Recommended
Tools & Resources
Wondering which plugins, software, and other tools you need to grow your online business and elevate your online presence? You’re in the right place!
Here, you’ll find all of my favorite tools and resources that will help you save dozens of hours per week, automate key marketing activities, and save lots of money!
In full transparency, I am an affiliate for many of the companies on this page, which means I may earn a commission (at no additional cost to you) if you make a purchase using my code or link. I only recommend companies or products because I believe in them, not because of the small commission I may receive. Please do not spend money on any product unless you believe it will help you achieve your goals. See my disclosure policy for more information.
Domain Names
Think of your domain as your home address for the web. It’s the website address you’ll share with dream clients to learn more about your business.
Namecheap
NameCheap makes registering, hosting, and managing domains for yourself easy! Their domains are secure, affordable, easy to use, and paired with great support.
Managed WordPress Hosting
Looking for a great hosting provider? Don’t settle for the cheapest host you can find. Instead, look for a managed hosting provider that will handle all of the technical aspects of running WordPress from security, speed, WordPress updates, daily backups, website uptime, scalability, and more.
Siteground (Shared hosting)
If you’re just getting started and in need of a budget-friendly managed hosting provider, SiteGround is one of the most popular and highest-rated for WordPress.
They offer affordable shared hosting plans with great up-time, built-in performance optimization and security features, fast customer support (available 24/7), site tools such as one-click staging, and more.
BigScoots (dedicated hosting)
BigScoots offers fast, fully managed WordPress hosting plans with unparalleled customer support! (Seriously – their support is 10 out of 10). Their biggest perks include NO shared hosting or overages, free website migrations, and stable month-to-month pricing.
I highly recommend BigScoots for established websites. Even if you’re new and intend to attract thousands of visitors to your website each month, BigScoots is the way to go.
WordPress Themes
Choosing the right WordPress theme is important because it not only helps with your website design but also impacts your website speed and performance.
Kadence WP
Kadence is my #1 recommended WordPress theme! (This site is built with it!)
Kadence is a lightweight yet full-featured WordPress theme that allows you to create beautiful, fast-loading, and accessible websites, easier than ever. It features an easy-to-use drag-and-drop header and footer builder to build any type of header in minutes. Plus, you can download the Kadence Blocks plugin for added design capabilities.
I highly recommend upgrading to a Kadence Bundle (which includes the Kadence Blocks Pro, Kadence Theme Pro and Pro Starter Templates) if you want to extend your website functionality.
Astra
Astra is another lightweight yet full-featured WordPress theme that’s fast and easy to customize. This is a great theme especially if you intend to use display ads, WooCommerce, and/or the Elementor Page Builder plugin.
Website Design
If you want to customize the way your website looks, using a block or page builder plugin is the way to go!
Here are the design tools and resources I highly recommend:
Kadence Blocks Plugin
This website was built with Kadence Blocks Pro!
Kadence Blocks adds custom blocks and options to extend Gutenberg’s editing capabilities so you can create stunning websites with ease – no code required. This plugin can help you create a stunning, custom-looking website without slowing down your website!
Elementor Page Builder Plugin
This is one of my favorite drag-and-drop design tools and what I’ve used to build dozens of client websites! Because it has so many robust features all rolled into one plugin, you can say goodbye to dozens of other plugins and create gorgeous page layout designs.
Child Themes & Templates By Katy Boykin
When you purchase one of Katy’s Kadence child themes or Elementor template kits, you can skip the design frustration, content confusion and tech overwhelm that comes with creating your own site.
Simply follow her step-by-step tutorials to set up, customize and launch your website in half the time it would take to design a site on your own or fumble your way through learning these powerful design plugins on your own.
WordPress Plugins
Plugins give you the ability to add additional functionality to your WordPress website. Here are some of my favorite:
ShortPixel – Image Optimization Plugin
Short Pixel improves website performance by using advanced compression technology that reduces image size without any before/after difference in quality… thus making your pages load faster!
You can also use their free image compression tool on their website before uploading images to your website.
WP Rocket – Performance Plugin
WP Rocket is one of the most powerful and user-friendly caching plugins that can drastically improve your site speed. Even if you’re not a developer you can quickly implement & configure this plugin!
AccessAlly – Course & Membership Plugin
AccessAlly is an advanced learning management system that allows you to sell courses, memberships & digital products on WordPress. It integrates with your email CRM for a seamless user experience. This is a bit complex, so I wouldn’t recommend this to newbies.
I’ve used this plugin to create several custom-designed membership websites.
GeoDirectory – Directory Plugin
If you want to create a Directory website on WordPress, GeoDirectory is the best on the market. With it, you can scale to millions of listings and withstand the battering of traffic that comes along with that.
I’ve used this plugin to create several custom-designed Directory websites.
WORDPRESS Tech Support
If you’re not tech-savvy, hire the help you need to keep your website up and running at its best.
iMark Interactive
iMark Interactive is a full-service WordPress support company offering one-time support or ongoing plans to help site owners with any technical issues.
If you need a quick WordPress fix, monthly support plan, HTTPS site integration, or site speed overhaul, Grayson’s team at iMark Interactive is the best in the business!
Email Marketing Tools
Never depend on another algorithm again! Reach your audience any time you want with the power of email marketing.
ConvertKit
My #1 recommended email marketing tool!
ConvertKit simplifies email marketing! You can create forms, automations, landing pages, broadcasts, tagging & segmentation, and more making it easy to connect with your audience, share valuable resources and sell with ease. Seriously… ConvertKit is so easy to use and affordably priced.
Active Campaign
Active Campaign is another solid email marketing and automation tool that allows you to create email marketing broadcasts and campaigns with powerful tagging & segmentation capabilities. I typically recommend ActiveCampaign for more seasoned business owners.
Search Engine Optimization (SEO) Tools
Want free, organic traffic coming to your website every month? These tools will help you optimize your website and content for search engines!
SEMrush
SEMrush is the secret sauce to a winning SEO strategy! It’s been my go-to tool for years to find & rank for hundreds of highly targeted keywords!
This premium keyword research tool allows you to spy on your competitors, find juicy keywords to dominate the search engines, improve your overall online visibility and make smart business decisions with their marketing insights.
RankMath SEO Plugin
Rank Math is an SEO plugin for WordPress that’s packed with features to ensure your website is optimized with search best practices in mind. Use this plugin to optimize your content, customize SEO settings, control page indexing & setup redirections, and more.
I recommend this over the Yoast Plugin.
Keywords Everywhere
Keywords Everywhere is a browser extension that’s extremely handy for keyword research and creating blog post outlines. You can view monthly search volume, CPC, and competition data of keywords on multiple websites. I personally use the Chrome extension to gather additional keywords for H2’s & H3’s in my blog posts
Graphics And Stock Photos
Never depend on another algorithm again! Reach your audience any time you want with the power of email marketing.
Canva
Canva is an online drag-and-drop design tool that allows you to create beautiful designs including graphics for your blog, Pinterest printable PDFs, slide decks, business cards, and more!
I personally use the Pro plan to unlock all of their features including downloading images with transparent backgrounds, accessing premium stock photos, resizing graphics with a single click, and more!
Ivory Mix – Feminine Stock Photos
Ivory Mix is the most comprehensive membership of stock photos and marketing resources built to empower busy female entrepreneurs. You can plug these photos into your website, Instagram, blog, Pinterest, Facebook, and YouTube strategies!
Monetize Your Website
Being consistent on social media is half of the battle. Using a scheduling tool can make it easy to offer new and relevant content on a regular basis to various social media sites.
Share-a-Sale – Affiliate Marketplace
ShareASale is an affiliate marketplace that connects merchants with content creators. If you’re looking for products and companies to promote on your blog or business website, ShareASale is one of the leading affiliate networks online.
It is always free to join ShareASale as an Affiliate, the sign-up process is quick and easy and once you are approved into the ShareASale network, thousands of Merchant Programs will be waiting for you to join them as a partner.
Monumetric – Ad Network
Interested in monetizing your site with display ads? Monumetric is your full-service ad revenue partner, helping you reach your revenue goals while preserving the best user experience for your site. If you have between 10,000 – 80,000 monthly page views, you can apply to get into Monumetric’s program.
This is the first ad network I used on my Christian lifestyle blog!
Business Must-Haves
We can’t forget about these other business essentials!
Google Suite – Business email, file management & more
I recommend G Suite Basic for every blogger & business! I personally use it for my domain-name-based business email, shared calendars, online document editing, organization & storage, & so much more. I know it can help you do the same.
Free trial for 1st 3 clients → Plans start at $35/mo Enjoy 20% off your 1st month or year when you use my link!
Dubsado – Client Management, Invoicing & Schedulers
Dubsado is a powerful CRM for service-based businesses. Now, you can send proposals, invoices, and contracts plus you can automate call scheduling and email communications with prospects and clients!
I use this tool in my business every single day. It makes life as a service-based business owner easy!
Grammarly
As you type, Grammarly checks your text for hundreds of common and advanced writing issues. (Since I write so much I use the premium version but they have a free version available!)
You can use the Chrome extension or use their desktop app and use it literally anywhere you type! This is a MUST-HAVE because it will make your messages, documents, and posts clear, mistake-free, and impactful.
A Self Guru – Legal Website Templates
Every website needs a privacy policy, terms & conditions, disclaimer, and other legal documents for legal protection. A Self Guru’s templates are easy to customize but most importantly bring peace of mind!
Cloud App
With Cloud App you can record your screen as a video with your voice and/or face, capture your screen and annotate the image, or record a GIF and then instantly share it as a link. I use this tool all the time to visually communicate with my clients and create tutorials!
Social Media Scheduling Tools
Being consistent on social media is half of the battle. Using a scheduling tool can make it easy to offer new and relevant content on a regular basis to various social media sites.
Tailwind
Tailwind is the social media scheduling tool you need when you don’t have a marketing team. You can create and schedule your Pinterest or Instagram content making it easy to show up consistently without feeling like a slave to your phone.
Later
With Later’s visual content calendar you can plan and schedule your Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, TikTok, and/or LinkedIn posts. Plan ahead, batch your posts & save a ton of time!