Many newbie are very interested to know the trick how to save times and improve their Blog management. While you do blogging then this quest...
Many newbie are very interested to know the trick how to save times and improve their Blog management. While you do blogging then this question may pip in your mind that what are the best blogging resources and tools you can use? And what are the free blogging resources and tools to improve your blog easily. Even if you are currently blogging then you may ask those questions by newbie.
As a blogger every day we use different resources and tools to blog more efficiently such as blogging platform, Domain and hosting services, Blog topic idea generator, keyword research, blog graphics design, newsletter service, analytics tools and many more. It’s always helpful for both whom especially starting out a brand new blog and those who are currently running a blog. For revealing the secret resources and tools, I’ve put together a list of recommended blogging resources that you need to know to improve and manage your Blog efficiently. Those resources and tools I’ve either personally used (in most cases) and some resources are highly recommended by many trusted pro bloggers.
I will add to these lists as I come across new blogging resources that I recommend and obviously those resources will save your valuable hours.
#1: Blogging Platform
This is a platform where we do blogging. Different blogging company has different name and features for their own platform. Generally people use multiple platform and I use below 3 platforms at a time. One for my main blog and other 2 as a secondary blog.
WordPress – this is most amazing blogging platform that millions of people are using everyday to publish blog content. WordPress provide free blog under wordpress.com but you’ll get the most control with self-hosted WordPress blog under wordpress.org.
Blogger – this is a wonderful free hosted blogging platform where you will get much freedom to do your daily blogging and monetization. Big news is that Blogger platform owned by Google.
Tumblr – this is a very popular micro blogging platform for sharing animated stuff like, personal photo sharing of daily life, cool gif and memes. Even many people are using Tumblr platform as a secondary blog.
#2: Domain Name for Website and Blog
Domain name is name or identity of your Website. And generally visitors type on browser to search website. For running a website you must have a domain. You have to buy a domain from domain seller company.
Google Domains – I have purchased my domain bloggerspice.com from Google Domains. I have found their interface very simple and easy to hook up hosting site. Price comparatively cheap and they don’t have any hidden charge. I have found their customer service team excellent. The big thing is that this is company own by Google.
Namecheap – I used to buy domain from Namecheap for my clients. Their services are really good and price is very low. They don't have any hidden charge. Many domain name seller technically promote low price but namecheap really offer competitively low price for domain name.
#3: Hosting Services
Hosting requires for starting a self hosted blog site. In hosting storage your whole blog data and media file remain secure. There are many hosting services available over the net but most pro bloggers are using below 2 hosting services.
Siteground – This is the most reliable and secured web hosting service. They have many offer and different plans that suit for your requirement. SiteGround's server is very smooth and hosting price is very cheap. Their customer service team is very friendly.
BlueHost – This hosting service recommended by WordPress itself. Bluehost is very old and experienced hosting service provider. Because of cheap hosting service offer they become very popular. There are huge popular WordPress site hosted on Bluehost server.
#4: Blog Design and Themes
The visual appearance of your Website or Blog. Design exactly the website's exterior looks and build brand image . Design can attract more visitors to your website. There are many web design selling marketplace where you can buy design for your Blog or website.
Themeforest – this is the number #1 place where almost all designer companies are connected with themeforest to sell their premade design. Whatever your blogging platform you will get all types of design over there in competitive rate. You will find design for your WordPress, Blogger, Tumblr, Ghost, eCommerce site and many more.
Teslathemes – For unique WordPress theme with cheap price teslathemes are best place. You will be happy with their after sales service. They are popular for simplified design.
MyThemeShop – this is a big name for blog design and theme. Not only theme but also many premium plugins are available in MyThemeShop to enhance your WordPress theme functionality. This will be a good choice if you are planning to buy Premium Theme + Plugins at once.
#5: Tools for Productivity, Organize and Team Management
Productivity tools help to maintain your Blog. In addition it helps to write articles whiteout error and gathering ideas. Beside of this to manage a blogging team those productivity tool helps to manage the whole team.
Co-Schedule – Every blogger must use this tool. Mainly I use this tool to generate SEO friendly headline for my Blog Post, but I love their content brew editorial calendar, because it saves my time. CoSchedule helps you to manage your content and social media in the same place. It integrates with WordPress, Evernote, Google Docs, Google Analytics and many social media tools like Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Buffer, and Google+ Pages.
Grammarly – This is very cool Chrome extension to checks your spelling and grammar while you write something for draft writing! If you draft your blog article and notes directly online then this extension will help you to check grammar.
Evernote – I love this tool to write my blog articles, instantly saving any topic idea, making draft and small note I use Evernote. You can remember ALL the things after saving every little thing in your evernote! Currently I am using the free version, but if you do large volume draft then go with their premium services.
Hiver – This is a small chrome extension but very handy tool. Your whole blog team can become benefited by using this extension. In addition, if you are running a small business then hiver will help you to improve your business communication.
Google Analytics – This is one of the best tool that I use for tracking my Blog traffic and growth. If you are active blogger and wants to analyze your Blog performance then you must see daily Blog page views, Bounce rate, number of sessions, top referral sources, social referral site list and more. Google Analytics is the best solution for to improve your Blog performance.
Google AdWords (Keyword Planner) – To research competitive keyword for your next blog post this is one of the best tool that you have. If you can properly utilize this tool your site’s organic traffic and Rank will increase rapidly.
Serpstat – Another growth hacking tool I often use for SEO, PPC and content marketing. Serpstat is a all-in-one SEO platform. You can research keyword, optimize your site for search engine, Analyze your PPC and content marketing activity.
#6: Resources for Cloud Storage
Often we need to store our website data in cloud storage. Because personal PC is not always safe, your hard disk can be crash anytime or affect by the virus and ultimately you will lose your all data and backup. There are some online tools we need to store our important files and data. For example you need to take a backup of your Website online then you must use a online web storage for secure your data. Generally I use following online storage.
Google Drive - This is my favorite place for storing my website backup, notes and my design works. I store my all backup files like widget script, draft articles, sponsored articles etc.
Dropbox - Another secured place to store all of your data. I use dropbox for storing data and host some of my script. And I keep a duplicate copy of files from Google Drive.
Opendrive - A fantastic cloud storage where I host my all Blogger template and people download from that drive. Opendrive is very easy to use and you can save note, files and many more.
#7: Tools for Social Media site Management
In busy life you may not have enough time to manage your all social media page by signing individually. So you need a handy tools where you can manage all of your social media pages from one place. For managing social media site I use multiple online tools.
Tailwind – I use to grow my Instagram and Pinterest profile. You can schedule your instagram and pins by using this tool. Additionally this tool will give you better analytics report than Pinterest itself.
BoardBooster – This is another amazing tool for Pinterest. You can schedule pins, streamline group board contribution, Improve pin quality, Clean up your boards, Host top quality group boards, Optimize your strategy etc.
HootSuite – Mainly I use this tool to manage my Instagram and Twitter posts. But HootSuite will help you to grow your Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, WordPress, tumblr. Currently I’m using free version. I can see and manage my multiple social media pages from HootSuite dashboard. Generally you can schedule posts or tweets, retweet, comments etc. and you can send your instagram post from Desktop and it’s app will send a notification in your android app. Simply you can publish your instagram post from your HootSuite app to instagram app without typing in Smartphone. I just love this feature.
#8: Tools for Graphic Design
Blog post template design is very important, because by watching your Blog post image visitors are mainly attract. So to make my Blog post design attractive I use several online tools. And all of them are absolutely free.
Canva – This is one of the biggest solutions for creating your Blog post image design. Image is very important to attract readers and divert visitors. Canva is a free online graphic design tool; I can create decent visuals for my blog, social media profile cover and posts. In additionally you can design your Bog logo and ad banner by using Canva.
PicMonkey – This is another useful tool for creating visual content for your blog. I often use this tool and make awesome design for my Blog post. Sometimes I use Canva and PicMonkey both for a single image design.
Creative Market – World’s number #1 place to get Fonts, banner, design, flayer and many creative designs. I love this site and use many resources from that site in my Blog. You will get tons of free goods for your next blog design.
#9: Resources for Royalty Free stock Photo
For blogging every day we need to use relevant image. This is not quite hard to get high quality stock image if you know the proper source. The best sources for premium and Royalty free stock photo I use:
ShutterStock - For making my blog post image unique I use premium images from shutterstock. Their images are very unique and exceptional, as well as quality is good in quality. You will find all relevant photos according to your need for your next blog post. I just love their photo collection.
Pexels – This is my second choice for Royalty free image. If I don’t get relevant photo on Shutterstock then I look at pexels. Their picture quality is really awesome. All premium quality pictures are free to use in your personal and commercial purposes.
#10: Tools and Services for Email Marketing
As a Blogger we must build our email list. without email list you won't able to build your reader circle. Even if you are planning to do affiliate marketing then you must build your email list first. For list building you can use following newsletter services.
MailChimp – This is really a rocking email marketing service. Currently millions of users love their service from around the globe. You are allowed to build 2000 subscribers list for free and above 2000 subscriber you have to switch to their premium plan.
MailerLite – My favorite service I have switched from MailChimp to MailerLite because of their free automation service. You can build 1000 mailing list absolutely free and under their free plan they allow users to use their all premium features, this is really awesome. You will get adequate support from mailerLite even if you are under their free subscription plan.
ConvertKit – This is most popular advance email marketing tool and for growing your mailing list rapidly you can use ConverterKit. I don’t have to say much about their services ConverterKit has great automation service that help to deliver email series automatically. If you are planning to design an email course then ConverterKit is best. They are now in leading position in email marketing service. Many people growing their subscriber rapidly through this service.
SpecificFeeds – a great alternative of feedburner for managing your RSS feeds and email. I’m still using feedburner but not actively, because it doesn’t have much control over email sending feature. And for longer time Google is not updating this product. So I’m using SpecificFeeds to send unlimited email to email subscribers daily and weekly. The best part of this service is that email subscriber can control when to receive email.
Sumo – Formerly known as SumoMe. This is a powerful tool that solved my post sharing problem. Currently I’m using their service for sharing my blog posts on various social media site and my blog visitors can share posts through this tool. However this tool to help you collect email addresses through a variety of popup, hello bars, welcome mats and other innovative tools. You can use their auto responder to send any download link automatically upon new subscription into your mailing list.
#11: Online Payment solutions
Payment Gateway is a medium of sending and receiving online payment. Generally we receive money online for freelance work, ad revenue, Web Design selling and other services. All payment comes in dollar currency so we must use a Payment solution online.
Payoneer – this is world’s second largest payment gateway. Where PayPal is not operating there Payoneer got leading position. This payment gateway is great for freelance worker and blogger. Currently I’m using this to receive my ad revenue, Sponsored articles, Template design selling. Payoneer provides Master card to draw money from ATM both and online uses.
Payza - This is another payment system that currently I’m using. However, Payza service is least popular but you will amazed by their services. Almost all PayPal features exist in Payza. If you are interested to open an automatic payment option or want to open your eCommerce site then Payza is perfect for you. I’m using this to sell my Blog design and any client can automatically buy by click on their URL. Their fund transfer process very smooth and you can buy anything online through their master card.
That’s all about blogging resources and tools I use for my everyday blogging and I hope this article will help you to get clear idea that what should you use while you do blogging or planning to start a brand new blog. If you are using any other tools or resources for improving and managing your blog then please share in comment section. I am really excited to hear from you. Thank you.
Không có nhận xét nào: