I thought it would be helpful to create a resource page that you can come to for all of your productivity, self-publishing, and online business needs.
I’ll update this as I continue to find epic tools. In fact, you should bookmark this page as I update it often!
Disclosure: Please note that some of the links below are affiliate links, and at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you decide to make a purchase. Understand that I have experience with all of these companies and I recommend them because I believe they will help you – not because I make a buck or two should you buy them. Please, don’t spend money on these products unless you feel like they’ll help you achieve your goals. I’m serious – don’t do it.
MY MOST RECOMMENDED
BLUEHOST : Before you build any website, you have to buy hosting. Basically, it’s like buying a plot of land (hosting) before building a house on it (website). I use Bluehost for all of my websites. You can install WordPress onto your site with one click, and their customer service is through-the-roof awesome. Oh, and did I mention they’re cheap?! TRY BLUEHOST.
LEADPAGES: Honest to goodness, the best investment of my life. If you’re wanting to make custom landing pages – and really, just make your website look good – LeadPages is for you. Also, their pages convert (whether sales or email addresses) like crazy. They also have Leadboxes, Leadmagnents, and Leaddigits. Also, it integrates with everything. If you’re going to build a website of any kind, you absolutely, 100% need Leadpages. TRY LEADPAGES.
SELF-PUBLISHING SCHOOL: If you’ve ever wanted to write a book – fiction or non-fiction – this is for you! Self-Publishing School is an online course that will take you from no book idea to bestseller in three months. I bought access to one of their coaches and it was some of the best money I ever spent. Everything in my business and personal life is better because of the things that I learned from this course and the community I gained. Cannot recommend this more. Access Self-Publishing School’s free video training series!
ZIPPY COURSES: If you’re wanting to create an online course without outsourcing all of the coding to computer programmers, then this is for you. Zippy Courses comes as a WordPress plugin. I’ve used it myself to create several online courses. You can create an entire online classroom for your customers – videos, worksheets, transcriptions. Zippy Courses also makes it simple to integrate payment systems, so you can accept payments right on your site. It is an absolute game changer for anyone wanting to sell an online course without the hassle of programming. TRY ZIPPY COURSES!
MAILCHIMP: The best email service provider for beginner bloggers/authors/speakers/etc. It’s free to start. And, your payment plan only increases as your subscribers do. How’s that for fair and awesome? It also integrates with almost every other software seamlessly. I really, truly love Mailchimp. Their software has never once disappointed me. TRY MAILCHIMP!
WEBSITE AND HOSTING TOOLS
- BLUEHOST: Like mentioned above, they are the best of the best. And super affordable. Do it.
- ZERIF PRO THEME: This is the WordPress theme that this site is run on. I love it. It’s easily customizable and easily integrates HTML. Great for anyone looking to build a great, home landing page.
- SUMOME – FREE TOOLS FOR BLOGGERS: If I would have known these people existed when I first starting fumbling around with websites, my life would have been a whole lot simpler. See that bar above? That’s from SumoMe. See the sharing buttons at the bottom? From SumoMe. They offer so many tools, and all of free. No blogger should go without this.
START A BUSINESS COURSES
- ZERO TO LAUNCH: This is Ramit Sethi’s course of creating a business – even if you have zero ideas – and launching it to success. It was the beginning of my entrepreneurial journey and absolutely shaped my framework and thinking. An absolute must-have in my opinion.
LANDING PAGES & EMAIL SUBSCRIPTIONS
- LEADPAGES: Need I say more? The best landing page software around. It is high-converting, aesthetically beautiful, and highly customizable. My site would not be my site without it.
- MAILCHIMP: Once again, the best option for beginning bloggers – and even those more experienced! It integrates with anything and allows you to create Mailchimp hosted landing pages. Very cool.
WRITING TOOLS
- WRITE ROOM: This computer app allows me to write distraction free. I love it, and for whatever reason, my mind converts into a “let’s get this done” type of attitude whenever I’m using it. For all you writers, I swear by this. I can write so many more words per hour with this tool.
EDITORIAL CALENDAR AND CONTENT PLANNING
- COSCHEDULE: The coolest software ever. You can easily post and schedule your blog content across your website and most social media platforms. It saves you anywhere ten to thirty minutes per blog post. Worth every cent.
GETTING HELP FROM OTHERS/OUTSOURCING
- UPWORK: There are so many people who do exceptional for an extremely great price. You just have to find them. Thankfully, a lot of them are gathered here, on Upwork. If you have any writing, editing, design, or programming needs, this is for you.
- FIVERR: Need a job done for five dollars? Get it done here, and for cheap!
BOOKS
- AUTOMATE YOUR ROUTINES GUARANTEE YOUR RESULTS: My #1 bestseller. Inside it contains the hilariously delivered five-step formula that shows how to automate your routines to permanently eliminate your bad habits, liberate your brain power, and focus on what is most important to you. It really is an entertaining read. I think you’ll like it.
- THE FOUR-HOUR WORK WEEK: If you’re wanting your mind to be completely blown – and be educated on how you can completely change your life, current working situation, and increase the amount of time you have – this is a must-read. Yes, it’s a business book. But, you will not be able to put it down.
- I WILL TEACH YOU TO BE RICH: The New York Times Bestseller from Ramit Sethi. He walks you through how to completely organize your personal finances (saving, budgeting, investing, etc.) in just six weeks. If anything, buy it to study his copy. He is a brilliant writer.
- CHOOSE YOURSELF!: James Atucher will teach you how to think – how to rewire your brain to become an optimistic, idea-generating machine. I’m a different person because of what he wrote.
VIDEO
- CAMTASIA: Need to record something on your screen and make it look super professional? This is your software.
BLOGS I LOVE
- I WILL TEACH YOU TO BE RICH: Ramit Sethi again, delivering ways to grow your business and increase your productivity. I read every single one of his emails.
- KOPYWRITING KOURSE: Copywriting brilliance from a man named Neville Medora. He’s also funny and includes poorly drawn stick figures in his articles – which makes everything more fun.
- JAMES ALTUCHER: A different kind of blogger. Still focuses on business, but his brilliance shines through when he walks through how to personally develop. His transparency is addicting.
- THE SKIMM: Need the news in record-short time? This blog sends the news in hilariously-written, short snippets. LOVE.
Know of a great resource that I didn’t mention? Email me at booksbykathrynjones@gmail.com to let me know. Seriously – email me! It’s the selfless thing to do.