Some of the tools I use in my blogging to do things more efficiently.
My aim with this resources page is to make you better informed, so that you can make the right decisions. If you have questions about the resources below, don’t hesitate to get in touch!
Please note: a few of these links are affiliates which means I will earn a small commission if you buy the item at no extra cost to you. Please do not spend any money on these products unless you feel you need them or that they will help you achieve your goals.
MY MOST RECOMMENDED
I use them because they make my life easier, and I’m confident you’ll agree too.
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Easy to use, 1-click automatic WordPress installation and an awesome 24/7 support/customer service from guys that really know what they’re talking about. I highly recommend using Namecheap for your first site. I host all my websites using Nacmecheap. Ask me for a great discount cupon. |
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TrafficWave. The Internet’s most powerful email opt-in service and email marketing/broadcasting tool. This is what I use to build my email list and newsletter. They have the best features and a one month free trial. |
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The Genesis Framework empowers you to quickly and easily build incredible websites with WordPress. You want sleek, professional design — without paying a fortune for it and without fearing instant obsolescence. Genesis’ turnkey designs give you an array of beautiful frames for your content built on HTML5. Genesis provides the secure and search-engine-optimized foundation for custom child themes. |
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SEO Pressor. A tool created to gives you instant feedback and optimization suggestions to improve your On-Page SEO signals. It also keeps you on the safe side by preventing unnatural & over-optimization. |
BUILDING A BLOG OR WEBSITE
WordPress: Free and easily customizable with wonderful support. In my opinion, the best Blog Publishing Platform. All of my blogs use WordPress.
StudioPress: WordPress made easy without sacrificing power or flexibility. It’s perfect for bloggers, podcasters, and affiliate marketers, as well as those selling physical products, digital downloads, and membership programs.
DOMAINS & HOSTING
Domains: If you’re going to have a website you will need to register a domain name. Namecheap is who I recommend for doing so. By choosing Namecheap as your domain registrar, you are choosing a highly reputable and reliable partner. They offer a domain with WHOIS Guard added for one year free.
Hosting: Easy to use, 1-click automatic WordPress installation and an awesome 24/7 support/customer service from guys that really know what they’re talking about. I highly recommend using Namecheap for your first site. I host all my websites using Namecheap.
EMAIL SUBSCRIPTIONS & MARKETING
TrafficWave: The Internet’s most powerful email opt-in service and email marketing/broadcasting tool. This is what I use to build my email list and newsletter. They have the best features and a one month free trial.
KEYWORD RESEARCH & SEO
Google Adwords & Keyword Planner: A tool to help you decide what keywords to use for your Adwords campaigns. You can also check to see the popularity of certain keywords and the competition for ads for those keywords as well.
SEO Book Keyword Suggestion Tool: Another fantastic keyword research tool, with even more information and numbers to compare and select the perfect keywords.
SEO Pressor: A tool created to gives you instant feedback and optimization suggestions to improve your On-Page SEO signals. It also keeps you on the safe side by preventing unnatural & over-optimization.
Point Blank SEO: Point Blank SEO is packed with innovative and effective link building strategies of which I have been using plenty for my sites and others to great effect.
ADVERTISING STUFF
Google Adsense: Make money by placing relevant ads on your website that are generated from advertisers using Google Adwords. This is free to use, but you have to register for an account.
Google Adwords: If you want to begin advertising on Google, you can select keywords and locations and you pay each time someone clicks on your advertisement.
Facebook Ads: Facebook Ads are paid messages coming from businesses and they can include social context about friends.
TESTING RESULTS
Google Analytics: Google’s free website tracking and analytical tool. A must have for anyone with any type of website.
Clicky: Clicky is just like Google Analytics, except it’s easier to use, and you can view how many people are on your site (and what they are doing) in real time! Your first site is free.
PRODUCT DISTRIBUTION & SHOPPING CARTS
E-junkie: The shopping cart I use to sell my eBook. It’s compatible with Paypal Standard, Paypal Pro, Google Checkout, Authorize.net, TrialPay, Clickbank & 2CheckOut. Works like a charm, very low price to use.
ClickBank: Another digital products retailer. Probably the most popular. Decently priced, but comes with an amazing affiliate program for your products.
Paypal: Paypal is just ok for selling your own products through them, but you’ll need an account anyways to configure with and accept payments.
Payza: You can sell your own products through them, but you’ll need an account anyways to configure with and accept payments.
SCREEN & VIDEO
VideoMakerFX: This software is designed to amaze and make awesome video creation a breeze. There are over 240+ customizable scenes the user can pick from and everything is designed to be EASY & FAST.
Camtasia Studio: For screen captures and recording.
Snagit: Is a piece of software that enables to take pictures or shoot videos of what you see on your screen.
PRODUCTIVITY
Lastpass: I use this for managing all my passwords.
IMAGES & PHOTOS
Getty Images: This is where I purchase royalty-free images that I use on my sites.
Flickr Creative Commons: This is where you can get free images for your website, but there are some rules that go along with it.
OUTSOURCING
Elance: Hired service for just about anything you can think of.
Odesk: Another outsource website for freelancers, IT companies, programmers and web designers from abroad.
There you have it! I’ll add to it as I learn more 🙂 I recommend bookmarking it for your reference and convenience.
Enjoy!