Recommended Resources for Your Website's Success

Website Service Providers:

• Domain Name Registration Companies
• Web Hosting Services
• Email Marketing / Newsletter Broadcast Providers

Web Success Tips and Training:

• Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
• Online Marketing
• WordPress Tips and Tutorials
• Scams, spam, viruses, phishing and more

NOTE 1: Links below will open a new browser window/tab. When you have finished browsing the website you have selected, just close the window and you will return to this page.

NOTE 2: I have an affiliate account with some of the service providers as noted below, so I receive a commission for sales generated from following their links. However, I would recommend them even if they did not offer an affiliate program!

 

Domain Name Registration Companies

I recommend registering your domain name with an Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers ("ICANN") accredited registrar rather than registering your domain name through your web hosting company, even when the hosting company uses the services of an accredited registrar on your behalf. Because of problems some of my clients have experienced when moving their sites away from hosting companies that also have their domain name registration account, I believe it's better to keep the domain name registration and web hosting companies separate, even if it is slightly less convenient doing business with two companies.

While there are many registrars to choose from, my clients and I have had favorable experiences with these affordable companies:

• Namecheap
  
  
  Namecheap has been around since 2000 and has over 500,000 clients and over 2 million domains under its management. Domain registrations cost $10.69 per year or less. One thing that I personally like about them is their respect for their clients. They do not constantly blast you with advertising and up-sell offers.
  
  
• Go Daddy
  
  
  Go Daddy was founded in 1997 and is now the #1 domain name registrar with over 10 million customers and 52 million domain names under management. Founder Bob Parsons is well known (or infamous depending on your point of view) for his outgoing personality, controversial commercials, and business tips video blog. I have found their domain name registration service to be affordable and reliable.
  (Disclaimer: I have an affiliate account with GoDaddy.com.)

Top of page

 

Web Hosting Services

While many domain name registration companies also provide web hosting services, I suggest that you don't host your site with them. I believe that hosting with a company whose main business is web hosting will give you better hosting results. I recommend the following web hosting companies based on several years of experience working with them as providers of web hosting for many of my clients.

• HostGator.com
  
  
  HostGator.com provides award-winning, green web hosting. I have been hosting my own websites with them since 2008, so I can personally vouch for their services. Their web hosting accounts include free software for blogs (including WordPress), photo galleries, and much more. Their Baby hosting plan allows you to host more than one website in one account.
  (Disclaimer: I have an affiliate account with HostGator.com.)
  
  
• WebValence.com
  
  Web Valence is a favorite hosting company of writers, personal coaches, and other professionals. Several of my clients have hosted with them since the late 1990s. Web Valence charges a little more for their services because they offer personal attention and customized extras for your small business needs like newsletter broadcasting and online teleclass registration systems, services that other web hosting companies do not provide.

Top of page

 

Email Marketing / Newsletter Broadcast Providers

Email Marketing and Broadcast Services

• Constant Contact
  
  
  Trusted Email Marketing
  and Online Surveys
  Free 60-Day Trial. In addition to providing Email Marketing and Online Surveys, their learning center offers tutorials and a wealth of marketing advice.
  (Disclaimer: I have an affiliate account with Constant Contact.)
• MailChimp
  Email Marketing and Email List Manager. If your mailing list has less than 2000 subscribers or you send out newsletters infrequently, their Forever Free Plan lets you send up to 12,000 emails per month for free!
  

Email Marketing Tips

• The CAN-SPAM Act: A Compliance Guide for Business
  Guidance so your marketing emails won't be tagged as spam.

Top of page

 

Search Engine Optimization (SEO)

• HighRankings.com — Tips for optimizing your site for better search engine rankings from Jill Whalen, one of the top SEO consultants in the country.
• Search Engine Watch - Everything you could ever want to know about search engines and search engine marketing.

Top of page

 

Online Marketing

• Web Marketing Today — One of the best resources for online marketing and ecommerce information.

Top of page

 

WordPress Tips and Tutorials

• WordPress 101
  
  The WP101 video tutorial series is a great way to learn the basics for using WordPress! I have a membership, so I can personally attest to the high quality of their training videos.
  (Disclaimer: I have an affiliate account with WordPress 101.)

Top of page

 

Scams, spam, viruses, phishing and more

• Snopes - Urban legends reference pages that will tell you whether that helpful email chain letter you just received warning you of some imminent disaster is real or not.
• Internet ScamBusters - Tips and resources about spam, viruses, scams and more.

Top of page

 

If you have any favorite resources you would like to suggest for this page, please feel free to let me know.