Finding resources and tools for your business could be tough with all of the various offers out their. That’s why I’ve decided to put this list together. I’ve personally tested and used all of the recommended services below.

Web Hosting

If you’re planning to have a website, you’ll need a web hosting account to save your web pages, images, and for a database. One tip is that I stay away from Windows-based servers. The majority of marketers use Linux-based servers and it’s what powers the majority of WordPress blogs out there. While I’ve used dozens of web host providers, there are 3 that I highly recommend. If you want the best bang for the buck, I highly recommend Host Then Profit – they’re a “marketing-friendly” web host provider that provides a variety of marketing tools and they offer a great business opportunity as well. The other host providers I recommend are DreamHost and HostGator. If you need a host that provides Cpanel, either go with Host Then Profit or HostGator.

Domains

In order to find your files on your web host, you’ll need your own internet-based address. This is called a domain. The one that I highly recommend is called Namecheap. While they do offer other services besides domains, I only recommend them for domains and SSL (secure certificates).

AutoResponders

One of the best ways to build a business online is through email marketing. To do this, you’ll need an autoresponder system that manages all of your email campaigns and allows you to perform scheduled, automated email broadcasts. There are 3 systems that I highly recommend and both have a high deliverability rate. Those 3 are TrafficWave, GVO’s/Host Then Profit’s Eresponder, and Aweber. While I’ve used all 3, I primarily use TrafficWave. TrafficWave has a high deliverability rate (according to SenderScore.org) and it’s also the most affordable. They offer unlimited campaigns and unlimited subscribers for only $17.95 a month. The next most affordable system is Eresponder. They offer a system that starts for less than $10, but at that price you have a 500 subscriber limit (which can be upgraded). Aweber is great, but for a 10,000 subscriber list, they charge $50 a month (at the time of this posting).

Accepting Payments

If you’d like to accept payments securely, you’ll need a merchant processing account. I highly recommend SolidTrustPay and AlertPay. I also use Paypal, but they don’t fully support home business opportunities. If you use the companies that I recommend, then you can be assured that your account won’t be terminated for selling business opportunity related products or services.

Free Email Account

If you’re looking for a way to send and receive email for free, I highly recommend Google’s Gmail. I’ve used Yahoo Mail for close to a decade before I switched over and I’m totally satisfied. Even the email accounts on my own domains get forwarded to my Gmail account since they have an awesome spam blocking system.

Keyword Research

If you’re doing search engine optimization (SEO), then using a keyword research tool is a necessity. I’ve tested well over a dozen keyword tools and the one that I recommend is called Market Samurai.

Screen Capturing

You can capture your computer desktop into video using a tool called Camtasia. This is a great tool if you’d like to offer video training for free or for sale.

Toll-Free Numbers

If you’re doing direct mail and promoting your own offers, you can use toll-free numbers for phone responses. The company that I highly recommend is called Kall8.

Building a Website Without Being a Techie

If you’re building a website for the 1st time, I highly recommend Host Then Profits. They give you access to their “Blog Builder” which allows you to easily create a WordPress blog. By doing so, you’ll be able to create websites and publish your content with ease. They also provide customers with an online academy that teaches you how to manage your blog and build your business.

Learning How to Code Websites

If you want to code your websites using HTML, PHP, Javascript or CSS, I highly recommend a website called W3Schools. I’ve learned how to create website from scratch mostly from this site.

Text and Website Editors

There are 2 types of text editors that you can find for code websites. WYSIWYG’s (what you see is what you get) and code editors. If you’re new to websites, then a WYSIWYG editor is recommended. You can get one called Kompozer and it’s totally free. For a code editor, I personally use and recommend Notepad++. You can also add extra plugins to boost functionality.

Word Processing, Spreadsheets, Presentations and More

If you’re looking for a free alternative for Microsoft Office, then check out Open Office. There are other great alternatives, but Open Office has a huge user base and a lot of add-on extensions to extend the functionality of the programs.

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