Blogging Resources To Help You Grow Your Blog
I created this Bloggers Toolkit to easily list the tools and resources that I find valuable and useful as a full-time blogger. These resources helped grow my blog quickly and I only recommend the tools I have used or currently use. Have fun looking around and feel free to shoot me an email if you would like more insight on the below recommendations!
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Web Hosting
What is Web Hosting you ask? If you are totally new to the Internet and the blogging world, you might be wondering WHY you need web hosting. Well, basically your web host is the company that will make your website LIVE and viewable on the Internet. You should pick a web host that has a good reputation (I’m talking website speed, no downtime issues, doesn’t increase your rates, etc). Picking a good Webhost is crucial because if you go through what I went through (I switched web hosts after 12 months of blogging because my site wasn’t loading images), you’ll quickly realize that without a good host, you have no blog!
That’s why I recommend these next few hosts (whom all have a good reputation and range from beginner to advance web hosting needs).
Big Scoots
Choosing the right web hosting service is crucial for the success of any website. After trying several hosting providers, I settled on BigScoots, and here’s why it has been a game-changer for my online presence.
- Exceptional Performance. One of the standout features of BigScoots is its exceptional performance. With their high-speed servers and optimized configurations, my website loads quickly, ensuring a seamless experience for visitors. This not only improves user satisfaction but also positively impacts search engine rankings.
- Reliable Uptime. BigScoots offers incredibly reliable uptime, which means my website is almost always accessible to users. This reliability is critical for maintaining a professional image and ensuring that I never miss out on potential visitors or customers due to downtime.
- Outstanding Customer Support. The customer support at BigScoots is top-notch. Their team is available 24/7 and is always ready to assist with any issues that arise. Whether it’s a technical challenge or a simple query, I can count on them for prompt and effective solutions.
- Easy Scalability. As my website grows, I have the flexibility to scale my hosting resources with BigScoots. This scalability ensures that I can accommodate increased traffic and expand my online offerings without any disruptions or complications.
- Competitive Pricing. Despite offering premium services, BigScoots maintains competitive pricing. This affordability allows me to manage costs effectively while still benefiting from high-quality hosting services.
Overall, BigScoots provides a robust, reliable, and customer-friendly hosting solution that meets all my website’s needs. Whether you’re just starting out or managing a popular site, BigScoots is a hosting provider that you can trust.
See BigScoots Hosting Plans Here
SiteGround
Many new bloggers choose SiteGroung as a host for their blog because they have great service and VERY affordable rates. When you are just starting your blog, you are probably trying to save as much money as possible with your investment in the beginning and SiteGround helps you do that!
Not only does Site Ground have the best hosting rates, but they will help you with setting up your blog, creating a secure (https) for your site at no additional charge, and they are just a phone call or Live chat away if you need assistance with anything.
–>>Try SiteGround for just $3.95 a month!
–>>Start a Blog in Less than 5 Minutes by following these 6 Easy Steps!
- Go to SiteGround to get started. You will need to pick a domain name – you should pick something that describes your blog – many bloggers use their personal name as well. SiteGround will let you know if the domain is available. Be sure to read my post I Changed My Blog Name and This Happened for more blogging advice on choosing a name and the pros and cons if you are thinking about changing your blog name.
- Choose to Get Started with Web Hosting and you’ll see the below packages…
- Choose a package (most new bloggers start with the StartUp plan) and select Get Plan.
- Enter your domain name. SiteGround will let you know if the domain is available. If you purchased a domain previously (like on GoDaddy) you can also enter it here.
- Choose additional services. This is optional but I chose to have my domain as private and pay for the extra privacy fee. Check the box if you would like your domain information (your name, address, etc) to be private if someone searches who the domain belongs to.
- Enter your payment information and the Pay Now button to complete your domain and web hosting purchase.
- BAM – you have a website!
Install WordPress Next
Now that you have a domain and hosting, you need to install WordPress.
Once WordPress is installed, you can start writing and sharing valuable content! Have fun getting to know the basics of using WordPress. WordPress is very user-friendly and you can search for topics in their Support Forum if you are stuck.
Mailing List Providers
Flodesk
Flodesk is by far the most affordable and user-friendly email option for bloggers. I’ve been using Flodesk for several years and paying a fraction of the cost compared to ConverKit. Get 50% off your first year at Flodesk here.
Mailchimp
MailChimp is great when you are just starting out and want to send a regular newsletter to your subscribers. I started this blog using the free MailChimp option but wanted to grow quickly and heard great things about ConverKit so I switched about 12 months after starting this blog.
ConvertKit
ConvertKit helped me grow my subscribers with an increase of 310% in 3-months. ConvertKit is designed for bloggers and very user-friendly (it only took me a couple hours to set up an email course and several landing pages for opt-ins!). If you are willing to spend a little money to rapidly grow your blogging business, I highly recommend using ConvertKit. See How To Get Your First 30 Days For Free at ConvertKit!
Tech Support
Codeable
Need technical assistance and don’t know anyone technical? Codeable is an affordable technical support option and their technicians can help with WordPress support, hosting support and much more! How it works: Submit your problem on their website and several techs will introduce themselves and their rate. You pick which tech you want to work with and they set you up in a private chat room to collaborate. Customer service is great! I had an issue 30 days after a completed project and they fixed it free of charge! Save $10 when you go through my link!
Social Media Scheduling Providers
Buffer
Buffer makes it easy to schedule posts to all of your social media accounts. I use Buffer to schedule my Facebook, Google+ and Twitter posts in advance so I can put social media posting on auto-pilot. They also can remind you when to post on Instagram.
Tailwind
Tailwind is an official Pinterest AND Instagram partner. You can easily schedule your pins and Instagram posts on auto-pilot with their Chrome, Firefox or Safari extensions. I use both Tailwind and manual pinning to support my Pinterest account. Tailwind uses smart scheduling to help you post on Instagram at the best time for engagement. Tailwind also offers great analytics so you can evaluate your pins. There are several “Mastering Tailwind” videos that show you how to use all of the features!
Photo Editing
Canva
Canva is a powerful design tool that offers bloggers a wealth of benefits. Its user-friendly interface allows even those with limited design experience to create visually appealing graphics. With a vast library of templates, images, and fonts, bloggers can produce professional-looking content quickly and efficiently. This not only saves time but also helps maintain a consistent aesthetic across blog posts, social media, and promotional materials. Additionally, Canva’s ability to create custom designs tailored to specific brand needs enhances a blog’s visual identity, making it more memorable to readers. By leveraging Canva, bloggers can elevate their content, engage their audience more effectively, and ultimately grow their online presence. Sign Up for a Free Canva account or the Pro account here.
Blog Courses
Making Sense of Affiliate Marketing
Michelle’s course helped grow my affiliate income while teaching strategies I never knew to implement. She is a role model for many bloggers since she posts her monthly income reports and exceeds income levels that some bloggers only dream about. Michelle’s course is self-paced and the worksheets and assignments completely changed my perspective on my affiliate income strategy.
Recommended Plugins for WordPress
- Pretty Links – Use this to create your own links or for affiliate links
- Hubbub Pro – That awesome social sharing bar on the left side/bottom of my blog and posts!
- Pin It Button for Pinterest – Enables a Pin It button overall images that are at least 120×120
- WP Edit – Allows you to use different headings in your posts (which you need for Good SEO) and many other tools for writing posts
- Yoast SEO – You need this to get tips on making each post SEO perfect (tip: you want to get a green light for each post before hitting publish)
- WordPress Editorial Calendar – I use this to plan/schedule my posts with the calendar view
If you still haven’t started a blog but don’t know where to start, go here to see how easy it is to start making money from a blog!
Grab my Blogging for Business Time Management Guide for FREE! All you have to do is subscribe HERE and I’ll send you my guide for how to manage your time and create a work-life balance while creating your blog business!
–>> Go here to see the rest of my blogging tips and tutorials!
Disclaimer: This page may contain affiliate links or sponsored posts. All opinions are always 100% mine and I don’t partner with any product or company that I don’t use and love. Please see our Full Disclosure for more information.
Blogging Resources To Help You Grow Your Blog
