The Tools I Actually Use (and Recommend With Confidence)
There’s no shortage of digital tools out there promising to grow your website, boost your traffic, and simplify your life—but not all of them deliver.
That’s why I’ve created this curated list of recommended tools and platforms that I either use myself or have researched and tested thoroughly. From SEO to hosting, email marketing to website care, these are the tools I trust enough to recommend—some of which may include affiliate links that help support this site (at no extra cost to you).
Let’s get to the good stuff.
🧩 SEO Tools
If you want to improve your visibility on search engines, these tools are my go-to recommendations for keyword research, on-page optimization, and performance tracking.
🔍 Ubersuggest
A budget-friendly SEO tool with keyword tracking, backlink analysis, and easy-to-read reports—great for beginners and bloggers.
🧠 Surfer SEO
If you’re creating content that ranks, Surfer’s real-time SEO scoring and content editor are incredibly helpful.
📊 SEMrush
A powerful, all-in-one suite for serious SEO strategists. Pricey, but packed with tools for competitive analysis and PPC research.
📨 Email Marketing Platforms
Staying in touch with your audience is essential. These platforms make it easier to grow and manage your email list.
✉️ ConvertKit
Made for creators and solopreneurs, ConvertKit is intuitive and powerful, especially for automating email sequences and segmenting your list.
🪶 MailerLite
An affordable, beginner-friendly email marketing platform with great design tools and analytics.
⚙️ Website Maintenance & Tools
A fast, secure, and regularly updated site is key. These are tools that help with performance, backups, and security—without a steep learning curve.
🔄 ManageWP
One dashboard to manage updates, backups, uptime monitoring, and more across all your WordPress sites.
🧰 WP Rocket
Want to speed up your WordPress site? WP Rocket is a premium caching plugin that’s beginner-friendly and powerful.
➡️ Boost Your Site Speed with WP Rocket
🛡️ Sucuri
Website firewall and malware protection with great support. Essential if security’s a top concern.
🌐 Website Hosting Recommendations
Your hosting can make or break your site’s performance. Here are hosts I’d recommend based on speed, support, and ease of use.
🧠 Kinsta
Premium managed WordPress hosting built for speed, security, and performance. Kinsta runs on Google Cloud infrastructure and includes automatic backups, malware protection, and expert-level support. Perfect for high-traffic sites or creators who want to level up without managing the tech.
🚀 SiteGround
Fast, reliable, and beginner-friendly with excellent customer service. Great for WordPress users.
➡️ Host Your Site with SiteGround
☁️ Cloudways
For growing sites that need more speed and flexibility. Managed cloud hosting without the hassle of server management.
💙 Bluehost
A popular choice for beginners starting their first WordPress blog or site. Affordable and easy to use.
🎥 Webinar & Virtual Workshop Tools
Whether you’re hosting live trainings, client onboarding sessions, or community events, these tools make it easy to plan, promote, and present your content.
- Zoom – Reliable, flexible, and widely used. Ideal for both small coaching sessions and large webinars.
➡️ Try Zoom for Free - WebinarJam – A dedicated webinar platform with built-in marketing tools like email reminders, polls, and post-event replays.
➡️ Explore WebinarJam - Demio – Clean interface, built-in engagement features, and easy automation. Great for seamless user experience.
➡️ Check Out Demio - StreamYard – Perfect for live streaming to multiple platforms (YouTube, Facebook, LinkedIn) with branding controls.
➡️ Go Live with StreamYard
💼 Client Relationship Management (CRM)
If you’re serious about converting leads, nurturing client relationships, and streamlining your marketing all in one place, a CRM isn’t optional—it’s essential. This is the platform I recommend when you’re ready to level up your client communications and automate the backend of your business.
🌟 Go High Level (GHL)
More than just a CRM, Go High Level is a powerful all-in-one platform designed to help service providers, coaches, and agencies manage everything from lead generation to sales follow-up—all under one roof.
With High Level, you can:
- Automate email and text follow-ups
- Book appointments through smart calendar integrations
- Create sales funnels and landing pages
- Manage pipelines and track leads with ease
- Launch and monitor entire marketing campaigns
It’s especially useful for those offering services like coaching, counseling, and intensives, where follow-through, personalization, and client communication matter deeply.
Whether you’re running a one-person show or scaling your team, Go High Level gives you the systems to save time and never miss a lead again.
💬 Bonus Tools for Content & Design
These tools make content creation and branding easier—because great design and copy can amplify your strategy.
- 🖼️ Canva – Graphic design made simple for non-designers
➡️ Design with Canva - ✍️ Grammarly – AI-powered writing assistant for clear, polished content
➡️ Try Grammarly - 🎨 Coolors – Generate beautiful color palettes for your brand
➡️ Use Coolors
👋 Final Thoughts
I built this list not just to recommend products, but to help you make informed decisions that move your site forward. Everything here supports the four pillars I focus on at Hively VA: SEO, marketing, website maintenance, and hosting.
You don’t need to use everything. Start where you are, use what you need, and grow from there.
Want updates when I test new tools or discover better options?
👉 Join the Email List for Updates & Recommendations
Looking for the Best Tools to Grow Your Business in 2025? Whether you're just starting out or scaling an established practice, this curated list features the best SEO tools for beginners, intuitive on-page SEO tools, and powerful keyword research software designed to help your content rank. You’ll also find trusted email marketing platforms for small businesses—including side-by-side comparisons like ConvertKit vs MailerLite—to help you choose the right email list tools for 2025. For website care, we’ve highlighted must-have WordPress maintenance plugins, tools for how to speed up WordPress, and reliable website backup tools to protect your site. If you’re searching for beginner-friendly website hosting, we compare SiteGround vs Bluehost, explore managed WordPress hosting like Kinsta vs SiteGround, and break down the best web hosting for WordPress and fast hosting for high-traffic sites. Planning a webinar or virtual event? Discover the best webinar tools for coaches, recommended webinar platforms for small businesses, and tips on how to host a webinar using platforms like Zoom vs Demio or other top webinar tools for 2025. And if you're ready to automate and scale, the powerful Go High Level CRM stands out as the best CRM for small service businesses—a true all-in-one CRM platform for coaches and creators offering done-for-you marketing automation tools and seamless CRM automation. This list is always evolving, so check back often as we review the best CRM for 2025 and the tools that help you do more—with less stress.
Best SEO tools for beginners, on-page SEO tools, keyword research software, best email marketing platforms for small business, ConvertKit vs MailerLite, email list tools 2025, WordPress maintenance plugins, how to speed up WordPress, website backup tools, best web hosting for WordPress, beginner-friendly website hosting, SiteGround vs Bluehost, best web hosting for WordPress, Kinsta vs SiteGround, managed WordPress hosting, fast hosting for high-traffic sites, best webinar tools for coaches, webinar platforms for small business, webinar tools, virtual workshop software, live webinar platforms, Zoom vs Demio for webinars, how to host a webinar, best tools for virtual events, top webinar tools for 2025, Go High Level CRM, High Level CRM review, CRM for coaches, All-in-one CRM platform, Done-for-you, best CRM for small service businesses, marketing automation tools, CRM automation, best CRM for 2025
Optimize, Market & Maintain 