Our Favorite Tools
For Better Websites and Design
So you’re a self-starter, are ya?
Want to make sure your website is accessible, fast, and well-designed? These resources help you run quick self-checks on key areas like accessibility, speed, and branding—so you can spot issues and improve your online presence with confidence.
Website Tools
Website SEO (Search Engine Optimization)
SEMrush is an all-in-one digital marketing platform used by professionals to improve SEO, track keyword rankings, analyze competitors, and uncover opportunities for website growth. It’s one of the most trusted tools in the industry for making data-driven marketing decisions.
Ease of setup: Moderate – Requires account setup and some learning to navigate reports (we can help!)
Cost: Plans start at $129.95/month
What it’s for: SEO analysis, keyword research, competitor tracking, and digital marketing insights
Website Accessibility
Ensure your website meets accessibility standards with this AI-powered tool. AccessiBe scans your site, provides compliance recommendations, and helps make your content more inclusive for all users.
Ease of setup: Easy – Install with a simple code snippet
Cost: Starts at $49/month
What it’s for: Website accessibility compliance, WCAG & ADA standards
Website Hosting
A reliable and fast web hosting provider known for its excellent customer support and security. SiteGround offers managed WordPress hosting, daily backups, and performance optimizations to keep your site running smoothly.
Ease of setup: Easy – One-click WordPress installation (but, we’ll do it for you!)
Cost: Plans start at $2.99/month
What it’s for: Web hosting, speed optimization, security, and site management
Web Domains
GoDaddy is one of the most well-known domain registrars, making it easy to search for, register, and manage domain names. With a wide selection of extensions and competitive pricing, it’s a reliable choice for securing your online identity.
Ease of setup: Easy – Simple domain search and purchase process
Cost: Domains start at $0.99 for the first year (varies by extension)
What it’s for: Buying and managing domain names for businesses, blogs, and personal brands.
Building Your Website
WordPress is the world’s most popular website builder and content management system (CMS), powering over 43% of all websites. It’s highly customizable, especially with our favorite platform, Elementor.
Ease of setup: Easy – One-click install with most hosting providers. But, we’ll take it from there, designing and developing a great site!
Cost: Free (hosting and premium themes/plugins may have costs)
What it’s for: Building websites, blogs, and online stores with full control and flexibility
Website Design & Development
Elementor is a powerful WordPress page builder that allows for custom, professionally designed websites while ensuring easy content updates. As developers, we build fully customized sites using Elementor’s flexible framework, giving businesses a polished, high-performing website. Once launched, clients can easily make basic edits using its intuitive drag-and-drop functionality—without needing to touch code.
Ease of setup: Developer-friendly – Installed as a WordPress plugin with advanced customization options
Cost: Free with premium plans starting at $59/year
What it’s for: Custom WordPress development with an easy-to-edit interface for clients
Website Platform
WooCommerce is a powerful, open-source eCommerce plugin for WordPress that allows you to create and manage an online store with ease. It offers flexibility, scalability, and a vast selection of extensions to customize your shop.
Ease of setup: Moderate – Requires WordPress and some configuration
Cost: Free (with optional paid extensions)
What it’s for: Building and managing an online store on WordPress
Design Tools
Digital and Print Design
Canva is a versatile design tool that allows businesses to create professional-looking graphics with ease. While we handle high-end branding and custom design, Canva is a great option for quick edits, social media graphics, and on-brand marketing materials. We set up templates that make it easy for clients to maintain consistency while keeping their designs polished.
Ease of setup: Easy – Web-based platform with drag-and-drop functionality
Cost: Free with Pro plans starting at $12.99/month
What it’s for: Creating and editing branded marketing materials, social media graphics, and presentations
Digital and Print Design
Adobe Creative Cloud is the industry standard for professional design, offering powerful tools like Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign. As experts in branding and design, we use Adobe’s suite to create high-quality logos, marketing materials, and web assets tailored to each client’s needs. While we handle the heavy lifting, businesses can use Adobe tools for minor edits or to maintain their brand assets with the same professional-grade software.
Ease of setup: Moderate – Requires installation and a learning curve for advanced features
Cost: Plans start at $22.99/month for individual apps, or $59.99/month for the full suite
What it’s for: Professional-grade graphic design, branding, and marketing asset creation
Other Web Tools
Security and Web Performance (and more!)
Jetpack is a powerful suite of plugins that enhances WordPress websites with security, performance, and marketing tools. It includes features like real-time backups, malware scanning, site speed optimization, and automated social media posting, making it a must-have for site protection and growth.
- Ease of setup: Easy – One-click install with modular features for customization
- Cost: Free with premium plans starting at $4.95/month
- What it’s for: Security, performance, and marketing enhancements for WordPress
Spam Prevention
Akismet is an advanced anti-spam plugin that automatically filters out spam comments and unwanted content, keeping your WordPress site clean and secure. It uses machine learning and a vast database to detect and block harmful submissions before they reach your site.
- Ease of setup: Easy – Activate and connect via an API key
- Cost: Free for personal use; paid plans start at $8.33/month
- What it’s for: Spam prevention and comment moderation for WordPress
Selling Online Course
SenseiLMS is a flexible and powerful learning management system plugin for WordPress, allowing you to easily create, manage, and sell online courses. Developed by the makers of WooCommerce, it seamlessly integrates with your existing WordPress site for a smooth e-learning experience.
- Ease of setup: Moderate – Requires WordPress and WooCommerce for paid courses
- Cost: Free with premium add-ons starting at $15/month
- What it’s for: Creating and selling online courses on WordPress
Job Board Functionality
WP Job Manager is a lightweight and flexible plugin that adds job board functionality to your WordPress site. With simple shortcodes and customization options, it allows businesses to post jobs, accept applications, and manage listings effortlessly.
- Ease of setup: Easy – Install and add job listings with shortcodes
- Cost: Free with premium add-ons starting at $39/year
- What it’s for: Adding job board functionality to WordPress sites