Here is the complete list of online business resources and tools I use to blog more effectively.
NOTE: Some of the resources mentioned on this page are affiliate links, which means I will receive a small commission should you choose to make a purchase. You will never pay anything extra for this, and in some cases, you will save if you purchase through these links. Please know I have personally used every resource, which have been crucial in the development of this blog, as well as many other sites I have owned. Thank you for your support.
Online Business Resources
What I Use To Create and Run My Sites
- Bluehost – The first thing you need to create a website is a web host. The webhost I use and recommend is Bluehost. In fact, WordPress themselves have long recommended Bluehost as the best host to run their platform. Bluehost is the perfect host for beginners for their free domain name, one-click installs, 24/7 support, and their anytime money-back guarantee. Get Bluehost and follow my complete 6000+ word tutorial with screenshots showing you exactly how to start a blog.
- WordPress is the blogging platform I use to run Incomist.com. 99.9% of the most successful blogs use WordPress, because it is quick and easy to set up, and highly customizable. Oh, and it’s free. Click here to check out Bluehost, where you can get your own free domain and hosting, and then set up WordPress with one click.
Website Themes & Design
If this site was a car, Frameworks would be the engine and everything that makes the car go, while the StudioPress theme is like the body of the car, providing its own unique look. Both are designed to work with each other seamlessly. Don’t worry, it’s simple to install and you still run everything through the WordPress admin area.
- Genesis Frameworks – This is the engine that makes the site go. It’s the nuts-and-bolts. Many of the top bloggers use Genesis Frameworks to run their blogs more efficiently.
- StudioPress Themes – This site uses the Parallax Pro theme, which I customized to make it my own. All StudioPress themes are designed to work in conjunction with Genesis Frameworks. This is the first blog I’ve created with Frameworks and a StudioPress theme and I’m really glad I made the switch. The designs are absolutely amazing and the performance and efficiency are exactly what I was looking for.
Email Marketing
- Sumo (formerly SumoMe) is by far my favorite tool for creating high-quality landing pages and lead boxes quickly and easily. I also use them for their social sharing tools (like the social media sharing buttons you see on the side and bottom of every page). Sumo helps you convert viewers into subscribers or buyers, and helps your readers to share your content. A must-have.
- Aweber is the service I use to manage my email list and send messages to my subscribers.There are other more advanced services out there for a significantly higher fee. Aweber is perfect for beginning and growing sites at $19/mo. Later on when your budget is higher, you can export your list to a new provider, if you choose.Having said that, I’ve used Aweber for about 10 years, and it has always addressed my needs.
- LeadPages – This is a tool I used to use and loved it. It makes beautiful email op-in pages, sales pages and signup forms very simply and easily. It’s the easiest service to use. You can create pages very quickly with no-hassle. I switched to Sumo mainly because the price is considerably less.