Resources

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Although you can find almost everything on the web, the information is often spread out all over the place. We wanted to make it easier for you and created a page that gathered in one place all the useful resources we’ve discovered. This list is a work in progress to which we will add as we come across other valuable tools. Do not hesitate to share it or bookmark it for further reference.

Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links for which we will earn a commission should you buy a product through them. We recommend these resources, first and foremost, because we use them and believe that they provide value to the users. We also believe that we’re part of something bigger. This is why we give 2% of our sales to CARE, an organization dedicated to defending dignity and fighting poverty.

Blogging

Dreamhost: I like Dreamhost for website hosting for various reasons. They offer a great and reliable service, their newsletter is so funny, and they’re green. Check them out when you got a chance.
WordPress: This is probably the most popular blog tool and publishing platform available. It’s a free, user friendly open source software that comes with great support.

Keyword and Monitoring Tools

Google Adwords Tool: This tool allows you to find the most popular keywords that appear in monthly Google searches. You can use this to target specific keywords in your Adwords campaigns.
Google Analytics: To assess the growth and success of your website, you will want to rely on Google’s free website tracking and analytical tool. Google Analytics let you see and analyze your traffic data. This is crucial.

Pictures

If you want to add some pictures to your blog, here are some options available to you.

Flickr: Creative Commons license photos: Flickr offers astonishing photos. Since some of them have copyrights, we suggest you to read this post to learn how to use them properly.
stock.xchng: You will find some interesting pictures here as well, although not of the same quality as those found on Flickr.
StockVault: A photo sharing website that resembles stock.xchng.

Photo Retouching, Logo and Banner Creation

GIMP: This is a free image manipulation program that performs various tasks such as photo retouching, image composition and image authoring. It is quite useful if you want to design your own logos and banners or if you want to play with your images.

Books

Inspiration

The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success by Deepak Chopra: Chopra believes that we need a more spiritual approach to success and affluence. You might find the first chapter hard to read, but it’s really worth it.
The 4-Hour Workweek by Timothy Ferriss: This is a great book if you want your entire world and value system to crumble. Seriously, Ferriss questions many traditional beliefs, and I believe that it’s always healthy to question the status quo. Let’s start a revolution! (Sorry, I got a little bit over my head here. I won’t do it again. Promise)

Communication

Made to Stick: Why Some Ideas Survive and Others Die by Chip and Dan Heath: This book will help you get your message across and ideas heard. It’s fun to read and a valuable asset for any serious writer/blogger/marketer.
How To Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie: That’s a classic that is worth reading more than once. Carnegie teaches simple principles that we too often forget to put into practice.