“Audit” sounds fancy, but in this case it just means look at what you have, see if you still need it, and mitigate risks.
What you’re looking for
Things you don’t need anymore Did you sign up for some amazing marketing software before the COVID-19 vaccine came out? Do you really need beehiiv and DesignModo to create emails?
If you are paying for things you don’t need, it’s time to cut the cord. Even with free software, having an active account (especially one that you forgot about) can pose security risks.
Things you’re still paying for - and don’t need anymore Several $15 charges per month can really add up, and software companies usually won’t refund auto-renewal payments, even if you catch them the day after they’re made. (Losers.)
How do I find these things?
If you’ve forgotten you signed up for a particular software or service, how are you going to remember what it is and find it hiding in your tech stack? There’s no easy shortcut, but here are two ways.
Ask your accounting department This tip comes courtesy of Chris Penn, who writes that the fastest way to audit your digital marketing tech stack is to check with your accounting team. In a large company, you may even uncover duplicate licenses and create real savings going forward. If your accounting team is your credit card statement, look it over Don’t forget to check Paypal, your bank account, and other places you might have set up recurring payments.
Check your password manager If you use a password manager like 1Password, open it up and scroll down through your logins. The ‘individual user’ version doesn’t show you when the last time you logged in was, but it does display them in reverse chronological order by when you set them up.
Hidden bonus
If there was a reason you signed up for something in the first place, finding your stray passwords may help you rediscover that reason. If this means you’re spending New Year’s Eve creating AI-generated whiteboard videos, that’s on you!