I’ve been getting a lot of questions about the tools I use to run my online business, so I decided to gather everything in one place and create this resource page.
Below you’ll find the tools that I use, have used, or highly recommend for people wanting to take the same path as I have.
Note: many of the links below are affiliate links, which means I get a small commission if you buy. However, I do not make any recommendations just to make money. These are services I use and love, and would recommend even without an affiliate link.
Blogging
How to Start a Blog Guide: If you’re completely new to blogging, and want to get started, I recommend you read this guide. You’ll learn everything you need to get a blog up and running, and avoid some costly mistakes.
WordPress: This blog runs on WordPress, which has always been very smooth. I don’t love the technical stuff, but wordpress is the best out there when it comes to blogging.
Genesis: The Genesis Framework is created by the folks over at StudioPress. It’s the premium theme I use and recommend to my clients, because they have a lot of great templates (child themes) to choose from that will make your site look professional.
Charfish Design: Charlie from Charfish Design is the guy I go to for most of my design work. He designed the cover for Passionate Living (he also did the header image on that page). He also designed Wake Up Cloud.
Hosting
Outstanding Setup: Wake Up Cloud runs on Outstanding Setup. They keep your site updated, backed up and safe from hackers. They also help get your blog up and running with a premium WordPress theme to boot. It’s the best way to get a good looking site, fast.
HostGator: A great host if you want to pay monthly. I have multiple sites hosted on HostGator, and I personally am happy with their service.
E-Mail Marketing
Aweber: The best e-mail list service available on the planet today. If there’s anything you need when starting out, it’s an e-mail list. Don’t put it off or you will regret it. You can read more about email marketing here.
Payment Processors & Shopping Carts
FastSpring: This is what I currently use to accept payments and sell all of my products. FastSpring is primarily focused on software, so I don’t know if they are accepting new people that aren’t involved in software.
E-Junkie: E-Junkie is a great, simple shopping cart. They give you a free trial and then it’s only $5/month. It integrates seamlessly with your PayPal account.
PayPal: PayPal also allows you to accept payments and act as a shopping cart, so there are many ways you can go with this.
ClickBank: Last, but not least, ClickBank is great if you plan to work with affiliates. They take a bigger cut out of your earnings, but they handle and pay affiliates.
Images
iStockPhoto: I use iStockPhoto to get pictures when I really need high-quality images, such as for ebooks or other important pages on my posts. They are excellent, but somewhat expensive if you’re just starting out.
Unsplash: Another great place to find free images.
Books
Power of Now: The book that found me in Thailand, and that practically changed my life. If you only read one book in your life, let it be this one. I’ve already read it 5 times.
Way of the Peaceful Warrior: An excellent novel that introduces spirituality in a naturally appealing way. I loved it, and so did my girlfriend!
Accidental Genius: Use your writing to generate your best ideas, insight, and content. This is the bible of freewriting, and I highly recommend it if you are having trouble getting your writing to flow.
The Magic of Thinking Big: I love this book. It talks about the way you need to think to become successful. It’s simple, yet profound. Recommended reading for any budding entrepreneur.
Medical Medium: This is one of the best books on health and nutrition that I’ve read, and I’ve read many. It summarizes the things that I’ve found to work in my life. A must-read for anyone dealing with health problems, or anyone who wants to optimize their well-being.
If you feel there’s something I’ve missed, or if you have any questions about the above services, please do send me an e-mail.