Here are some of the resources I recommend and use myself. Although I’d recommend these services anyways, some of the links below are affiliate links, which provide me with a referral fee. (Ok, at least they buy me a couple of ice cream sundaes each month). If that’s not your thing, you can Google their sites to get to them directly.

Web Hosting and Domain Registration: DreamHost

I’ve been a DreamHost user for 6 years now. Their customer service is terrific and reliable, but what I really love is their super easy control panel. (Click here to see my video showing just how easy it is to install WordPress on DreamHost.) One more added bonus: they’re a “green host,” which means they’ve taken steps to make their hosting service completely carbon neutral.

WordPress Theme: Thesis

I started using the Thesis theme about a year ago, and I was immediately hooked. I use it as the starting point for nearly every site I build now… including this site!

It’s perfect for people just getting going on the web—even without any customization, the theme is clean and elegant. Don’t worry about outgrowing your site, though. With a few clicks, you can completely change the way it looks. (For those tech-minded folks, by the way, the hooks and built-in SEO features in the Thesis theme will blow your mind.)

Rocking Your Business: Chris Guillebeau’s Empire Building Kit

I’m a regular reader of Chris Guillebeau’s blog, The Art of Non-Conformity. He’s built an ethically-sound business that allows him to serve others while traveling the world. (He’s got a goal of visiting every country on our planet!).

I’ve bought several of his guides and with each of them, I increased my business enough to more than pay for what I’d bought. I’m currently in his first group of Empire Building Kit owners, and it’s changing the way I do things. Highly recommended for people working on creating their own side gigs.

Getting Stuff Done: Dyana Valentine

Dyana helps “self-starters self-finish.” She’s my go-to guru for project accountbility and just generally getting me unstuck when I’m overthinking things. If your website has been on the back-burner for some time and you need a jumpstart, schedule a session with Dyana. You’ll thank me.