Welcome to my Blogging Resources section. I get a lot of questions about blogging, and created this page to give you a "one-stop shop" to all the tools, resources and services that I use on my blog today.
Everything on this page has been tested extensively by me. In fact, if you spend a few minutes clicking around my blog you will see everything here being used on my site in some way. I use these tools on a daily basis (yes, all of them!) and if my opinion ever changes or I find a better product/service, this page is updated.
Last updated: May 2020
Dreamhost
Choosing the right web host might be the most important decision you make for your blog, because if your site is slow or offline all the time, nothing else will matter.
My websites are hosted by Dreamhost. Why? Because they're the best.
I've used many hosts and had more headaches and meltdowns than I care to remember. Moving my sites to Dreamhost was life-changing (seriously).
Their packages are also among the cheapest out there for starters, with options to upgrade to faster managed plans once your sites grow. Less than $2.50 per month for your first site is perfect for getting started!

for photo hosting
I host all my photos on Smugmug! Because they are hosted offline I can embed them at full resolution in my articles without slowing down my site. Also reduces bandwidth considerably.

for managing payments
I use Sendowl to handle payments and delivery of my premium travel guides and any other service I sell. I looked into Gumroad and E-Junkie, but Sendowl just came out as the most complete and user-friendly. It also has a built in affiliate program which is excellent too.
Full disclosure: For some of these services, I earn a commission for referrals made through the links on this page. It does not cost you extra if you purchase through these links (in some cases there may actually be a discount). I recommend them not because of the small commissions I earn but because I really believe they are the best. I use all of them on my own blog, and have full confidence recommending them to you as well.