6 Blogging Paid Tools I Can't Live Without (And Why You Shouldn't Either!)

• Originally broadcast December 16, 2024 via email •

Confession time: I’m a “subscriptions” kind of person 🥴️

I’m currently paying for about 1,000 subscriptions (I’m only slightly exaggerating).

From blogging tools to Spotify to meal plans, my life is packed with auto-renewals. So, I decided 2025 meant it was time for a change.

A few days ago, I sat down, combed through my business finances, and canceled anything that wasn’t “worth it”.

Which led me to ask over and over again:

“Do I really need this tool to be a successful blogger?”

Turns out, I learned a lot about which tools are actually worth it and which ones aren’t.

So today, I’m sharing a few tools I just couldn’t cancel; ones that make my blogging life infinitely easier and more successful:

Tool #1. A2 Hosting

Okay, okay, maybe not a tool per se, but certainly a must-have. And we get this question a LOT, so I felt it was necessary to address..

If you haven’t started your blog yet, this one’s for you: you MUST start it on WordPress.org (if you want to be a professional blogger and make money, that is!)

And to do that, you’ll need a hosting provider.

My recommendation?

The one I recommend is A2 (click here to learn sign-up) –> it’s one of the cheapest and easiest to use, and they have great customer support.

TOOL #2: ChatGPT

Wait, what? You use AI for your blog?!

Absolutely!

Here’s how I use it:

I always start by writing my own content: adding information, personal insights, and tips. Sometimes, I don’t even bother with full sentences; it’s just a rough draft to get my thoughts out.

Then, I run my writing through ChatGPT with a simple prompt like:

“Make this sound better, but follow my style.”

From there, I review the suggestions, take what I like, tweak the rest, and keep refining. It’s like sitting next to an English teacher, but way less awkward when you’re blogging from bed. IYKYK.

TOOL #3: PINCLICKS

If you’ve been following me for a while, you already know my favorite thing about search engines…

–> you can reverse engineer them!

Simply look at what’s already performing well for a specific search term (e.g., day trips from Paris) and model it.

(And just to be clear, “modeling” does NOT mean copying)

For Google, free tools like Google Search Console will suffice for understanding how your blog performs and finding opportunities to grow your traffic.

But Pinterest is a different story.

Sure, Pinterest has an analytics dashboard, but if you want to really succeed on Pinterest, you need a tool like PinClicks (click here for a trial run).

PinClicks gives you the tools to not only model what’s already working but also tailor it to your niche/audience.

I just found this tool about three months ago, and thinking about canceling my subscription felt foolish because of its immense value.

(Use code PINPOINTTRAFFIC for 30% discount)

**I’ll make a tutorial video about how I use PinClicks soon!

TOOL #4: PostPlanner

This is another tool specifically for Pinterest.

Right now, I’m posting at least 15 pins per day for my main travel blog. While Pinterest does offer a native scheduler, it has a major limitation: you can only schedule 100 pins at a time.

For someone like me who prefers batching work and planning content for an entire month, 100 pins just isn’t enough.

That’s where PostPlanner comes in – click here to learn more.

With PostPlanner, I can schedule up to 1,000 pins.

Plus, it supports multiple Pinterest accounts, which is perfect if you have more than one blog (like I do).

It’s a huge time-saver and keeps my Pinterest strategy running smoothly without constant interruptions to reschedule pins.

If Pinterest is part of your blogging strategy (and in 2025, it really should be!), I highly recommend investing in a scheduling tool.

For me, PostPlanner is the best option.

**I’ll make a tutorial video about how I use PostPlanner soon!

TOOL #5: Email Marketing Platform

If you want your blog to grow long-term, having an email marketing strategy isn’t optional, it’s 10,000% essential.

Your newsletter is one of the most powerful tools for building a loyal audience, driving traffic, and generating income.

To get started, you’ll need to set up an email marketing platform that allows you to:

Create opt-in forms to capture subscribers.
Collect and organize email addresses in one place.
Email your list with newsletters, updates, and promotions.

There are tons of email marketing platforms out there, some better than others, and finding the right one depends on your needs.

I’ve been using Kit (formerly Convertkit) since 2019, but to be honest, I’m not married to this platform.

If something better comes along, I’d make the switch in a heartbeat. Lately, I’ve had my eye on beehiiv, so who knows? 2025 might be the year I make the leap.

For beginners, here are a few platforms to consider:

Kit (great for creators, with a free plan up to 10,000 subscribers)
beehiiv (a rising star, built for content-focused newsletters)
MailerLite (user-friendly with excellent automation options)
MailChimp (well-known but can get pricey as your list grows)

No matter which one you pick, start building your list now; your future blogging self will thank you.

TOOL #6: Canva

Lastly, let’s talk about Canva, the tool I use for everything.

Need a logo? Canva.

Creating Pinterest pins? Canva.

Designing freebies for my audience? Yep, Canva again.

Canva is my go-to tool for creating anything visual. It saves me hours and keeps my work looking polished and professional.

And the platform is actually easy to use (*cough cough* I’m looking at you Photoshop!).

Let’s just say it would take something truly apocalyptic for me to cancel my Canva subscription.

My Favorite Content This Week

The Perfectly Imperfect Air of Awareness – Mekenna Miller

Facebook For Niche Sites (Mini Course) – Daniel Berry

November Income Report: $72,556 – Niche Site Lady

Coming Up Next…

🚨 How To Grow Your Blog with Facebook

🚨 Pinterest, Pinterest, and more Pinterest: we’ll be diving DEEP, so stay tuned!

Have a great week!
Laura

P.S. Here are my top recommended blogging resources.

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