A solid foundation is critical to success!
This kit includes tools and resources I use and love and which help me keep this blog running smoothly.
For your convenience, this website contains affiliate links. This means that if you make a purchase through one of these links, I may receive a small commission. There is no additional cost to yourself however, it helps towards the costs of running this blog. Thanks so much for your support of Chalking Up Success! Disclosure.
This list is regularly reviewed and updated
Website Tools
Hosting
SITEGROUND – Managed WordPress Web Hosting. Web Hosting with excellent customer service, amazing security and speed. Read more about how a hosting company can make or break your business and why I love SiteGround here: Tips for choosing the right web hosting for your site
WordPress Themes
Genesis Framework – this is the basic framework of my website and is where I can easily add any snippets of code like those for analytics from various social media and search engine platforms. This is very easy to use and can be used as it is or as a framework in conjunction with a child theme which is how I have it set up.
Why Genesis is the Foundation of Any Smart WordPress Design
Feast Designs
Brunch Pro Theme Genesis Child Theme from Feast Designs – A child theme sits on top of the Genesis Framework and makes your website look pretty. It has clean coding and is highly customisable, unlike most free themes.
Restored 316 Designs
Beautiful and highly customisable themes and fantastic customer service. With all the beautiful options to choose from how do you make a choice? Well, Restored have you covered there, just take this simple quiz to find out.
Which theme is best for your website? Quiz
Styled Stock Photography
These versatile, high-resolution images can be used for marketing, social media posts, social media banners, website styling and branding, blog post images, featured images, YouTube: banners, thumbnails, end cards, course creation, workbooks, e-commerce, email headers and so much more!
Ideal for: Home decor, lifestyle and craft bloggers, Marketing Managers, Social Media Marketing Managers, Entrepreneurs, Course Creators, E-Commerce Shop Owners, Designers, Freelancers and Web developers. Click the image below to visit the shop.
Email Service Provider
In order to build your email subscriber list, you will need an email Service Provider. I recommend…
MailerLite
MailerLite is taking the blogging world by storm with its amazing customer service and features. Free to 1000 subscribers and even after that cheaper than most other providers, fully customisable landing pages and pop-ups, drag & drop email builder, intuitive user interface, countdown feature, video embed and so much more – MailerLite is hands down the best value for money for start-ups on a low or non-existent budget.
Business Planners
Business Planner by Restored 316
This planner has over 300 American Letter sized printable pages and 14 digital spreadsheets to help get your business organised. The planner also comes with a video in which Lauren explains how she uses the calendar for her business. GET THE RESTORED316 PLANNER
Have the most organised year of your life with the Erin Condren Life Planner. These beautiful and well thought out planners a pleasure to own. There is also a wide range of accessories to help you stay on track!
Purposeful Business & Life Planner by Lesley Clavijo
Over 30 printable planning sheets, trackers and spreadsheets for your home, life & business – Plan any type of content with the purposeful content planning sheets. The printable version of this planner comes with three colour options and you get all three when you order. GET THE PURPOSEFUL BUSINESS & LIFE PLANNER
Courses
‘Infinite Marketing Advantage’ with Lesley Clavijo
Lesley runs the course Infinite Marketing Advantage a few times per year. The sign-up form will take you to her FREE Business Plan Perfection challenge which you can do before deciding if this course is right for you. If the course is not currently running you can jump on the waiting list for the next round.
I’ll be honest, when I took this free challenge I wasn’t even sure if I needed it – by the end of it, I was thanking whichever powers that be, for making sure that I was in the right place at the right time! Free challenges for bloggers/businesses are two a penny these days and it’s sometimes hard to sort out the chaff from the wheat. Lesley’s honesty, integrity and knowledge of her subject impressed me enough during the challenge to go on to sign up for her course Infinite Marketing Advantage which she makes available at the end of it. Lesley continues to help and support her students long after the challenge/course has ended through the Facebook group attached to the course – Another example of excellent customer service!
