The next step in the ‘how to make a blog” series is all about the essentials tools and plugins you need to make a successful blog.
(Please note, all the tools and plugins in this post I use personally and some of the links are affiliate links.)
Making a blog is cheap but if you want a successful one you must invest in better tools.
Unfortunately there are far too many bloggers who set up their blog and then spend thousands of hours TRYING to make it successful. Many don’t invest in the right tools and many invest in far too many tools and get sucked into buying the latest ‘shiny gadget or tool’
I agree you do have to invest, as investing in tools will save you time and make your blogging more efficient and attract more traffic (and the more targeted traffic you have the more income you can make).
So here I share with you the tools and plugins that I use on this blog to make a full-time income.
How To Make A Blog: The Essential Tools
Premium Themes
There are hundreds of free and premium (meaning you buy) to choose from and it really comes down to what you want from a theme.
Without doubt the best theme I have used and the theme this blog is built on is using the Canvas theme from Woothemes. It’s just so versatile and easy to use. Try it…you will not regret it.
CDN
Using a Content Delivery Network can vastly improve your blog’s loading speed. It costs me less than $3 a month (I use RackSpace) and makes my blog load faster. Check out my video:
Speeding Up Your Blog: The Only Guide You Need
Keyword Research
We’ve talked about this tool before in part two of this series: Finding The Best Keywords For Your Chosen Niche
I’m mentioning Market Samurai again because not only can you use it to find your initial targeted keywords for your blog…you can also use it for the best keywords you want to target for each post.
And you can use it for your related ‘tags’.
Using the best keywords for each of your posts will generate more free traffic – find out how to get this traffic by investing in Market Samurai.
Get invaluable keyword insight and stats – they offer a free trial and a number of helpful videos to get you started.
Here’s the link: Market Samurai
A Good Video Camera, Microphone and Headphones
Video is an essential part of successful internet marketing, so make sure you have a good camera, microphone and headphones. There’s no excuse. You can get great quality products for a low outlay these days.
A series of well-made videos will bring your blog tons of traffic.
Sound quality is as important as picture quality so don’t skimp on the microphone / headphones.
There are too many great videos on YouTube that you can’t hear properly – don’t make the same mistake!
For a hand-held video camera I use a Sony Handycam:
Sony HD Handycam
And I’ve just purchased this headset microphone/headphone combination:
ASUS VULCAN Headset
Video Processing
Camtasia has all the tools for creating professional videos without having to go to film school! You will soon be making videos to train, educate, and sell more.
Autoresponders
Few people will buy your product on the first visit, and if you can capture their e-mail addresses you can build a list (we talk about list building later in the series) and start an effective e-mail marketing campaign.
Regular emails also act as little reminders about your blog.
To do this you’ll need to pay for an auto responder service. Aweber is probably the most well respected, but there are many others to choose from.
An autoresponder will save you many hours of hard labor. All you do is compose a series of e-mail messages that are delivered at pre-set times on specific days or intervals. You can also send out a monthly newsletter through the service.
How To Make A Blog: Free WordPress Plug-Ins
There are many different opinions about which free WordPress plug-ins are the most valuable and often it will depend on what you intend to do with your blog. Here are my recommendations:
Insights
I’ve included this one because internal linking your blog posts is great for SEO purposes. And this plugin makes it easy.
Login LockDown
Adds some extra security to your WordPress set-up.
MaxBlogPress Ping Optimizer
Only pings the ping sites when you publish a post and not when you edit a post. Without it you could be classed as a ping spammer!
Secure WordPress
Helps improve the security of your WordPress installation.
SEO Friendly Images
Automatically adds alt and title attributes to all your images – this helps with SEO.
Socialize
Adds actionable social bookmarking buttons to your site
W3 Total Cache (or WP-Super-Cache)
Speeds up the loading speed of your blog.
WP-DBManager
I don’t use this plugin for backing-up. I use it to automatically optimize the database files. See the Backup Buddy plugin (below) I use for backups.
WP Smush.it
Reduces the size of image files and improves loading performance. Useful if you have a large number of graphics.
Yoast’s WordPress SEO
There are numerous SEO plugins to choose from and the majority are excellent.
From day one of my blog being built I’ve been using the All-In-One-SEO plugin but recently I moved across and started using Yoast’s WordPress SEO. It’s pretty complex and involved numerous settings. Get the settings wrong and you could be penalized. But I like it and am really pleased I moved across.
How To Make A Blog: Premium WordPress Plug-ins
Backup Buddy
Imagine creating a blog and your host goes out of business or you do something so bad your entire blog gets deleted? Or you get hacked and lose all your data.
The alternative to suicide is Backup Buddy – a fast an easy way to restore your blog. If you decide you hate your host’s lousy customer service Backup Buddy will also quickly migrate your site to another host.
CommentLuv Premium
CommentLuv Premium is a great plugin that encourages comments, stops spam comments and creates backlinks.
MaxBlogPress Ninja Affiliate
MaxBlogPress Ninja Affiliate is not only great for making some affiliate cash, it can also help with building internal links from blog post to blog post.
You can use the same plugin to set-up keywords that automatically link to other posts on your site. What that means is you are giving your posts extra automatic Google link juice!
ScribeSEO
If you want to make SEO much, much easier, then use ScribeSEO before publishing your blog posts.
This plugin removes all the SEO complexity and you’ll achieve higher search rankings and increase the targeted traffic to your site!
Click Here and Take Scribe On A Risk-Free Test Drive
In summary
As stated above these are the tools and plugins that I use to make my blog as successful as possible. Unfortunately you do have to invest and these are the best tools I have personally benefitted from.
The previous blog posts in the ‘how to make a blog’ series:
Part One: How To Make A Blog: Getting Your Niche Right Is Crucial
Part Two: How To Make A Blog: Finding The Best Keywords For Your Chosen Niche
Part Three: How To Make A Blog: Monetizing with Affiliate Products
Part Four: How To Make A Blog: Monetizing with Digital Products
Part Five: Choosing a Domain Name and Hosting
Andrew is a website builder and helps small businesses with their on-line presence…so they can grow their customer list and increase sales. That’s it! That’s what we do each and every day.
Wow, this is a really cool FREE tutorial to earn some money by blogging. I am going to check out the CDN more later.
Young
The CDN costs me very little each month and when I tested it…it knocked 2 seconds off my site loading speed. So worth looking into.
Andrew
Wow you pulled out all the stops on this post. I think you could make a post on just about every one of those tools. RSS Link Bomber sounds interesting. I’ve never heard of it. I will check it out.
Stephen
making a post on each one – perhaps that’s my next series!
THANKS!
Andrew
I’m closely following this series Andrew. I’m sure its a lot of use not only to newbies but also to established bloggers 🙂 I’ve learned some great important tools too!
Thanks, Jane…I hope it has helped, no matter how small.
Andrew
That plugins list is very useful to me… Thanks! I am motivated now to search even more tips in your series
These plugins are no doubt to me that they gonna help us bloggers to make a full-time income, especially MaxBlogPress Ninja Affiliate, RSSLinkBomber and Commentluv (which 3 of them are my own keys).
Dan Lew
Dan,
You’ve certainly mentioned 3 of the best plugins around!
Andrew
Great post Andrew. This is the third newsletter that I received from you, and it is very VERY helpful…. I am currently changing our website and you guys have the best advice…..
I look forward to receiving more updates from you..
Regards,
Sergey Plotnikov
Curing Capital Inc.
http://curingcapital.com/
Sergey
I’m so pleased the newsletet are helping.
Thanks,
Andrew
Wow Andrew! i was listening to the RSS Link Bomber on the link you provided and this really sounds like something that might help me. Would really appreciate your advice on this. Great post again and I always learn something new from you.
Thank you and blessing to you,
Debbie
Debbie
I have the license to add RSS Link Bomber to all my monthly clients sites (yes…that means yours).
I just haven’t told you yet (until now!).
Andrew
Dear Andrew –
The best course on the web.
People should print it all out so they don’t have to pay for the book.
You are going to make this a book, right?
Corinne
Yes…it will be a book. That’s the plan (with a few extras of course!).
Andrew
Hi Andrew, Interesting you use Headway. I found it very confusing. Did you do this headway site yourself or did you use a child theme?
Joe,
I did it myself. I’m not into Headway child themes as yet!
With any theme there is a learning curve but with Headway I think it is worth getting through the learning curve and out the other side!
Andrew
i’m also doing keyword research but i’m using alexa , Google free keyword tools only .. you prefer to buy any special keyword research software ?-
sai
Yes… Market Samurai is the best around.
Andrew
Great post, pretty in depth. I’d never even heard of a Content Delivery Network before so thanks for the help!
Chris,
A CDN can knock off a couple of seconds on your loading time and for a few bucks that is worth it.
Andrew
I must, must, MUST start making short videos for my blog. I am never in one place long enough to do it confidently. I know I can do it on my phone but I think it would be good if I could sit down properly at my desk and create some nice little video posts. Good info, thanks again for the advice.
Matt
Give it a go. A good blogging friend of mine has just started a blog series on making videos…check it out:
http://remarkablogger.com/blog/
Andrew
A great post and worth following. I always see recommendations from experts about plug-ins but very rarely you see a post or a video about the settings of these plug-ins. Some of them need a degree. I have only 3 plug-ins and looking for more. I don’t know if I got the settings right. Some plug-ins I just deleted as I could not figure out how to set them up.
Owen,
Your are right…some plugins you can just install and leave along. Others take a lot of tweaking and get tthe tweaks wrong and it can ruin your site.
What plugins did you delete?
Andrew
Great list Andrew. I’ve yet to start using a CDN, I could easily but it’s another thing on the to-do list. I have just moved over to the latest version of Headway though, one step at a time! Thanks for providing such a valuable and useful series.
Joel,
I agree…one step at a time!
Andrew
I learn something everyday. Checking out CDN as soon as I leave this comment so I can help increase my own link juice…lol
As I have said to others here…a CDN can knock a couple of seconds off your site loading time. Well worth it.
Andrew
Using CDN is very good and it decrease the loading time . I am using dropbox as free CDN and my blog loading time is veryy less.
Tushar
Excellent – nice to hear that!
Andrew
Wow … this post as well as the preceding ones in the series, priceless. Okay, worth gold. Any blog beginner, or any seasoned blogger stuck in
zero-growth, who comes across your free (!) “How To Make A Blog” series, will benefit tremendously and consider him/herself very lucky indeed. I’ll do my part to spread the word.
Thanks for those kind words, Beat. I appreciate any promotion!
Andrew
Thanks for the great list of plugin, Andrew.
I’ll pick some and use it on my blogs.
You are welcome, Raymond. I hope some help!
Andrew
Market Samurai – sounds like a great place to visit. Thanks for sharing it with us. I have never even heard of this, or a lot of the stuff you mentioned.
Well…I hope Market Samuria and some of the other tools help you.
Andrew
yes mate 🙂 i will agree with you .. in starting journey i’m also confused with this lot factors ..
Andrew
As ever, you share some great resources. I learnt of Smush.it and MaxBlogPress from previous posts of yours. Now I’m about to look at Content Delivery Network, which I’d never heard of. Thanks
David
David
You may want to read/watch my videos series on speeding up the loading time of your blog.
https://www.webuildyourblog.com/4692/speeding-up-your-blog-ultimate-guide/
It includes how to set up the CDN.
Andrew
These are all excellent tips. I knew some of these plugins but others I definitely want to go and check out. The page loading one is a must since this makes a huge difference if the visitor will stick around or not.
All the best,
Eren
Eren,
Please see my comment to David above – you may want to check out my blog series on page loading time.
Andrew
Thanks for sharing such a mammoth collection of useful tools.
I am new to blogging and not so familiar with wordpress. Would you have any advice for me that how can i make my blog looking good and easy to navigate.
check out my guest post over at famous bloggers, entitled:
How To Make Your Blog Ready For 2012
It talks about navigation.
Here’s the link:
http://www.famousbloggers.net/make-blog-ready-for-2012.html
Andrew
I’m new to blogging as well, but know my way around wordpress a bit. I’m glad I came across your site… There seems to be a wealth of great information here and I really enjoyed this post. Thanks!
Chris
I’m glad you found my blog as well!
And thanks for commenting.
I hope to see you again soon!
Andrew
What more can you ask for if you make money in doing what you love. A lot of people are making their way in the blogging community. These tips will be of great help for them.
Angel
I believe there are a lot more people who are NOT making their way in the blogging community. Assuming you meant by ‘making their way’, making some income!
Andrew
Thanks for the info – and the great links – that rss bomber looks awesome
Hello Andrew,
Your lists are always jam packed with useful tips and information. I have to check my market samurai. I have it, but it wasn’t working properly. May have to enable it again and see if the glitches have been worked out.
Cheryl,
Market Samurai is one of my best investments. Great tool. I use it everyday!
Andrew
Wow… most excellent resources. I need to get more busy and download a tip or two from your awesome list.
Now, if I could only make a few bucks doing this.
Ahhhh, a labor of love will do it.
Ed,
Persistence…that’s what you need to make the blogging world work for you.
Andrew
P.S. And a little investment in tools
All these plugin is very helpful for every blogger. Thanks for Your lists it will really help me. Thanks for sharing.
Great Post. Very informative. This information should save many brand new internet marketers from making the common mistake of believing all the mis leading get rich quick schemes that are being advertised all over the internet. It is refreshing to read honest internet marketing information instead of all the false promises that so many blog posters write. Have A Wonderful Day Corine Miller
Corine
Thanks and I agree.
We need to get the word out that there are no ‘get rich quick schemes’.
Unfortunately, so many are still ‘sucked in’ by the hype.
Andrew
Is login lock-down ok to use with the current WordPress? it has not been updated in a VERY long time
Joe,
Yes it is. I think it is a plugin that doesn’t really need updating.
Andrew
I am glad you pointed out what a CDN will do for your blog. I was weighing what options I could use to make my blog load faster because I know readers are not very patient so I want to make sure it comes up within a reasonable amount of time. I did have a question that I didn’t see addressed in the topics I saw: do you have any suggestions on how to optimize a blog for mobile devices? It seems to me that this a major trend of blog readers to use mobile devices rather than a desktop or laptop. Any thoughts would be appreciated.
Chris
For mobile devices, I tend to just use the WP Touch plugin.
Andrew
Hi Andrew ,
That is really great tutorial ..Thanks for posting
A great post and worth following. I always see recommendations from experts about plug-ins but very rarely you see a post or a video about the settings of these plug-ins. Some of them need a degree. I have only 3 plug-ins and looking for more. I don’t know if I got the settings right. Some plug-ins I just deleted as I could not figure out how to set them up.
I agree…setting them up can be tricky. You have to do a fair amount of reserach.
Andrew
Andrew,
Thanks for the great series on making a blog. I, like many others, am also have problems with page loading times, I will definitely take a look at the video on the CDN.
Jack,
Using the CDN could knock off a couple of seconds on loading speed. Worth it for a few bucks per month.
Andrew
Thank you very much for the great list! I definitely have to check out CDN for my blog soon. By the way, would you please advise us about the loading time of these plugin? I’m afraid if the loading time is too long, the reader will leave.
Jame
You really have to test out each plugin youself.
The loading speed of your site will be determined by a number of factors including the hosting company you are using and the size of images.
Andrew
Great post. I think I have too many plugins on my blog right now. I really love your point about get rich quick schemes. Making money online takes work and success doesn’t come overnight. Thanks for sharing.
Michael
It’s a sham more people like you/us don’t have the same thoughts towards the get rich quick schemes.
Have you ever been sucked in by them?
Andrew
Absolutely great article. It helps me a lot since I am a newbie to wordpress. I’ll install all the plugins you mentioned one by one and see the progress. Thanks a lot for sharing these wonderful plugins with blogging community.
Good luck.
I hope they make a difference!
Andrew
You are my inhalation, I own few blogs and sometimes run out from post 🙂 . “Analyzing humor is like dissecting a frog. Few people are interested and the frog dies of it.” by E. B. White.
This post is really incredible, one of the most helpful I have ever read, inded. You really are a pro, you use a lot of tools and you always have everything under control, that’s a great thing. I use a few of the plugins mentioned here but I didn’t knew about the other. I will try these very soon for my websites. Thanks for sharing!
George
Thanks for your kind words. I hope the tools make a difference.
Andrew
Great plugins I have ever seen. I will use it for my blog now…It’s very useful post for me.
Thanks for sharing it……..
Thank for such a great review, Andrew! Not always you can see so many useful tools in one post! And I also think review for each of them would be a great series of posts!
I agree 100% about having a professional theme but for me it was FlexSqueeze. Once I got my hands on that I stopped looking for others. Also, because I use and recommend it it has paid itself off many times over and continues to do so. Paying for a good theme is a great investment.
I also agree about CommentLuv Premium and other there are many other premium plugins that are worth the investment. Honestly, if you want to grow your business you have to be prepared to invest more than just your time.
Sire
Totally agree…investing in the right tools is crucial.
Any other tools you recommend?
Andrew
Well I use several others including OIOpublisher Ad Manager, Restrict Content Pro and WP Zon Builder.
Sire
Thanks for coming back and sharing the tools you use.
Andrew
If there is any particular one I would recommend (although all of them are fantastic), it would be “SEO Friendly Images”. You can’t imagine how often I overlook the ‘alt’ attribute when posting images online. Surely I can’t be the only one! 🙂
Linda
You are not the only one…many people don’t and also they don’t have the plugin installed!
Andrew
Investing in tools and plugins is definitely necessary but as you said one should spend for it wisely.
I’ve ever used both Yoast’s WordPress SEO and All-in-SEO plugin. But i still love All-in-seo better. I think it’s simple, powerfull and friedly. Yoast’s WordPress SEO is so good, but i still like all-in-seo better.
Thanks for your tips! I will regular visit your website to find something i need.
John
Why do you like all-in-one-seo better than Yoasts?
Andrew
Great post andrew…!
Step by step guide in series is really helpful. Specially for new comers in this field. Plugins are really very important for better performance. Thanks for the great series on making a blog.
Some great tips here, especially the premium WordPress plug-ins. I have only used the free plug-ins so far due to lack of recommendations but the few you mention seem great. I particularly like the sound of the RSS Link Bomber…exactly what I have been looking for! Thanks for sharing
Matt
RSS Link Bomber is a great one – set it up once and each of your publised blog posts gets backlinks automatically.
Andrew
The CDN services are really worth to hire, after my decision, my loading speed was as fast as hell! Thanks for listing the most useful WP plugins as well, I haven’t heard about the most of them!
Julie
Great to hear that!
And CDN’s don’t cost much!
Andrew