5 blogging tools and resources for effective blogging

When you have the best blogging tools as a beginner in this blogging journey, it may put you at an advantage over other bloggers who are also new as you.

But tools and resources in blogging are not enough to bring you to success especially if you don't know how to use them and why you should use them.

Table of Contents

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Here are the best blogging tools for beginners:

Basic Tools for Blogging: CMS, Web host, Theme

Writing Tools for Blogging: Microsoft Word, Google Docs, Libre Office, WPS Office, Notes, WordPress, Grammarly
Design Tools for Blogging: Canva, Ready-made Templates, Fiverr (for outsourcing graphic works)
Research Tools and Resources for Blogging: Google, AnswerThePublic, Quora, Keysearch, Facebook, Pinterest

Email Marketing Tools for Blogging: Mailerlite, ConvertKit
Organizing Tools for Blogging: Planner, Evernote, Clickup

Setting up a blog and leave it as is and expecting to grow it is one of the reasons of major failure in blogging. If you are a new blogger, you need a couple tools and resources to improve your blog's performance especially if you are planning to take it to the next level.

Even writing and publishing a couple of blog posts alone doesn’t even give you the guarantee to make your blogging a success.

So let's talk more about the best blogging tools for beginners.

Must-haves best blogging tools for beginners:

Basic Tools for Blogging

CMS

What is a CMS by the way? It sounds a bit techy, I know, but it's not that complicated.

CMS means content management system.

According to HubSpot, CMS is an application that allows you to build and manage your content without coding from scratch.

One of the most common and also a popular one is WordPress (that I also recommend).

WordPress is complicated, but time after time, you will get the gist of using it and why bloggers and business owners recommend it.

In fact, over 26 million websites are built on WordPress.

If you want to know why WordPress is the one that most developers use, here’s a post.

Aside from WordPress which I obviously use and recommend, Squarespace is your other option especially if you love simple and elegant layouts.

I love the clean and white design, very minimalist, and if I were not on WordPress, I would have chosen Squarespace for blogging.

I assume you have already chosen or decided for your CMS platform, be it WordPress or Squarespace, let’s discuss next about web hosting.

Web host

If CMS helps you build and manage your website, web hosts are responsible for making your websites available online.

You can read this article because you found it online, thanks to my host, Lyrical Host.

Web host is like a house to your website, whereas, CMS is the builder. Like your apartment or house, you have to pay for that rent.

There are two types of blogs, it is either self-hosted or hosted. These two have confused me at the beginning. To put it briefly, a hosted website is one that offers an all-in-one website solution.

They provide everything, including the hosting and storage for all your all files. Well, that sounds perfect, right? Not really since you’re limited to using tools and templates. Whereas a self-hosted website option is an open-source that you can modify it how you like it.

If you want to have a self-hosted website, you have to purchase web hosting for your files to be stored on a server plus a domain (URL of your site).

To summarize, WordPress.com is a hosted website together with Squarespace, Wix and Blogger while WordPress.org is a self-hosted website with your choice of a web host.

This site has tried 3 web hosts and while I changed my host, I still recommend Siteground.

Simply, customer support is superb and they transfer your website for free from another web host.

If you want to hear more techy side on why you should have SiteGround as your web host, they have built-in WordPress caching and CDN integration (believe me, I just researched the last one, unless they changed it.)

Lastly, if you’ve been following my blog, from my other post, SiteGround saved my blog from the hack.

Another web host that I recommend is my present one – the Lyrical Host. Like Siteground, Lyrical Host is also a competent web host service when it comes to client support and their responses are also quick.

The team always finds the solutions to my problems when it comes to my site whenever I turn to them.

They have migrated my site too from my previous web host and if you're not sure about techy stuff, trust them to do it for you, they'll just need your confirmation to let them do it.

If you're convinced now, you can use CLYDE10 to get a 10% discount off your first month on Lyrical Host.

But of course, before you decide to build a blog or website, you should purchase first a domain name.

Theme

For some this may not be too important.

Others may say, focus on your content and traffic but personally, I still recommend working on your site's appearance.

You don't have to buy premium and expensive themes.

What matters is, your site has everything the visitors need and search when they land on your website.

You should get a theme that enables accessibility to your readers or else they will leave immediately.

Though a CMS like WordPress helps you build a site, it won't build the site for you without your hands or fingers working behind.

But rest assured though, you don't need a programming degree to build a website.

So what I recommend for you to let you have a site that won't be disappointing to your visitors is a theme like Kadence.

Like Elemento r, Kadence makes it easy for everyone to build blogs and websites. Everything you need for your blog and website is even available using a Kadence free theme.

When you use Kadence theme, you can also get Starter Templates which are also free. Just choose a template, and then you can customize it.

Set up everything?

You might like to read – Start A Blog Checklist: What Your Blog Needs Before Launching

Writing Tools for Blogging:

You have everything now and you're ready to start writing already.

Microsoft Word

One of the most common and famous writing tools with the features you need for writing and editing an article. Unlike Google Docs, Microsoft Word is not free but you can get a free trial and once you have this, you can always this even without connecting to the internet.

If the price of Microsoft package yearly subscription makes gasp, you can try and use these alternatives which are free.

Google Docs

This is totally free if you don't want to write directly on WordPress. You can also connect Grammarly to Google Docs. It is pretty much easy to use just like Microsoft Word. You can also download a copy to your computer or laptop and continue working on it even without internet connection.

Libre Office

This one is based on OpenOffice and is also similar to Microsoft Office. It also supports many formats and is free to download. Mac users can also download Libre Office if you are looking for a Microsoft alternative.

WPS Office

Although WPS Office offers premium versions, their free version of the tool is already enough to cater your needs in writing. Like Microsoft Office, they have their own versions of Powerpoint and Excel too which are also available for free.

Notes

This is rather a note-taking free app developed for Apple users, but if you are on the road, and can't pull out your laptop and work on an article, you can use this app on your phone.

You can start writing on the app and continue it in the later time on your favorite writing tool. You just need to copy and paste what you have started to the software you are using for writing.

WordPress

Instead of wasting your time in searching for the best writing tool, why don't you make use WordPress and the advantages of writing directly?

Like I said, you can save time and you can already preview how your article or blog posts appears when you're finished with writing.

Grammarly

I am not a native English speaker. My English is not perfect and so is my writing. Thankfully, Grammarly exists for bloggers and writers.

Additionally, Grammarly has a free option too. Expectedly, this tool will help you correct and proofread your post and even provide an option for what to replace.

I love this tool for checking my grammatical errors and spelling mistakes for all my blog posts and even social media posts.

This grammar checker has a Chrome extension which makes it more accessible and easier to edit your files.

The browser add-on is available and you can even use Grammarly while you’re on WordPress writing your blog post directly.

I recommend this tool if you’re on a tight budget too.

Design Tools for Blogging

Canva

In order to make your post much livelier, you need an accessory, an image, but not simply an image but a designed or a customized image.

Canva is free to use but there is also a premium version that enables you to do more on this tool.

The free version is already enough if you just want to edit graphics for your blog posts such as your feature photo or Pinterest graphic.

Speaking of images, you need to be careful of copyright issues too.

You can’t simply download any images from Google and post them on your blog without crediting the owner or asking for permission to use them.

To avoid any copyright issues and problems, you can utilize free stock images on Unsplash, Pixabay and Pexels but make sure to acknowledge the owner too and mention them on your blog post, as a caption for example.

But if you want feminine stock photos with a huge selection to choose from, I recommend and use images from Ivory Mix which I'm really in love with.

Ready-made Templates

As mentioned above, you need graphics for your blog posts to make them much livelier and visitor-friendly.

Some people are more visual and images like Pinterest graphics appeal to them, making them more interested to follow you and your blog posts.

Also, Pinterest helps drive traffic to your blog. You just need Pinterest graphic which is also featured on your blog post and save it on its designated Pinterest board.

Don’t forget to add your blog URL so when somebody finds your pin and click on it, it would lead him to your post.

For some, it may be complicated having no time to do everything for one single blog post, but with these Pinterest templates, I have already taken the task of creating Pinterest Templates off your hands.

All you have to do is edit it and add your own texts. Voila! You’re done, without even driving yourself insane.

When you don't have time to manage or set up your Pinterest account, I'm here to help you. Just click here to know how we can work together.

Fiverr

Fiverr is not a tool but a platform for freelancers and clients who need tasks done that they cannot do themselves anymore due to lack of time or lack of skill.

Though you might have heard that such freelancing platform is not good for outsourcing but you can always find the best freelancers there.

Cheap pricing doesn't always mean you will get a cheap work.

Research Tools and Resources for Blogging

Google

Where do we always look for answer?

Just go to Google and you will find everything.

If you need topics and more information to the article you're currently writing, Google can give you the answer.

Even if you're looking for keywords, Google can help you too!

AnswerThePublic

Suffering from writer's block? Then use this keyword tool and start looking for topics and phrases using AnswerThePublic. You will find a goldmine of topics and questions from Google searches there.

Quora

This is one of my favourite resources when I'm looking for topics to write on my blog.

For readers who are not familiar with Quora, this is a platform where you can ask questions and people who are registered users can give you their opinion and insight.

Keysearch

One of the most affordable tools I use to look for keywords that will help me appear on Google's first page – and it has not even disappointed me.

This is recommended by many bloggers not only because of its price which is below 20 dollars monthly and I've been using it since 2019, but it is also beginner-friendly.

Facebook

Whether you like Facebook or not, on this platform you will find a lot of ideas to write and answers to support your article and blog posts.

To get more of the leverage of this platform, you should join Facebook groups according to your niche and once you're inside a certain group, you will find discussions and questions that you can use for your article.

Think of Google search results with gorgeous photos and texts, that's Pinterest. Many people turn to Pinterest for inspirations, be it home renovations, DIY and fashion.

Content creators and writers can use Pinterest for content ideas and keyword phrases as well.

Email Marketing Tools for Blogging

Mailerlite

So you can connect with your readers and visitors in a more exclusive way, you can use email newsletter which is a must-have if you're really serious in blogging.

Think of it as a private den for insiders who would like to get more updates and personal tidbits in your life.

What email provider do I recommend? If you're tight on a budget or not yet sure if collecting and writing emails help you grow your blog, you can try Mailerlite for free.

Even with the free version, you can have everything, at least the basic ones for your email marketing. With the free version, you can collect until 1000 subscribers and send 12000 emails a month.

ConvertKit

Aside from Mailerlite, ConvertKit is also suitable for people who have not yet started with their email marketing. Like Mailerlite, it has also a free version which allows you to create landing pages, sign up forms and send emails to 1000 subscribers.

Organizing Tools for Blogging

Planner

To make my blog planning much easier, I turn to a traditional planner which I printed at home and use to organize my blog posts.

Why should you use a planner?

It is affordable and it makes you even more productive and creative.

You can create your own planner on Canva or any designing software such as Adobe InDesign, Illustrator and Affinity Designer.

Evernote

Evernote is not only a tool for taking notes but for organizing and managing tasks as well.

Unfortunately, the free version is limited but you can always try it and upgrade it when you need more features and storage.

Clickup

I have personally used this tool before and I was really pleased with the features it has. You can organize, manage and even prioritize tasks. Like Evernote, you can use this tool if you have a team in your business.

If you want to know more about this tool, you can read this article.

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There are other tools which I didn’t specifically mention above but are also very relevant to me.

Other tools and resources for blogging:

Codeable-helps me with my technical problems on my blog when SiteGround couldn’t help me further. SiteGround and Codeable are already partners by the way, so if you have a massive problem with your blog, turn to Codeable and you get a $60 discount if you are also on SiteGround.

RankMath– for basic SEO, I use this free plugin on WordPress. There’s also a paid version but for me, the free version is already enough.

Picmonkey– If I’m not on Canva, I’m on this wonderful platform. Check it out and you won’t regret it.

Keywords Everywhere, Moz and SemRush– when I am looking for more keywords and features Keysearch doesn't have.

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Wrapping it up

There you have it. Every blogger differs, some of these tools may not be effective to you but you always have the free will to decide what’s good for you and what is not.

What do you think about these tools and resources for blogging? Do you use them too or do you have other better tools for effective blogging?