I’m quite analytical and certainly not a “shoot from the hip” guy when it come to making important business tool decisions.  But I’m sure this is a flawed list.  I’m also sure many will take issue with my choices.

My biases: I place high value on learning curve (shape and length), ease of use, intuitive character of the interfaces and, perhaps most of all, customer support and on-line help of the vendor. I almost never buy an important tool from a new or otherwise marginal vendor.

Web :  One and One Hosting.  www.1and1.com
I think I pay less than $20 monthly and host between 20 and 30 websites with them.

Domain Registrar: One and One Hosting. www.1and1.com
At this time I own about 600 domain urls and have about 70% registered with one and one. I think I pay about $7 per year per domain.

Accounting Software:  Quickbooks Pro www.quickbooks.intuit.com
Less than $150 (street price). Update it every couple of years.

Blogging Software:  Wordpress www.wordpress.com
This is being posted on my wordpress blog.

SEO (Search Engine Optimization) Coach: Jerrid Smith www.smithseo.com
Jerrid also owns and manages the country’s largest Injury Lawyer Directory www.InjuryGuide.com

SEO/SEM (Search Enging Optimization/Marketing) Reference Books I use very frequently.  Both are accessed on-line and are author updated very frequently:
Aaron Wall’s Search Engine Book www.seobook.com
Planet Ocean’s “The Unfair Advantage Book…”  www.PlanetOcean.com

Survey software:  www.Zoomerang.com www.SurveyMonkey.com
I’ve been successful with each of these.  Very easy to use.

Technical Training: www.Lynda.com
Learn the latest tools and techniques in digital media, design, and development. They now have over 400 on-line courses.  The ones I’ve completed have been excellent. About $25 monthly.

Directory software: www.eSyndicat.com
Very inexpensive, intuitive interfaces and reliable. Check out some of my directories using eSyndicat.:
http://floridaautoaccidentlawyers.org/
http://floridatruckaccidentlawyers.org/
http://floridabraininjurylawyers.org/
http://floridamotorcycleaccidentlawyers.org/
http://legalcentersusa.com
http://topinnsusa.com

Graphic design:  Whether you need logo design or web site design, you’ll do well to check out http://99designs.com/.  Basically, you’ll set up a contest, offer a monetary prize and get dozens of “entries”.  I’ve been very pleased. Generally, high quality graphic design from all parts of the world.

You won’t need a graphic designer to create an attractive email or newsletter. Nearly all good services have various email development features to guide you every step of the way. You can import an HTML page and/or use one of the many templates provided by the service. You’ll soon be adding attachments, pictures, sound files, and more.

You’ll finding managing your e-mail list is a cinch.

A huge advantage to using an online email marketing service is the tracking capabilities. You’ll have access to reports on bounced, forwarded, delivered/undeliverable and sent emails; as well as conversions, click-throughs and more.

We haven’t used them all.  But we have used the ones we believe to be the top two.  And we’ve scoured the internet and chatted with scores of users to determine the real opinions of people who have used the others.

We’re now using iContact www.icontact.com and we’ve also used Constant Contact www.constantcontact.com .  You’d probably be happy with either.  Both do about the same things. 

iContact seems is bit more intuitive.  But both ARE intutive and both have a very short learning curve with very ample on-line training, support, forums, etc.