Resources
Disclosure: Mindshare Marketing & Implementation uses and reviews service providers and recommends them here on the Resources page. I test each product thoroughly and give high marks to only the very best. I am independently owned and the opinions expressed here are my own. I may receive compensation from the companies whose products I recommend or review and use myself to advance my business. Prices and terms are subject to change at any time.
MEMBERSHIP MANAGEMENT
I looked at Wild Apricot and passed. After lots of research I landed on MembershipWorks, a fabulous membership management platform. I have been implementing it since 2018 for dozens of nonprofits and member-driven organizations and companies. You can read my developer profile and recommendations from past clients on the MembershipWorks website or learn more here. I pay to have a Demo account on my own website and I create a lot of How-To videos about MembershipWorks. I receive no compensation from MembershipWorks. I just love to have happy clients using a platform that’s easy, reliable, and customizable.
HOSTING
When you sign up, you will want to have these services:
- Domain Name. Enter your domain, if you have one. Buy a new one now. Or skip this for later if you aren’t sure.
- Starter Hosting plan. You can always upgrade later.
- Add a FREE Single Domain SSL Certificate.
- SiteLock Essentials is optional, your choice. I will install a plugin for added protection from hackers but nothing is guaranteed to stop everyone.
- If you chose a domain, add Domain Privacy, this will show the hosting company as the domain owner on the WhoIs directory and keep your info private and away from spammers.
- Website Backups. Add if you want your site to be backed up regularly. Includes monitoring and restoration.
- Email address is included, sometimes unlimited addresses, depending on the account you choose.
- If there is anything you are unsure of, call me and I can answer your questions, or call the hosting provider.
SiteGround.com shared website hosting services starting at $2.99/month for 1 website or $4.99/month for unlimited websites.
Plenty of space. One FREE domain name for the first year when you sign up, FREE SSL certificate, FREE email addresses. I am new to using SiteGround, they offer superior customer support. Call me to learn more.
Prices and terms are subject to change at any time, check hosting websites for current pricing.
Another option…
BlueHost.com shared website hosting services starting at $2.95/month for up to 10 domains, or less for 1 website.
Plenty of space. One FREE domain for 1 year when you sign up, additional domains are around $12-$15, FREE SSL Certificate (other hosting providers charge extra for this!)
Access your email using their webmail or you can set up other services like Outlook. 24/7 Support. Call me to learn more.
WORDPRESS THEMES
I have used a variety of themes from the Envato Market, accessed via ThemeForest.net. There are several themes that work right out of the gate and many have Demos that you can upload to help get you started. I have a favorite I use. WordPress offers free themes within the program, however, they may not be the best long term solution and I find Envato Market themes offer fantastic support/forums.
SEO PLUGIN
I use the Yoast SEO plugin for WordPress websites to increase your search engine results. I use the free version, they have a premium paid version. They have several articles for beginners you can read to learn more about Search Engine Optimization for your website.
PHOTOS
You need to use photos on your website and blog that you own. So you have to take them yourself, or I recommend, you purchase Royalty Free professional images from this website. Royalty Free Photos Read my Website Photo Policy for more details about publishing images to a website.
MARKETING
I have been referring more and more clients and nonprofits to Canva.com. They offer a free account to get you started. You can move up to their PRO account if you want the added benefits like being able to resize your marketing piece instantly (which is really cool and a huge time-saver) and access to 60 million+ images and a few other features. I use Canva to create items that are automatically sized to fit the platform like, Facebook post images, Facebook Cover images, Instagram post images, posters, postcards, etc. You can save files in multiple formats like JPG, PNG, PDF, etc. Plus, you can design business cards, tri-fold brochures, music CD covers and more. They have come cool fonts, background images, templates to get you started and much more, check it out. And for my nonprofit clients, you can get the Canva PRO version for FREE!
PAYMENTS
PayPal is a widely know, reputable provider for online invoicing and payment processing. We can easily set up buttons for Donations, Buy Now, Subscribe, etc. Secure, dependable and inexpensive for the small business owner. Nonprofits, be sure to ask for a discount.
https://www.paypal.com/us/business
Stripe is an excellent option, especially for nonprofits, for use with the fantastic Member Management solution, MembershipWorks.
EMAIL MARKETING
Constant Contact, tested and true. Looking to add email marketing or event marketing to your toolbox? Consider Constant Contact. They offer email marketing strategies, quick and easy to share on Facebook or Twitter. Well known in the email marketing industry. Loads of beautiful, creative templates to choose from or make your own!
MailChimp is an alternative to Constant Contact, and it’s FREE to start if you have 250 or less contacts! It offers simple templates to help you get started, it manages your email database and it integrates with your website or blog allowing your followers to sign up to receive your emails right from your website. I find myself recommending MailChimp more and more because it integrates with MembershipWorks. Your MailChimp Member List will be synced automatically when you get a new Member! How nice is that!
BOOKKEEPING
I’m currently using QuickBooks to manage my business accounting. To save time, I can download my back activity and upload it into QuickBooks at any interval that works for me, or I can make manual entries. I recommend you ask your accountant if they have a preference. At the end of the year, I simply create a backup, then send it to my accountant and he does the year-end adjusting entries, then sends me a backup. I restore that backup and keep going. Its really slick. You can get the online version where you can access your bookkeeping from any computer, or choose the download option and manage it just on one computer.
BOOKS
The Success Principles: How to Get from Where You Are to Where You Want to Be by Jack Canfield (my #1 favorite business book and I have the audio CDs too)
Guerrilla Marketing: Easy and Inexpensive Strategies for Making Big Profits From Your Small Business by Jay Conrad Levinson (my #1 favorite marketing book, updated version available)
StrengthsFinder 2.0 by Tom Rath (my #1 favorite personal development book, see My Top 5 Strengths. Take the online assessment and learn your own strengths, very powerful)
Entrepreneurial StrengthsFinder by Jim Clifton
First, Break all the Rules by Marcus Buckingham
Now, Discover Your Strengths by Marcus Buckingham
Go Put Your Strengths to Work by Marcus Buckingham
These three are terrific, but start with StrengthsFinder by Tom Rath if you want to get right to knowing your strengths.
The E-Myth: Why Most Businesses Don’t Work and What to Do About It by Michael E. Gerber (my #2 favorite business book about being the technician then owner)
The E-Myth Mastery: The Seven Essential Disciplines for Building a World Class Company by Michael E. Gerber
Die with Zero by Bill Perkins (whoa, eye opening perspective!)
Freelance Your Way to Freedom by Alexandra Fasulo (my #1 favorite entrepreneur book)
The Noticer: Sometimes All A Person Needs is a Little Perspective by Andy Andrews
Find Your Strongest Life: What the Happiest and Most Successful Women Do Differently by Marcus Buckingham
Selling the Invisible: A Field Guide to Modern Marketing by Harry Beckwith
The Millionaire Messenger by Brendon Buchard (he has a lot of content online now too)
Rich Dad Poor Dad: What The Rich Teach Their Kids About Money That The Poor and Middle Class Do Not! by Robert Kiyosaki (a classic on business and real estate ownership vs employment)
Book Yourself Solid: The Fastest, Easiest, and Most Reliable System for Getting More Clients Than You Can Handle Even if You Hate Marketing and Selling by Michael Port
The Secret by Rhonda Byrne (love, love the law of attraction!)
Disclosure: Mindshare Marketing & Implementation reviews service providers and recommends them here on our Resource page. We may receive compensation from the companies whose products we review/use. We test each product thoroughly and give high marks to only the very best. We are independently owned and the opinions expressed here are our own. Prices and terms may change at any time.