Affiliate disclosure: Some links on this page are affiliate links. If you click and purchase, I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. I only list tools I personally use or have thoroughly evaluated.
This page is my honest answer to “what tools do you use?” — not a padded list of everything with an affiliate program, but the actual stack running this site and my workflow. Last updated May 2026.
SEO & Keyword Research
Semrush — The All-in-One SEO Platform
The tool I use most. Semrush covers keyword research, competitor analysis, site audits, backlink tracking, rank monitoring, and content optimization in one platform. The Keyword Gap tool is where I find most of my content ideas. Plans start at $139/month.
Free trial available — real access, no credit card required. Worth running a site audit and keyword gap analysis before committing.
Surfer SEO — Content Optimization
Where Semrush helps you find what to write, Surfer helps you write it in a way that ranks. The Content Editor scores your draft in real time against top-ranking pages, flagging missing topics and suggesting optimal length. I use it on every post before publishing. Plans from $89/month.
Google Search Console — Free, Essential
Free from Google. Shows you exactly which queries bring people to your site, which pages are indexed, and what technical issues Google has flagged. Start here before paying for anything else.
WordPress Tools
WP Rocket — Speed & Performance
The caching plugin that actually works. My Core Web Vitals went from failing to passing within 24 hours of installing it. If your Google PageSpeed score is under 80, this is the fastest fix. $59/year for one site.
Elementor Pro — Page Builder
This site is built with Elementor Pro. If you’re using a combination of separate plugins to do what Elementor handles in one place, you’re making life harder than it needs to be. $59/year.
Yoast SEO — On-Page Optimization
The SEO plugin running on this site. The free version handles focus keyphrases, meta descriptions, sitemaps, and readability scoring for most people. Premium ($99/year) adds redirect management and internal linking suggestions.
Email Marketing
Kit (ConvertKit) — For Content Creators
If you’re building an email list around content, Kit is the platform I’d choose starting fresh today. Tag-based subscriber organization, a genuinely intuitive visual automation builder, and a free plan up to 10,000 subscribers. The Mailchimp migration tool works well.
WFH Setup
If you work from home and spend all day at a desk, these hardware upgrades have the most impact on how productive — and comfortable — your day feels.
Monitors: See our full guide: Best Monitors for Working From Home (2026) — 5 picks from budget to premium.
Webcams: See our full guide: Best Webcams for Video Calls (2026) — the 5 best options at every price point.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you use all of these tools yourself?
Yes — this page only lists tools that are currently active in my workflow or that I’ve used extensively enough to recommend honestly.
What would you recommend for someone just starting out?
Google Search Console (free) → Yoast SEO free → WP Rocket when your traffic justifies it → Semrush when you’re ready to scale content systematically. That’s the order I’d do it in.
Do you earn money from these recommendations?
Yes, where there’s an affiliate link I earn a commission if you purchase. This doesn’t change my recommendation — if a tool doesn’t deliver, I’d rather tell you that than earn a short-term commission and lose your trust.