Over the years I've used and discovered several great products and services that are helpful for running a successful blog or online business. Lucky you, I've decided to compile a list of the best ones and share it with you. Please note some of these are free tools (noted as free) and some of them require a subscription or payment (noted as paid).
Blog hosting
1. Wordpress.org
Free
Open-sourced software that can be used to create a self-hosted blog platform. While the platform is free, you will need to pay for the theme or blog template and the hosting.
2. Godaddy
Paid
Godaddy is probably one of the most well-known domain registrars out there and they make domain registration very easy. Their customer service is also very good. I had an issue with my blog where my domain wasn't redirecting anymore. I called Godaddy and they got right on it, figured out the issue, and had me back up and running in a short amount of time.
Godaddy is probably one of the most well-known domain registrars out there and they make domain registration very easy. Their customer service is also very good. I had an issue with my blog where my domain wasn't redirecting anymore. I called Godaddy and they got right on it, figured out the issue, and had me back up and running in a short amount of time.
3. SiteGround
Paid
A hosting service for self-hosted blogs. They offer multiple hosting package options based on your needs, which means if you're just starting your blog it can grow with you.
A hosting service for self-hosted blogs. They offer multiple hosting package options based on your needs, which means if you're just starting your blog it can grow with you.
Blog themes
4. Restored 316
Paid
A great resource for WordPress themes that work on the Genesis Framework. These themes were designed with the female online business owner and blogger in mind. Themes range from simple & chic to colorful & trendy and are all about $75.
A great resource for WordPress themes that work on the Genesis Framework. These themes were designed with the female online business owner and blogger in mind. Themes range from simple & chic to colorful & trendy and are all about $75.
4. Pipdig
This is another option for purchasing great-looking WordPress themes for your blog. Some of the lifestyle and beauty bloggers I follow use their themes.
Email marketing
6. MailerLite
Free and paidI have used this tool for my email marketing. There is a free plan that allows you to have up to 1,000 and paid plans start at $10/mo. It's really affordable and the email service that best fits my budget and also provides the types of features I need and want.
7. ConvertKit
Free and paidI've heard that ConvertKit is great if you have a larger subscriber list. This was created for bloggers by bloggers so there are many great features that make managing your blog email list a lot easier. ConvertKit has a free plan and several options for paid plans.
Graphic design
8. Canva
Free and paidThis is an online graphic design software that makes graphic design easy for those of us who aren't designers. You can sign up for a free account and create designs for social media covers, blog graphics, posters, and more. Or you can sign up for the Pro option which gives you more access to images and other features.
I love how simple it is and that I can use my own images or free ones available through Canva. If you want to see how I use the free version of Canva to create my blog graphics check out How To Create Blog Graphics With Canva.
Writing
9. Grammarly
Free and paid
Grammarly is an AI writing assistant that helps you compose bold, clear, mistake-free writing in emails, on social media, and more. I use it when composing my blog and social posts. Grammarly has been especially helpful in catching grammar and spelling errors when I go back and update old blog posts.
Project management
10. Clickup
Free and paid
This is a project management tool that has quickly become popular in the blogging world. It's become so popular because it adapts and grows along with your business.
This is a project management tool that has quickly become popular in the blogging world. It's become so popular because it adapts and grows along with your business.
Stock photos
11. Styled Stock Society
Free and paidThese are stock photos created for female entrepreneurs. I love the photos on this site. They are so stylish, pretty, and bright. While you have to pay to download most of the photos you can still sign up to get 10 photos for free.
Photos on this site are free from copyright restrictions and don't require any attribution. The photos I've used from this site are lifestyle and interior shots.
These are high-resolution photos from photographers all around the world. They say you can use the photos "for commercial and noncommercial purposes. You do not need to ask permission from or provide credit to the photographer or Unsplash"
I've tried various apps and online tools to edit the pictures I take. This free app is my favorite because it gives me the best editing results with images that have dark lighting. The editing options are pretty robust for a free app and I've found that Snapseed does a much better job than other free image editors.
Having a slow-loading blog is the worst. It can turn away potential and current readers and also negatively impact your income if you've monetized your blog. One of the biggest culprits can be large images. This free site typically compresses my images by 90% without making them blurry.
If you're looking to sell your own digital products then you should give SendOwl a try. It makes directly selling, delivering, and getting paid for your digital products easier.
12. She Bold Stock
Free and paid
This is another one of my favorite stock image options for female bloggers and entrepreneurs. The She Bold Stock photos are so clear, bright, fun, and cheerful! You can get some free images but you can also sign up for one of the membership plans.
Here you can find high-resolution, free stock photos that are licensed under the Creative Commons Zero (CC0) license.
Copyright-free images and videos that are under Creative Commons CC0.
13. Pexels
FreeHere you can find high-resolution, free stock photos that are licensed under the Creative Commons Zero (CC0) license.
14. Pixabay
FreeCopyright-free images and videos that are under Creative Commons CC0.
15. Stock Snap
FreePhotos on this site are free from copyright restrictions and don't require any attribution. The photos I've used from this site are lifestyle and interior shots.
16. Unsplash
FreeThese are high-resolution photos from photographers all around the world. They say you can use the photos "for commercial and noncommercial purposes. You do not need to ask permission from or provide credit to the photographer or Unsplash"
Photo editing
Here are some of the tools that I use or have used to make my photos ready to be placed in designs or put on social media. This includes photo editing apps, image compressors, background removers, and more.17. Snapseed
FreeI've tried various apps and online tools to edit the pictures I take. This free app is my favorite because it gives me the best editing results with images that have dark lighting. The editing options are pretty robust for a free app and I've found that Snapseed does a much better job than other free image editors.
18. Image compression
FreeHaving a slow-loading blog is the worst. It can turn away potential and current readers and also negatively impact your income if you've monetized your blog. One of the biggest culprits can be large images. This free site typically compresses my images by 90% without making them blurry.
19. Image background removal
Free
Sometimes you have an image that you'd like to remove the background from and that can be hard to achieve without having something like Photoshop. This free online tool can help. All you have to do is upload your image and it will automatically remove the background for you.
Part of the process of posting on Instagram, if you're an Influencer or Blogger, is to plan your feed. Later helps you do that in an easy way. Plus you can auto-publish your posts so you don't need to do anything else once you've scheduled your post. The free plan that Later has allows you to post 30 single image posts a month.
This is similar to Later but with a few feature differences. With the free plan, you can upload 30 images and visually plan, schedule, and auto-post to my feed. Plus you can also schedule your stories so you get notifications on when to post a new story.
I found out about this tool via a blog post from a blogger I follow. I signed up and couldn't figure it out so it was at least a couple of years before I started to use it. Missinglettr scans your blog posts and autogenerates social posts for Twitter, Facebook, or LinkedIn that you can then approve and schedule. With this tool, you no longer need to write or plan your social promotions.
I've used SocialPilot for scheduling Facebook and Twitter posts. What I like most are the repeat post features, the ability to do bulk uploads, and you can see all your scheduled posts in a calendar format. This is helpful for me because I'm very visual.
RecurPost is a social media management tool for Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn. It doesn't just post your content once but saves it to post it again and again.
Social media
20. Later
Free and paidPart of the process of posting on Instagram, if you're an Influencer or Blogger, is to plan your feed. Later helps you do that in an easy way. Plus you can auto-publish your posts so you don't need to do anything else once you've scheduled your post. The free plan that Later has allows you to post 30 single image posts a month.
21. Planoly
Free and paidThis is similar to Later but with a few feature differences. With the free plan, you can upload 30 images and visually plan, schedule, and auto-post to my feed. Plus you can also schedule your stories so you get notifications on when to post a new story.
22. Missinglettr
Free and paidI found out about this tool via a blog post from a blogger I follow. I signed up and couldn't figure it out so it was at least a couple of years before I started to use it. Missinglettr scans your blog posts and autogenerates social posts for Twitter, Facebook, or LinkedIn that you can then approve and schedule. With this tool, you no longer need to write or plan your social promotions.
23. SocialPilot
PaidI've used SocialPilot for scheduling Facebook and Twitter posts. What I like most are the repeat post features, the ability to do bulk uploads, and you can see all your scheduled posts in a calendar format. This is helpful for me because I'm very visual.
24. RecurPost
Free and paidRecurPost is a social media management tool for Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn. It doesn't just post your content once but saves it to post it again and again.
25. Tailwind
Free and paid
Tailwind automates the most difficult parts of your social media marketing on Instagram and Pinterest by providing tools for planning and scheduling.
26. Instagram Stories Canva Templates
Paid
I've designed 6 pretty rose gold Instagram story Canva templates that are perfect for beauty or fashion bloggers.
Affiliate marketing
27. Amazon
Free to sign upThis is the affiliate program that I've actually made some money from. Because so many people shop on Amazon now this is the affiliate program that I would recommend to new bloggers. I've also written a blog post with tips for making money with the program that you can read here.
28. ShareASale
Free to sign up
This is another popular affiliate program that bloggers use. This is essentially a network that you sign up for and can then select the individual programs you'd like to be a part of. This is a good network if you're a beauty blogger or blog about blogging.
Outside of Amazon, this affiliate network is my favorite because they have a good mix of merchants for you to choose from. Personally, I think this network is perfect for beauty and finance bloggers as there are oodles of merchants in these niches to choose from.
This is another popular affiliate program that bloggers use. This is essentially a network that you sign up for and can then select the individual programs you'd like to be a part of. This is a good network if you're a beauty blogger or blog about blogging.
29. FlexOffers
Free to sign upOutside of Amazon, this affiliate network is my favorite because they have a good mix of merchants for you to choose from. Personally, I think this network is perfect for beauty and finance bloggers as there are oodles of merchants in these niches to choose from.
30. LTK
Free to sign up
With RewardStyle/LTK you'll get access to a monetization platform that gives you access to thousands of major brands. You're able to create affiliate links to the products offered by these brands and promote them on your blog/website and social channels.
Selling products & services
31. SendOwl
PaidIf you're looking to sell your own digital products then you should give SendOwl a try. It makes directly selling, delivering, and getting paid for your digital products easier.
32. Payhip
Free and paid
This is similar to SendOwl where you can set up a shop to sell your digital products except they have a free-for-life plan. This free plan gives you access to most of the features available but the fees paid for each transaction are higher than for the paid plans.
Templates
33. Website Disclaimer Template
Paid
If you have a blog or a website, you need to have disclaimers on it. This is an easy fill-in-the-blanks legal template that was written by a lawyer.
34. Legal Bundles
Paid
Yes, there are some legal aspects to blogging. Legal bundles can help with that. They include several fill-in-the-blank templates created by a lawyer that you can use for your blog or online business.
35. Income and Expense Tracker
Paid
This is what I use to track the money I make and spend on my blog each year. The tracker is for one year and using pre-existing formulas it provides an overview of incomes and expenses and then provides more detailed and monthly breakouts for each in additional tabs.
Courses
36. How To Make Money As An Instagram Influencer
Paid
This paid course teaches how you can turn your Instagram account into a recurring money-generating machine right away.
Blogging and social media tips
37. Blogging tips blog posts
Free
Check out all of my blog posts with tips for blogging. I share tips on monetizing your blog, managing your blog, and providing reviews on blogging tools.