Vendor & Service Recommendations for You
I've worked with HUNDREDS of Internet startups since I first got online at Stanford back in the 1990s. That means I've also worked with thousands of hosting companies, designers, developers, software companies, lawyers, marketers, domain name registrars, investors, and any other "input" needed to be successful as an entrepreneur.
Below are my recommendations if you're looking for the best service providers to power your venture. I have personally used and recommend all of these companies.
Please note that many of these may be affiliate links. That means the company recommended may be sharing its revenue in exchange for the recommendation. However, this doesn't cost you anything. More importantly, I only recommend companies that my personal experience and expertise tells me can really help you. Your support and use of these links helps support my programs and charities, so thank you.
BEST HOSTING COMPANY
Bluehost is my recommended hosting company because they offer strong uptime, low prices, and consistently excellent customer service.
Whether you are looking to host a small Wordpress website or a large, custom installation on dedicated servers, Bluehost can help your business run smoothly. Learn more here...
BEST LOGO DESIGN
Logonerds has been my graphic design firm of choice for almost 10 years now. They offer ridiculously low prices that you have to see to believe - click here. Their customer support is excellent and they allow unlimited revisions to the designs you order, too.
They are great (and super cheap - $27?!) for logos but also do web banners, Facebook covers, business cards, book cover graphics - whatever you need.
BEST EMAIL SERVICE
Aweber is my top recommendation for email services. There are lots of choices but their consistent deliverability, affordable prices, helpful, English-speaking customer service team, and their free inclusion of both customizable and pop-up email forms plus autoresponder ("drip marketing") tools add up to make Aweber my top email service recommendation.
Click here to get a FREE copy of Aweber's "Guide to Getting Started with Email Marketing"!
BEST WAY TO FIND STARTUP INVESTORS
There are thousands of venture capital firms and angels investors. How to easily find the best investors for your startup? Search the huge startup investors database at StartupInvestorsDirectory.com.
BEST TV PUBLICITY TRAINING
Getting on TV is the goal of any marketer. I don't know any publicity training program that does that as well as the National Publicity Summit.
Staffed by former producers from top television shows, attending their events can give you the "inside" secrets of getting booked on life-changing TV interviews. Learn more here...
ENTREPRENEUR COACHING MASTERMINDS FORUM
The MasterMinds Forum is my private strategy coaching network for entrepreneurs. Join if you could use the friendly help of a worldwide community of fellow entrepreneurs and small business owners. Join if you'd like to work personally and directly with me, Scott Fox. Join if you're ready to get your online ideas out of your head and online where they can start making you some money. It's the #1 MasterMinds group online, delivering business strategy and startup mentoring since 2009! Learn more here...
BEST RADIO PUBLICITY TRAINING
How to Get Radio Interviews is the #1 question we get at my FREE RadioGuestList.com service. Since 2008, we've helped thousands of publicity seekers like you (authors, marketers, etc.) get free publicity by being interviewed on radio shows and podcasts.
Learn more here about the free RadioGuestList.com "radio and podcast guests wanted" Guest Request" email newsletters.
Learn more here about the How to Get Radio Interviews training course and, if you're seeking a list of podcast shows, check out the Podcasts & Radio Shows Directory, too.
Fix Your Website with a Professional Review
Want more sales from your website? More email list signups? More social media shares and links? Better SEO ranking so your website appears higher in Google's search engine results?
Get an affordable, professional, personalized video review of your website. With a video you can watch over and over, you'll be able to improve your website to finally reach your online sales goals.
Business Plan Reviews
Raising money for your startup idea? Get your business plan reviewed by a friendly professional, Scott Fox. A personalized, private critique of your business plan, investor presentation, or financing deck can make all the difference. As a former venture-backed CEO, successful investment banker, and Stanford Law School graduate, Scott is a mentor who can help your plan succeed.
Feedblitz Automated RSS EMAIL Newsletters
If you publish a blog, Feedblitz is the #1 way to easily turn your blog posts into an email newsletter. Why copy back and forth between separate blogging and email publishing systems when Feedblitz's clever, affordable software automates the publishing of emails for you! They have highly customizable email collection sign-up forms, free autoresponder systems included, and great customer service, too.
Services I Recommend Against:
1&1 Domain Names and Hosting
IpowerWeb Hosting
GoDaddy Website Builder
Kontera (now Amobee) text ads
DISQUS Commenting
I have personally used all of these services but wish I had not. Please try the others ones recommended above instead.
Enough said...