Most people want techniques and new software to automatically alleviate pain, confusion, inefficiency, etc.

Tips, software, tools and resources help but the underlying strategy is where lasting results are sourced.

The strategy? Vision.

If you have a strong enough vision to travel, to be virtual, to be automated, to HAVE time freedom, well then all the tools and resources and people are seen in a different perspective.

My wife and I were able to travel for one year using technology and simple strategies while maintaining two internet businesses and I will reveal some of the secrets below.

SECRET #1: AUTOMATED INBOUND COMMUNICATION

Phone Systems
We used internet phone systems to manage our inbound calls such as Grass Hopper by Citrix for routing calls to delegated people. Skype phone numbers for our virtual assistants (and on our mobiles too). And Google Voice for easy voicemail to text/email transcription.

Leads and Attraction Cultivation
We used wufoo form processing to capture prospects, customer service inquires, surveys, feedback, payments, and automated contact communication such as newsletter optins, webinar optins, etc. Speaking of customer service we used LiveChatInc for inbound tickets and chat support.

Using wufoo saved us hundreds if not thousands immediately! We were able to fire (or not rehire rather) freelance programmers. This is essential because all of the sudden WE were empowered to create inbound efficient functionality to capture and “funnel” our prospects coming to us. This is automation and organization at its finest!

SECRET #2: AUTOMATED VALUE & CONTENT CREATION

Videos and Webinars
We used Vimeo to upload our recorded webinars (which were live with our clients), then used Vimeo to post to our membership websites. We used Keynote and PowerPoint to create the webinars and training videos. We used GoToMeeting to conduct the live webinars. We also used InstantTeleseminar to have group phone conferences and weekly training meetings, mastermind collaboration, etc.

WordPress
We used WP and hired virtual employees to write for us (this was back in the SEO days of content, content, content). We empowered them by giving them a lot of responsibility but treating them like family too! We even took them out for dinner and met up with them while we were traveling! Now adays we use wordpress as a blog for branding, a social media central posting resource, and a way to force us to create content that is used in email. WordPress is awesome!

SECRET #3: WE STAYED FOCUS

While we were on the road we had a lot of fun and created great memories. But, we kept grounded and made sure we set out our goals and worked on them throughout the week. We would get hotel rooms with a separate room or suite so we could focus and work. We gave ourselves deadlines and kept eachother accountable.

I hope this served you. In summary… automation is great but you must have an underlying vision and strategy that pulls all the tools, all the people, all the value together. Think longterm big picture WHILE playing with zoomed in micro details and tech, etc.

Pura Vida!

– Andy

PS: Watch My Free Travel Webinar Here! I cover my story about how my wife and I went on a four week road trip that turned into one year AND how we conducted our coaching/consulting business while at the beach and in the mountains.