Content Warfare | Win the Battle for Attention Online

Blogging Resources

I get asked quite a bit what tools I use on RyanHanleyDotCom to create the blog you see.  This Resources page is a way for you to easily access the different tools and information resources I use every day to make my blog a success.

Some of the tools you will have to pay for (these are worth it) and some are free (these are definitely worth it), but all of them will help you create a more success business blog.

Disclosure: Not all the resources listed on this page are free.  Please not that some of the links are affiliate links and I will earn a commission if you purchase through those links (at no extra cost to you).  These are all tools that I recommend because I use or have used them and feel that each can help you grow a successful business blog.  I’m not in the business of getting rich off affiliate links… 

Blogging

  • WordPress - There is no better platform for content generation.  It’s free, easy to use and looks great.  Both RyanHanleyDotCom and my insurance business blog are run on WordPress.
  • Genesis WordPress Theme - First and foremost every blog worth a damn has to have a high quality WordPress Theme.  I absolutely LOVE and wouldn’t use anything other than the StudioPress Genesis Themes.  Studiopress themes are ready to rock right out of the box, load extremely fast and are SEO optimized.
  • WordPress Starter Guide - is a must have guide for everyone that uses WordPress, not only beginners but those who want to learn an extra tip or two.
  • Ultimate Blog Promotion Guide - This eBook will give you detailed and useful information about promoting your blog posts!  I still use this eBook on a regular basis.
  • The Social Tools Book - The Social Tools Book was designed to help you understand and implement the 10 most crucial social media tools to the success of your business blog (In the latest edition I’ve added 2 additional tools, Pinterest and Yelp).

SEO

  • Scribe SEO – Optimize content faster, choose great keywords, preserve reader engagement, build quality links and increase targeted traffic… All that stuff sounds great!  But it also works…

Landing Pages

  • Premise – Landing pages made simple.  Premise is the single BEST landing page software I’ve found for WordPress and I use it everyday for my Speaking Services page and eBook page.

Hosting

  • Dreamhost - There are way too many options for hosting your website or blog and they all have their own marketing gimmick.  I’ve enjoyed dreamhost for other 3 years now.

Email Marketing

eBook

  • E-junkie - This is a great shopping cart to use to sell your eBook.  My first eBook will be done in a few months and I will be selling it through E-Junkie.
  • How I Sold 1 Million eBooks in 5 Months! - World famous Amazon Kindle author explains how he became a self-published success.
  • Anthologize – Free WordPress plugin that allows you to organize, combine and publish your blog posts into a ready-to-go eBook.  I used this tool for the 1st edition of my eBook.

Tracking

  • Google Analytics - Google Analytics is the enterprise-class web analytics solution that gives you rich insights into your website traffic and marketing effectiveness.  Basically the best tracking system for the average blogger.  There are other tracking products but stick with Google Analytics and you can’t go wrong.

Efficiency Products

  •  Buffer App – There are a lot of tools that allow you to schedule tweets and facebook posts but the only one that I use is Buffer App.  The Google Chrome extension makes scheduling my messages easy and allows me to accurately space them throughout the day.

Must Read Books

  • Content Rules: How to Create Killer Blogs, Podcasts, Videos, Ebooks, Webinars (and More) That Engage Customers and Ignite Your Business (New Rules Social Media Series).
  • Trust Agents: Using the Web to Build Influence, Improve Reputation, and Earn Trust.
  • Enchantment: The Art of Changing Hearts, Minds, and Actions.
  • Poke the Box: If you’re stuck at the starting line, you don’t need more time or permission. You don’t need to wait for a boss’s okay or to be told to push the button; you just need to poke.
  • Engagement from Scratch:  How Super-Community Builders Create a Loyal Audience and How You Can Do the Same!

 Advertising

  • Google Adsense – This is probably the easiest way to advertise on your site.  Sign up for free and place the code on your site and you receive a few bucks every time someone clicks an ad.
  • BuySellAds – With BuySellAds you actually sell ad space on your site to prospective advertisers.  They pay you a monthly fee for you to host their ad on your site.