Websites, platforms, and hosting
Starter websites: If you haven’t had a website before, and would like something simple and no-frills, I recommend starting on Squarespace. (I can help you if you’d like to make it look nice.)
Domains and hosting: I recommend VentraIP to my Australian clients. (Note: You will not need a hosting plan if you are using a hosted platform like Squarespace or Shopify.)
Shopping carts: The most widely supported one is Shopify. My colleague Nikki @ Studio Nyx and I can help you with custom Shopify websites. I can help you with tweaks and adjustments as needed.
Need further info? Nikki has some great advice over in her blog post: My Favourite DIY Website Platforms
Paid ads, email, and online marketing
These are not sponsored links 👇🏻
- For email newsletters, MailerLite fits the needs of most small businesses and community groups.
- If you would like to learn how to do social media ads, I recommend The Digital Picnic.
- For learning and support with Google Ads, I recommend Kaity Griffin’s course: Profitable Promotion.
Contact forms
Jotform is my go-to for embedded contact forms on WordPress websites. Jotform is very reliable when it comes to letting you know you have a new contact form message. Their free plan suits most use-cases.

Web hosting servers (typically referred to as “hosting”) are remote computers where the pages and files of your website live. Normally, they are found using an IP address. But they use a domain (your .com) address help you find it easier.
Learn from me!
Curious if I think your website is good? Well, I have a tool for that!
Snag my free toolkit: The Hallmarks of a Healthy Website, which will enable you to find out at your own pace.
Also, I have written several articles on an array of web and digital marketing-related topics.
Here are some to get you started: