Do you want to start a blog but don’t have the first clue on how to get started? Don’t worry! These Top 12 Blogging Tools can help you build the blog of your dreams in no time.

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So, today’s post may not be of interest to non-bloggers (no hard feelings if you skip this one), but while I was working with Melissa to build A Cup of Catherine, I became interested in a lot of the more technical and creative tools for blogging and website development/maintenance.

A couple months ago I shared some of my tips and tools for managing blogging while working fulltime, but today I wanted to share a few more things that have made my blogging journey a little easier—or simply more fun! Some of these resources are free, but the ones that aren’t are well-worth the investment.

Top 12 Blogging Tools

The Basics

1. WordPress

Now more than ever do I wish I’d begun my blog on wordpress.org instead of wordpress.com. The WordPress platform is free, but you’ll need to purchase hosting and a domain to utilize it. WordPress.com is great for beginners, but if you want to write sponsored content, run advertisements, and have full creative freedom, then you must go with self-hosting.

2. Bluehost

To be 100% honest, the reason I chose Bluehost was two-fold: most bloggers I follow use (and recommend) it and they were having a really good sale at the time I purchased it. I haven’t had too many issues (god-willing it stays that way), but when I did have an issue with my theme upload, the online support team was incredibly helpful in diagnosing the issue.

Design

3. Bee Sweet Photography + Design

Full disclosure—I worked with Bee Sweet Photo + Design for free (the stars aligned when she reached out to me as she launched her business at the time I was considering a redesign and had no clue where to start!), but I absolutely recommend her services. Her listed pricing seems very reasonable, and I think her design skills are on par with some of the more expensive designers out there. She was a joy to work with, never getting frustrated with me when I couldn’t commit to a header design. 😉

4. Genesis Framework & Foodie Pro Theme

This was a big investment, but I love the minimalist design and ease of customization. Plus, should I ever design another website, I can use this theme again and again. Foodie Pro was an extra “splurge,” but the Genesis framework was 100% necessary for a novice like me.

Community & Inspiration

5. The Food Entrepreneur Summit

I purchased this virtual summit earlier in the year, and it was so informative. Nicole Culver, the creator, has turned the complete summit into a course that you can purchase* at any time. You can learn from industry favorites like Jessica Merchant from How Sweet It Is, Ali Maffucci of Inspiralized, and many more!

6. Bloggers Gonna Blog

The #bgbcommunity is full of motivated, creative, and inspiring unicorns! This truly is a community of encouragement and support, and I’ve learned a lot of useful information from its members. I go here for blogging tips, recipe round-up ideas, and so much more.

7. Fit Approach (Sweat Pink)

I love being a #sweatpink ambassador because it’s introduced me to a community of women who are into health, wellness, and spreading good vibes. Most of the sponsored posts I’ve done were through Fit Approach, so I also enjoy the opportunities it’s provided me for trying new products.

8. Katy Widrick

Katy’s blog is such an amazing resource for blogging tips—particularly the technical side of things, such as SEO. She also runs a professional website for blog consultation, design, etc. called Make {Me}dia Over. I’ve never used her services, but I’ve found a lot of useful information right on her blog!

Photography & Editing

9. Canon Rebel SL1

I love this camera* so much! I’m still learning to use it properly (right now I’m usually shooting in aperture priority mode although I want to switch to manual), but it’s very intuitive and user-friendly. It’s not the most high-end camera, but for a beginner and hobby photographer like me, it takes wonderful photos. I’m currently using Mark’s kit lenses from his old Canon SLR, but I’m planning to purchase this reasonably-priced 50mm fixed lens* before long.

10. Adobe Lightroom (the App)

This app is fantastic! The toning curve is so easy to use, and I’ve actually found that the auto-tune does a great job when I’m too lazy to make my own edits. I even downloaded a trial version for my computer and I’m thinking about making the purchase. I can’t afford Photoshop, so Lightroom is the next best thing!

11. Picmonkey

Picmonkey has frustrated me in the past (sometimes it crashes), but it’s my go-to for collages and vertical Pinterest images. It’s easy to upload your photos, create overlays, and add text in just a few steps. I’ve yet to fork over money for the “royal” version because I feel the free version has enough tools for my basic needs.

12. Canva

I don’t think Canva is as user-friendly as Picmonkey, but I think it has way more options once you have a feel for how I works. I sometimes use it to design graphics, but I recently used Canva to create my media kit. I love how you can insert hyperlinks into the graphics!

Are you a new blogger? Check out Catherine's 12 Favorite #Blogging Tools @bgbcommunity #blogher Share on X

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So tell me…

• If you’re a blogger, what are your favorite tools?
• I’m searching for a good recipe plug-in…any good ones to recommend?
• What is your favorite thing about blogging (or reading blogs if you don’t have your own)?