Tools I actually use
What I Use
Part of what you're paying for is knowing which tools are worth your time and which ones are noise. This is what I actually use to run ZeisWorks and build for clients. If it's not here, I'm not using it.
Automation and workflows
Workflow tools I rely on daily.
n8n
Open-source workflow automation with full code flexibility.
My preferred automation tool for clients who want self-hosted control or complex conditional logic. More powerful than Zapier for custom workflows. Requires more setup but saves money and gives you full ownership long-term.
Make.com
affiliateVisual workflow automation with a generous free tier.
When n8n is overkill and Zapier is too limiting, Make hits the middle. The visual builder makes multi-step flows easy to audit and hand off to clients. I use it for integrations that don't need self-hosting.
Want this built for you?
n8n and Make are powerful, but the setup takes time. I build custom automation stacks for service businesses — workflows that run without you touching them.
CRM and prospecting
Where leads, contacts, and pipeline live.
HubSpot
affiliateCRM, marketing, and sales hub with a generous free tier.
Better starting point than Salesforce for most businesses under $5M in revenue. The free CRM is genuinely good. Marketing automation gets expensive fast, so scope carefully before you commit to the paid tiers.
Apollo.io
affiliateProspecting database with built-in outreach sequencing.
I use this for lead list building and outbound sequencing. The contact database is solid for B2B. Works well as a first-touch channel before moving qualified leads into a CRM.
Clay
affiliateData enrichment and personalization at scale.
The most powerful enrichment tool I've used. Pulls from 50+ data sources, runs custom logic across every row, and pipes clean data into your outreach or CRM. Steep learning curve — worth it for serious prospecting.
Need a full prospecting-to-close system?
HubSpot, Apollo, and Clay are the stack — but getting them to talk to each other correctly is where most businesses get stuck. I set up the full pipeline and hand it off ready to run.
Marketing and outreach
Lead generation, outbound, and visibility.
Instantly
affiliateCold email platform with deliverability infrastructure.
Used for outbound email campaigns where deliverability matters. Handles sending volume, domain warming, and inbox rotation. Pair it with Apollo or Clay for a full prospecting-to-outreach stack.
Don't have time to run outbound yourself?
Instantly is the infrastructure. I handle the strategy, sequences, and list building — so the leads come in without you managing the platform.
Web and ops
How sites get built and work gets managed.
Astro
Static site framework with component islands.
What this site is built on. Fast by default, flexible enough for dynamic features, and easy to deploy. Good choice for content-heavy marketing sites that need performance without a heavy CMS.
Netlify
Web hosting and deployment platform.
Where zeisworks.com is deployed. Handles forms, edge functions, and CI/CD without needing a separate infrastructure setup. The free tier covers most small sites with no configuration overhead.
Notion
Docs, wikis, and databases in one workspace.
Where I manage project notes, client documentation, and internal processes. Works as a lightweight CMS for content that changes frequently. Every client gets a shared workspace as part of the engagement.
Disclosure
Some tools on this page are marked affiliate — I earn a commission if you sign up through my link, at no extra cost to you. I only list tools I actually use. If something stops being useful, it comes off this page.