Fire up your favorite search engine and type in “membership sites” or “email marketing” or even “website builder” and you’ll find dozens--in some cases hundreds--of options to choose from. You might think all these choices would make it easier to bootstrap an online business, but what it really does is create even more confusion.

If you’re in the market for new tools to run your business, whether you’re upgrading or just getting started, I’ve got a seven-step process that’s going to make your choice crystal clear.