The Top 3 Tech Issues Costing Online Business Owners Time, Money, and Sanity
Online tech issues are pretty much a rite of passage for online business owners.
You work hard on your launch emails, only for them to send at the wrong time (or worse, not send at all). Your scheduler stops syncing with your calendar, and you keep double-booking appointments. You’re drowning in project management tools, yet your team keeps missing task notifications and deadlines.
While tech issues are an inevitable part of running an online business, they should never become your new normal. From broken automations to bloated tech stacks, these issues can compromise your client experience, cost you valuable time, and ultimately impact your long-term success.
In this post, we’re breaking down the three most common tech problems I see impacting online business owners, and how to fix them before they cost you more than they already have.
Tech Issue #1: Broken Email Automations
As the resident tech and automations expert for my clients, broken email automations are easily the most common tech issue I help solve.
Maybe someone signed up for your webinar, but never got the reminder notifications. Maybe someone purchased your course, but didn’t receive their login instructions. Or maybe your entire welcome sequence is sitting unread in your Kit account… and not a single email has been sent.
The worst part about automation issues? You have no idea they’re happening until it’s too late.
These issues usually come down to a few things:
An incorrect tag or trigger in your email service provider
Last-minute changes to a landing page or sign-up form that were never retested
Overcomplicated logic that wasn’t set up correctly
If you’re still DIYing your tech, it’s easy to miss these red flags until they’ve already cost you.
Here’s how to avoid broken automations:
Simplify: Keep your automations as simple as possible, and only add to them once you’re sure they’re working smoothly.
Test and Retest: Regularly test your automations with at least one other team member or friend (especially before a launch).
Create a Test Automation: If you have to make any big changes, set up a test automation by duplicating the original in your email tool first, that way it won’t impact anything that’s already live.
If you’re not sure where something is breaking—or how to prevent it from happening again—that’s the kind of thing we can troubleshoot together during BizMagic Office Hours.
Tech Issue #2: Clunky Integrations
Online businesses run on tools. But when those tools don’t talk to each other properly, things fall apart fast.
Maybe your email marketing tool isn’t capturing subscribers from your website form. Maybe your scheduler isn’t updating your calendar in real time. Or maybe someone enrolls in your course, but their information doesn’t get added to your student portal.
Clunky integrations can happen when:
There’s no clear process for how data is supposed to move between platforms.
You’ve layered in too many third-party connectors (like Zapier) without testing each step along the way.
You or a team member logged into the wrong account when setting up the integration.
Here’s how to create foolproof integrations:
Map Out Your Workflow: Before integrating your tools, get clear on what you want to happen and when. Create a simple outline or flowchart to avoid over-complicating things.
Choose Native Integrations When Possible: Most tools offer built-in integrations with other platforms. Use these whenever possible, as they are more reliable and easier to troubleshoot than third-party tools.
Consider All-in-ones: All-in-one tools like Kartra or Kajabi can simplify the integration process, but consider them carefully as they also come with compromises.
Test, Test, Test: Once you’ve connected your tools, test every workflow like a real client or customer. Opt into your own form, book a test appointment, or even create a coupon code and make a test purchase.
Tech Issue #3: Bloated Tech Stacks
As your business grows, so do the tools you need to keep it afloat. But when it comes to creating your tech stack, more is not always better.
(Not sure what the heck a tech stack is? Learn more in THIS blog post.)
Behind the scenes, bloated tech stacks can quietly cost you:
Hundreds (or thousands) of dollars a year in overlapping subscriptions and unused features.
Wasted time jumping between platforms or manually pulling data from different places.
Team confusion because no one knows which tools to use or how they connect.
This often happens with project management and delegation tools. Instead of having one central hub where team members communicate and collaborate on projects, you have three or four different tools duct-taping the entire process together.
The result? A chaotic and frustrating experience for you, your team, and potentially, your clients. (PS. My go-to solution for this is Notion!)
The real problem isn’t just the number of tools—it’s the lack of strategy behind them. Every tool you add should serve a clear, intentional purpose. Otherwise, the tech that’s supposed to make your life easier becomes just another source of chaos.
Here’s how to choose the right tech stack:
Focus on the tools you actually need based on where you’re struggling or where you want to grow in your business. Ask yourself:
Can this tool save me time or increase my profit?
Does it duplicate something I already have?
Is there a simpler or more strategic way to solve this issue?
Need more help narrowing down your tech stack? Watch THIS free training next.
The Real Cost of Avoiding Tech Issues
It’s easy to ignore tech problems when they don’t feel urgent, especially if you don’t have an expert on your team who can help. But the cost of pushing these issues to the side adds up quickly.
When you DIY every failed automation or tool that won’t sync, you lose hours that could’ve been spent on income-generating work. And if you're in a busy season, like launching a program or onboarding new clients, every hour of time you lose to online tech headaches is critical.
Worse, your client experience starts to suffer. If your onboarding feels clunky or your client portal is so confusing that people can’t use it, it affects how your brand and services are perceived.
On the flipside, when your backend is working smoothly, you can delegate to your growing team, scale with confidence, and create a standout client experience that fuels referrals.
Ready to Fix These Tech Issues for Good?
When tech issues happen (and trust me, they will!), you don’t always need a whole new platform, an expensive retainer, or another 6-hour Google session to fix what’s broken.
Sometimes you just need a second set of eyes from someone who’s been in your shoes and knows exactly how to help.
And that’s where BizMagic’s Office Hours comes in!
BizMagic Office Hours is a twice-a-month, low-cost Zoom session where you can bring me all your tech issues and get expert help on the spot.
I'll answer questions about specific tools you’re using, troubleshoot a website issue, or walk you through a tech hiccup giving you grief. I can also help you brainstorm a new service idea or even offer a little advice to help you hire a new team member. Basically, my brain will be available for the pickin's!
If you’re ready to stop getting lost in the chaos of online tech, this is the perfect low-cost opportunity to finally get the support you need. RSVP to our next Office Hours by clicking the link below:
