Growth infrastructure

Build a solid foundation that won't collapse when you scale. Single source of truth. Tools that talk to each other. Systems that give you visibility into what's working and what's not. Without this, you're flying blind and everything breaks when you try to grow.

Growth infrastructure

Introduction

Growth operations is the invisible force behind every high-performing team. Without it, dashboards break, data goes missing, and progress stalls.

Here, I’ll show you how to build a growth infrastructure that supports every part of your business — automation, reporting, and workflow design. You’ll learn the exact setup that lets your marketing, sales, and service engines run in sync.

When operations run smoothly, growth compounds effortlessly.

Growth infrastructure

playbooks

How to choose your growth tools

How to choose your growth tools

The wrong tools waste money and create friction. The right tools compound productivity. Avoid vendor promises and feature bloat. Choose what actually fits your workflow, integrates cleanly, and grows with you.

How to set up your CRM

How to set up your CRM

A poorly configured CRM becomes a graveyard of stale data and missed follow-ups. A properly set up CRM runs your sales process automatically, surfaces hot leads, and forecasts revenue accurately.

Marketing automation setup

Marketing automation setup

Manual lead management breaks at scale. Automation captures every lead, scores them by intent, and keeps them warm until they're ready to buy all whilst you sleep.

How to implement tracking

How to implement tracking

Broken tracking means flying blind. Proper implementation shows exactly which traffic converts, which campaigns deliver ROI, and where to double down. Measurement makes optimisation possible.

Personal productivity

Personal productivity

Plan your week like your marketing budget. Manage tasks with a system you trust. Stay out of inbox traps. Protect deep work time. Run better meetings. Close your week with a firebreak.

Record digital course

Record digital course

Plan course structure that moves students from problem to solution. Script lessons clearly. Record with simple equipment. Edit efficiently. Package for platforms like Thinkific or Teachable.

Growth infrastructure

tools

Google Analytics

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Google Analytics

Web analytics that tracks user behaviour and conversions, essential for understanding traffic and lead sources when configured well.

Looker Studio

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Looker Studio

Free dashboard tool that pulls data from many sources, great for quick reports and shareable views.

Google Tag Manager

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Google Tag Manager

Tag management that lets you add and control scripts, events and pixels with versioning and consent rules.

Zapier

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20

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Zapier

No-code automation connecting 5,000+ apps to move data and trigger actions excellent for quick wins when you need integrations that just work.

Databox

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59

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Databox

Dashboard tool with fast connectors and scorecards, ideal for exec views and alerts when you need speed over deep modelling.

Growth infrastructure

books

SYSTEMology

SYSTEMology

David Jenyns

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A step by step way to document and improve processes so the team delivers consistent results without heroics.

Work The System

Work The System

Sam Carpenter

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A plain approach to system thinking. Write procedures, make small fixes and keep operations tidy as you scale.

Checklist Manifesto

Checklist Manifesto

Atul Gawande

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Why checklists work, where to use them, and examples for launches, experiments and migrations. Keep quality high and stress low.

Clockwork

Clockwork

Mike Michalowicz

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A clear way to design responsibilities and handoffs. Use time maps and simple dashboards to remove bottlenecks and protect focus.

Fix this next

Fix this next

Mike Michalowicz

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A decision tool for prioritising growth work. Diagnose where to act, then pick a small change that unlocks progress now.

Growth infrastructure

wiki

Pareto Principle

Focus effort on the 20% of activities that drive 80% of results, systematically eliminating low-yield work to maximise output per hour invested.

API

Enable tools to exchange data programmatically so you can build custom integrations and automate processes that vendor-built integrations don't support.

Data warehouse

Store raw data from all business systems in one place to run analyses and build reports that combine information across marketing, sales, and product.

Integration

Connect tools so data flows automatically between systems to eliminate manual entry, keep records current, and enable sophisticated workflows across platforms.

Event tracking

Capture specific user actions in your product or website to understand behaviour patterns and measure whether changes improve outcomes or create friction.

Stakeholder Management

Navigate competing priorities and secure buy-in by systematically understanding, influencing, and aligning internal decision-makers toward shared goals.

Contact management

Organise customer and prospect information to track relationships, communication history, and next steps without losing context or duplicating effort.

Cookie

Store information in browsers to track user behaviour across visits and enable personalised experiences without requiring login for every interaction.

Braindump

Clear mental clutter by transferring all thoughts, tasks, and ideas onto paper or screen, creating space for focused work.

Attribution model

Assign credit to marketing touchpoints that influence conversions to understand which channels work together and deserve budget in multi-touch journeys.

Eisenhower Matrix

Prioritise tasks systematically by sorting them into urgent-important quadrants, focusing effort on high-impact activities.

Deep Work

Block extended time for cognitively demanding tasks requiring sustained focus, maximising valuable output whilst minimising shallow distractions.

Trigger

Define events that start automation workflows so the right message reaches people at the right moment based on their actual behaviour not arbitrary timing.

Conversion tracking

Measure which marketing activities drive desired outcomes to allocate budget toward channels that actually generate revenue instead of vanity metrics.

Last-touch attribution

Assign full conversion credit to the final touchpoint before purchase to identify which channels close deals but miss earlier influences that started journeys.

First-touch attribution

Credit the channel that introduced prospects to your brand to measure awareness efforts and understand which top-of-funnel activities start customer journeys.

Standard Operating Procedure (SOP)

Document your repeatable processes in clear, step-by-step instructions that ensure consistency, enable delegation, and capture institutional knowledge.

Drip campaign

Send a series of scheduled emails that educate prospects over time to stay top-of-mind without overwhelming them with aggressive sales pitches.

Prioritisation

Systematically rank projects and opportunities using objective frameworks, ensuring scarce resources flow to highest-impact work.

Sales tech stack

Assemble tools that manage pipeline, automate outreach, and track performance to help reps sell more efficiently and managers forecast accurately.

Deal stage

Define pipeline progression steps to standardise how reps advance opportunities and give managers visibility into where deals stall or convert unexpectedly.

Customer data platform

Unify customer data from every touchpoint to create complete profiles that power personalised experiences across marketing, sales, and product.

Workflow automation

Connect triggers to actions across systems so repetitive tasks happen automatically and teams can focus on work that requires judgement instead of admin.

Marketing stack

Organise the tools that capture leads, nurture prospects, and measure performance to automate repetitive work and connect customer data across systems.

Activity tracking

Log emails, calls, and meetings automatically to understand what drives deals forward and coach reps based on actual behaviour rather than guesswork.

Email sequence

Automate multi-touch email campaigns that adapt based on recipient behaviour to nurture leads consistently without manual follow-up from reps or marketers.

Multi-touch attribution

Distribute conversion credit across multiple touchpoints to recognise that customer journeys involve many interactions and channels working together.

UTMs

Track campaign performance precisely by appending parameters to URLs that identify traffic sources, mediums, and campaigns in your analytics.

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Growth infrastructure

tools

Airtable

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24

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Airtable

Flexible tables meet databases, great for content calendars, asset libraries and light workflows that need structure and simple automation.

ClickUp

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10

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ClickUp

All-in-one work platform that combines tasks, docs, and dashboards powerful for teams who want everything centralised but be ready for complexity.

ChatGPT

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20

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ChatGPT

AI assistant for research, outlines, and drafts fast when prompted clearly, excellent for speed and idea generation in daily marketing work.

Google Analytics

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Google Analytics

Web analytics that tracks user behaviour and conversions, essential for understanding traffic and lead sources when configured well.

Freedom

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3

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Freedom

App and site blocker that helps protect focus time by pausing the noise across devices.

Databox

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59

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Databox

Dashboard tool with fast connectors and scorecards, ideal for exec views and alerts when you need speed over deep modelling.

Asana

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11

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Asana

Task management that balances structure with usability, popular with marketing teams who need clean boards and timelines without complexity.

Figma

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15

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Figma

Collaborative design for interfaces and assets excellent for landing pages, ads, and prototypes when marketing and design need alignment.

Google Workspace

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6

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Google Workspace

Productivity suite combining email, docs, and storage familiar, reliable, and straightforward for teams who want tools that just work without fuss.

HubSpot

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45

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HubSpot

All in one CRM with marketing, sales and service, strong when you want one system that teams adopt.

Inbox When Ready

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4

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Inbox When Ready

Email extension that hides your inbox by default so you can send and search without getting pulled into new mail.

Loom

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15

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Loom

Screen recording for quick updates and walkthroughs faster than meetings, clearer than text, excellent for async teams and client communication.

LastPass

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4

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LastPass

Password manager storing credentials securely with team sharing and policies essential for security hygiene when teams share logins responsibly.

Process Street

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1000

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Process Street

Workflow tool that turns SOPs into interactive checklists with forms and automation excellent for repeatable processes that need consistency.

Notion

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12

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Notion

Flexible workspace for docs, wikis, and lightweight databases ideal when you need custom systems without heavy project management overhead.

Pipedrive

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24

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Pipedrive

Sales focused CRM with clean pipelines and activity tracking, ideal for small teams that value speed.

Trello

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5

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Trello

Straightforward kanban boards for visual task management easy to start, easy to share, best for light workflows that don't need heavy structure.

Todoist

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5

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Todoist

Personal task app with quick capture, filters and calm design, great for managing work and habits.

Cookiebot

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7

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Cookiebot

Consent manager that helps control tracking based on user choice, easy to add with tag manager and clear banners.

SaneBox

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7

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SaneBox

Email assistant that filters noise and adds reminders so important mail surfaces when needed.

Notebook LM

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Notebook LM

AI research tool indexing your sources excellent for briefing documents, analysing uploads, and getting answers from materials you provide.

MacWhisper

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4

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MacWhisper

On-device transcription for audio and video quick, private, and accurate for meeting notes and content without sending files to cloud services.

Perplexity

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Perplexity

AI search with citations faster than manual research and more reliable than ChatGPT alone, excellent for content prep and quick fact-checking.

Looker Studio

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Looker Studio

Free dashboard tool that pulls data from many sources, great for quick reports and shareable views.

Amplitude

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61

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Amplitude

Product analytics for events, funnels and cohorts, useful when you need to see how users move and where they drop in product journeys.

Folk

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25

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Folk

Simple CRM for relationships and outreach lists, useful for partnerships and light sales without heavy setup.

Keap

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299

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Keap

Small business CRM with email automation and invoicing, good when you want sales and marketing in one light tool.

Spectacle

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99

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Spectacle

Spectacle shows which campaigns, content and channels create customers, with funnels and an audience hub that syncs high LTV segments to ad platforms.

Slack

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4.13

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Slack

Team messaging that speeds collaboration when used well but can create notification chaos works best with clear channel structure and etiquette.

Miro

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8

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Miro

Online whiteboard for mapping ideas, journeys, and plans excellent for async workshops and brainstorms when teams can't gather in person.

Google Tag Manager

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Google Tag Manager

Tag management that lets you add and control scripts, events and pixels with versioning and consent rules.

Coda

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12

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Coda

Document platform that combines text, tables, and automation like Notion but with stronger formulas and buttons for interactive playbooks.

Thinkific

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45

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Thinkific

Thinkific hosts online courses with extensive customisation, marketing tools, and student community features for growing course businesses.

Salesforce

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25

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Salesforce

Enterprise CRM with deep customisation and ecosystem, powerful but requires clear design and governance.

Kajabi

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89

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Kajabi

Kajabi builds complete online course businesses with course hosting, website, email marketing, and sales funnels in one platform.

Teachable

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39

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Teachable

Teachable hosts online courses with student management, payment processing, and basic marketing tools for educators monetising expertise.

Claude

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20

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Claude

AI assistant for long-form writing and analysis better than ChatGPT for research, strategic docs, and working with uploaded files.

Trainual

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249

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Trainual

Training platform that organises SOPs, processes, and role documentation so teams know what to do and how to do it great for scaling companies.

Google Sheets

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15

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Google Sheets

Google Sheets is a cloud-based spreadsheet tool for data analysis, collaboration, and automation. It's free, works in your browser, and integrates with the entire Google Workspace ecosystem.

Fiverr

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Fiverr

Freelance marketplace for quick creative work excellent for one-off tasks like design, video editing, or content when you need affordable help fast.

Freshdesk by Freshworks

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Freshdesk by Freshworks

Customer support with ticketing and automation solid for teams needing organised support without enterprise complexity.

Sellfy

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Sellfy

E-commerce platform for selling digital products simple store setup for creators selling courses, ebooks, or downloads without complex platforms.

Sendcloud

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Sendcloud

Shipping platform connecting carriers and e-commerce automates labels, tracking, and returns for online stores managing logistics across Europe.

Awesome Screenshot

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6

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Awesome Screenshot

Awesome Screenshot is a screen capture and recording tool that lets you annotate screenshots, record screen videos with webcam overlay, and share visual feedback through instant cloud hosting.

Zapier

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Zapier

No-code automation connecting 5,000+ apps to move data and trigger actions excellent for quick wins when you need integrations that just work.

n8n

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n8n

Open-source automation with self-hosting ideal when you need complete control, want to own infrastructure, or have technical teams building workflows.

Make

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Make

Visual automation platform with advanced logic and error handling more powerful than Zapier when you need control over complex, branching workflows.

Pipedream

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45

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Pipedream

Code-friendly automation running Node.js workflows excellent when you need custom logic, API integrations, or automations that Zapier can't handle.

Monday.com

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12

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Work OS with boards, automations and dashboards, flexible for marketing and ops when configured with restraint.

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