Useful Tools and Resources
This page contains tools, services and learning resources selected to support online marketing, business development, productivity and personal growth.
The objective is not to create the longest possible list. Every recommendation should have a clear purpose and provide genuine value for the type of person it is intended to help.
Some links may be affiliate links. If you purchase through one of these links, BarrieEvans.com may receive a commission without normally increasing the price you pay. Please read the Affiliate Disclosure for more information.
Barrie’s Tools and Services
Business Website Manager
Business Website Manager is the system being used to create BarrieEvans.com. It is being developed as a practical website-building and content-management platform for small businesses, independent professionals and people building their own online projects.
The system includes website settings, reusable themes, page and post management, a visual content editor, media handling, clean URLs, legal pages, internal linking, SEO assistance and static-site generation.
Business Website Manager is currently in active development and is not yet available for general purchase.
Website Creation and Online Visibility Support
If you need help structuring a business website, improving its content or developing a practical online-visibility plan, I offer straightforward guidance based on real business and website-building experience.
Contact me to discuss your website or online project.
Content and Publishing Systems
I also develop systems designed to organise content ideas, produce useful drafts and support consistent publishing. These tools are intended to reduce repetitive work while keeping human review and quality control at the centre of the process.
Further information will be added as these systems become ready for wider use.
Email and Audience Building
Beehiiv
Beehiiv is the platform being used for the BEcom Mindset newsletter. It provides newsletter publishing, subscriber management, hosted newsletter pages and tools for developing an email audience.
It is particularly relevant to creators and independent publishers who want their newsletter and public archive managed through one platform.
You can also join the BEcom Mindset newsletter.
Website Hosting
Hostinger
Hostinger provides shared hosting, managed website hosting, domains, email and virtual private servers. I have used Hostinger for live website projects, which means future guidance and reviews can be based on practical experience rather than promotional material alone.
The correct hosting choice depends on the type of website, expected traffic, required control and the owner’s technical confidence. The cheapest or most powerful plan is not automatically the most appropriate.
A detailed Hostinger review and plan comparison will be added before an affiliate recommendation is made.
Marketing and Website Tools
Google Search Central
Google Search Central provides official documentation explaining how Google discovers, indexes and presents website content. It is a valuable starting point for understanding search visibility without relying entirely on second-hand SEO advice.
Semrush Academy
Semrush Academy offers free training covering SEO, content, competitive research and digital marketing. The training can be useful even if you are not ready to pay for the full Semrush platform.
The paid Semrush platform is powerful but may be unnecessarily expensive for a beginner or very small project. It will be reviewed separately for users who require professional research and reporting tools.
Grammarly
Grammarly provides spelling, grammar, clarity and writing assistance across browsers and desktop applications. It may help when preparing articles, emails and business documents, although automated suggestions should still be reviewed rather than accepted blindly.
Courses and Continued Learning
Coursera
Coursera provides courses and professional certificates from recognised universities and companies. Relevant subjects include digital marketing, project management, communication, personal development and technology.
Recommendations will be made at individual-course level. The presence of a course on a large platform does not automatically make it suitable for every learner.
Udemy
Udemy contains a very large collection of practical courses covering websites, marketing, productivity, business and personal skills.
Quality varies considerably between instructors. Before recommending a course, we will examine its curriculum, recent reviews, update history, instructor experience and whether the material provides reasonable value.
Books for Marketing, Mindset and Growth
Books can provide greater depth than short articles or promotional videos, often at a much lower cost than an online programme.
A carefully selected reading list will be developed around:
Online marketing and useful content.
Affiliate marketing and ethical recommendations.
Building and managing a small business.
Focus, habits and productivity.
Mindset and resilience.
Confidence and personal growth.
Where possible, UK book recommendations will use Bookshop.org to support independent bookshops.
Products Currently Under Review
ClickBank and other marketplaces contain products covering online business and personal development. Some may provide genuine value, while others rely heavily on exaggerated claims, artificial urgency or expensive upsell sequences.
A product will not be recommended here simply because it offers a high commission.
Before inclusion, we will consider:
The quality and substance of the actual product.
The experience and reputation of its creator.
The accuracy of its sales claims.
The complete price, including subscriptions and upsells.
Customer support and refund arrangements.
Who the product is and is not suitable for.
Whether a better or more affordable alternative exists.
Products that pass this process will receive a proper review rather than simply being added to a list of links.
Suggest a Resource
If you have used a tool, course or book that you believe deserves consideration, please contact me.
A suggestion does not guarantee inclusion, but worthwhile resources are always welcome for review.
Continue Exploring
Visit the main Guides page for practical introductions to online marketing, affiliate marketing, building an online business, productivity, mindset and personal growth.