I like to think that the most indispensable tool I have for keeping my website and newsletter running is my brain. Of course my wife would quickly disagree. But whatever the case, it takes more than just a couple of tools to keep this ship sailing.
The tools below are the ones I use the most – every week, if not every day.
The music streaming services and music tools help me discover and enjoy new music, for listening, playing, and for writing about. The website tools help me do the behind-the-scenes work that needs doing.
I couldn’t do it without them.
Music Streaming…
 Apple MusicApple Music is the 1st streaming service I used (i.e. iTunes). And I keep using it because I know it inside and out. Plus it’s rare when I can’t find a new song or album I’m searching for. Lastly, I think the sonics are just a tiny bit better than the other streaming services. |
 SpotifySpotify is my secondary streaming service. You can get hooked into it easily and I think the interface is pretty painless to navigate. I have a paid plan because I like to avoid commercials whenever I can, but the free plan is very useful. |
 Amazon MusicAmazon Music is my third choice for streaming – not that anyone needs 3 different streaming services. But if you already have an Amazon account, this is a good way to go. I have an Amazon Echo and I’m more or less experimenting with the voice-command options. |
Music Tools…
 DiscogsDiscogs is a musical database and marketplace. The free database is helpful for research. But as a small-time classic Blues album collector, I use the marketplace more often to find and purchase records I covet for my own library. So far, I haven’t had a single bad experience. |
 iRealProiRealPro is a musical app. It’s a bare-bones tool that supplies basic music accompaniment for your own practice. As an old broken down piano player I find it useful. And it’s essentially free with some very inexpensive extras you can add in if you’d like. |
 SheetMusicPlusSheetMusicPlus is an online sheet music store. It’s easy to find and download just about any song you might have an interest in. And not just for piano – you can find music for all instruments, even orchestral arrangements. |
Website Tools…
 HostGatorHostGator is a web hosting service company. My website lives on its servers and I use a lot of the tools they supply for managing my website. They have inexpensive plans, expensive plans, and everything in between. I’ve been a satisfied customer for some years now. |
 FeedlyFeedly is a workhorse for me. It is my main information aggregator. When I find a website or newsletter I want to track regularly, I add it to my “Feedly Feed.” It’s a time-saver and definitely makes me more productive. |
 ConvertKitConvertKit is an email marketing platform built specifically for creators. That means it’s perfect if you’re just starting out. But flash! It’s got enough horsepower to handle your growth too. Plus, you can start out using the tool with a free version. |
 UnsplashUnsplash is a website that gives you literally millions of free images to use in your own website or newsletter. They’re high-resolution and can be downloaded and manipulated easily. You can find something to illustrate any story or blog post you write. |
 CanvaCanva is a graphics design tool. You can use it to make any kind of image you can imagine. It comes with tons of templates to get you started and you can start off with a free version. I use it mostly for logos and guides. |
 SnagitSnagit is my “let’s play with that image a little” software tool. Sure, you can screen capture with it and produce some nice little screen recordings too. But I like the simple tools it gives me to manipulate images best. |
Jon Beres
I’m one part Blues Fan and one part Digital Native (with a dash of Curmudgeon.) I’m also the publisher of AlltheWayBlue.com. If you love the Blues, I have a feeling we’ll get along just fine - cheers!
Download this FREE Blues Resource Guide and keep up with everything that's going on in the world of Blues Music.