Tools & Resources
A collection of tools and resources to help you start and grow your online ventures. This collection features tools and resources that I personally recommend, either because I use them myself, have tested them or done research on them and am confident in recommending them.
Here, you will see many tools and resources, from online courses, to eBooks, to plugins, themes, website hosting and email marketing tools. You do not need all of the tools I share, but many of them will be quite valuable for you, depending on your online side hustle or business.
Full disclosure: I am an affiliate for most of the resources, online courses and tools I mention on this page. This means I may receive a commission, be it in credits or actual pay, if you purchase through my links on this page. As always, I recommend what I use and/or trust.
When going through these resources keep in mind where you are at in your business – are you a beginner, just setting up or are you looking to grow your established online business? The resources I share here have varying values for different stages and levels of expertise. I encourage you assess your needs before buying anything. Many of these tools have free trials or free versions, which is great for seeing things for yourself and making better decisions based on tested value.
Website Tools
Siteground
Siteground is my current host for this website. I switched from Bluehost because I've been dabbling with a number of different websites and Siteground has an awesome GrowBig plan that allows unlimited websites. If you're just starting out with 1 website, they have a super affordable plan for that too! Click the button below to see their plans.
Bluehost
Bluehost was my first choice for hosting E-riches Club. It's probably the most affordable hosting service and best for beginner websites. During my time with bluehost I had nothing but great experience with their customer service -- every time I had an issue I just went to the live chat and they solved every problem immediately.
Namecheap
Namecheap is where you can find, buy and register your website domain. It's the cheapest platform to register domains and I was really impressed how user friendly and intuitive it is to use. I use both namecheap and GoDaddy and I like Namecheap much more.
StudioPress
StudioPress has an array of high-performing, quality themes for WordPress websites. If you have ever heard of the famous Genesis framework and Genesis child themes, StudioPress is where you get it! SEO conscious themes that are specifically build for WordPress website, StudioPress is one of the best when it comes to WP themes!
Shopify
If your online business is mainly e-commerce, then you'll want to start an online store with Shopify. While WordPress allows for e-commerce integrations, Shopify is the leading e-commerce website building platform! When a friend of mine wanted to build a web shop (vs. a blog), I helped them out with their Shopify store and I must say, it's perfect for e-commerce websites!
Spreadshop
Want to start a t-shirt shop online without investing upfront? Then, you should check out Spreadshop! It's free and easy to start with - just bring over your t-shirt designs and plug and play! They have product and model mockups already in place so your t-shirt shop looks professional and engaging. This is a great way to start your store without having to pay a penny!
Elementor
Elementor is my favourite builder plugin for WordPress! With this plugin you can take your theme to new levels by customizing almost every inch of your website, including your blog posts. My whole website is customized and built with Elementor - this is how I'm able to make this page look the way it does. With their drop and drag builder you can add almost anything to your website.
Management Tools
G Suite
With G Suite you can register your business email and have a number of tools available to you: Google sheets, calendar, google drive and much more. G Suite is secure and trusted by many and is also my email service provider.
AirTable
I use AirTable to organize a lot of my own documents and campaigns. I can add documents and images, organize it all by calendar or timelines and see everything by their progress stage (i.e. in drafts, published, etc.). This is great for managing projects in a more intuitive way than Excel spreadsheets and perfect for team work and collaboration.
Cozi
Recognized by the TODAY Show as the #1 must-have app to make your life easier, Cozi helps families manage the chaos of daily life with a shared calendar, shopping lists, to do lists and more. They have a free version for this awesome organization tool.
Grow Your Business
Tailwind
Tailwind is without a doubt one of the best tools I have ever invested in! I use it mainly for Pinterest marketing, but it also offers a plan for Instagram and it now includes features to send content to Facebook and Twitter. It's an amazing tool for marketing and it exponentially boosts your website traffic!
Convertkit
I recently switched to Convertkit and I am amazingly surprised by their automation features. It's nothing like other list building platforms out there. I love the sequences and automations they offer and how easily you can create a professional and fully functional landing page without needing more premium services.
SmarterQueue
SmarterQueue is a power tool for social media marketing! It's a must-have tool to build meaningful relationships with your audience, and increase engagement. They have a free trial (credit card needed) so you can test it out and see the power of this social media management tool for yourself.
Affiliate Marketing Resources
Share A Sale
If you're looking to become an affiliate for your favourite products I recommend checking out Share A Sale affiliate network. This network features some of the most popular brands and products out there, letting you access hundreds of brands all in one place. This is my main affiliate network and I have been quite happy with them. Click the button below to become an affiliate with Share A Sale.
Making Sense of Affiliate Marketing
Michelle Schroeder is the queen of affiliate marketing in the blogging world. In her course Making Sense of Affiliate Marketing she teaches the exact strategies that got her from $0 to $50,000 in affiliate income and more. This is a self-paced online course with lifetime access and it is often updated with new insights. I, myself, am a student and strongly recommend taking this course if you want to learn how to make money with affiliate marketing or if you are a blogger who wants to learn another way to monetize your blog.
Affiliate Marketing Strategy Book
Affiliate Marketing Strategy book was created by Chelsea Clarke from HerPaperRoute. Chelsea is a successful blogger and entrepreneur with extensive knowledge in what works in the digital world. If you're starting our with your blog and want to learn the basics of affiliate marketing this is a great affordable resource to start out with.
MagicLinks
MagicLinks is another affiliate network but mainly focused on retail brands. This network is easy to use and features a browser extension to make it easier to link up to your favourite brands as you use the internet. I recommend this affiliate network mostly to influencers.
Awin
Awin is actually the parent affiliate network of Share A Sale. However, Awin differs in a few things: they charge a $5 fee to become an affiliate which you get back in credit and they are best fit for Canadian affiliate marketers. The array of brands they feature is quite different from Share A Sale too.
Branding & Design Resources
Canva
Canva is a great design tool I personally use to create images for this website, pin images and images to share on my social media posts as well. I use the Canva Pro version, which allows me to add my branded colours and fonts and have access to premium stock images as well. No need to be a graphic designer or expert to use this tool and the best part is that they have a very good free version.
Pixistock
To create beautiful and engaging graphics you will need high-quality and captivating stock photos first. Pixistock is the go-to place to get gorgeous stock photos for your website and social media posts. Get access to thousands of high-quality stock photos with Pixistock subscription.
PicMonkey
PicMonkey is a photo editing and design tool I have used for quite a while. I find the to be particularly good for social influencers, as their templates and imagery are more in keep with the fashion and lifestyle industries (i.e. creating fashion look images). They don't offer a free version but give you a free trial.
Convert with Canva
Convert with Canva is a course created by Pixistock. In this course, you will learn how to design high-converting graphics with Canva that will increase your leads and sales wherever you share them. Click the button to enroll.
IvoryMix
IvoryMix is another amazing resource for high-quality stock photos. She has gorgeous collections of stock photos for different niches. Check out IvoryMix stock photo shop to pick your favourite collections.
Depositphotos
If you're looking for vectors and other types of stock imagery to create your graphics, DepositPhotos is a great website to keep in mind. This website features a huge array of imagery -- from editorial imagery to HD videos -- this is a great one-stop-shop for creatives.
Courses & eBooks
Blog by Number
The perfect course for moms who want to start a blog, find their perfect blog idea, get step by step help with the technical parts, learn how to get traffic and how to make money with their blog.
Blog Growth Book
This easy to follow ebook shows you 208 strategies for more traffic and sales.
Pricing Like a Savvy Marketer Book
Learn how to price your products and services like a savvy marketing pro. Unlearn pricing myths that hurt sales, and gain clever tactics to actually grow your business through strategic pricing.
Convert with Canva
Convert with Canva is a course created by Pixistock. In this course, you will learn how to design high-converting graphics with Canva that will increase your leads and sales wherever you share them. Click the button to enroll.
Pinterest Marketing Course
Learn the process of setting up your pins for success with professional Pinterest marketing SEO techniques in this comprehensive Pinterest marketing course.