"Never underestimate the power of a simple tool." ~Craig Bruce
NOTE: This is the first in a 3 part series originally published as a single post. We had a lot of feedback from WDT readers asking us to separate out tools for bloggers, writers and vloggers into more manageable posts. So we've done just that...and more. The first installment has everything the smart blogger needs to crush it online in 2018 and beyond.
Bloggers, maybe even more than writers need to work smart in 2018. Blogging today involves so much more than just starting another wordpress blog and hoping an audience will come.
A smart blogger knows he or she needs tools and not just any tools.
The right tools.
The Write To Done team have included all their favorites, many of which they use on a daily basis. The list is not exhaustive, we'll add to it as we go.
If you have a favorite tool not listed here, add it in the comments and if we can, we'll get hold of it and give it a test run. If it measures up, we'll add it to the next update.
In the meantime help your fellow bloggers and share this resource around.
HEADLINE & TOPIC SUGGESTION TOOLS
What's the point in writing your blog post, sales page or book if no one reads it? Writing eye-catching headlines, offers and book titles is part art, part science. All of the tools below will help you with both.
Features
It won’t tell you if your headline is creatively genius, but it will give you an idea if it’s along the right lines.
Review
One of the best free tools out there to check whether your headline is likely to get clicked.
FREE with sign up
Online tool
Features
This headline analyzer is really useful if you are trying to target a particular audience with your headline (which, of course, you should be) - it tries to analyze what type of person - intellectual/spiritual etc - your headline will appeal to.
Review
Used in conjunction with coshcedule analyzer it can really help craft better headlines.
FREE
Online tool
Features
Ok, I'm not suggesting you go out and create linkbait articles 🙂 Use this simple, fun tool to generate ideas you might not have thought about and then craft your own compelling versions.
Review
Despite it name, this handy little tool can actually come up with some good building blocks.
FREE
Online tool
Features
This tool is excellent if you just want to create a list of ideas you can spark off. And sometimes it will come up with exactly what you are looking for.
Review
Use this simple tool to generate ideas you might not have thought about and then craft your own compelling versions.
FREE
Online tool
Features
A fun idea generator that might just come up with that oddball suggestion that you need.
Review
Just pop your keywords(s) in. Couldn't be simpler.
FREE
Online tool
Features
The definitive list of headline 'formula' from one of the greatest headline writers of today - Jon Morrow.
Review
You need to sign up for this resource, but it’s worth it. Jon is simply one of the most gifted headline creators around and this resource gives you simple templates that work time and time again. Invaluable!
FREE with sign up
Online tool
Features
If you need some block text to see how an article will look or to build a new web page this tool will not only generate lorum ipsum block text for you, but also tells you all about the history. Fascinating!
Review
I've actually used this tool numerous times when building web pages and sorting out the layout of a book.
FREE
Online tool
SEO TOOLS
Features
Google Trends is an offshoot of Google Search. It shows how often a particular search-term is entered relative to the total search-volume across various regions of the world, and in various languages.
Review
This can be really useful to find out what the latest 'hot' topic is. Or to find out if your topic is actually becoming less popular.
FREE with Google account
Online tool
Features
Adwords is simply the ultimate go to tool for research on keywords. You need a google account but if you have gmail or a YouTube account, then you’re good to go!
Review
Finding keyword suggestions as well as volume and other data is fairly straightforward.
FREE with Google account
Online tool
Features
Use Longtail Pro’s step-by-step system to discover thousands of profitable, targeted keywords and calculate Keyword Competitiveness for almost any niche.
Reviews
LongtailPro is a great way to find good keywords to get to the top of Google’s search pages. They’ve recently redesigned it and it works really well. I wasn’t always a great fan of Long Tail Pro but it’s now matured into a very useful tool. And it’s much better than any of the free tools I’ve come across! I suggest getting the free 7 day trial to test it.
FREE trial then PAID
Free trial then:
Starter Plan $25/month
Pro plan : $45/month
Features
Love it or hate it, SEO is essential if you want to rank your article or site. And Google Webmasters Tools is essential for anyone who is serious about SEO.
Reviews
Google's webmaster tools aren't for the fainthearted. There is a scary amount of data and options, none of which is particularly intuitive. However, they have a lot of useful articles and videos on how to get started.
FREE with Google account
Most people already have a Google account -gmail or YouTube for instance.
Features
Get insights into your competitors’ strategies in display advertising, organic and paid search, and link building.
Reviews
SemRush is pretty much the industry standard for many serious bloggers.
FREE Trial then PAID
Free 7 day trial then:
Pro: $99
Guru $199
Features
I've mentioned a couple of their online tools before. If you want your blog to rank in your niche, you need to know your competition. Small seo tools supply a few tools for free, all of them useful and easy to use.
Reviews
These tools are not as fully featured as some of the paid tools, but they'll get you started.
FREE
Most of these tools you can use online without an account.
SOCIAL SHARING TOOLS
Features
If you want people to share your article or new book then give them all the help you can. This cool tool creates shareable links to twitter/faceboook/google + and pinterest that you can send out in your emails.
Reviews
I use this all the time to make it a no-brainer share my articles. It's one of the most useful free tools out there.
Free
Online tool
Features
The easiest way to promote, share & track
your content on Twitter.
Reviews
I use this all the time to create click to tweet text and images like this one .
Free
Online tool
Buzzsumo
Features
If you’re serious about your blogging career than buzzsumo is close to essential. Not only will it tell you the most popular posts/videos/interviews etc in any niche, but it will also tell you who shared those items.
Reviews
With this information you know not only WHAT is popular in your niche, but also WHO is sharing it!
Some of the most successful (and high earning) bloggers use Buzzsumo. Indeed, at the moment, I don't know of any alternative that does the job. Pure gold!
Price
All this amazing information comes at a price. There’s a free 30 day version, but after that it’s $79 a month. Expensive? maybe.Worth it? Definitely!
Features
A WordPress plugin that adds beautiful, lightning-fast social share buttons to your website or blog.
Reviews
I use the Social Warfare plugin on all my sites because it has a the best scrolling sharebar AND you can show the Twitter share count numbers! Check out their free trial
FREE Trial then PAID
$29/yr (free trial)
Features
Hootsuite is a social media management platform. It supports social network integrations for Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Google+, YouTube, and many more.
Reviews
My editor, Laura, has used this fro many years and rates it highly.
FREE Trial then PAID
$16/month (free trial)
Features
To make the most out of Twitter, you need to have some of the best tools in your arsenal. One thing that could skyrocket your Twitter marketing efforts is the use of an automation tool.
Reviews
Social Oomph is a really useful social media tool. You can schedule Twitter and Facebook.
FREE Trial then PAID
$29/yr (free trial)
Features
Buffer is a simpler and easier way to schedule posts, track the performance of your content, and manage all your accounts in one place.
Reviews
Buffer automates your social media posting, saving you a load of time and work.
And there's a free, if limited account.
FREE and PAID
Free account available
$10 for 'Awesome'
$99 for 'Small'
WEBSITE TOOLS
Features
Have you ever visited a site and found you couldn’t access it? Maybe it was your own site! Just pop the URL into the search box and this tool will tell you if the site is actually down for everyone, or if it’s your end that’s got the problem.
Reviews
TIP: If you find it’s only your end, it’s often a browser cache issue. Try clearing your cache. If that doesn’t work, try shutting everything down and then starting it uo again.
FREE
Online tool
DOMAIN NAMES
Features
Cheap domain names.
Reviews
The name says it all 🙂
They also do cheap hosting and other related services.
FREE to search
It's obviously free to search for the availability of a particular name but then you'll have to pay for that domain.
Domains start at $0.48/year, but you'll probably have to pay a little more for something desirable.
Features
Another good cheap domain name source.
Reviews
In addition to NameCheap, I also use CrazyDomains, especially if I want a domain name that isn’t the usual .com, .net, etc. For example, I recently bought the domain writetodone.university for the courses we are producing.
Free to search
.coms from around $2/year. Again you may have to pay more for something useable.
HOSTING
Features
This is an excellent hosting provider, especially if you want to create a bigger site,
Reviews
You get 1-click WordPress installs and free transfer.
Paid
From $3.95 per month
Features
This is a good hosting company for small to medium size websites
Reviews
I've used this hosting company for many different websites and I like their ease of use. An important tip is to get the free domain AND the hosting together.
Price
From $3.95 per month
Features
My editor, Laura, recommended Hostgator as a great hosting company if your just starting out.
Reviews
Hostgator are affordable and have great customer service. Since Laura used them they have been taken over but still definitely worth a look if
PAID
From $2.78 per month for their 'hatchling' plan, $3.98 for their 'baby' plan and $5.98 a month for their 'business' plan.
WORDPRESS THEMES & EDITORS
Features
Thrive Themes is state-of-the-art bundle of WordPress themes and plugins which are all focused on Conversion. Of especial interest is Thrive Architect, a page builder which allows you to design a page or blog post in many different ways. For example, this page is built with Thrive Architect.
Reviews
I'm a total fan of Thrive Themes. They are continually developing new plugins and their training is world-class. I suggest joining as a member, instead of buying individual themes or plugins. Every new addition to their stable of products is then free for you. Plus, you get their special training,
Price
Membership fee is $19 per month
Features
If you want to stay with your website theme but want to rev up the look of your post, check out Thrive Architect (this post is built with Thrive Architect). It’s one of their plugins.
Reviews
If you are use to the WordPress editor then you are in for a shock.
Thrive Architect simply allows you to build almost anything beautifully, responsively.
All this comes with quite a steep learning curve, but when you get the hang of it, you may never want to go back to your WordPress editor again.
PAID
$67
But as I said before, I suggest getting the membership instead of just a single plugin.
EMAIL RESPONDERS
Features
MailChimp is a marketing automation platform and an email marketing service
Reviews
My editor, Laura started out on Mailchimp and couldn't praise it enough. Simple to use, with great customer service.
And they have a free plan. The only drawback is it's perhaps not as flexible or sophisticated fo power users.
FREE & PAID
Free: Up to 2,000 subscribers and 12,000 emails per month. Once your email list grows and you want to send out unlimited emails, you can upgrade from $25 a month upwards.
Features
Infusionsoft offers an e-mail marketing and sales platform for small businesses, including products to streamline the customer life cycle, customer relationship management, marketing automation, lead capture, and e-commerce
Reviews
This is the solution I use. Infusionsoft has all the bells and whistles you could wish for. It’s not cheap but it’s a mean tool!
PAID
Starter: $99
Essentials: $199
Complete: $299
WEBINARS
Features
Webinarjam is a webinar hosting platform that allows you to host as many attendees as you want, basically using Google Hangouts.
Reviews
Offering webinars is a great way to educate your audience and to sell books or courses. Let me say straight away: webinars can be a nightmare! However, Webinarjam makes it easy. It's awesome.
Price
$479/year or 3 installments of $189
PRODUCTIVITY/ PROJECT MANAGEMENT TOOLS
Features
This is a tool that helps individual and teams to manage Editorial Calenders and projects.
Reviews
We use it at WritetoDone and it’s extremely helpful. I suggest using the free account.
FREE and PAID
Free account
$9.99/month for their premium account
Features
MeisterTask is an intuitive online task manager that uses smart integrations and task automations to make your team more productive.
Reviews
This is a newcomer among the project management apps. I’ve had a paly around with it. but haven’t used it seriously yet. It was developed by the MindMeister team and looks excellent. The free version will give you everything you need.
Price
Free account
$8.49/month for upgraded account
