There are affiliate links below, which means I may receive a commission if clicked. You won’t pay any more if you use these links, and these are all products I highly recommend.
Blogging Books and Courses
How to Blog for Profit: Without Selling Your Soul
This book is an excellent resource and introduction to the world of blogging. I read this book when I was considering starting a blog as a business, and I learned so much from it. How to Blog for Profit opened my eyes to how blogging works, how to get started, and provided the inspiration I needed to go for it. I find myself referring back to it throughout my blogging journey.
I found this ebook designed just for bloggers who are moms as I was starting my blog. It is full of templates for blog posts, images and headlines and is a step-by-step guide that makes starting a blog easier and saves a ton of time. It even includes an entire Google docs workbook to kick start your blog. Written by Suzi Whitford with Start a Mom Blog, Blog by Number is a great resource for new bloggers.
Traffic Transformation
This blog traffic guide can help you take your blog to the next level. Written by Lena Gott from What Mommy Does, this guide is filled with strategies and tips that can help you to increase your pageviews. This is one of those books that you’ll want to take notes and read again and again because it is so full of ideas and proven ways to increase your blog traffic. I walk away with new ideas each time I read through it. There is also a 40-minute video tutorial where Lena shows you her simple methods for getting high Google rankings. If you’re looking to increase your pageviews, check out this step-by-step guide: Traffic Transformation.
FREEBIE: You can snag this awesome FREE Blog Traffic Bonus Guide from Lena with What Mommy Does by clicking here.
Building a Framework: The Ultimate Blogging Handbook
The newly released third edition of Building a Framework: The Ultimate Blogging Handbook is a course that teaches you how to set up your blog, build an email list, drive traffic to your site, grow your social media channels, work with brands, make money, and more! Developed by Abby Lawson with Just a Girl and Her Blog and her husband Donnie, Building a Framework has the tools and methods that have turned her blogging hobby into a six-figure income.
FREEBIE: You can snag this FREE blog traffic guide by Abby Lawson: 5 Types of Content that will Boost Your Blog Traffic by clicking here.
Making Sense of Affiliate Marketing
I came across this course when I was in the process of starting my blog, and I am so glad I did. This course is amazing and is led by Michelle Schroeder-Gardner from Making Sense of Cents. She earns over $50,000 per month through affiliate marketing! I was a complete newbie to the whole process, and she provides an excellent step-by-step guide with six modules, over 30 lessons, over 20 worksheets, and bonuses. When you purchase the course, you are able to join the exclusive Facebook group, which has been awesome and very helpful. I recommend Making Sense of Affiliate Marketing to anyone interested in learning how to monetize your blog.
I had no idea where to start when writing my privacy policy, disclosure page, and terms and conditions page. Thankfully, this course was available! Jackie from Jade and Oak is a licensed attorney in the US. She developed this course to help bloggers and business owners. With over 25 videos, written guides, checklists, worksheets, and an income tracking spreadsheet, it has so many resources to help you set up your blog legally and protect your content. Plus, she includes legal templates as a bonus! She sells the templates alone for $350, so it’s an amazing deal that she includes them with the course. Blog and Be Legal was a lifesaver for me when I began blogging.
After hearing so many great things about Pinterest and how it can help to increase traffic, I decided to focus on it as part of my growth strategy. Not knowing exactly where to start, I checked out Pinterest to Profits, a step-by-step guide developed by McKinzie Bean from Moms Make Cents. The course covers a variety of topics including the basics of signing up and how to save time by scheduling your pins. I found the video tutorials most helpful as they go in-depth on how to navigate through a number of must-have Pinterest resources. She also provides some fantastic bonuses including information on affiliate marketing and freebies with BoardBooster and Tailwind. If you’re looking to increase your traffic with Pinterest, I recommend Pinterest to Profits.
FREEBIE: You can sign up for this FREE Pinterest course from Moms Make Cents: Pinterest Primer by clicking here.
Blogging Products & Services
This is the company I use for my theme. They have many feminine WordPress themes from which to choose, and their support team is amazing. Anytime I have a question, I receive an answer within hours if not minutes. Detailed step-by-step setup and installation instructions are included with each theme, and their private support forum is extremely helpful. They also offer 24-hour setup for your theme for a fee if preferred.
This is the web hosting company that I use for my blog. It came recommended by many fellow bloggers, and the customer service has been great. They have various hosting plans from which to choose.
This is an awesome plugin that will enable visitors to share your content easily. My favorite thing about this plugin is the ability to designate a specific image for sharing on social media channels like Pinterest. You can also customize the share buttons to fit with your brand. They have excellent customer service and were very helpful during the setup process. I highly recommend Social Warfare.
After pinning all of my pins manually for a month, I decided to give BoardBooster a try. BoardBooster is a scheduling tool that saves time for bloggers. This tool saves me hours every day. I set the parameters for my pins and group boards and let BoardBooster handle the rest. It has been an integral part of my Pinterest strategy; it’s simple to use, and the company provides excellent support. If you are looking for a scheduling tool to streamline your Pinterest strategy, I recommend BoardBooster.
Affiliate Networks
Affiliate Window
If you are interested in becoming an affiliate for Etsy, then you will want to join Affiliate Window. Affiliate Window is an affiliate network that works with Etsy and other advertisers, handling all aspects of their affiliate marketing program. You can join Affiliate Window and apply to be an Etsy affiliate by clicking here.
ShareASale is another affiliate marketing platform that works with advertisers like TinyPrints, Zulily, Wayfair, CustomInk, Reebok, Gymboree, and many more. You can sign up to be an affiliate here.
Photography Resources
When you become a member of the Clickin Moms community, you have access to forums where you can share your photos, learn more about photography, and have your questions answered. Having great images is an important part of blogging, and the Clickin Moms community provides you with wonderful resources to help you improve your photography skills.
Before we had our first daughter, I wanted to purchase a DSLR camera. We went with the Nikon D5300. At the time, I had no experience using a DSLR camera, so I’ve spent the last couple of years learning how to use it. It’s been a lot of fun learning how to take photos in manual mode, and I’ve been really happy with the Nikon. I use the Nikon 35mm f/1.8G Lens for the majority of the photos that I take with it.
Shopping & Saving Money
Ebates is a FREE and easy way to earn cash back by doing what you’re already doing and just adding one small step. To earn cash back at thousands of retailers, simply go to Ebates’ website first, and click on the retailer. Let Ebates take you to the store’s website at which you want to shop. Some of my favorites include: Amazon, Target, Old Navy, Lowe’s, Walmart, and more! Ebates earns a commission on referrals, and they share that commission with you every time you shop starting at Ebates’ website. I talk about it in depth in my post here: How To Earn Cash with Ebates. It’s super easy to join. You just provide your email address, and choose a password. You can get a $10 cash bonus after your first $25 purchase by signing up through my link here. Happy shopping!
Ibotta is another FREE way to earn cash back. It’s like using coupons without the hassle of clipping coupons! You simply sign up for a free account and then after you shop, scan your products that have coupons in the app, scan your receipt, and watch the cash fall into your Ibotta account. I use the app when I shop at Target and Kroger, but there are a lot of places you can use the service. You can receive a $10 welcome bonus by signing up through my link here.
I don’t know what I would do without Amazon Prime! With its free two-day shipping (sometimes same-day or next-day), it’s extremely convenient. I have found it to be reliable as well. They make it so easy to order just about anything on their website, and they will deliver it to my front porch for free. Free two-day shipping is just one of the benefits. With Amazon Prime, you also get Prime Instant Video, Prime Music, and Prime Photos. You can try Amazon Prime by clicking here for a 30-Day Free Trial.
I shopped at Target for years before I finally got a Target REDcard. Looking back, I can only imagine how much money I missed out on saving because I didn’t have one. A REDcard is awesome because you get 5 percent off your total every time you shop. This is not a credit on your account or something that you get later. Five percent is automatically deducted off your total at checkout when you use your REDcard. It’s a super easy way to save money at Target. In addition, you can get free shipping and extra time for returns. I talk about other ways to save money at Target in my post here: Simple Ways to Save Money at Target. To sign up for a Target REDcard, click here and choose either the debit card or credit card option.
Walmart Grocery Pickup is a free service provided by Walmart. Simply place your order online, and then go to the designated parking spot for grocery pickup at the store during your provided time slot. Upon arrival, call the number provided at the parking spot, and an attendant will bring your order to your vehicle. It’s fast and especially convenient for moms with young children. You can buy more than just groceries through this service; you can shop in other departments including toys, home, baby, sports, and electronics. To try Walmart Grocery Pickup, click on my referral link, and you will get $10 to use on your first shopping trip.
Capital One 360 Savings Account
I have been happy with our Capital One 360 savings accounts because there are no fees, no minimum balance requirements, and best of all, they earn interest! You can open an account here.
Travel
Airbnb is a great way to travel. Instead of staying at hotels, you can rent someone’s house, apartment, or room. I have even seen people list their Airstream trailers for rent. How cool is that?! We used Airbnb on our last trip to Washington, D.C., and it was awesome. We stayed in a cute little neighborhood near Dupont Circle and were able to walk to the grocery store, local bookstore, and local restaurants nearby. There were four of us total, and we rented the whole apartment and had everything we needed for a great stay. If you’re looking for a fun, cost effective way to travel, check out Airbnb. This referral link will give you $35 towards your first trip.
When we stay at a hotel, our first choice is Hilton. We earn points with a Hilton HHonors credit card that enables us to stay at Hilton hotels for free or at a deep discount. Our favorite hotels within the Hilton brand are the ones with suites like Homewood Suites, Hampton Inn & Suites, and Embassy Suites. They provide plenty of room for our family, and some have kitchen areas. The customer service at Hilton is great. If there is ever an issue, we talk with the guest services agent, and it is resolved in a timely and professional manner. To book your next stay at a Hilton hotel, click here: Save up to 20% off our Best Available Rate by booking in advance, with Hilton Hotels & Resorts.
Check out some of my favorite FREE blogging resources by visiting this post: My Favorite Blogging Resources By Price (starting with free!)
