Recommended Blogging Resources
I am regularly asked for recommendations on different tools, training, resources and services available to blogging. People particularly want to know what tools I use to run my blogs.
As a result I’ve put together a list of recommended blogging resources that I’ve either personally used (in most cases) or which have come highly recommended to me by people I trust.
I will add to these lists as I come across new blogging resources that I recommend.
Blog Platforms
- WordPress.org - this is my blog platform of choice and the platform that ProBlogger and many other blogs run on.
- WordPress.com - a free hosted blogging platform
- MovableType - used by many top blogs
- TypePad - another hosted option
- Blogger - another free hosted option - owned by Google
Recommended Reading - Choosing a Blog Platform
Hosting
BlueHost - A solid host with some competitive hosting packages.
Blog Design/Themes
- Thesis - a professionally designed WordPress blog theme with many configuration options.
- Citrus - another fresh WordPress theme with some great features.
- Woo Themes - a talented team of designers with some excellent themes of different styles.
Blog Training
- BlogMastermind - a six month training and mentoring program for bloggers wanting to learn how to blog successfully and profitably. Run by fellow Aussie, Yaro Starak.
- SEO Book - learn how to optimize your blog for search engines - a fantastic SEO training program and community site.
- Essential Books for Bloggers - a list of books that I and others have recommended for bloggers.
- ProBlogger the Book
- 31 Days to Build a Better Blog
Recommended Reading - Blogging for Beginners
Blog Monetization
- AdSense - Googles Ad network - one of the most used monetization strategies for bloggers.
- Chitika - one of my highest earners, a widget type ad that converts well on product related sites.
- WidgetBucks - another popular widget type ad.
- Shopzilla - yet another great widget based ad network
- ShoppingAds - draws ads in from eBay.
- Amazon Associates - make money recommending products from the biggest online store.
- Pepperjam - an affiliate network with a growing list of products to recommend.
- BidVertiser - another ad network popular with many bloggers.
Recommended Reading - How I make Money Blogging
Other Blog Tools
- Feedburner - a great tool for managing your RSS feeds
- AWeber - a newsletter management tool that I used on all my blogs
- Get Response - another newsletter/autoresponder service that many bloggers use and recommend - very reliable with some great features.
- Google Analytics - a great free metrics/statistics program
- Google Reader - how I read RSS feeds
- Akismet - comment spam filtering tool
For a long list of other recommended blogging resources check out my A-Z of Professional Blogging Tools.
