Tools We Use
Tools We Use to Help You Succeed
The exact tools and resources that power our recommendations and help busy parents build successful online businesses.
📧 Email Marketing & Automation
GetResponse ⭐ Our Top Pick
Perfect for: Beginners to advanced marketers looking for an all-in-one solution
Why we recommend it: GetResponse combines email marketing, landing pages, webinars, and CRM in one powerful platform. It’s user-friendly enough for beginners but sophisticated enough to grow with your business.
✅ What We Love:
- All-in-one solution – No need for multiple tools
- Advanced automation – Set up complex workflows easily
- High deliverability – Your emails actually reach inboxes
- Built-in webinars – Rare feature among email platforms
- 30-day free trial – Test everything risk-free
❌ Keep in Mind:
- No permanent free plan (trial only)
- Landing page builder could be more robust
- Pricing increases with subscriber count
💰 Pricing:
- Starter: $9/month (1,000 contacts)
- Marketing Automation: $59/month
- Ecommerce: $163/month (10,000 subscribers)
- Enterprise: Custom pricing
💡 Pro Tip: Get 20% off with annual billing plus bonus discounts for completing setup checklist.
🚀 Try GetResponse Free for 30 Days →
🎨 Design & Content Creation
Canva Pro ⭐ Essential for Visual Content
Perfect for: Creating professional graphics without design experience
Why we use it: Quick, professional designs for social media, blog headers, and marketing materials. The Pro version includes brand kits and premium templates.
💰 Pricing: Free plan available | Pro: $14.99/month
📊 Analytics & Tracking
Google Analytics 4 ⭐ Free & Powerful
Perfect for: Understanding your website traffic and user behavior
Why it’s essential: Track what content resonates with your audience and optimize your strategy based on real data.
💰 Pricing: Free
🛠️ Website & Hosting
Bluehost ⭐ WordPress Recommended Hosting
Perfect for: Beginners starting their first WordPress website
Why we recommend it: Officially recommended by WordPress, Bluehost includes a free domain name for the first year, $200 worth of marketing credits, and managed WordPress hosting with automatic updates. It’s perfect for beginners who want everything set up automatically.
✅ What We Love:
- WordPress official recommendation – Trusted by WordPress.org
- All-inclusive packages – Free domain, SSL, and marketing credits included
- Excellent 24/7 support – Phone support available (rare nowadays)
- Automatic WordPress management – Updates and maintenance handled for you
- 30-day money-back guarantee – Risk-free trial period
❌ Keep in Mind:
- Renewal charges can be higher than intro prices
- Best value requires locking in promotional prices for 3 years
- Some users report upselling during checkout process
💰 Pricing:
- Basic: $2.95/month (introductory, renews at $10.99/month)
- Plus: $5.45/month (unlimited websites)
- Choice Plus: $5.45/month (includes domain privacy)
- Pro: $13.95/month (dedicated IP included)
💡 Pro Tip: Use the $200 in marketing credits for Google Ads and Microsoft Advertising to kickstart your traffic.
🚀 Start Your Website with Bluehost →
Kit (formerly ConvertKit) ⭐ Creator-Focused Email Marketing
Perfect for: Content creators, bloggers, and course creators
Why we recommend it: Kit is specifically designed for content creators with easy automation and seamless ebook delivery. It’s simpler than GetResponse but powerful enough for serious creators who prioritize ease of use over advanced features.
✅ What We Love:
- Generous free plan – Up to 1,000 subscribers at no cost
- Creator-focused features – Built specifically for bloggers and course creators
- Easy automation setup – Visual automation builder that’s beginner-friendly
- Good deliverability rates – Your emails reach inboxes reliably
- Unique ‘tip jar’ feature – Subscribers can tip you directly from newsletters
❌ Keep in Mind:
- Lacks advanced customization and A/B testing features
- Can become expensive quickly with large lists
- Limited in-depth analytics compared to enterprise tools
- Support can be inconsistent according to some users
💰 Pricing:
- Free: Up to 1,000 subscribers
- Creator: $15/month (up to 1,000 subscribers)
- Creator Pro: $25/month (advanced features and reporting)
- Pricing scales with subscriber count beyond 1,000
💡 Pro Tip: Start with the free plan to test Kit’s creator-focused features before upgrading.
🚀 Try Kit Free (Up to 1,000 Subscribers) →
Namecheap ⭐ Affordable Domain Registration
Perfect for: Budget-conscious entrepreneurs buying domains
Why we recommend it: Namecheap offers competitive pricing with transparent payment policies and includes free WhoisGuard privacy protection. They’re known for honest pricing without hidden fees, making them ideal for buying multiple domains affordably.
✅ What We Love:
- Free privacy protection included – WhoisGuard protects your personal info
- Competitive first-year rates – Some of the best intro pricing available
- Transparent pricing policy – Clear about renewal costs upfront
- Beast Mode bulk search – Great tool for domain investors
- Excellent customer support – Responsive help when you need it
❌ Keep in Mind:
- Renewal prices can be significantly higher than intro rates
- No phone support available – chat and email only
- Some domain extensions have very high renewal costs (read the fine print)
- Limited premium domain escrow services
💰 Pricing:
- .com domains: Starting at $8.88/year (first year)
- .org domains: Starting at $12.98/year
- .net domains: Starting at $12.98/year
- Renewal rates: Typically $12.98-$15.98/year for popular extensions
💡 Pro Tip: Check renewal rates before purchasing – some promotional domains have much higher renewal costs.
🚀 Register Your Domain with Namecheap →
📝 Content Management
Notion ⭐ Ultimate Organization Tool
Perfect for: Content planning, project management, and staying organized
Why we love it: All-in-one workspace for content calendars, idea tracking, and business planning. Perfect for busy parents juggling multiple projects.
💰 Pricing: Free for personal use | Plus: $8/month per user
💼 Business & Finance
QuickBooks Online ⭐ Small Business Accounting
Perfect for: Tracking income, expenses, and taxes for your online business
Why it’s important: Keep your finances organized from day one. Essential for tax preparation and understanding your business profitability.
💰 Pricing: Starting at $15/month
🔗 Start Your QuickBooks Trial →
📚 Learning & Development
Coursera Plus ⭐ Skill Development
Perfect for: Learning new marketing, business, and technical skills
Why we invest in it: Continuous learning from top universities and companies. Essential for staying current with digital marketing trends.
💰 Pricing: $59/month or $399/year
🎯 Why We Only Recommend Tools We Actually Use
Transparency matters. Every tool on this list is something we actively use in our own business or have thoroughly tested. We believe in providing honest, experience-based recommendations rather than promoting tools just for affiliate commissions.
Our criteria for recommendations: ✅ We use it regularly in our business
✅ It solves a real problem for busy parents
✅ It offers good value for the price
✅ It has reliable customer support
✅ It integrates well with other tools
🤝 Questions About These Tools?
Need help choosing the right tool for your situation? Drop us a line! We’re here to help you make the best decisions for your unique business goals.
This page contains affiliate links. When you purchase through our links, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. This helps us continue providing valuable content and recommendations.
Ready to Start Building Your Success Toolkit?
Don’t overwhelm yourself trying to use every tool at once. Start with email marketing (GetResponse) and basic analytics (Google Analytics), then add tools as your business grows.
🚀 Begin with GetResponse’s Free Trial →
Your success journey starts with the right tools. Let’s build something amazing together!