[Updated 30 October 2018] By jeff – I get many enquiries quite frequently about “what hosting I use for this blog” , “which is a good place to register www domain names” and “What are some good cheap optimised wordpress themes that I can use for my wordpress blog?”. So I said to myself – why not publish a resources page, and so here it is called “resOces” .
Below you can check out all the service providers that I use for managing this blog and also my other blogs that I run. I can say if these resources are good enough for me, then surely it is will also work for you.
I have written many articles on this blog – that you can find helpful if you are starting a blog or website. I’m sure people who are already into blogging will also find something useful.
So here are my list of resources :
Domain Names For Your Website
There has always been discussion about your owned domain name versus a free domain ( e.g. techxxblog.blogspot.com.au). When you purchase your own domain name and hosting – It gives you freedom to create your brand identity move your current hosting whenever you wish too – if you have problems with your current provider and keep full control of your own blog. You pretty much own your domain name and you website content and space. Domain names are not very pricey and can come as cheap at under $10 dollar for .com domain name.(you can click the above godaddy promo banner to get a cheap domain name or browse deals)
PROMO CODE 1. – Use our blog coupon code cjc2off30 -30% off to get 30% off discount on purchases [Offer expires 08/03/2019 – *See Cart for details].
Promo code 2. – Use our blog coupon code new coupon AUS – $1*/ mo hosting! [valid until 31/03/2019]
Godaddy – is one of the world largest domain name registrar ( though its governed by US regulations . It offers you an amazing range of all inclusive domain name services, as well as hosting for a reasonable cost under one account. If you like their service, you can sign up as an affiliate and promote them to earn some money once you sign up.
I host most of my domain names on Godaddy for the last 10 years and have not been disappointed by their domain managing system. if you want to check out a detailed review of different domain name provider companies – check our more recent blog post over here.
- Free Domain name – Most web-hosting services will offer you free domain name with a good hosting package. Look out for these deals when they become available.
Web Hosting for blogs / websites:
[Update best current offer : Godaddy $1 hosting offer ]
If you choose FREE blogging options – like blogger and wordpress.com , buying hosting separately is not required. But if you opt for a standalone wordPress install with your own purchased hosting space then you get full freedom of choosing your blog design and customising it, freedom to advertise what ads you like on your website, no restrictions to doing business and making money from your website etc… I recommend Bluehost! – but there are some more options to choose from as well below.
- Hostgator | Bluehost($3.49 a month) | Dreamhost | GoDaddy Hosting – These are all great places to start your blog with shared hosting. They have 1-click WordPress install services which will take out all the hassles of installing or starting up a wordpress blog as your website is installed in minutes with 1 click wordpress install . The bandwidth Space provided for your files ( website) and customer support are all great and enough to easily host 2 to 3 or even more blogs .
- Starting a Ecommerce Store – Shopify powers some of the world’s most successful online stores. They have hosted startups to billion-dollar businesses with companies in 150+ countries growing with shopify online. They offer a one stop solution for your ecommerce store needs with various flexible pricing plans . The bespoke software creates beautiful and completely customizable online stores with powerful features, with the ability to sell products online with ease , process and ship orders, and track inventory, They have everything an online business needs. [ As part of our DigitalGrog Special deal – You can complete an online form to try Shopify FREE for 15 days. Click here to try it out ]
Managed Hosting & optimised hosting
- For hostgator we have a special permanent custom coupon code which you can enter to claim your discounted hosting deal , the Coupon code is dg25percentoff . To avail of it just go to www.hostgator.com and enter the coupon code while purchasing or at the check out.
- I use Hostmonster, Blue-host,Godaddy and Hostgator hosting for my many other blogs. This blog runs on
Hostmonster( pressidium now). I still use Hostmonster for my other gadget blog – Click here to sign up with my hosting provider hostmonster.com [ Get Hostmonster Deal Here Coupon: Gimmemore ]
- Netregistry (Melbourne IT) – Get deals Here
More Website-Hosting deals for our readers from Dreamhost
If you are a dreamer you will like these special prices called “Dreamhost Deals” from dreamhost hosting .We have these deals for you as we are an affiliate for most of these hosting partners.
Get $25 off shared hosting plans – Click here
Get$50 off Shared hosting plans- Click here
WordPress Themes for your blog or website:
- Elegant themes, WP Zoom and Solostream are my preferred paid premium themes which are quite reasonably priced and offer value for money in terms of SEO benefits, custom design, amazing theme framework options which will work for web-masters with no design or coding experience. All these themes offer unique capabilities with different pricing plans – and you can choose whichever you like. Read our reviews on theme review.



Youtube Video review of Solostream themes ( which i use for this blog)
Here are some additional posts that i have written on bogging and reviews of resources that i have used on my blogs :
- The basics of starting a Blog
- How to buy a Domain Name and domain buying 101
- Comparison on Blog Web Hosting for Australians
- Comparison of Australian US domain registration providers
- 6 AWESOME, CHEAP PREMIUM WORDPRESS THEMES
- Solostream WP Clear WordPress theme review
- The new wordpress theme that’s truly radiant
- Starting a Blog for MakingMoney Online
TWITTER UPDATE
http://t.co/S5yxJr0LDw via @youtube Dont know where to start … Trying to figure out how to start a blog? Well, starting a blogwebsite
— DigitalGrog (@undermarrest) October 16, 2015
Some of the links i provide here are my provider affiliate links, you do not get charged anything additional and infact will receive any current discount available through this links if you decide to purchase any service or product. Most of the resources i have mentioned here are obviously used by me and that is why i am recommend it. Those services that don’t give enough value do get a special (poor rating ) review post on my blog, so rest assured the list over her is the best of the best.
Blogging Software
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- You will need you own domain name and hosting to get started if you are not using the free service , but if you are serious about your blogging and earning money then i would suggest getting a hosting account from oneof the hosting providers below , which entitles you too free wordpress install in a few clicks from within the hosting package.
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- WordPress.com ( freeVersion) – This is self hosted alternative to WordPress.org. It is easy to move your blog from WordPress.com to WordPress.org once you get the hang of it or then just upgrade with domain and hosting
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- Blogger – Google’s free blogging tool which isone of the easiest way to start a blog. B logger provides you with powerful blogging tools and options and its hell easy. You will get a name like xxxxx.blospot.com blog address and you have th option of getting your own custom domain names attached to the freeblog. I have also started out with blogger for blogging, but now people have so many more options and information available to just get started on a full fledged blog instead at low costs
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- Tumblr and Postereous – Quick and easy other bloggin platforms that are similar to blogger and wordpress but a bit different , these options are also skewed towards starting a blog, photoblog or moblog.
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TWITTER UPDATE
30 percent off Solsotream WordPress themes for Octoberfest deals 2015 http://t.co/tjScvFap3w pic.twitter.com/7laBwSAhiw — DigitalGrog (@undermarrest) October 18, 2015
Make Money Online with Advertising
- Google Adsense (PPC) – Google currently Offers the best pay per click (PPC) advertising to earn money just by adding a simple line of code. Bing and facebook are now getting into the competition and are good alternatives. If you have a blog or website , you can earn money on-line from whatever little traffic you have. Read more about Ad sense.
- Amazon.com (Affiliate) – You can sell products like gadgets, music, software and anything else you can imagine and get paid a good measly affiliate commission for the same. If you run a product oriented niche site, carefully embedded links can make money for you easily.
Interested In trying out PPC/Search engine Advertising ?
[Grab some Free coupons codes to get started below] – Coupon Codes You Can Use Today to Save Money
These coupons are only good for new customers.
New Business and website customers in the following markets receive free search adverting credits to help them get started:
- US – $50 in Bing Ads credit –
- Canada (English and French)- $50 in Bing Ads credit –
- UK – £50in Bing Ads credit –
- France – €50in Bing Ads credit
- Germany – €50in Bing Ads credit
- Brazil – R$60in Bing Ads credit
- Australia – $40 in Bing Ads credit –
- New Zealand – $40 in Bing Ads credit –
- India – Rs1000 in Bing Ads credit –
- Spain – €50in Bing Ads credit ( Comparo algunos servidores web australiano contra los Estados Unidos de hosting )
- Italy – €50 in Bing Ads credit (New market!) –
Promotion Australian Affiliates
I have added a extensive list of “Australian affiliates” <- over here, but right now I am testing out Commission factory that sounds quite promising . Click the banner below if you want to try it out
Have you heard of Internet Marketing – Join warrior forum over here to discuss Internet marketing with top marketers and find out latest IM and money making strategies (Its free to join). I also browse BHW.
Site Traffic Tracking
- Google Analytics – One of the best, most accurate and most powerful site traffic tracking tool out there. It is powered by Google and is totally free.
- WordPress Stats | Statcounter | google webmaster tools – I use these three accurate Stats counter to know how much traffic i get as well as analyse the traffic and keywords used to get to my blog.
- Yoast WordPress SEO Plugin- is the ultimate SEO tool which will help you SEO your wordpress blog easily.
- SEO Ultimate WordPress Plugin – SEO Ultimate is a powerful all-in-one SEO plugin with links masking capabilities, available free for WordPress bloggers
Email Marketing
- Aweber | Mail chimp | Mozilla thunder bird – Free and paid email marketing and list building tools are available on the internet From building professional sign up forms, to designer newsletter, Aweber and mail chimp will help to grow your email list for marketing and brand building
Disclosure: I earn commissions from some of the services (mostly web hosting) that I recommend on my blog,
Digitalgrog.com.au is a affiliate partner to most of the Hosting services and some other blog related promotion services that I have listed here on my blog and I use, which means that in addition to using their service, we also receive a commission for referring new customers. To be fair, though, we still use these services even if we weren’t an affiliate. We don’t recommend any particular host just because we’re an affiliate (every hosting company offers a similar affiliate program); we recommend certain Hosting companies because they are the best, most reliable option. Plus, because we’re a partner, these providers offers a special price for Digitalgrog readers. Get your hosting today.
Spots on the web that i randomly frequent
Sweet Forums – http://forums.digitalpoint.com
The Hub Aussie Entreprenuer hub – http://www.aussietycoon.com/forum.php
TWITTER UPDATE
http://t.co/5TA2rFiqxd unlisted and private videos and seo in 2015 pic.twitter.com/NAIasvwLTF
— DigitalGrog (@undermarrest) October 7, 2015