resources
From website hosts to copywriting services
and more, here’s what I recommend …
Some of the links on this page are affiliate links, and I may receive a commission on purchases made, at no additional cost to you. I only recommend products and services that I think are truly fabulous, and I use most of these myself. Please don’t feel any pressure to use my links. If you do, it’s appreciated, but regardless, these are the services I recommend.
Website Hosts
Choosing a quality host is an important part of setting up your WordPress site. A poor hosting provider can have a significant impact on your site’s performance (and your sanity!). The hosts I recommend below were chosen based on performance, customer service, and security.
I have used Flywheel on many of the sites I have designed, as well as my own site for many years. They make it a breeze for me to set up everything and then just transfer ownership of the site to you. Their support is always extremely helpful! Flywheel specializes in WordPress hosting only, so they do not offer domain registrations or email hosting. This isn’t a problem at all; it just means you’ll need to take care of those services elsewhere.
This site is hosted on WP Engine! WP Engine offers a WordPress hosting platform backed by a team of WordPress experts who are available 24/7 to make things easy for you. Like Flywheel, WP Engine is built with WordPress in mind, so you’ll experience superior performance and quality. You’ll also need to register your domain and host your email elsewhere. The price is higher than some hosts, but it’s usually worth the investment. Click here to receive your first four months free.
Shared hosting is the most affordable option if you have multiple websites, though site performance will not be as good as the other recommendations I have made. SiteGround is currently the option I consider to be best for shared hosting. They usually have a significant discount for the first year, followed by regular pricing after that. SiteGround hosting also includes email. Their support services, while more limited than the other options I have included, are generally reliable.
PLEASE NOTE: There are some hosts that I do not recommend based on both my own experience and that of our clients. I don’t post a list of those hosts here, as I’d prefer not to publicly drag their names through the mud, but if you’re working with me and considering a different host, please let me know before you sign up for services. Making a good choice where hosting is concerned will save hours of frustration down the road.
Domain Registration & Email Hosting
Due to recent email deliverability changes, it’s more important than ever for you to use an email address with your own domain. (For example, I use [email protected]).
Depending on which hosting company you choose, domain registration and email hosting may be available at your hosting provider. If not, I recommend the following:
Namecheap (for Domain Registration)
For domain registration only, I recommend Namecheap. They include free WHOISGuard Identity Protection with each domain registration purchase. There is no need to purchase their hosting or any other add-ons.
Google Workspace (for Email Hosting)
Google Workspace is an excellent choice for email hosting. Their service includes Gmail Business Email using your own domain ([email protected]), as well as other features such as online storage and live support. If you register your domain at Namecheap, they have an option you can select that will automatically configure your domain settings (DNS) for Google Workspace. This makes setup very easy!
Email Marketing
I really can’t overemphasize the importance of building an email list. It has the potential to be the your most powerful marketing tool, and it’s a tool you control, rather than one you have to share with a social media giant such as Facebook. You can read more about the benefits of email marketing in this article from ConvertKit.
MailerLite provides a user-friendly dashboard with a drag & drop editor and beautiful templates to make your emails stand out. It’s very affordable (free up to 1,000 subscribers and reasonably priced above that). I use MailerLite personally and have been very happy with their service.
Flodesk makes it easy to design beautiful emails and forms for your subscribers. There is no free plan option, but their flat $38/month fee includes unlimited subscribers and emails. Flodesk also has an e-commerce option for digital products.
ConvertKit is viewed as one of the best professional level email marketing solutions. Their emails are less design-focused and more focused on getting your content into your reader’s inbox. They do not offer RSS to email (which is required if you want your blog posts to be sent to your subscribers automatically), so this is something to keep in mind.
Professional Copywriting Services
Cynthia Stuckey is the Chief Conversion Copywriter of Gratitude Copy. She writes high-converting copy for your website so your message is crystal clear and your audience is moved to take action!
I have collaborated with Cynthia on various projects for years, and her work is impeccable. More recently, I have built VIP Day websites for her clients using the copy she has written. I cannot recommend her enough!
Gratitude Copy’s Done-For-You Copywriting Services include:
Other Tools
There are a variety of tools available to enhance your workflow and make running your website and/or business easier. Here are a few that I recommend.
Restored 316 Designs is known for their beautiful Kadence child themes and block collections. Lauren and her team do impeccable work, and I know that I can always trust the quality of the themes they develop. If you want more flexibility to add designed blocks and pages to your site over time, using a Restored 316 Designs child theme with Kadence can be a great choice.
WP Rocket is an excellent performance plugin that provides caching and much more. Designed for WordPress, WP Rocket is continually being updated to keep up with the latest web performance requirements. This premium plugin will speed up your loading time, idramatically improve your overall website performance, and help you address the most important PageSpeed Insights recommendations.
Acuity Scheduling is customizable appointment scheduling software made easy, automating your workflows, payments, and bookings. Many of my client use this for scheduling coaching calls, discovery calls, and more.
HoneyBook is the all-in-one clientflow platform that I personally use. It allows you to create interactive experiences that make it easy for clients to select services, eSign contracts, send payments, and more—all in one go. Get HoneyBook for 25% off for one year with my referral link.
Canva makes it easy to design so many things, ranging from social media graphics to freebie downloads. Even if you don’t have a lot of design skills or experience, their templates make design doable! You can do so much with their free plan, and for even more features and templates, their paid plan is affordable.
The Styled Stock Society membership provides stock photos and brand images for female entrepreneurs. The membership also includes Canva graphic templates, and weekly marketing resources are added every single week.