I have a Future and a Hope

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You are here: Home / Blog Resources / My Top Blogger Resources

My Top Blogger Resources

January 16, 2015 by Alana 16 Comments

I started my blog as a personal diary in 2010, but it has grown since then into what “I have a Future and a Hope” is today.  I have moved in a more professional direction and haven’t turned back.  Perhaps you are wanting to grow your blog as well, I have compiled my top blogger resources I used starting out and am sharing them with you today.

This post may contains affiliate links, which means I receive a small commission if you make a purchase using these links. Please see my disclosure page for full details.

I had no idea there were so many things I didn’t know about blogging. I thought it was as simple as pick a platform for my blog (blogger/WordPress), pick a cute template, and start to write. While there is nothing wrong with that, I was just not having the reach to readers that I wanted.  So I started a little research of my own via Facebook. I started to click-through to websites from articles that I enjoyed reading, not just reading the titles. When I did this my eyes were opened to a “blog world” I never knew existed until then.

You mean all of these awesome websites that had all of these articles I loved reading were actually blogs? Yes, they were. The excitement set in and I was hooked. I started my journey.

So if you are wanting to start a blog, or have a small blog that you want to grow,  check out my top blogging resources in this post. As I find more resources I will be adding to this list. I will categorize this list so it will be easier to find what you are looking for.

Books to Read

  • Building A Framework: Everything I Learned My First Year Of Blogging

The very first book I read about blogging was from Abby over at Just a Girl and Her Blog. She wrote an e-book outlining what she learned in her first year of blogging, she lays out a framework for you to follow to get your blog up and running, and shares a lot of technicalities about it. I highly recommend this book.

Building A Framework

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  • How To Blog For Profit Without Selling Your Soul

I am currently reading this book, as well as taking Ruth Soukup’s Elite Blogging Academy Blogging Course. She does a great job explaining the monetization of a blog. If your goal is to one day make an income from your blog this is a must read. This is available in hard copy or e-book.


Blog Platform / Templates/ Hosting

To get your blog up and running you will need a host to park your blog at. A host is the place you go to set up your blog and create your wordpress blog. There are a ton of places to host your blog, but Blue Host is really affordable, and if your just starting out it will be perfect for you. It is as low as $3.95 a month! Check them out.


I have my blog set up on WordPress.com.  I currently use GoDaddy as my host, but I have heard about several other hosts out there that are just a great or better.  There are different templates and platforms to run your blog on, but I have found out that a Genesis Framework for my blog has made it so easy to navigate and run my blog. Here are the sites that I used to purchase my  templates.

  • Genesis Framework

Genesis is not the pretty template itself, but it is the base of the template. With genesis you will purchase something called a child theme, the child theme is all of the pretty graphics you see on the blog. A lot of child themes you purchase will include the Genesis Framework, but please make sure before you purchase it. I bought the Genesis Framework, and then found a child theme that I like, and then purchased that separately. I will give more details in the other resources below for child themes.

Genesis Theme Framework for WordPress

  • Foodie Pro Theme : My current genesis child theme
  •  Restored 316 Designs

Restored 316 Designs are compatible with the Genesis Framework, and are the easiest to work with that I have used so far. You can purchase the template and install it yourself, or Restored 316 Designs can customize your template for you for a fee. I personally installed my own because I know some coding.  Her designs are beautiful!  Delightful Pro Theme


 Photo Editing

  • Picmonkey

I love this super easy photo editing tool! I love that there is no software to install, and the options are endless with the fonts and graphics. There is a free version, but I purchased the Royal package to have all the extra options. I make my Pinterest, Facebook, and blog graphics with this program. Just have fun, and create eye-catching photos!

 

 

If you have any questions about these resources please just ask! Have fun getting your blog set up just the way you want it.

(There may be affiliate links in the above post. See my disclosure page for more details.)

 

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Filed Under: Blog Resources, Favorite Posts, Most Popular, Uncategorized Tagged With: affiliate, blog, Books, Help, list, meal plan, Mom, reading, resources, Slider, template

Comments

  1. Amanda says

    January 21, 2015 at 12:22 pm

    Great resources! Thanks for sharing!
    Amanda recently posted…amanda & joe’s fall seaside weddingMy Profile

    Reply
  2. Hope N. Griffin says

    January 21, 2015 at 12:23 pm

    Thanks for all the tips. Adding the books to my reading list for 2015. And I love PicMonkey!
    Hope N. Griffin recently posted…The Other WifeMy Profile

    Reply
  3. Natasha says

    January 21, 2015 at 5:04 pm

    I’ve been wanting to try picMonkey! Thank you for the tips!

    Reply
  4. Jenn says

    January 21, 2015 at 8:18 pm

    This is a great list for those new to blogging! :)

    Reply
  5. Lauryn Hock says

    January 21, 2015 at 9:09 pm

    I totally pinned this!
    Lauryn Hock recently posted…Our RoomMy Profile

    Reply
  6. Shannon Peterson says

    January 21, 2015 at 9:13 pm

    Thank you so much for the wonderful resources!
    Shannon Peterson recently posted…What I wore // Mom StyleMy Profile

    Reply
  7. Angel says

    January 22, 2015 at 1:05 am

    I checked out How To Blog For Profit Without Selling Your Soul on Kindle Unlimited and plan to read it soon. I like using Ribbet, but so many people recommend PicMonkey that I may give it another look. Thanks for sharing, and God bless! :)

    Reply
  8. Jamie says

    January 22, 2015 at 7:14 am

    I love picmonkey so much! I don’t know what I did before using them!
    Jamie recently posted…Bacon Wrapped Sausage Jalapeno PoppersMy Profile

    Reply
  9. Tami @ This Mom's Delight says

    January 22, 2015 at 7:23 am

    Oooh, a new book to add to my huge reading wish list!

    Reply
  10. Sonja Pound says

    January 22, 2015 at 9:35 am

    I just started blogging and appreciate your resources. What I like the best is your disclosure page. That is now next on my list. Thanks and I look forward to reading more of what you share.
    Sonja Pound recently posted…3 Amazing Productivity ToolsMy Profile

    Reply
  11. Tara Joy says

    January 22, 2015 at 9:55 am

    Thank you so much for these resources! I absolutely love pic monkey, makes things so quick and easy!
    Tara Joy recently posted…How To Wear Skirts In WinterMy Profile

    Reply
  12. Jane @ Limeade Gal says

    January 22, 2015 at 10:12 am

    Thanks Alana for the information. I am always looking for ways to grow & improve my blog. Pinning this for future reference!

    Reply
  13. Joyce @ My Stay At Home Adventures says

    January 23, 2015 at 8:55 pm

    Thank your for posting this post. I have to say that How To Blog For Profit changed the way I blog. Amazing book. I use Pic Monkey and Canva for my pictures. Thank you for sharing this information with us.
    Joyce @ My Stay At Home Adventures recently posted…Learn To Coupon On A Low IncomeMy Profile

    Reply
    • Alana says

      January 27, 2015 at 3:34 pm

      Joyce thank you for reading!

      Reply
  14. diana says

    January 24, 2015 at 10:34 pm

    these are great! thank you for sharing

    Reply
    • Alana says

      January 27, 2015 at 3:34 pm

      Thank you for stopping by!

      Reply

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Welcome!

Alana Satterly is a mom of four kids that keep her on her toes, a follower of Christ, a wife of 18 years, and a lover of peppermint mocha coffee. Her husband is a cancer survivor, and that journey started her love of writing on her blog I have a Future and a Hope where she encourages women to find hope in their faith, home, finances, parenting, and more.

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