Benable — create shareable lists of things you recommend!
E.g., products you love, local businesses, travel recs - you can add anything to a Benable list!

Blog Resources

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I am sharing all the tools and resources that I use to run my blog!
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Domain Registration

First, you'll want to register your domain (website name)!

 
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I really like their user interface for managing the domains. Always register this separately from your host so that you have more control.
Namecheap
 
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I have 2 websites with NameSilo. Search now to see if your domain is available!
NameSilo
 
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They have competitive pricing so take a look if you are shopping around for the best deals.
CrazyDomains.com

Hosting

Not sure who to use?  I highly recommend Siteground.  Their customer service is great and they helped me move my site from Squarespace to WordPress.  

 
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If you are starting out, I recommend Siteground.  There are cheaper options, but everyone I know left and went elsewhere.
SiteGround
 
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You'll want to switch to this powerful platform when you reach tens of thousands pageviews per month.
WP Engine

Content Management System

It's important to start on the right platform.  If you want to run a blog, choose WordPress.org (not Wordpress.com)!  TIP: Squarespace is good for business or commerce, but if you want to write articles regularly, use WordPress (otherwise, it will be troublesome later to switch)!

 
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Very easy to use, I started my website on SqSp and loved it!
SquareSpace Website Builder
 
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All the big dogs use Wordpress
Blog Tool, Publishing Platform, and CMS - WordPress.org
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Analytics

The devil is in the details.  If you want to improve your traffic, you need to understand where you are and how to get where you want to go.  These tools will help you.

 
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A tool for understanding traffic and keywords used to find your website
Google Search Console
 
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A tool to understand user behavior and key events
Google Analytics

Content Creation and Automation

When blogging, you'll want to make the most of your time by streamlining your creative process from ideation to publishing.

 
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Safe yourself some time and automate everyday mundane tasks!
Make | Automation Software | Connect Apps & Design Workflows ...
 
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Great for hiring experts to do the job that you can't do yourself (or don't have time to do).
Fiverr
 
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I use this tool for generating blog content ideas or expanding on topics that need an update
Claude

Technology

You don't need fancy equipment to take great photos or run a blog.  Here is a list of equipment that I use!

 
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It's no secret that Androids outperform iPhones.  I use the Samsung S24!
Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra
 
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The ACER SWIFT is one of the BEST laptops I have ever owned.
ACER Laptop Computers & 2-in-1 Laptops | Acer United States
 
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This is my internet provider – very reliable!
AT&T
 
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Use the free version to increase site speed.
Cloudflare (CDN - Content Delivery Network)
 
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Use the free version for SEO best practice
Rank Math - Best Free WordPress SEO Tools in 2024
 
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This lightweight theme will help your blog run faster.  Tip:  Don't add plug-ins that you won't use.
Kadence WP | Free and Premium WordPress Themes & Plugins
 
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This improves your website loading speed by storing static content
Speed up Your WordPress Website with WP Rocket
 
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An image optimizer that compresses files to reduce loading time
ShortPixel: Smart Image/CSS/JS Optimization Services and CDN for ...
 
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Hosts will do backups, but the free version of Updraft is a great way to secure another copy of your website.
UpdraftPlus: The World's Most Trusted WordPress Backup Plugin

Affiliate Marketing Programs

I can honestly say that I signed up for almost every program.  These work best for me and generate the best revenue. 

 
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If you have a travel blog, this is the best platform that I have found.  You can market planes, trains, and automobiles - plus everything in between!
Travelpayouts: Travel Affiliate Partnership Platform
 
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I didn't make $ on hotel bookings until I joined Stay22.  The tools are remarkable and make it easy to generate revenue!
Stay22 | Track your Bookings and Revenue
 
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Great for lifestyle blogs – there are SOOOO many brands you can partner with but I find that some are not very responsive after you apply.
CJ.com
 
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I like AWIN (Share A Sale) a lot.  One of the brands contacted me and gave free luggage!
Trusted Affiliate Marketing Network | ShareASale
 
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This was the first affiliate program that I tried.  The commissions have decreased but the opportunities and wealth of products are great for creators!
Amazon Seller Central
 
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I cool program that exposes you to foods/snacks from around the globe
Try The World
 
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A great brand for those who love the outdoors and sports
REI: A Life Outdoors is a Life Well Lived | REI Co-op
 
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A popular brand for beauty products
Sephora
 
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A winner for home and lifestyle products!
Target : Expect More. Pay Less.
 
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Uste his link to sign up for a partnership!
Log in to Affiliate Partner Administration | GetYourGuide
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Photos and Images

Use paid or free services, but the best image to use will be the one that you take yourself!

 
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A great resource for when you're looking for the perfect image
Shutterstock
 
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Another place to get royalty-free images for content creation
Depositphotos: Royalty-free Images, Photo Stock, Video & Music
 
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There are tons of photos and you can use filters to find the right image
Pexels
 
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Another great way to find free images.  Pay attention to requirements for credits.
Pixabay

How To

Need to know how?  Now you Know!

 
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Practical advice for beginners
How to Blog Without Losing Your Mind
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Easy and free instructions on how to improve your photos
How to get very bright white photos without photoshop - Ivory Mix
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Lots of golden nuggets in the Blogging Millionaire!
15 Best Podcasts for Bloggers in 2024 - BloggingPro
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Free extensions to use for your blog and blog research
The 5 Google Chrome Extensions A Digital PR Pro Needs | seoplus+ Blog
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Business Cards

Great for networking, press trips, social gatherings, meetups, or introducing yourself to potential clients. 

 
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You can design your cards using their tool and the prices are affordable.  You will LOVE them.
Custom Online Business Printing & Design | MOO US