On this page, I’ve compiled a list of the best blogging tools and resources that have been invaluable in my online journey.
I hope this list can save you time and money and help you avoid the mistakes I made.
You can use the table of contents below to navigate to your desired section.
This post may contain affiliate links, which means I’ll get a commission if you decide to purchase through my links, at NO extra cost to you. Please read my disclosure for more info.
Starting A Blog
The essentials to set up your blog the right way
WordPress Hosting
With exceptional customer support and a powerhouse of features, Kinsta is the best web hosting service I have experienced.
Namecheap
Affordable domain registration with an easy dashboard to customize configurations.
Website Theme
Mobile-friendly, good customer support, and fast loading speeds. Soledad is what this current site runs on.
Legal Pages
Don’t start a blog without protecting your content. Amira offers user-friendly, lawyer-written plug-in templates that can be customized for ANY NICHE.
WordPress Plugins
Plugins give your site more functionality, like apps on a smartphone. After personally testing over 50 plugins, I’ve compiled a list of my top recommendations.
Content Writing
Write content like a pro
Grammarly
One of my must-have yearly subscriptions. I don’t hit publish on any form of content until I have run it through Grammarly first.
RightBlogger
Access the AI power of Claude 3, OpenAI’s GPT-3.5, GPT-4, and GPT-4o models in a single tool to create content and rank faster.
Search Engine Optimisation (SEO)
Get your blog to #1 in Google search results
Semrush
Although a bit expensive, I have yet to find a more comprehensive SEO tool than Semrush. I usually subscribe for 1mo every few months to stay on budget.
SEOtesting
I use this tool to test whether any changes I make to my site is actually improving my rankings or not. It’s also a cheaper tool to monitor your keyword rankings if you can’t afford Semrush.
Free Chrome Extensions
DETAILED SEO EXTENSION: for on-page SEO errors
MOZ BAR: assessing domain authority on SERPs during keyword research.
Graphic Design
Create stunning visuals to keep your readers engaged
Canva
This is the only graphic design resource you need. I use Canva to create my Instagram posts,
VSCO photo editing
Alternative to Lightroom Mobile for editing your images so they all have the same aesthetic. I use this for my blog’s featured images.
Content Curation
Gather all your favorite sources and insights into a centralised place
Feedly
Gather all your favorite Reddit threads, blogs, and newsletters in one place. I subscribe to a lot of newsletters to keep up with online marketing, so it’s nice to have a central location that doesn’t clog up my personal inbox.
MyMind
Stores all the pieces of info you come across in day-to-day life (web highlights, images, quotes, videos, etc.). It’s one of my favorite tools on this list, and it has a clean interface for those who love minimalist vibes.
Online Courses
Learn from the best and skip the guesswork
Skillshare
Anytime I want to learn something new, the first place I check is Skillshare. Unlike Udemy, you don’t have to pay for individual courses. Instead you get an all-access subscription pass.
Pinterest Marketing
The only course that I recommend to anyone looking to master Pinterest Marketing.
It’s super affordable and Heather charges way too little for the amount of value she offers.
Blogging 101
Diverse course on how to create blog content post-Google’s HCU, Facebook Marketing, building your email list, and so much more.
Affiliate Marketing Course
Super affordable compared to other AM courses. Michelle breaks down everything you need to know to start earning affiliate revenue without any extra fluff.
iPhone Photography
I have owned an iPhone for over a decade, but my pictures have never looked as good as they have now since taking this course. If you have an iPhone, you won’t regret taking this course.
Hiring A Team
Free up your time and get more done
SmartVAs
Based in the Philippines. I have been using them for over a year, and they’re very helpful in taking things off my plate.
My favorite part is that I can customize my team with however many members I need based on the hours I have.
