I’ve tried lots of online tools and services over the years. I thought you might be interested in knowing which ones I use (and love) in case you need something for your own business or blog. I have personally used all of these services and can highly recommend them (otherwise they wouldn’t be here). Some of these are affiliate links, meaning that I will receive a commission if you make a purchase, which goes to supporting this blog. Thank you! Let me know if you have any questions. 🙂
Setting up a Website
Domain Names – You can purchase a domain name from lots of sources, but I would recommend going with Blue Host.
Website Hosting – Your brand new domain name needs a server somewhere to park, which means you need to host it. Purple Robot is a local business that offers hosting with unlimited everything for $5/month. You can’t beat it and to top it off, they also offer technical support and web design for your site for very affordable prices. They are a great resource!
Website Hosting – If you would prefer to go with a large company, you can also purchase hosting with Blue Host, who offers unlimited space, transfer and domains for $4.95/month.
Website Theme Framework – Now that you have your website name and it’s parked somewhere, you need to make it look pretty! Sounds like you need a theme. Oh the joys of browsing the thousands of themes trying to find the perfect one. So many countless hours wasted. *sigh* I now use Headway for both AbiCowell.com and VeryVeganish.com, which is a drag and drop framework. It gives you the functionality and flexibility to make your site look the way you want.
Website Theme – If you want a site that looks and works great out of the box, without much tweaking, try WooThemes. They have several free themes and premium themes, as well.
Mind Mapping – Sometimes it really helps to map out your plans or thoughts. I tried several mind mapping programs, but liked MindMeister the best. They offer a free account with almost all the features of paid accounts, which is nice.