I’ve had lots of requests for a breakdown of the exact resources I use to create Slightly Sorted.
So of course, I am happy to oblige!
I’ll keep adding to this list over time as I discover more great resources.
Here is a list of my absolute favorite blogging resources that I turn to again and again…..
This page uses affiliate links – if you click on a link I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you; as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases – thank you!
My own ‘How to start a blog’ guide!
Yes, believe it or not, one of the resources I have turned to repeatedly is my own guide to setting up a website!
That’s because, although I’ve created many websites and understand the process, it’s still incredibly handy to have a step by step list of things to do – especially if I get interrupted, so then I know exactly where I was up to and what needs to be done next.
Hosting
As you’ll see if you read the guide I just mentioned, my number one recommendation for hosting is bluehost. That’s because it’s very easy to set up, provides a reliable and helpful service, and is one of the most low-cost options around.
When you’re just starting out, it makes sense to invest as little as possible on services like hosting – particularly when you can get really good quality services like this without spending much.
Themes
I love Pipdig themes, and also the fact that you get access to a ton of free WordPress tutorials and advice when you purchase one.
Slightly Sorted runs on a Pipdig theme, and I’ve chosen other Pipdig options for several of my other sites – great customer service too.
YouTube
Never forget how helpful YouTube can be when you get stuck with a blogging issue! I love the ‘Income School’ channel and have found their advice to be spot on over the years.
Canva
I cannot over-emphasise how much I love Canva! It’s basically the go-to tool for graphic design for those of us who aren’t graphic designers.
I have a pro-subscription, which I believe is well worth it, but the free version is excellent to get started with and you may find that it offers everything you need.
Amazon Associates
If you want to start monetizing your blog with affiliate marketing, Amazon Associates is the easiest way to get started. Basically, you link an Amazon product in your blog post, and if your reader follows the link and purchases the product, you will make a small commission on the sale.
Just be sure to only recommend products that are actually good and will benefit your readers – don’t go crazy with the links!
Plugins
You’ll start to learn about plugins as you create your blog – they’re basically little bits of programming that you tag on to your site to give you extra functionality options, or improve performance. They’re super simple to add to your site, just find them, click install, then click activate.
Two that I really recommend to begin with are ‘Yoast SEO’ because it can help to improve your site’s ranking on google searches, and ‘Antispam Bee’ because it dramatically reduces the amount of spammy comments you receive on your blog posts.
Creative Market
Creative Market is an excellent resource for things like lovely fonts and mockups for photos. When you sign up for their mailing list they’ll send you six free resources a week, some of which are amazing – I choose at least one most weeks.
