Whether you are new to Online Marketing or you have been doing it for a long time, at some point you want to know what the best resource to use is. I have compiled all the resources that I use or would recommend as a reference page for all my readers. My goal is to provide you with a resource guide that can tell you the best product to use for any situation.
I will be updating this page on a regular basis. I recommend that you bookmark this page so you can come back here to check out any recent updates. Hope you enjoy!
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. Please understand that I have experience with all of these companies, and I recommend them because they are helpful and useful, not because of the small commissions I make if you decide to buy something. Please do not spend any money on these products unless you feel you need them or that they will help you achieve your goals.
Domain Name Registration
If you want to have your own website then you have to register your own domain name. I have used only 2 companies to register domain names.
NameCheap – Almost every domain I have ever registered has been registered with NameCheap. The only time I did not use them was when there was a cut rate discount coupon offered by another company. Their support is fantastic. I have never had an issue with them. For these reasons I will continue to use NameCheap for all of my domain registrations.
Basically the only source that I use for registering a domain names. When you register a new domain name they give you the first year of protected registration for FREE. I recommend them very highly.
Netfirms – I started using Netfirms in 2012 because somebody posted up a coupon code where you could register unlimited number of domain names for $5 during a one week period. I don’t know if they still run this type of discount or not. But in a matter of a 3 day period I registered over two dozen domain names. I have not registered a domain name with them since that time.
Don’t know what their regular cost to register a domain name is but if you find them running this $5 special for unlimited domains then I would recommend using Netfirms
Hosting
It is ok when you are starting out and especially if income is tight, to start with free hosting websites. There are several different competing technologies like WordPress and Joomola. There is a big debate over which one is better. I vote for WordPress. If you are looking for a free hosting solution, this is the only one that I recommend.
If you want to have a serious presence online then you need to have your own website that is self-hosted. There are many companies that offer hosting services.
When you first start out then I recommend going with a shared hosting plan. In a shared hosting plan multiple companies have their websites hosted on the same server at the hosting company. If you are sharing your server with a company that gets several thousand hits a day then you might find the response time to your website is slower because this other company is hogging up all the resources.
Once your website has grown in size then you want to move to private hosting where your website gets all the resources of a server at the hosting company. Moving to private hosting is just a natural offshoot for websites that grow in size.
If you are starting out then don’t jump at paying the premium pricing for private hosting. Instead start with the more affordable shared hosting plans and migrate up when you need to.
HostGator – This was the first company that I used for web hosting. You can get shared hosting plans for under $10/month. Every month HostGator has discount codes for reduced pricing on select services. Before signing up for a hosting program do a Google search for “HostGator coupon” and see if they are offering a discount on hosting for this month.
This was the first hosting company that I started using. At one point I had almost 100 websites with HostGator. Starting in early 2013 I experienced periodic issues with this company and started to move my websites away from them. Overall their customer server and response to email help tickets was very good. They are reasonably priced and I would recommend them.
Bluehost – Recently I started moving most of my websites over to Bluehost because I have been experiencing periodic problems with HostGator. Granted the same company owns both HostGator and BlueHost but I seem to notice a difference in the response time of my websites between the two and HostGator is faster.
I have moved most of my affiliate marketing websites over to BlueHost. I am in the process of moving my main websites to VPS hosting which is the private hosting I talked about above.
NetFirms – If you read above under domain name registration you will my experience with NetFirms. Every domain that I have ever registered with NetFirms is hosted with NetFirms. Their hosting prices are slightly more than HostGator. I will say that I have NEVER had an issue with web hosting with NetFirms.
My sites that are hosting on Netfirms have been completely hands off. I have never had an issue with them.
GoDaddy – I am not including a link to this company because I DO NO recommend them at all. There are many people that have used GoDaddy with no problems but I have seen firsthand their service and their actions toward customers which is why I do not recommend them. My cousin uses GoDaddy. I have seen GoDaddy shut down his website that gets thousands of visitors a day and him having to scramble to get it back up and running. If you have had a positive experience with GoDaddy then more power to you. From what I have seen firsthand I would not recommend them but I am including them since they are one of the top web hosting companies.
Shopping Carts and Payment Gateways
If you want to sell your own products online then you will need to be able to accept payments. If you want to produce products where you let others sell them for a commission then you will need a shopping cart.
PayPal – PayPal is the leading payment gateway on the Internet. Users can setup their own PayPal account and pay for goods and services through their account. If they do not have a PayPal account then they can pay via a credit card without having to setup an account.
If you are going to accept payments online then you need to accept payments via PayPal.
e-junkie – This company offers you the ability to list your products for sale through them and set a commission percentage that you pay affiliates. Once your product is listed anyone can come along and sign up to be an affiliate and sell your product. Payment is handled through e-junkie who will then pay the affiliate commission and payment to you ever 30 days.
I have never used e-junkie to sell one of my own products but I have promoted a large number of products listed with e-junkie.
Clickbank – Clickbank is a great place to list your own products for sale. It works like e-junkie except that it is the largest network for product creators to list their products. You list your product, a sales page and possibly banners. Affiliates will promote your product. Payment is handled via Clickbank. Clickbank will send payment to you and the affiliates.
Same as e-junkie in that I have never listed one of my products for sale on ClickBank but I promote a lot of products listed on Clickbank.
Graphics
It is impossible to have a website and not require the use of graphics. You might need a graphic header that you put on your website. You might need a graphic image that you place in one of your blog posts. You might need a graphic image for a new product that you create. You might need a graphic header for your Facebook page, Twitter account or YouTube channel. It is impossible not to live without graphics.
Crazy Headers – You cannot beat the combination of quality and price offered by this website. For only $11 they will create a custom header for you. You tell them the size, what you would like to include, what wording to include and what colors you prefer. In just 2-3 days they will present you with 2 proofs. You select one of the two and then ask them to make any revisions that you find necessary. In just a day or two they will send the final proof back to you for approval. Once you approve the final design then they will send you a layered .psd file and a.jpg file for your header. Almost all of my affiliate websites have a header from this website. In fact they have even created a book cover design for a book I publish on Amazon.
Highly recommend. Great quality headers at very reasonable price.
Adobe Photoshop – Adobe Photoshop is the benchmark that is used to compare every graphics program out on the market. For the longest of time Adobe Photoshop was too cost expensive for the average user to purchase. It use to cost over $800 to purchase. Adobe has recently gone to a cloud subscription program. You can purchase Adobe Photoshop for only $9.99/ month. You cannot beat this price to have the best graphics program on the market. Yes you can use free graphics programs like Gimp but if you can get the best graphics program for less than $10 per month then it is a no brainer not to purchase it.
Adobe Photoshop is simply the best graphics program out on the market. You can purchase it for less than $10 per month. In fact I talk about the Adobe Creative Cloud subscription program where you can get access to almost every Adobe CC product for a small monthly fee. I would recommend purchasing that over just purchasing Adobe Photoshop by itself.
Marketing Graphics Toolkit – This is a website run by a guy named Max who produces some of the best graphics I have ever seen. His Marketing Graphics Toolkit membership site offers different graphics several times a month. It costs less than $10/ month. I have used the graphics provided on this website to create custom products and designs. It is very easy to take something he has created and incorporate it into your own design.
For less than $10/ month you get access to some of the best graphics designs that you can use.
Graphic River – Every one of my blog posts has a featured image at the top. Almost all of these images came from Graphic River. You can purchase any graphic image for only $1. One dollar is a very reasonable price to pay for a high quality image.
I use Graphic River for many images that you see on my websites. In fact I use almost all of the Envato marketplaces such as videohive.net, photodune.net, themeforest.net and codecanyone.net. We use them extensively at work.
Email Marketing
I recommend Aweber for email marketing. I put together a series of a dozen videos that show you how to complete different functionality with Aweber in my blog post which you can read here
The adage about email marketing is “the money is in the list.” This is so very true. If you are not creating a list then you need to start TODAY! How will your audience know that you have created a new product, posted a new blog post, and read some valuable tidbit of information that you are sharing if you do not communicate with them?
When someone purchases any of my products they are added to my email list. On my website I provide the option for readers to subscribe to my email list so they are notified every time I release a new blog post.
Aweber – The industry leader in email marketing is hands down Aweber. Their user interface is the best of all their competitors. I have never had a problem with them sending an email to any of my lists. I use Aweber extensively to the point that I have two accounts with them that have more than 3 dozen lists between the two accounts. Their customer service is outstanding. You can call support and talk to a human being in a matter of just a few minutes; you can chat with support and get almost instant support or send an email and get a response in a few hours. I highly recommend Aweber.
Aweber is the only Email Marketing tool that I use
Legal Work
If you need to incorporate a new business, handle legal issues, register a trademark or create a last will a testament then you need an attorney. Most attorneys are cost prohibitive for basically almost everyone. Though there is an online solution that can provide you with the legal work that you need.
Legal Zoom – I have used Legal Zoom to register two different corporations. They have registered a corporation in my home state of Georgia and they have registered an LLC out of state. For the out of state LLC they are also acting as my registered agent. They provide excellent support and communication.
Eventually you will need to create your own corporation or LLC as you grow your company. I highly recommend Legal Zoom.
Video
65% of the population are visual learners which is why Video is so effective in reaching your target audience. People would rather watch a two hour movie than spend 8 hours reading the book. Video provides instant gratification for your audience and provides higher conversion that traditional print media. Regardless of whether you are selling something you created or something somebody else created, video is an effective medium for you to use.
If you are new to video or want to know how to create videos, please check out these posts that I have written. They show you how to create a video and even provides you with some free templates that you can download and use to create your own videos.
How to Reach 30 Percent More Potential Customers Using Video
How to create videos to rank on first page of Google
Final Video and Free PowerPoint Templates
If you are creating videos here is a list of products that I recommend.
CamStudio – the best thing to know about CamStudio is that it is FREE. CamStudio will record your screen and audio so you can make your own custom videos. I will tell you from experience it can be challenging to understand the user interface when you are first getting started with the product. Whether you struggle with producing video with it or not, you will not struggle with the price since it is FREE. From what I understand the only offer the software for Windows computers.
When I first started making videos I used CamStudio because I could not afford products like Camtasia. It did not take long for me to dish this product because I found it too difficult to use.
Jing – Jing is also a FREE product that allows you to record your screen and audio. It also allows you to capture images on your screen but drawing a box around the area you want to capture. There are not any video editing features so you have to make sure to get it right in one take. There is no video recording product that is easier to use than Jing. It creates this sun burst looking icon that sites at the top of your screen. When you want to record you click on it, select video and click start. When finished click stop and then type in name for your video file and where to save it on your hard drive. You can easily upload your videos to screencast. The only limitation to Jing is that you are limited to making videos that are 5 minutes in length or less. If you want to make a longer video then you have to use a different product. Jing is available for both windows and mac computers.
I have Jing installed on my computers at home as well as at work. I use it almost exclusively for capturing images on the screen and not for video editing.
Snagit – Snagit is made by the same company that makes Jing. It was created as a paid product for people initially using Jing that wanted to create longer videos and be able to edit their videos. It has a very basic video editing features and is easy to use. This is a paid product that at last look cost about $49.95. They do offer a free 30 day trail for you to try out the product. If you want to be able to edit your videos and add special effects but don’t want to pay through the nose for a commercial quality product, this is a great place to start. It supports both Mac and Windows PCs.
I have not used Snagit but others at work have it on their computer but it is not widely used at my work.
Camtasia Studio – Camtasia Studio is made by the same company that produces Jing and Snagit listed above. This is their top of the line commercial product. If you want professional level video editing software without paying through the nose for it, this is the product you need to get. It is extremely easy to use and provides many great features. When I last checked it cost right at $300. They do offer a free 30 day trail for you to try out the product.
Camtasia Studio is installed on all my computers at home and at work. At work we produce training videos for a Fortune 500 company and everyone involved in the production of the training courses use Camtasia Studio. If you can afford it I would highly recommend this product.
Adobe Premier Pro – This is the Cadillac product of video editing software. This is what the Pros use to create and edit videos. If you use any of the above product and wish you could do something that was not included in those product, you will find it in this product. Up until recently Adobe Premier Pro cost close to $1,000 making it out of the reach for almost everyone but professionals. The good news is that Adobe has recently switched to cloud software when you purchase products based on a monthly subscription. As long as you pay the monthly subscription then you can continue to use the software. See below for information about Adobe Creative Cloud pricing which quite surprisingly may make it very affordable for you to own several thousand dollar’s worth of Adobe products for less than $75 per month. It is available for both Mac and PC computers.
I have Adobe Premier Pro installed on my computers at home and at work. It is the primary video editing software that we use at work since we create professional level videos and training courses. It does take time to learn all the features in the product but you will be amazed at what all this software provides.
Adobe Creative Cloud – If you want to own the entire library of products produced by Adobe then you need to purchase the Adobe Creative Cloud subscription plan. With this plan you get completed access to ALMOST EVERY product that Adobe creates. Several of these products sell for a thousand dollars or more each. I cannot recommend this plan enough because it opens the door for you to be able to have access to the best quality products for pennies what they would have cost if you purchased them all.
Another advantage of the cloud subscription program is that you get free updates to the latest version of the products. If you had purchased a product and Adobe came out with a new version then you would have paid to get the latest version. With the cloud subscription you get the latest version without paying anything!
Prices may change at any time but when I check today here is the price for Adobe Creative Cloud for individuals:
Annual Plan – $49.99/ month but you have to pay for 12 months up front. Total cost $599.88 to get access to the entire Adobe CC product family.
Monthly Plan – $74.99/ month and you can cancel at any time. This gives you access to the entire Adobe CC product family.
Individual Product – $19.99/ month but you have to pay for 12 months up front. Total cost is $239.88. That is just pennies on the dollar of what you would pay to purchase any one of Adobe’s products.
Podcasting
Podcasting is a great way to brand yourself and share your expertise. Almost everyone that starts a podcast reports that most people find their podcast before they find their website. Adding a podcast to your repertoire will bring additional traffic to your website. Creating a podcast can be challenging because you will need specialized equipment to record audio and then edit the audio.
Getting Started with Podcasting Tutorial – If you want to know what is involved with starting your own podcast then I encourage you to watch this FREE 6 video tutorial. It was created by Pat Flynn and provides a good insight on what is involved with podcasting.
I have watched these videos and they are a create introduction to podcasting.
Rapid Action Podcasting – This is a course on podcasting created by Sean Kaye. Sean has some rather incredible successes with podcasting back before podcasting became cool. It is a very short course with just 3 modules that teaches you basics on starting a podcast including what equipment to purchase and how to host your podcast on your website. The price is very reasonable at only $7.
It is a toss-up as to whether or not you learn much more through this course than you get from Pat Flynn’s free videos listed above. If you just want to hear a second option on starting a podcast then this is a reasonably priced second opinion.
Podcaster’s Paradise – This is the MacDaddy of courses on podcasting created by a guy that earns over $50,000 PER MONTH from his podcast. Podcaster’s Paradise is equivalent to wanting to learn how to be an astronaut and being personally tutored by Neil Armstrong. John Lee Dumas produced Podcaster’s Paradise after starting his own podcast Entrepreneur on Fire on September 21, 2012. In less than a year he went from earning nothing to earning over $50,000 per month from his podcast. If you never purchase Podcaster’s Paradise then you need to listen to his podcast Entrepreneur on Fire. The downside of Podcaster’s Paradise is that it is expensive. The price varies but at last check it cost $497. You get access to an unbelievable number of videos on how to start, run and monetize your own podcast. Plus there is a discussion board where you get to share information from others that have their own podcast. It is an incredible wealth of information on Podcasting.
I currently do not own Podcaster’s Paradise but my goal is to purchase it by January 1st.
I do recordings at my home. Here is the exact equipment that I use.
RODE PSA1 Swivel Mount Studio Microphone Boom Arm
Blue Microphone Radius Microphone Shock Mount
Nady MPF-6 6-inch Clamp On Microphone Pop Filter
My favorite Podcasts that I listen to and recommend
I recently purchased a brand new car that has the ability to plug in your iPod/iPad/iPhone directly into the radio and listen to the content on these devices. It also has Bluetooth so I can play anything that has Bluetooth through my radio.
During my commute to and from work I religiously listen to Podcasts and Audible books. If you are listening to Audible books or iTunes on any Apple device you have the option to listen to something in 2x speed. That allows you to listen to a 30 minute podcast in just 15 minutes.
If you currently do not listen to podcasts or Audible books during your commute or while at work, I strongly recommend that you start. You get to learn what worked and didn’t work for others, what path they took to create their success and listen to their recommendations. You get an unbelievable wealth of information through listening to podcasts which are free.
Here are the podcasts that I listen to on a regular basis.
Books
Books are an outstanding way to learn something new or to just relax with after a busy day. Here are the books that I recommend.
Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki
4 Hour Workweek by Tim Ferriss
The $100 Startup by Chris Guillebeau
Awaken the Giant Within by Tony Robbins
Free Gift
If you read my blog post How My Fear of Fire will Help me to Quit My Day Job you will know that I follow Tony Robbins. Tony wrote a book called Awaken the Giant Within that I talk about in the Books section of this resource guide. This is a great book that will help you to change your mindset if you take the time to complete the exercises and follow through.
Tony recently released an abridged version of his book that is called “Re-Awaken the Giant Within.” He makes this book available for Free and you can share it with anyone you want. I have uploaded the .PDF file of this free book for anyone that want to download it. The file is about 15 megs in size.
You can download Tony Robbins free book “Re-Awaken the Giant Within” here.
Thank You
Thank you for reading my ultimate resource guide. If there are any topics that you would like for me to cover in my next revision, please leave a comment below.
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Great list! These truly are great resources for anyone starting out in IM. I think every newbie goes through the time of doing hours of research to find the right company to use for all of their IM needs. This does really make it simple to know where to start from the beginning. One resource I would add as well is Shopify for a good ecommerce experience. Super simple to use and straight forward for the new marketer
Jason,
That is why I put together this resource guide. I will look into shopify for selling products online. Thanks for sharing.
Jennifer
Thank you so much for sharing. Enjoyed your blog and header.
Mary Matin
Thank you, Jennifer, for sharing these resources. I am just starting to learn about internet marketing in-depth because I need to apply it on my own small writing business.
I will definitely come back for more of your guidelines and tips.
Merry Christmas in advance!!! =)
Shellie
Shellie,
Happy Holidays to you too! Did you realize that I started making money online by writing articles for others to put on their website? it is a great way to get started if you are a good writer. Let me know how your progress comes along.
Jennifer