazing client experiences or build a thriving community. Start with what solves your biggest headaches and grow from there.

My essential stack for starting out:

– Dubsado for client management

– Slack for communication

– Circle for community

Remember: The best tool is the one you’ll actually use consistently. Don’t get caught up in shiny object syndrome – focus on what moves the needle for your business and your clients.

Want to know more about how I use any of these tools? Drop a comment below! I love geeking out about systems and workflows that make business better.

P.S. Already using some of these? Share your favorite features or hacks – let’s learn from each other! ✨