Tools For a Website: Internet Business Website Tools
The number of available tools for a website is overwhelming. How do you know which ones are the best and most reliable? I feel as though I've done a solid job of researching and putting together a lineup of business website tools that has worked for me and can work for other people as well. The tools to create website designs that I use are relatively simple to learn and allow me to complete tasks in a consistent, efficient manner. I also use tools for a website that allow me to put together affiliate marketing blueprints, allow me to monetize my sites with affiliate programs and advertising, and allow me to get my websites online by following step by step hosting instructions. Overall the tools for a
website I use to create website designs and the business website tools I use to manage, host, and market my sites have worked out well for me and fit my experience and interest level in web design and marketing. Below is an overview of the 8 main website tools that I'm currently utilizing to maintain and grow my affiliate marketing internet business.
Business website tools
Site Build It! from SiteSell is an all-in-one internet business package and is at the top of my list of business website tools. I utilize SBI on two of my websites including this one. You could build an entire affiliate marketing internet business with just Site Build It! and no other tools. I could write a book on everything that SBI offers, in fact I will be dedicating future pages of this website to SBI with the goal of explaining what SBI is, what SBI offers, and how to get the most out of SBI. For now I'm just going to tell you that Site Build It! includes the following: 10 day SBI Action Guide in both written and video format, brainstorming module, keyword research tool, competition benchmarking tools, Search It!, Choose It!, domain registration, web hosting, easy website builder, HTML integration(if desired), page and graphic managers, blogging, search engine optimization analysis, search engine sitemap creation, search engine pinging/tracking/rankings, traffic and click-through statistics, link exchange program, newsletter publishing, form builder, autoresponder builder, broken link analysis, e-mail, monetization module, third-party plug-in compatibility(i.e. blogging and forum platforms), online help, SBI tips and techniques articles, private SBI help forums, SBI e-zine, and unlimited customer support.
Tools to create website
While in the past I have used the SBI easy website builder for designing my websites, I actually prefer to design with SiteSpinner from Virtual Mechanics which is only $49 and includes a free trial plus the following features: Create graphics, shapes, and backgrounds. Add shading, color enhancement, transparency, and thumb-nails. Center or scale objects or your whole page. Drag and drop tables into your web page. Spell check, edit links, and manage links. Add audio and video to your site along with mouse-over effects and drop-down menus. Create visitor feedback forms. Upload files with the built-in FTP program to get your website online. SiteSpinner uses WYSIWYG technology which stands for What You See Is What You Get. This website along with all of the sites I currently have online were built with SiteSpinner.
Tools for a website - Web hosting
I have used GoDaddy for much of my domain registration and web hosting ever since I started my affiliate marketing business back in 2004. Setting up web hosting at GoDaddy is easy. When you're first getting your website online you'll probably want to select the Economy Plan with a Linux server. You can upgrade to the Deluxe or Premium plan as your affiliate marketing internet business grows. After you buy a web hosting account from GoDaddy they'll send you complete instructions on how to set up web hosting which really takes just a few clicks of the mouse. You can also visit GoDaddy's Help Center and view their step by step hosting setup instructions.
Once you have web hosting set up you can upload your website with an FTP program or by using website building software like SiteSpinner which provides a built-in FTP program to get your web pages online. I use the combination of SiteSpinner and GoDaddy for many of the websites that I have designed and manage. If I'm not hosted with SBI then I'm hosted with GoDaddy.
Tools for a website - Web banners
I use Banner Maker Pro to design my website headers(like the banner that you see at the top of this web page). I have also created animated banners with Banner Maker Pro for websites I have designed in the past. Banner Maker Pro allows you to easily create banners for your website, banner ads, web buttons, logos, and other graphics. Banner Maker Pro is an animated banner maker, button maker, website header and logo maker all in one. Just follow the tabs at the top of the Banner Maker Pro wizard interface and when you complete an image save it as a GIF or JPEG and add it to your website.
Tools for a website - Royalty-free photos
If you're looking for royalty-free stock photos then check out Big Stock Photo which has over 2,200,000 stock photos available for as little as $1 each. When I need a photo for one of my websites Big Stock Photo is the first place I look and I almost always find an image that suits what I was looking for. It's easy to search for, navigate through, and download images at Big Stock Photo.
Tools for a website - Password security
I use RoboForm to generate passwords, encrypt passwords, manage my passwords, and log in automatically to websites where I have an account. Overall RoboForm allows you to generate random passwords to maximize password strength, encrypt your passwords to achieve complete security, manage your passwords and log in automatically, fill long registration and checkout forms with one click, fight phishing by entering passwords only on matching web sites, defeat keyloggers by not using the keyboard to type passwords, back up your passwords and copy them between computers, and synchronize passwords between computers using GoodSync.
Tools for a website - Keyword research and ad-based monitization
I like to use the Google Keyword Tool and the Google search engine itself to give me four pieces of keyword research information: keywords and phrases that are related to my website topic, the average monthly Google searches for each of the keywords generated, the estimated cost per click when buying advertising through Google Adwords, and the number of search results for each of the keywords. Google makes money by collecting advertising dollars from businesses who want to promote their products or services alongside search results and on websites related to their own market. So every time a visitor clicks on a Google Ad that is on your website, Google will pay you a percentage of what the advertiser is bidding for the spot. Google Adsense is the name of the monetization program that allows you to place content-based ads on your own website.
Tools for a website - Affiliate program monitization
Many of the affiliate programs that I have joined are run through Commission Junction and Linkshare. Each company does business with thousands of advertisers making it easy for a publisher like myself to find affiliate programs that match my website content. Commission checks are handled by Commission Junction and Linkshare and I have received payments from both companies without issue.
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Business website tools
Site Build It! from SiteSell is an all-in-one internet business package and is at the top of my list of business website tools. I utilize SBI on two of my websites including this one. You could build an entire affiliate marketing internet business with just Site Build It! and no other tools. I could write a book on everything that SBI offers, in fact I will be dedicating future pages of this website to SBI with the goal of explaining what SBI is, what SBI offers, and how to get the most out of SBI. For now I'm just going to tell you that Site Build It! includes the following: 10 day SBI Action Guide in both written and video format, brainstorming module, keyword research tool, competition benchmarking tools, Search It!, Choose It!, domain registration, web hosting, easy website builder, HTML integration(if desired), page and graphic managers, blogging, search engine optimization analysis, search engine sitemap creation, search engine pinging/tracking/rankings, traffic and click-through statistics, link exchange program, newsletter publishing, form builder, autoresponder builder, broken link analysis, e-mail, monetization module, third-party plug-in compatibility(i.e. blogging and forum platforms), online help, SBI tips and techniques articles, private SBI help forums, SBI e-zine, and unlimited customer support.
Tools to create website
While in the past I have used the SBI easy website builder for designing my websites, I actually prefer to design with SiteSpinner from Virtual Mechanics which is only $49 and includes a free trial plus the following features: Create graphics, shapes, and backgrounds. Add shading, color enhancement, transparency, and thumb-nails. Center or scale objects or your whole page. Drag and drop tables into your web page. Spell check, edit links, and manage links. Add audio and video to your site along with mouse-over effects and drop-down menus. Create visitor feedback forms. Upload files with the built-in FTP program to get your website online. SiteSpinner uses WYSIWYG technology which stands for What You See Is What You Get. This website along with all of the sites I currently have online were built with SiteSpinner.
Tools for a website - Web hosting
I have used GoDaddy for much of my domain registration and web hosting ever since I started my affiliate marketing business back in 2004. Setting up web hosting at GoDaddy is easy. When you're first getting your website online you'll probably want to select the Economy Plan with a Linux server. You can upgrade to the Deluxe or Premium plan as your affiliate marketing internet business grows. After you buy a web hosting account from GoDaddy they'll send you complete instructions on how to set up web hosting which really takes just a few clicks of the mouse. You can also visit GoDaddy's Help Center and view their step by step hosting setup instructions.
Once you have web hosting set up you can upload your website with an FTP program or by using website building software like SiteSpinner which provides a built-in FTP program to get your web pages online. I use the combination of SiteSpinner and GoDaddy for many of the websites that I have designed and manage. If I'm not hosted with SBI then I'm hosted with GoDaddy.
Tools for a website - Web banners
I use Banner Maker Pro to design my website headers(like the banner that you see at the top of this web page). I have also created animated banners with Banner Maker Pro for websites I have designed in the past. Banner Maker Pro allows you to easily create banners for your website, banner ads, web buttons, logos, and other graphics. Banner Maker Pro is an animated banner maker, button maker, website header and logo maker all in one. Just follow the tabs at the top of the Banner Maker Pro wizard interface and when you complete an image save it as a GIF or JPEG and add it to your website.
Tools for a website - Royalty-free photos
If you're looking for royalty-free stock photos then check out Big Stock Photo which has over 2,200,000 stock photos available for as little as $1 each. When I need a photo for one of my websites Big Stock Photo is the first place I look and I almost always find an image that suits what I was looking for. It's easy to search for, navigate through, and download images at Big Stock Photo.
Tools for a website - Password security
I use RoboForm to generate passwords, encrypt passwords, manage my passwords, and log in automatically to websites where I have an account. Overall RoboForm allows you to generate random passwords to maximize password strength, encrypt your passwords to achieve complete security, manage your passwords and log in automatically, fill long registration and checkout forms with one click, fight phishing by entering passwords only on matching web sites, defeat keyloggers by not using the keyboard to type passwords, back up your passwords and copy them between computers, and synchronize passwords between computers using GoodSync.
Tools for a website - Keyword research and ad-based monitization
I like to use the Google Keyword Tool and the Google search engine itself to give me four pieces of keyword research information: keywords and phrases that are related to my website topic, the average monthly Google searches for each of the keywords generated, the estimated cost per click when buying advertising through Google Adwords, and the number of search results for each of the keywords. Google makes money by collecting advertising dollars from businesses who want to promote their products or services alongside search results and on websites related to their own market. So every time a visitor clicks on a Google Ad that is on your website, Google will pay you a percentage of what the advertiser is bidding for the spot. Google Adsense is the name of the monetization program that allows you to place content-based ads on your own website.
Tools for a website - Affiliate program monitization
Many of the affiliate programs that I have joined are run through Commission Junction and Linkshare. Each company does business with thousands of advertisers making it easy for a publisher like myself to find affiliate programs that match my website content. Commission checks are handled by Commission Junction and Linkshare and I have received payments from both companies without issue.
Back to Make Money Affiliate Marketing home page
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Quick Guide to the Web Tools I Use
