Must-Have Tools

December 27th, 2023

   

If you want to convince me that you are serious about doing Internet Marketing, you will need to invest in a few tools of the trade installed on your computer. (You DO have a computer, right?)

Don’t worry! Every one of them is FREE and this work is mostly a one-time thing to get started. Of course, there are always paid options to choose from when it becomes feasible and advantageous.

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  • You need to use a modern browser with special add-ons. I recommend FireFox.

  • If you are OK with the chance your browsing habits may be watched by Google, then try Chrome.

  • Download and install the latest version now and the plug-ins below, if you haven’t already.
    • The SEO Quake add-on plug-in is absolutely essential. Get it now.
    • The Keywords Everywhere is another add-on plug-in you will find to be indispensable. Get it for researching the keywords you’ll need to generate traffic .
    • ColorZilla -FireFox or ColorZilla -Chrome let’s you easily grab colors to match existing sites and themes.
  • You will soon develop a love/hate relationship like I have with Google. Take advantage of the free tools and services they offer up front. There is no charge to register any of these accounts.
    • You will be needing several Gmail accounts as we proceed. Get one now.
    • Sign up for a free AdWords account with your new Gmail account. Go ahead, do it now. It will give you expanded access to other Google tools. But wait on your AdSense account. You may decide against needing one.

    • You will be opening many YouTube accounts as we proceed. There will be time to get these later, when you know more about your niche.

    • You might enter your website details into Google Webmaster tools and Google Analytics but, I advise against it.

      (I don’t like the Google snoops. And it’s NOT paranoia if they are really watching.)

    • I actually prefer to use StatCounter for my sites.

    • But wait! Hold on. You don’t have your website details yet. I guess that will all need to wait ’til later, when you start installing WordPress plug-ins. WHEW! That was a close one. LOL

  • You will need to manage the passwords and access codes for your various accounts. LastPass is the best password manager I’ve seen. Get it now.

    (HINT: use your new Gmail address.)

  • Few tools will be more important than a good keyword/website analysis tool. Fortunately, one of the best, Traffic Travis, offers an excellent free version. Install it now.

    (HINT: use your new Gmail address, again.)

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  • Later, an article ‘spinner’ will be handy. The best ones can be expensive, so use something free like Article Spinner, Content Professor or Spinner Chief 5 to start out. I like the paid ChimpRewriter (formerly SpinChimp)

  • And, to go with it, let’s get you an article submitter to help spread the word about your new website. These too can be expensive, so we’ll go with the free Article Submission Helper for now.

  • If you haven’t got a PayPal account yet, you will need some way to collect and spend all your money. Now, THAT’S what I’m talkin’ about!
    • HINT: use your new Gmail address. Again. (See how handy it’s been already? LOL.)
    • Link your new account to your bank account. (Yeah, it’s safe.)
    • If you have an actual business (with an EIN), upgrade to a business account to avoid needing to disclose your SSN (I HATE releasing that information to the web-a-philes.)

More free generic tools of great import are:

WOWzers! That was a lot of work. If you managed to get that all done, you deserve a break.
Come back fresh tomorrow and we’ll get started with actual training on how to Choose a Niche.