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Home » The Famous Blog » The Essential List of Software You Need to Start Blogging

The Essential List of Software You Need to Start Blogging

April 1, 2011 - Last Modified: April 1, 2014 by Khalid Hosein

WordPress Tools

If you’re thinking of start a new blog, then as with any profession, you’re going to need the right collection of tools. In the case of this primarily computer-dominated occupation, your tools will be mainly of the software variety.

I consider this collection of applications to be a solid base to start with or even to work towards. Purists may argue that you only need your thoughts, Notepad, and a free blogging platform, but I’m going to push back and say that’s a bit too zen and not realistic enough. On the other hand, I probably haven’t even listed half of the apps that I use on a regular basis, nor do I need to confuse and clutter this article with that ridiculously long list. Over time, you’ll find you have additional needs and go searching for tools to meet them.

Yes, this list is geared mainly towards the Windows user, although many of the tools listed are available for Mac and Linux users. It also assumes that you already have a computer with at least Windows XP on it. Let’s get started.

Text Editor

This is what you can use to draft and revise your work-of-art blog posts before you upload it to your blogging platform. Hundreds of text editors have been available for many years now, and there are dozens of excellent ones [Wikipedia comparison article] that are free for the downloading. But before you click that Wikipedia link and your brain explodes, I’ll give you a solid recommendation – NoteTab Light. I like NoteTab because it has these simple to build macros called clips that, if used wisely, can save you a lot of time.

Alternatively, if you’re using a lot of different computers, a better idea might be to work in Google Docs (or other cloud-based office suite) so that your work is always available to you wherever you are.

Web Browsers and Extensions

You’re blogging, so you’ll need a web browser to both see and verify what you’ve posted to your blog and to see and connect with other bloggers. I use 2 browsers: Mozilla Firefox and Google Chrome. Why? Well before Chrome came along, I only used Firefox. But Chrome really does a fantastic job of rendering Google services and other JavaScript-heavy pages, Firefox still rocks when it comes to developing and testing and for a long time had a huge lead on Chrome in the extensions (browser plugins) department. It’s a good idea to periodically check what your site looks like in multiple browsers, as well as on different operating systems.

Firefox Extensions

I use dozens of browser extensions (also known as add-ons or plugins) in both Firefox and Chrome. Here are the blogging-related ones I use in Firefox, some of which are also available for Chrome:

  • Screen Capture Elite – simple way to grab a screenshot image.
  • Session Manager – prevents you from losing your session (or collection of tabs) should Firefox crash, or just to maintain different collections of tabs.
  • Tab Mix Plus (TMP) – supercharges the tab functionality in Firefox.
  • TooManyTabs – tool for managing your tab overload. This one isn’t absolutely necessary, especially if you’re practicing GTD or similar productivity methodology.
  • BarTab – speeds up your Firefox load time and memory footprint by keeping most tabs ‘unloaded’ until clicked on and activated.
  • ScribeFire – great extension that lets you blog from your browser without having to use the blogging platform’s interface. Full disclosure: I loved and used this extension for a long time, but I don’t use any more due to recurring security issues with the XML-RPC protocol in WordPress. However, if your web host is on top of patching and monitoring hacking attempts, this could still be a great tool for you.

Extensions for Web Development

If you are more technically-inclined and wish to tinker with your blog’s underlying code, themes and/or web server, etc., then here are just a few top-notch development extensions for Firefox:

  • ColorZilla – easy to use extension to help you pick the right color for giving your blog the right look.
  • Firebug – must-have extension for web development that assists you with your HTML, CSS and even JavaScript. In addition, get these two (2) plugins for Firebug to extend its functionality even more: CodeBurner, and PageSpeed.
  • Squarefree’s bookmarklets – not an extension, but JavaScript bookmarks that can be selected to perform a myriad of functions on your web page and/or browser. These work in any browser that has a JavaScript engine.

Image Editor

Every good post needs at least one image or photo to help paint a picture for the reader and to catch their eye to begin with. You’ll need an image editor to trim and/or resize your target for a perfect fit in your post. Paint.Net is a free and powerful editor that is easy to get started with. If you’re more familiar with the ins and outs of image manipulation and want something more powerful, but doesn’t have the price tag of a Photoshop, then get the open-source GIMP.

File Explorer

The file explorer that comes with Windows is ok, but once you experiment with any of the alternatives, you won’t go back. I use xplorer2 lite and love it, especially it’s dual-pane view and multiple tab functionality.

Clipboard Management

After you blog for a while, you’ll find that you’ll be repeating things often, perhaps linking to the same places repeatedly. You’ll get tired of typing those over and over. What you need is an advanced clipboard management tool, one that remembers more than just the last thing you copied, which is all the built-in Windows clipboard does. This was such a big deal for me, I even wrote a blog post on finding the right clipboard tool! I eventually settled on one called Ditto. One keyboard shortcut gets me a pop-up list of recently copied strings and 1 more click shows me a common list.

Time Tracking

Unless you’re the Flash and have the discipline of Vulcan, you’ll find yourself with a mountain of things to do, little time in which to do it, and worst of all, you’ll find yourself procrastinating or goofing-off. Here are 2 tools to keep yourself in check. First is a simple web page with a countdown timer- set a number of minutes and it’ll alarm when that time is up. This is a great way to force yourself to work within a set amount of time.

The second is a combination web and desktop tool that you can use to track how much time you actually spend on tasks – Toggl. Click a button to start and stop a timer. By the way, this is really useful if you’re a contractor that needs to track and report your time carefully.

To Do List Manager

Regardless of whether you’re a blogger or not, your life is probably filled with dozens of things that you need to do. (If not, the rest of us mere mortals are sorely jealous.) An excellent way to organize this list and keep it in check is to use David Allen’s Getting Things Done (GTD) methodology, and one of the top web-based tools to implement it in is Toodledo. Weird name, sure, but it’s ridiculously powerful and just the act of being able to check items off your list will keep you motivated. The free version is good enough for most people, but the premium version costs a mere $15/year.

By the way, if you’re working with others, you can use a group collaboration tool like Basecamp to maintain your list of article ideas. There are also dozens of alternatives in this field as well.

Social Media Management

In the age of social networking, you’ll need to keep up with your various social platforms: Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, et al. Two (2) tools that will help you tremendously to track, search, reply are Hootsuite (web-based) and TweetDeck (desktop and/or browser-based app).

Blogging Platform

No, I did not forget about this one crucial piece of software, your choice of blogging platform, the software that will be the foundation of your blog. The clear leader in this space is WordPress, and I’m not referring to WordPress.com which is a free blogging site a la Blogger. If you’re serious about blogging, then you need to get a web host and use a blogging/CMS platform like WordPress or Drupal or Joomla, etc.

Again, I’m not getting into the long list of possibilities here, but am only going to recommendWordPress. Its open-source nature, its popularity and the slew of plugins and themes makes it extremely powerful and very well supported to not just run a blog, but even eCommerce sites.

Web Hosting

Last, but certainly not least, is web hosting. Since you’re not going to sign up for a free blog, then you need somewhere to install that brand-spanking-new WordPress that you just downloaded. This is another category of products that has a mind-numbing number of choices. I’ll give you 2 quick shared-host options: Site5 and HostGator.

Later when your traffic improves and you can afford a systems administrator (or know your way around a Unix shell), take a look at a VPS system such as Linode or Slicehost.

Final Thoughts

Don’t get hung up on choosing tools. That’s one of the goals of this article – to help you quickly pick something and get moving on what’s important: writing. Once you start using any specific application/program, you’ll quickly learn what you like/dislike and what features you really need. Then you can start looking for the better tool. Good luck!

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Filed Under: How To Blog

About Khalid Hosein

Follow @kjhosein

Khalid J Hosein is a blogger, systems administrator, Internet Marketer, and all-around knowledge-junkie with a ridiculously wide range of interests. He is the co-founder of popular gadget blog, Gizmos for Geeks.

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{ 35 Responses }

  1. Ricardus says:
    I think these are some of the essential tool I would say Google Chrome for its lightweight browser Twitter(Tweetdeck or Hootsuite) or Facebook to share around with your followers Image Editor I would recommend Picnik or Photoshop And Google Docs may come in handy as well.
  2. Suraj says:
    Chrome's default source code viewer is really nice woks as Firebug add-on, also we can use task manager of Gmail for new blog post ideas, you compiled really nice tools and services!
    • Khalid Hosein says:
      Thanks Suraj! I used to use Gmail's Task List, but then I found 2 things happened: I needed more power to organize and prioritize my to dos, not to mention that it didn't do really well past 10 items or so. The 2nd thing was that it was too distracting seeing my To Do list in my face every time I processed email; it kept taking me off-track. Of course, everyone is different, and it's not a bad tool. Cheers! _Khalid _
  3. Nasif says:
    For text editor I would recommend Notepad ++ which is awesome. Google and give it a try, I am sure you will like it
    • Khalid Hosein says:
      Hi Nasif - Actually, I use Notepad++ myself in addition to NoteTab Light. I tend to use it more for coding, while I still really like NoteTab for the clips (macros). I didn't include it in the article, b/c I didn't want folks to get too bogged down in looking for the 'right' tool. Pick one, use it and then figure out if it doesn't do everything you need, look for a new one. _Khalid
  4. Vijayraj Reddy says:
    TooManyTabs is really cool extension and i didn't have it, thanks for sharing this extension...
    • Khalid Hosein says:
      You're welcome Vijayraj! I have a confession to make though - I stopped using TMT because I realized that I was pushing a lot of tabs in there and then forgetting about them. So be careful, you need a lot of discipline to not allow your tasks to get lost in a what amounts to a 'to do black hole'! Instead, when I want to clear up my tabs, I assess them and figure out what the actual task is and then add it to my Toodledo list. Cheers! _
  5. Sandeep says:
    Thats a pretty nice list of tools you've put down.. i would like to gadwin print screen for capturing screenshots on your webpage.. it's one of the best tools and so light on your computer as well... of course it's free as well.
  6. Maria Pavel says:
    I use Firebug to check on my code because it's easy to use and this way i can also learn some CSS and HTML. Only problem is it works best on Firefox. Considering i do most of my surfing from Chrome... that's one thing Chrome lacks. And now i made the mistake to update to FF4 and Firebug seems to have some big problems with the new firefox browser. So i'm at a lost on both fronts. Still waiting for some updates. Maria
    • Khalid Hosein says:
      Maria - you are in luck! There is a version for Chrome called Firebug Lite. Obviously it's a light version, but still has most of what you'll need. Also take a look at the Chrome Developer Tools (which is built into Chrome) which are very powerful. You could also do what I do -- use both browsers! I use both of their dev tools all the time. HTH! _
      • Maria Pavel says:
        I knew about Firebug Lite, i've been using it on IE, but its limited functionality kind of lets me down. I'll take a look the developer tools already built in Chrome, but i don't have high hopes. Maria
  7. Moosa Hemani says:
    some great tips for bloggers... i do use few of them. as em not a really good bloggers (really slow) so i don't use most of the tools but i really think expert bloggers should consider this post as useful!
  8. Ayden says:
    You had me worried there, I thought you were not about to mention web hosting Khalid! lol. What a good choice to go with as well. I'm a satisfied customer with HostGator. Brilliant company.
    • Khalid Hosein says:
      Hi Ayden - I should add a full disclaimer: Although I have nothing against HostGator (I don't have any experience with them, positive or negative), that was an editorial insertion by Famous Bloggers and not in my originally submitted article. Cheers! _Khalid _
  9. Murray says:
    For me, it's always been the basics: Text editor Wordpress Skype Email Photoshop Everything else has been great to help improve the proficiency of my blogging but I always end up back at my "core" tools because they're really the essentials, for me at least.
    • Khalid Hosein says:
      For the relatively new folks out there, just a word of warning: while 'photoshop' has now become practically a household term, beware of thinking you can just buy a copy (expensive) and start using it. This is not the best analogy in the world, but Photoshop is to graphics programs what Formula 1 racing cars are to driving. It's powerful, but there is one hell of a learning curve! _
  10. Alexis says:
    I learn every day online by reading other bloggers posts. I have to say I've learnt something from your list. The reason being many tools you listed are not part of my toolbox apart from the obvious ones like blog platform,web hosting,text editor ,image editor and browser. The rest are new to me I mean never used them before. This will be an opportunity for me to give them a shot.Thanks for sharing that. Alexis.
    • Khalid Hosein says:
      Glad I could help Alexis! Cheers! _
  11. Fran Aslam From Onlinewriter says:
    Hey Khalid: Nice to see, someone with the names that I am familiar with, and then finding such an awesome post, that shows so many new things to a non techie like me. It was a pleasure. I use fire fox, and always hate how tabs, sometimes make a mess, for surfing. But still, I like using it. I have bookmarked your blog post here. I will go to your blog too. Thanks for cool information Make it great for yourself. Fran Aslam
    • Khalid Hosein says:
      You're welcome Fran! And remember, the browser doesn't make a mess of tabs, we do ... by opening so many! .
      • Fran Aslam From Onlinewriter says:
        Hey Khalid: Well put Khalid. You are right we open up too many browsers. I already told you I am non techie, I know simple English only. I will have to learn all this from you. Fran A
  12. Fabrizio Van Marciano says:
    Hey Khalid, great article and very informative. It will become useful for those starting out on their blogging journey.
    • Khalid Hosein says:
      Thanks Fabrizio!
  13. divas says:
    An idle check list! I've never used a to-do list manager, and clipboard manager... I think I should give it a try.
  14. Mani Viswanathan says:
    I prefer Windows Live Writer for writing my blog posts. It really helps as it comes with out own blog theme. Ditto is my favorite app when it comes to restoring lost clipboard app.
    • Khalid Hosein says:
      I tried out Windows Live Writer, and while I think it's a great app, I've really come to appreciate using WordPress' HTML editor - I get full control when I need it. But for the beginners out there, you can safely (and should) ignore that last comment of mine! Don't worry about HTML, blah, blah, blah - just get started. Using an editor like WLW that takes your mind off of details like HTML is a very good thing.
  15. Jitendra Singh says:
    Such a long and good list of tools. I would like to add some of mine list which i am using apart from mentioned in this post. Like for todo and for any other quick memory i am using Evernote and its plugin for browser. This alone very helpful for me to capture images, memorized notes a quick editor and many more. Thanks.
    • Khalid J Hosein says:
      Hi Jitendra - I use Evernote as well, but it's not an absolutely essential tool when it comes to blogging, which is why I didn't include it or for that matter, any of other dozens of tools that I also use.Thanks for your comment!_Khalid .
      • Jitendra Singh says:
        Hi Khalid, Its good to hear this that you are too using evernote. I am not sure whether you are using all of its feature or not. The most lovable feature of it is that you can enable its extension in firefox or chrome or outlook anywhere and you can clip anything including image. And on top of it you can search any text in those clipped images. Even later you can tag those images and make your complete DB in evernote itself. Also it is window and webbase both. So this is just a minor feature of it... if will start counting on it then the whole day would be passed :)
        • Khalid Hosein says:
          Jitendra - you practically sound like you work for Evernote! ;-) Yup, I know all about its fantastic set of features. But I'll say it again for the brand new bloggers - you can (and should) safely ignore what amount to distractions from your main goal of ... blogging!
          • Jitendra Singh says:
            Nope Khalid, I dont work for Evernote, I don't know why all people think like this :) :) Yups you are right for new bloggers it might not be that good. But i am sure once you are used to it, it seems to be a part of blog. Specially when you need to manage many blogs , sites then you must need it ... so something pro like evernote.... May be one note from Microsoft ?
  16. semmy says:
    Hi Khalid thanks for your lists, especially the management tool. I want to try it. I never manage my blogs. LOL
    • Khalid Hosein says:
      You're welcome Semmy. Not sure what you mean by 'manage' your blogs, but of course, most things in life need to be managed to some extent, right?! Cheers! .
  17. Brankica says:
    This is such a great list. I am not only bookmarking it, but it is going into my bi-weekly roundup next weeked. I love lists, especially these. I did crash my Firefox with too many add ons but I just updated it to the new version so I hope it will run OK. Hope the add ons will be updates fast as well!
    • Khalid J Hosein says:
      Thanks Brankica! Unfortunately, with Firefox 4, BarTab (which is one of my favs no matter what you do) no longer works.CNET has a video with a tweak for FF4 to enable *one* component of BarTab's functionality, but it's not the same as the full thing!_Khalid .

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