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So you wanna be a blogger? The first thing you will discover is that there is a plethora of information and tools available to bloggers. Some you will find useful while others may not be useful at all. In order to determine what tools are right for your blog you will need to research and in some cases try it out for yourself.
Here are my top four blogging tools. I use these to keep my site up and running and ensure that I have a consistent flow of traffic. Most of all they are used to minimize the amount of time I spend doing daily maintenance and upkeep.
Bluehost
Bluehost is the hosting solution I chose for my blog. I chose them because of the easy integration of my prior WordPress.com site over to .org. They have a wealth of information available for do-it-yourself folks like myself. Most importantly they offer affordable hosting without skimping on the benefits. I also love that I am able to reach out for help and have support available to assist me 24/7.
Tailwind
Tailwind is my go to marketing tool. It is a scheduler that allows you to set up social media posts over a period of time in advance. The best part about this app is that I can add an extension right into my web browser and there is a user friendly app. This tool has helped increase my blog traffic by helping to generate as high as 194,000 views on Pinterest. (Check out My Two Cents Blogging Tips to see how this breaks down into post engagement) I highly recommend it for anyone looking to grow their blog traffic by means of Pinterest and/or Instagram.
Canva
Canva is the tool I use to create the photos and content I use on my social media sites. The best part about this tool is that I can snap a photo on my iPhone, upload it right into the app and have a post ready to schedule within minutes. Canva has a forever free plan that allows you to access over 8000 templates, upload your own photos and pay a fee as small as $1 for premium photos.
Crowdfire
Crowdfire is the tool I use mostly for Twitter posting (You can add multiple social accounts). It allows me to share multiple posts from their site over a period of time. You are also able to manage your Twitter followers and/or unfollowers. The app alerts me when my posting cue is empty and also prompts me to share content that I post automatically from my blog. What I love the most is that the information I’m sharing is related to topics of my choosing. This means I get to share content posted and already shared on Twitter from other bloggers which helps promote them as well. Crowdfire has a free account which you can choose to upgrade to premium for a nominal fee.
As a business owner who also works a full-time job, I can honestly say these tools have been a lifesaver. They have helped free up more time for me to engage with my followers and get to know my fellow bloggers. Prior to using them, I spent hours doing these things for a blog that was generating $0 in income. For the small investments I’ve made for convenience sake this is money well spent. My last word of advice is to always utilize free trials when the option is available and upgrade only if it’s right for you.