I am trying to keep a list of products and tutorials I’m using to build my blog. They may benefit you if you choose to create your own blog.
This page contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase from one of my links, I may receive a commission or credit at no additional cost to you. For more info, please read my Affiliate Information Policy.)
Platform
I picked WordPress.org from several platform options. WordPress.org is the world’s most popular blogging software. WordPress.org is an open-source software platform that allows you to build your website or blog on your own.
There are thousands of free and premium themes available for WordPress. This allows you to create a beautiful website that stands apart from the crowd. Over 45,000 free plugins (and some premium plugins) are available for WordPress.org that gives you the ability to add features to your blog. Also, WordPress is search engine friendly.
WordPress is free, but you will need your domain name and hosting. You can easily install WordPress from your Bluehost admin panel.
Hosting
I did a lot of research and decided on Bluehost for WordPress.org.
Here are several reasons why:
- Bluehost is proven reliable.
- With them, you get a FREE Domain name and 24/7 support.
- The Basic account (which I got), comes with 5 email addresses for your domain, 50 GB website space, a FREE SSL certificate, and 100 MB storage per email account.
- Bluehost offers a complete guarantee on their hosting packages. If you sign up for 12 months or more and decide that it’s not right for you, you can ask for a full refund within 30 days of purchase!
Theme
I did a boatload of research on using a free WordPress theme or purchasing one.
A theme is used for:
- the overall design or style of your site
- font styling
- colors
- widget locations
- page layouts (or templates)
- styles for blog posts and blog archives
- additional stylistic details
After agonizing over it for days, I decided to purchase Genesis Framework and Delightful Pro Theme. Genesis Framework requires a child theme and Delightful Pro is my child theme.
Read about Genesis Framework here: Why Genesis is the Foundation of Any Smart WordPress Design.
And Click here to download The Genesis Guide for Absolute Beginners (PDF – 1.4 MB).
If you decide on a free WordPress theme, be sure to download it from WordPress.org to be sure it is from a reliable source.
Email Marketing System
I use MailerLite.com for getting email sign-ups, automating emails and newsletters, and landing pages. It is FREE for 0-1000 subscribers. I love Free!
Some features:
- Drag-and-drop editor
- HTML editor
- Rich Text editor
- Free newsletter design templates
- Photo editor
- File Manager
Graphic Design
I use Canva.com to create graphics, especially for social media like Pinterest.com and Twitter.com. It is very easy to use and they have a FREE version. remember, I love Free!
I am using the free version for now and may upgrade later. The canva-for-work option has additional features that I don’t need right now.
I get free images from Unsplash.com.
Grammar checker
I use Grammarly’s The World’s Best Grammar Checker free browser extension for Chrome. It helps me to write mistake-free text in Gmail, Facebook, WordPress, Linkedin, and anywhere else I write on the Web.
There is also a paid Premium version which has a plagiarism checker.
Miscellaneous Affiliate programs
I use MagicLinks for ready-to-shop product links. Check it out here.
I use shareasale.com for products and services.
Social
I am on Pinterest and use Tailwind to promote my Pins.
SEO
Google Trends for research
Yoast SEO WordPress Plugin. Yoast is an SEO plugin that every blogger should install. It makes beginner SEO very easy (just follow the instructions and try to get “green lights.”).
WordPress Plugin
Jetpack – WordPress will come with Jetpack already installed, but you’ll need to sign up for a free account to set it up. Jetpack is a handy way to quickly view your stats and keep your blog running smoothly.
Check back here often, as I will be updating this page as I go on this journey.
