Since the list began we have started to get a few queries as to how someone can setup their own blog or improve their site. Below are a few basic resources we have used here at Legal Notebook to get us started.
Basics
Domain
We recommend Namecheap to register your domain. It can be a .com/ .co.uk / .org etc. Namecheap is good for privacy protection and have excellent customer service.
Hosting
Hostgator have a large number of deals and packages to suit all sizes of sites and have a huge number of free extras and experts available to help 24/7, Which has helped us on more than one occasion! use can use the promo code “LegalNotebook25” to get 25% off of all packages.
Theme:
Your site has to look goof to. We recommend Studiopress and the Genesis framework for a fast efficient (and beautiful site). We are working on a update based on Genesis ourselves at the moment.
Autoresponder
You need a way to keep your followers updated. Best way is to get them to subscribe to your mailing list. We use Mailchimp – it’s free and awesome! they have great tutorials to get you started.
Analytic / SEO
We recommend SumAll it’s free and collates data from your twitter / FB/ Mailchimp / Google Analytics and allows you to cross reference all data so you can best improve your efforts online.
Our second tool is Moz Analytics we use this to have a look at where our links / traffic are coming from and what “topics” are most popular. They also have some great starter guides for seo and Social Media – including a truckload of videos and tutorials. Their data powers our top 100 list.
Key Reading
These sites are in our weekly reading list (apart from the top 100 of course) – check them out!
Moz.com – Inbound Marketing Blog
QuickSprout – Blog Growth and Marketing blog
Firepole Marketing – Site and Blog Marketing Blog
Conversion Rate Experts – Convert Traffic better to your goal.
KissMetrics – Conversion and engagement bog
We shall keep this list updated with what we use and recommend – if we don’t have it or use it, it wont be here! so bookmark it and see you in the top 100!