Here are the resources I use and recommend for blogging. I hope you’ll find this list helpful! If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to ask!

Blogging Resources

hostgator-logoHost Gator – Host Gator is the hosting company that I use for Thrifty T’s Treasures. Their hosting is affordable and their customer service department is always friendly, helpful and ready to answer my questions. Host Gator is definitely a great place to start your self-hosted WordPress blog!

Receive 25% off your first order by using coupon code ThriftyTsDiscount!


Theme Forest – inFocus themeforestis the theme that’s running on Thrifty T’s Treasures. I purchased it through Theme Forest, which has tons of WordPress templates. I love that inFocus has a great forum where I can ask questions if I need help.

*When purchasing themes through Theme Forest, you’ll want to look for a theme that has a high buyer rating and is compatible with the current version of WordPress.

If you’re a new blogger, I recommend that you stick with WordPress’ free themes. This will not only save you money, but will help you get your feet wet as you delve into the blogging world. Choose a theme that has a high rating.


feedblitzFeedBlitz – FeedBlitz manages my RSS feed. Plans are based on the amount of subscribers that you have.

 


mailchimp logoMailChimp – MailChimp is the email marketing service I use to send out my daily newsletter. They offer a ton of newsletter options!

I love that MailChimp’s plans are based on the amount of emails you send and/or subscribers that you have!

 


 

Affiliate Networks

affiliate networks

What is an affiliate link? Affiliate links are placed in your blog posts and pages. When your blog readers click on an affiliate link and buy a product, you receive either a flat rate or a percentage of the sale (it depends on the offer and the network).

There are a ton of affiliate networks, but these are the ones that I use and recommend.

Amazon Affiliate Network – This is a tiered program. Depending on the amount of sales, I receive 4-8.5%.

Escalate and My Savings – I mainly use Escalate and My Savings to link to coupons in my grocery shopping trips. They also have a ton of other offers that are geared more to deal bloggers.

Share A Sale and Skimlinks – These networks are great to link to when you’re recommending a product. For instance, if a product that I’m writing about for My Favorite Things posts isn’t available on Amazon, I’ll link through SkimLinks or Share A Sale.

Each affiliate network is different, but when someone signs up through my referral link, I’ll earn a percentage of their payout. Sadly, Amazon does not have a referral program.

Photo Resources

pixlr-logoPixlr – I use Pixlr to edit my pictures, add text, and so much more! Editor is where I spend most of my time. It has quite a few features that Photoshop offers, and the best part is that it’s free!

If you’re looking to create a collage, hop on over to Express.

I’m a huge fan of this free photo editing services!


creative commons logoCreative Commons – Creative Commons is the first place I head if I don’t have a picture for my post. Photographers give the public permission to share and use their pictures.

I look for the photos where “some rights are reserved,” so I can add my post title. Simply give the photographer/author credit in your post, and you’re good to go!


photodunePhoto Dune – If I need a picture for a post and can’t find it on Creative Commons, I’ll head over to Photo Dune. I would compare Photo Dune to a much cheaper version of iStock – their prices are phenomenal and are the lowest I’ve seen on the web!


sony cybershotSony Cybershot Digital Camera with 10x Optical Zoom and 3.0-inch LCD – This camera is fabulous! It takes beautiful pictures and is super easy to use.


sandiskSanDisk SDHC Card 16 GB– This is the memory card that I use for my camera. I love that it holds a ton of pictures!