...How chasing fancy platforms drained my budget and delayed my progress
This is the second post in my 10-part series on the biggest mistakes I made when launching my digital product business. I’m sharing each one so you can skip the detours I took—and build with more clarity, confidence, and intention. The first blog was all about what happens when you skip choosing a niche. You can read it here: Mistake #1.
In the early days of building my digital product business, I thought I was doing everything right. I listened to the experts, followed what the big names in the online space were doing, and signed up for all the tools they recommended. I believed having the “right” tools in place would make me look legit, feel ready, and attract the kind of success I was dreaming about.
What I didn’t realize was that I was building a tech stack for the business I thought I needed—not the one I actually had.
And let me tell you—my budget paid the price.
ClickFunnels. ActiveCampaign Pro. LeadPages. And a few others I’ve thankfully forgotten. These weren’t just one-time purchases. These were expensive monthly subscriptions—some as high as $297 per month—that I had no real business using at that stage in my journey. I didn’t have a solid business model. I didn’t have consistent offers. I didn’t even have an audience yet. But I had tools. Expensive, complex tools that I thought would magically make my business “ready.”
Why did I buy them? Because the gurus told me to. They were polished, persuasive, and positioned those tools as “must-haves” for success. What I didn’t know at the time was that many of those same gurus were affiliates for the platforms they promoted. I don’t fault them for being affiliates—what I fault is my lack of understanding and my belief that I needed all the bells and whistles before I even knew what kind of business I was trying to run.
I genuinely thought I was investing in my future success. But after more than two years in business—no revenue, mounting credit card debt, and an overwhelming tech stack I barely knew how to use—I realized I had made a very expensive mistake.
Those tools didn’t just drain my finances. They destroyed my confidence. I spent hours trying to learn advanced systems that weren’t designed for someone just getting started. It became paralyzing. Every time I logged into ClickFunnels or tried to segment an audience I didn’t even have in ActiveCampaign, I felt like a fraud. My momentum evaporated. I wasn’t building—I was buried under the weight of things I didn’t need yet.
Worse still, I started to feel like a failure. I was too embarrassed to admit to anyone—especially my best friend, my husband—how upside down I was in terms of revenue. I had poured money into these tools that promised so much but delivered so little at that stage in my business. And I was deeply afraid that if I told him the truth, he’d say something like, “Well, you gave it a shot… maybe it’s time to get a real job.” That fear kept me quiet, stuck, and sinking deeper into imposter syndrome.
Eventually, I canceled the subscriptions. Every last one. And I went on a mission to find tools that were right for the stage I was actually in.
I switched to Thrivecart for my sales pages and shopping cart—it was a one-time purchase, no monthly fee, and simple to use. I found Encharge as an affordable alternative to ActiveCampaign. I started using Berrycast for recording video walkthroughs and replaced some paid tools with free ones that did the job just fine. Most importantly, I stopped chasing what looked flashy and started focusing on what was functional.
Looking back, I wish someone had told me: Use free tools as long as you can. Do your own research. You don’t need what everyone else is using—you need what works for you.
The truth is, there are so many budget-friendly business tools and affordable digital product resources available—especially for creators in the early stages of launching. If you’re looking for a way to stay focused, organized, and consistent without breaking the bank, I created the Side Hustle Starter Kit for entrepreneurs just like you. It includes Canva templates for social media posts and Reels, plus a planner to help you map out your offers and stay on track—all with PLR and MRR rights so you can use or resell them.
The tools you use don’t validate your business. You do. Your voice. Your vision. Your value.
Have a budget for your tools. Stick to it. As your business grows, your needs will grow too—and yes, you’ll eventually want more advanced features or integrated systems. But don’t rush it. Don’t let tech become a trap. Instead, build intentionally, grow sustainably, and remember that your business matters at every stage—no matter how big or small.
Start where you are. Serve your people well. And when it’s time for the fancy stuff, you’ll know it—because you’ll have a solid foundation to build on.
Next up in the series: Mistake #3: Buying Lifetime Deals Without a Strategy
