Resources

Find all my best-loved tools, sources of information and services all compiled into this handy list. I look for the best value option, free as often as possible, and always with great support from the developers.

I only recommend the ones I love and use, but remember, a resource is only as good as what you make of it. It’s so easy to get overwhelmed trying and switching from one wonder to another – so once you pick your perfect tool suite, and build a custom system for your business, don’t switch again too soon – stick with it!

Ps. I earn a referral commission on some of the links below if you chose to click on and make a purchase. These help me spend more time on putting together all the amazing free content on the site, newsletter & social media. No one works for free 😉

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The full list

Domain Name

  • Namecheap: My best recommendation for purchasing your domain name.

WordPress Hosting

  • Siteground: For beginners and bigger websites alike, with very cost-effective services, big value and great support.
  • WP Engine: High-end option with a large user base, and great support.
  • Liquid Web: Fully managed WordPress. Great service and support.

WordPress Themes

  • Astra: The best free e-commerce ready theme for WordPress, with extensive customisable options and a large user base. Highly recommend the upgrade option for it too.
  • Genesis Framework by StudioPress: My long-time favourite theme framework for WordPress.
  • Restored 316: Feminine e-commerce Genesis themes with great documentation.
  • 17th Avenue: Beautiful blogging themes, perfect for you if your online shop has an active blog, or if your business is content led.
  • Divi: Huge user base & amazing support. If you are looking for a theme with a visual builder so you can truly build your website visually, I recommend Divi.
  • Savoy by NordicMade: Excellent minimal e-commerce theme I use for my site mythyn.com (although note that I’ve heavily customised it)

Graphic Design

Video

E-commerce Optimisation

  • WPRocket: Speed up your website with the best WordPress caching plugin on the market. Excellent value and great support.
  • Advanced Coupons: The most versatile and fully kitted advanced coupon options for Woocommerce.
  • Judge.me: Don’t stick with the standard Woocommerce review system. Judge.me will make getting reviews much easier.
  • NextMove by XLPlugins: Create customised thank you pages depending on the customer’s purchase
  • Woocommerce Custom Product Addons by Acoweb: Add custom options and fields for your product pages.

Wholesale

  • Wholesale Suite: WordPress Wholesale solution – premium. Highly recommended to gain ownership over your wholesale process directly from your website.
  • Indie Retail Academy: The most charming duo, Clare & Anthony know all there is to know about wholesaling to Indie retailers and share their wisdom with humour & genuine kindness.
  • Small Business Collaborative: Excellent resources to grow your business with wholesale, Therese always has the best straight-talking advice.

SEO & Content

Analytics

Content Personalisation

Business Admin

  • CraftyBase: Running a product business where you manufacture the products? Craftybase is a godsend.
  • The Contract Shop: For all your legal needs, this website offers legal templates that will help you get all set up.

Email Marketing

  • Drip: My favourite (I currently use it for both my businesses) fully kitted, smooth and modern e-commerce focused ecrm. Highly recommended for any e-commerce website looking to deliver personalised content at the right time to their subscribers and customers.
  • Klaviyo: Free way to get started with e-commerce focused email marketing. Recommended as you can start with their free tier and still benefit from e-commerce optimised automation.
  • Mailchimp: The most widely used email marketing company with a big user community. Limited however with a wide user base comes a big community of support.
  • ConvertKit: If your strategy is content heavy go for ConvertKit.
  • Interact: Another great way to build your list is with quizzes & giveaways – hands down, go for Interact for the best value.

Social Media

  • SLASHED: The Ultimate Social Media & Influencer Marketing Guide. A huge, highly valuable & very engaging resource I recommend instead of wasting time trying this and that, and a lot of money on very expensive overblown courses on the topic.
  • Later: The best all-around social media scheduler (and their blog + courses are great too).
  • Tailwind: Worth using just for Pinterest if you have extra budget
  • Social Warfare: The best option for social sharing on your site and the paid upgrade is well worth it too.
  • Monarch: if you have a Divi license
  • Smash Balloon Instagram Feed: insert an Instagram feed anywhere on your site (like mine at the bottom of the page).
  • WPZoom Social Icons: Insert social icon links inside WordPress widget areas.
  • Shared Count: Free and fast social sharing buttons

Online Courses

  • Thinkific: Selling an online course? It’s a fantastic way to provide additional value to your audience, even when your business is product-based & I recommend Thinkific.
  • Tutor LMS: Want a WordPress hosted / on your site option? Here’s what I’m using – it’s great out of the box but relatively new so not time-tested yet.

Useful WP Plugins

  • CartFlows: Build end-to-end on your own website funnels to sell your products and offer order bumps.
  • Smart Slider 3: For beautiful, fast, responsive sliders on your website.
  • WPDiscuz: Replace the usual WP blog comments section with a more engaging layout.
  • Calendly: Free forms plugin.
  • Gravity Forms: The best option for a paid forms plugin.
  • Display Posts: Display any content from your website in a list or grid.
  • Essential Grid: Create any post, page or media gallery you want on your website.
  • Above Header Bar: Adds a section above your theme header for your email signup form, social links & more.
  • Easy Forms For Mailchimp: Because creating good sign up forms for Mailchimp isn’t that straightforward.

Webinars

Productivity & Project Management

  • Clickup: The best tool to manage your projects and track all your tasks. I also use Asana when working on client projects, but much prefer Clickup for myself.

Wisdom & Mindset

  • James Wedmore – Mind Your Business Podcast: Life-changing business mindset advice – genuinely helped me reframe my thinking
  • Tizzit: Deb’s advice around all that is involved in running a handmade shop is always on-point & no-nonsense
  • Shopify Blog: While I personally prefer to use WordPress, the Shopify blog is choc-full of insights and resources for e-commerce.

Books

Home Office Kit

  • Wireless remote control for your camera: Take photos with you in them without having to hire a photographer, or asking someone else (aka. no waiting when you have a photo idea)
  • Jarvis by Fully: I’m in love with this sit-stand desk, Honestly, I’m sat a lot when I do website work and it’s changed my health.

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