If you’re looking to start a new blog or website, then this post will provide you with resource sites that will come in very handy going forward. I’ve personally used all of them and they’ve helped me out since I started blogging in 2014.
Domain Name & Hosting
Before you start, you’ll need to get a domain name and a hosting company. These are the top 3 sites I’ve personally used for my blog and other websites I own.
Bluehost– A very popular hosting site amongst bloggers. From just $2.95/mo, you can create your very own WordPress site- with 1-click WP install and a 30-day money-back guarantee. Using my link, you can get a free domain name at Bluehost, and by signing up on a 12 mo plan. You can start off with a monthly plan and reserve your domain name -for less than $12 a year. This is a very good option for bloggers on a budget.
GoDaddy– My current WordPress hosting company- it’s got an easy-to-use dashboard, 1-click WP install, daily site backup, and free stock photos within the Media Library. GoDaddy also includes many WordPress themes available for use. Plans start at $6/mo and also include a free domain name with a 12 mo plan. Build a better website in less than an hour with GoDaddy. Start for FREE!
FatCow– A very affordable domain name and hosting site. If you’re just starting up on your blog, website, or e-commerce site, then this is the place to start. They have very affordable pricing on domain names and hosting. Unlike other companies I’ve tried out, FatCow offers free domain locking, SSL, and domain privacy.
Make Your Photos Standout
You don’t need to be a professional photographer to have great graphics and photos. The tools below will help you find templates that you can customize and enhance your photos.
Canva– An online graphic design software that can be used for web and print. A majority of my blog title (image) pics and Pinterest photos are created thru Canva. There are so many options and designs that make your image and presentation stand out. Super easy to use and you will not be disappointed. This is absolutely #1 in my books and I don’t know what I’d do without it. Saves me from purchasing design software that is expensive and so confusing. It’s free to use or can purchase a subscription for premium plans.
PicMonkey– Also an online graphic design software that is free to use or can purchase a monthly subscription to unlock premium options. I have a monthly subscription to PicMonkey and which allows you to be more creative with your design and you can save it for web or print use. This is great for making logos, headers, social media covers, and more. Start with a 7-day free trial with premium options.
Unsplash– A must-bookmark site to get high-quality free stock photos for your blog and social media. There are thousands of pictures you can use and do whatever you want with. You can search for pictures by keywords or go through the collections. Also, check out my post on How to get free photos for your blog and social media for more websites.
Envato– Purchased my WordPress theme called Bridge by Qode Interactive from Envato. Here you can find thousands of web templates and themes, website plugins, video effects, royalty-free music, audio tracks, fonts, logos, icons, stock photos as well as 3D print models. It’s pretty much your one-stop shop for your creative projects or anything web-related. There’s so much you can find here!
Creative Market – Like Envato above, Creative Market is an online marketplace for graphics, templates, photos, fonts, and more. Each Monday they offer 6 FREE GOODS that you can download. It’s absolutely one of my favorite sites and is the best place to find graphics and templates for any project you’re looking for. Whether it’s for creating media kits, blog designs, or business cards, you MUST check this out.
Content Planning
Not everyone can start blogging full-time. This means we all need to make income from our full-time jobs. Juggling your blog and work can be very tedious and exhausting. You absolutely need to create a content planner or check out some online tools that allow you to schedule your posts ahead of time so you don’t need to worry about it.
Tailwind– Did you know that Pinterest is one of the highest engaging social media platforms available? Having an active profile on Pinterest will allow you to share your content with so many people who may be interested in your niche. Tailwind allows you to schedule your pins on Pinterest using photos you’ve already published on Instagram or downloaded from your desktop or device. You can register with a free plan or purchase a premium plan for extra add-ons that give you more analytics. Here’s a $15 credit from me to get you started.
Later– a new site to manage and plan out your social media pages. It’s basically you’re online content calendar planner. There’s plenty of helpful information to help you grow your accounts, so I highly recommend you subscribe to their newsletter. A free site with options to upgrade for additional features.
All About Marketing
Want to be seen and expand your viewers? Or perhaps you need to start collaborating with brands? The following tools will help get you started on creating a media kit that you can share with potential brands you want to work with. As for your blog, it’s important to have a newsletter sign-up form where you can send newsletters and updates to your viewers.
HipMedia– Create your own Media Kit that you can provide to potential sponsors – perfect for bloggers and businesses. Beautiful templates are available in a one-page or multi-page format. The designs are very hip and they will truly stand out – saving you time from researching and formatting your own media kit.
ConvertKit– One of the best email marketing tools for bloggers. Subscription includes unlimited forms, courses, landing pages, and emails that you can use to grow your audience. ConvertKit allows you to create different newsletters for individual posts/pages and give your visitors some incentives after signup – like a free download of an e-guide, pictures, etc.
Monetize Your Blog
Learn how to monetize your blog or website by signing up for this very useful course by Michelle Schroeder. She walks you through the process and gives you a lot of very useful tips. I highly recommend you check it out.
Making Sense of Affiliate Marketing– This course will teach you everything you need to know about Affiliate Marketing. The author, Michelle Schroeder, will show you how she earns $50k+ a month from her blog using the tips she provides in this course. Check out her blog, Making Sense of Cents, where she posts her monthly blog income – it’s astounding how much she’s earned so far. I highly recommend this to new and existing bloggers looking to make income on their blogs.
Looking for other blogging tips? Check out the ‘Blogging 101’ page for other helpful posts.
