Behind the Scenes: My Top 10 Tools for Online Facilitation Magic 🧰


I often get asked what tools I actually use - before, during, and after my sessions.

So here’s my current stack - 10 favorites I rely on to plan, promote, run, and follow up.

Good news: Most offer free plans to get started or are completely free.


Facilitain Like a Boss

StreamAlive

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StreamAlive turns live chat into instant engagement - polls, word clouds, maps, and questions triggered automatically from audience messages.

Can be used in Zoom, Google Meet, MS Teams, LinkedIn Live, YouTube, and more to keep interaction flowing without juggling tools.

It reads chat and brings it to life no extra slides, no hassle.

βœ… Free plan available (up to 10 commenters).

I recommend the Starter Plan for full power.

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πŸ‘‰ Discover StreamAlive + get 10% off​

Butter

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If Zoom had a cool, younger cousin who actually knew how to run a workshop i-it’d be Butter.

Agendas, timers, polls, breakouts, flashcards, Miro integration, and more - all built in.

I use it to prep and run engaging sessions without juggling tools or tabs.

It’s fun, interactive, and built with facilitators in mind.

βœ… Free plan available - or 30% off your first 3 months for paid plans.

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πŸ‘‰ Butter Up​

Elgato Stream Deck

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Not actually a tool… but I can’t live without it.

With one button, I trigger scenes, overlays, lights, sounds, apps, and chat messages.

It controls OBS, Zoom, visuals, and my entire virtual setup – all hands-free and smooth.

πŸ’‘ There’s a free phone version. So maybe it is a tool after all. πŸ€ͺ

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πŸ‘‰ My Stream Deck recommendations​

OBS Studio

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This wouldn’t be a real list without OBS – my virtual control room for workshops, trainings, and events.

It’s perfect for switching scenes, adding overlays, animations, and recording in high quality.

I use it for camera framing, smooth transitions, and pro-level production flow.

βœ… 100% free and open source – no hidden costs, ever.

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πŸ‘‰ Download OBS Studio​


Prep Like a Pro

Lu.ma

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My go-to for creating event pages, sending reminders and blasts, and collecting feedback.

It handles payments via Stripe and keeps everything in one clean, modern interface - no mess, no stress.

βœ… I use the free plan - enough for most needs. For frequent, paid events, Luma Plus is worth it.

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πŸ‘‰ Try Lu.ma​

Cal.com

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A clean, open-source alternative to Calendly - perfect for paid coaching sessions, meetings, and bookings.

It eliminates back-and-forth, connects with Zoom, Stripe, and calendars, and lets you set unlimited booking links.

βœ… 100% free for individuals - no weird limitations or hidden fees.

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πŸ‘‰ Book with Cal.com​

Miro

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My creative playground for planning sessions, designing games, and building interactive workshop boards.

From sticky notes and spinner wheels to card decks and presentations - it does it all.

I use Miro to map sessions, build activities, and bring structure to ideas.

βœ… Free plan available. I recommend the Starter Plan - totally worth the $8/month.

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πŸ‘‰ Start with Miro & get 10% off​


Grow Like a Brand

CNVS

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11,000+ hand-drawn visuals by Lucie Agolini - fully customizable to match your branding.

I use CNVS on Miro boards, slides, overlays, LinkedIn posts, and my website.

It’s my visual Swiss Army knife for adding personality and clarity.

I’m not a fan of AI images - human-made visuals have soul, and you can feel it. πŸ₯°

βœ… One-time purchase - no subscription needed.

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πŸ‘‰ Get CNVS​

Kit (formerly ConvertKit)

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This very newsletter runs on Kit - my hub for emails, landing pages, product sales, and automations.

It helps me grow my list, stay in touch, and share my favorite tools with you.

I just upgraded to the Creator Plan after hitting 1,000 subscribers - woohoo!

βœ… Free for up to 10K subs. The Creator Plan unlocks advanced automations and integrations.

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πŸ‘‰ Explore Kit​

Senja

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The easiest way I’ve found to collect, manage, and showcase testimonials in just a few clicks.

I use it after sessions to gather feedback, highlight great quotes, and share results on my site and socials.

It’s fast, clean, and comes with customizable forms, cards, and widgets.

βœ… Free for your first 15 testimonials upgrade for more features and integrations.

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πŸ‘‰ Check out Senja​


πŸ’¬ One Last Thing…

I’ll dive deeper into each of these tools in future issues – with real use cases, clever hacks, and lessons learned.

Hit reply and tell me: Which tool should I cover first?


πŸ—“οΈ Upcoming Classes & Free Events

Level Up Your Virtual Facilitation with Hands-On Sessions

These sessions are designed to spark ideas, energize your facilitation flow, and keep your participants fully engaged.

Each week brings new chances to grow, share, and geek out with fellow facilitators.


🎫 Premium Event

Stream Deck | Starter Training

πŸ“† July 30, 6 PM CEST | 12 PM EDT

Simplify. Customize. Control.

🎫 Premium Event

Miro Game Creation Masterclass

πŸ“† July 31, 6 PM CEST | 12 PM EDT

Design. Play. Engage.


🀑 Enough Said

Facilitainment Weekly

Every Wednesday, join 1,000+ trainers, coaches, and facilitators who turn virtual sessions into unforgettable experiences! Explore facilitation hacks, creative tools, and strategies to engage and inspire your audience. Learn, create, and entertain β€” all in one newsletter!

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