100 Best Sites for Solopreneurs

The 100 Best Sites for Solopreneurs from One Woman Shop

The 100 Best Sites for Solopreneurs from One Woman Shop

Welcome to the fourth edition of the 100 Best Sites for Solopreneurs from One Woman Shop!

Welcome to the fourth edition of 100 Best Sites for Solopreneurs.

As a solopreneur, it’s not tough to find solo business resources -- but it’s a true challenge to find the very best resources that provide the insight, advice, and tips you need to build the business that makes you want to shout from the rooftops: “I’m a solopreneur!!!”

That’s what #100BestSites is all about -- and because we love making The List better and better each and every year, we can pretty much guarantee that this year’s has more than a few new-to-you resources -- that continue to be fun, comprehensive, and oh-so-helpful. The third time might’ve been the charm, but we’re not slowing down with the fourth edition!

For one month, we gave you, our community, the chance to vote for your top resource across each of our seven categories. You'll notice each winner highlighted at the top of each category below. 

Like last year, we’re marking repeat offenders appearances on The List. ** means this is the second time the site has been featured, *** means the site is on The List for the third time, and **** is a 100 Best Sites stronghold, appearing on all four editions. No asterisks? We’re proud to feature the site for the first time this year!

Dig in…and be endlessly inspired to better your biz.

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Digital Marketing

The sites to visit for all things marketing: blogging, social media, SEO, building your list, and developing a website that works. community of solopreneurs

Category winner: Kate Doster

We laughed out loud when we read one nominator’s comment about Kate: “I love how she use[s] the word homeslice all the time.” It’s true -- she does. Nominator Rita added, “Kate had me hooked from her very first email.” A darn good thing, we say, considering her area of expertise is all things email marketing!

Must-read post: How I Increased My Blog Traffic To Get More In 3 Months Than I Did All Last Year Combined

community of solopreneursAeolidia with Arianne Foulks

If you’re a creative online shop owner looking for resources on increasing website conversions, setting up your online shop, or selling to wholesalers...look no further. Arianne and the team at Aeolidia are Shopify experts with in-depth knowledge in online retail -- that they graciously share regularly on their blog.

Must-read post: 7 Mistakes to Avoid in Your Wholesale Line Sheet

Amy Porterfield

When she’s not teaching the how-to’s behind webinars and email marketing through her courses, Amy’s covering the digital marketing gamut on her popular podcast, Online Marketing Made Easy -- where you can grab “Audio Inspir-action” for your own marketing plan. New to the show? She groups episodes into “collections” based on your goals to help you get the most out of your listening time. (Our Type A hearts love that.)

Must-listen collection: Sell More: How to Master Webinars, Funnels & Facebook Ads to Grow & Automate Your Business

And Possibly Dinosaurs with Caitlin Cheevers

Want to start a blog that doesn’t require your full-time attention? That’s what Caitlin will help you do. In her words: “At And Possibly Dinosaurs, I embrace the fact that you can love your job and love your blog; you don’t have to choose one over the other.” Side note: We love her “Sunday Scratches” -- the casual breakdown of things that happened throughout the week that just don’t warrant a whole blog post.

Must-read post: The Ultimate Spreadsheet to Keep Your Blog Organized

The Blogsmith with Maddy Osman

“I consider ‘nerd’ to be a compliment.” ← Us too, Maddy...us too. And when that nerdy stuff propels our businesses forward? Even better. Fortunately, Maddy is yo’ girl for all things content marketing. In nominator Ana’s words, “I love that [The Blogsmith] serves both her clients and fellow solopreneurs who want to do what she's doing.” One last thing we love? That she’s not afraid to call B.S. on sketchy online business practices.

Must-read post: Lead Marketing: 67 Ways I’ve Generated Business Leads Online (& Off)

Clapping Dog Media with Meg Clarke**

Meg is a self-proclaimed “expert at connecting the dots of data to get your business found.” How? Through the thing we all love to hate: SEO. If you want break-it-down-for-me tutorials and insights into what SEO really is (and how it can benefit your biz), the Clapping Dog blog is your next best bookmark.

Must-read post: How Does Content Clustering Get You Found by Google?

Danielle Zeigler***

Whether you’re looking to master SEO, social media, blogging, or your introversion (yes, it fits in) as you grow your online business, Danielle’s blog is a treasure trove for bite-sized, yet incredibly thorough resources on all of the above -- best served with a side of coffee.

Must-read post: 7 Best Locations to Find + Convert More Subscribers on Your Blog

Define Your Hustle with Rachel Moffett

“Build a successful business on your own terms and do work that’s fulfilling.” Did you catch that? On your own terms. We often say that business isn’t one-size-fits-all, so it’s no wonder that Rachel’s message resonates with us. Rachel supports your business growth by focusing on all things related to creating a digital presence, especially blogging.

Must-read post: 7 Blogger Collaborations to Get You Noticed

JAM Marketing Group with Brit Kolo

JAM’s nominator said it best: “Brit makes marketing approachable so it feels good for you and your personality...so you can enjoy making genuine connections and not be left feeling sleazy!” Our addition: We can’t help but grab a cuppa and join her as she rocks the full-time coffee + comfort lifestyle while interviewing fellow boss ladies over on the Marketing in Yoga Pants podcast.

Must-read post: How to Get More Engagement On Your Social Media Posts (and Everywhere Else in Life)

Jess Creatives with Jessica Freeman***

We’re sorry for what we’re about to do: “Who’s that girl? Who’s that girl? It’s Jess!” (Apologies if you have the New Girl theme stuck in your head all day now.) This girl, Jess, lands back here on The List because her tried-and-true material (design and digital marketing) is still great, but her slight pivot into video marketing is fantastic -- and timely, since video ain’t going anywhere.

Must-read post: 7 Steps to Get YouTube Sponsors

Kate Doster

We laughed out loud when we read one nominator’s comment about Kate: “I love how she use[s] the word homeslice all the time.” It’s true -- she does. Nominator Rita added, “Kate had me hooked from her very first email.” A darn good thing, we say, considering her area of expertise is all things email marketing!

Must-read post: How I Increased My Blog Traffic To Get More In 3 Months Than I Did All Last Year Combined

Mariah Magazine with Mariah Liszewski

While we were slightly disappointed to find out “Magazine” isn’t her real last name, that didn’t take away from the fact that Mariah is a whiz on all things websites + SEO. She’ll make you one, too, with her dumb-it-down-for-me blog tutorials and in-depth (not to mention entertaining) YouTube videos.

Must-read post: How Much SEO Authority Does Your Website Have?

Meera Kothand**

If we had to describe Meera’s content area in two words, it would be “digital products.” (And if we were allowed a few more? We’d add in “last year’s digital marketing category winner.”) Nominator Marianne adds, “Every single one of Meera's posts is pure gold for any blogger or content marketer. It's straight to the point and actionable. She really knows her stuff!”

Must-read post: How to Write Emails People Want to Open: 20 Hacks to Stand Out in the Inbox

Megabolt Digital with Meg Casebolt

If we’re going to talk SEO (not-so-fun), we might as well bring superheroes into the mix (super fun). That’s exactly what Meg does at Megabolt Digital -- she answers the question we’re all perpetually asking (“WTF is SEO?”), then makes it a topic you’ll not only love learning about, but you’ll love seeing the results of, as well.

Must-read post: Elevate Your Posts: A Comprehensive SEO Checklist

Monica Louie

Facebook Ads -- you either love ‘em, or you hate ‘em. It’s safe to say Monica loves them, and after learning from and implementing her expert tips for your campaigns -- and seeing the results -- you just might, too. As she says: “If it has to do with Facebook Ads and conversions, [she] can help.”

Must-read post: 7 Free Facebook Tools to Get Massive Results with Ads

Nathalie Lussier***

With eight years of blog archives under her belt, Nathalie is a staple for digital marketing genius. Once you dig in, you’ll be wanting her to “popup” in your inbox and feed reader every day. (That’s a dad joke, since Nathalie and her husband are the creators of PopupAlly, a free popup WP plugin we love.)

Must-listen episode: Should You Use Popups?

Redefining Mom with Monica Froese

While higher ed isn’t essential for solopreneur success, one nominator points out that Monica “has an MBA degree in finance and uses her knowledge and experience to teach moms how to run a business from home.” Not too shabby, we say. Nominator Heather adds, “She provides the best tactical information for business owners minus the fluff!”

Must-read post: 7 Clever ConvertKit Automation Hacks

RKA Ink with Rachael Kay Albers

Web designer, business builder, and self-proclaimed “awkward marketer,” Rachael is full of digital marketing smarts -- and delivers them with a whole lot of personality. Get the insights on her blog or her weekly show, the aptly-named Awkward Marketing, where she offers fun-size small business advice with storytelling and comedy for entrepreneurs who want to create a meaningful presence online.

Must-watch episode: How to Scale Your Business Without Creating a Zillion Offerings

The Stacey Harris***

She’s not “a” Stacey Harris, she’s “The Stacey Harris” -- and don’t ya forget it! Stacey’s claim-to-fame is her Hit the Mic podcast, where she rocks almost 400 bite-sized episodes. In a world of hour-long podcast episodes, Hit the Mic is usually under 20 minutes, which means you’ll be walking away with digestible, actionable social media marketing tips that you can easily and painlessly implement.

Must-listen episode: 3 Things I Love About LinkedIn

Sweaty Wisdom with Chris Emmer

What started as a blog documenting her wellness journey (hence the “sweaty”) has turned into a resource for solopreneurs with a mission we can all get behind: “Do what lights you up and pass the spark.” Through her branding, social media, and digital tips, Chris helps you “ditch brand shame and social media overwhelm” so you can “stop hiding and step into the light.”

Must-read post: Why You're Losing Instagram Followers (And Why It's A Good Thing)

tiny blue orange with Alison Monday****

If claiming that you’re not tech-savvy is your way out of any website or security jam, Alison’s your girl. Her tutorials and tips on WordPress development, site security, analytics, and more will have you suddenly fluent in tech-speak -- and proud of it.

Must-read series: Nerd Alert

Women Winning Online with Jen Snyder

As one of 2018’s most nominated sites, Women Winning Online has obviously captured the hearts of solopreneurs around the world. What really caught our eye on all of those nominations? Almost every single one pointed out how much Jen genuinely cares and wants to see her community succeed. In the words of Stacey: “Jen has a gift for connecting with her followers and offers valuable content.”

Must-read post: 3 Surprising Reasons Bloggers Get More Subscribers with Landing Pages

WP+BFF with Shannon Mattern****

Guess who’s back, back again? Shannon’s back, tell a friend. We love Shannon and WP+BFF for many reasons: her killer tech advice, her famous, Free 5 Day Website Challenge, her rallying of her supporters every year to crush 100 Best Sites nominations, and now, her pep talks for side hustlers.

Must-read post: The Truth About My First 3 Months of Self-Employment

XO Sarah with Sarah Morgan****

When she’s not practicing swoon-worthy aerial arts (so cool), Sarah’s embracing her (self-appointed) job of helping “more of your people find you online.” Her tips on intentional digital growth -- from blogging to email marketing to social media -- will take the overwhelm out of growing and put the excitement back in.

Must-read post: 10 Digital Products You Can Make in a Weekend

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Publicity, Launching and Sales

The sites to visit when it’s time to garner attention, build your launch strategy, and make more money, honey.

community of solopreneursCategory winner: The Persuasion Revolution with Bushra Azhar

We knew Bushra was a woman after our own heart when we read this copy on her site: “What? You expect regular from me? WTF is wrong with you?” A self-proclaimed persuasion strategist (not to mention a spicy food connoisseur and a social psychology aficionado), Bushra is your go-to for using psychology to grow your business. Once you’ve soaked in all of her knowledge, head to her How They Persuade interview series to hear from other wise business owners.

Must-read post: The Mere Exposure Effect: How to Use Psychology to Remain Top of Mind All Day, Every Day

community of solopreneursB. with Brigitte Lyons

“What do you want to be known for? Whoa...big opener, I know.” That’s the message that greets you on Brigitte’s Start Here page -- and it’s an important question for any solopreneur. Getting known (for all your right reasons) is Brigitte’s jam and she’ll help get you there through content on refining your message and getting media coverage.

Must-read post: 3 Reasons Your Business Benefits When You Make Social Impact a Priority (And One Risk)

CourseCrafting

CourseCraft is one of our favorite platforms for building your course online (they just make it so easy!, but what we love about it even more is the CourseCrafting blog: a go-to resource for tips on course creation, e-course marketing, and building a business on purpose. In their words: “Bring your brilliance. We'll handle the rest.”

Must-read post: It’s Not the Size of Your List that Matters, It’s How You Use It

Femtrepreneur with Mariah Coz***

If you’ve created a course? Mariah will help you promote it. If you haven’t created a course? She’ll help you create it. Mariah’s your A-Z resource for course creation, passive income, blogging, and more. Catch her solo blog posts or her joint podcast with previous #100BestSites winner, Megan Minns, over on her site.

Must-read post: How to Host a Webinar: The Four “P’s” of Webinars

Hey Shenee with Shenee Howard***

Shenee is very vocal about her love of Keanu Reeves, ramen noodles and using GIFs to express herself. (Hey, at least we agree on two out of three! Keanu? Nooo...) Here’s one thing we can definitely agree on: Shenee’s motto and strategy -- Name It, Explain It, And Profit -- helps solopreneurs give their product a great name, explain it with a great message, and profit accordingly.

Must-read post: 35 Reasons Why People Didn’t Buy Your Last Offer

Kathryn Hocking**

At first glance, Kathryn’s content seems to fit squarely here in the Publicity, Launching, and Sales category. But admittedly, we struggled with putting her in the Mindset and Solopreneur Lifestyle category instead, because she does a stellar job of weaving mindset management into your launch strategy. (Think: chakras, energy management, natural cycles, and money blocks.) Cheers to her for that!

Must-read post: What Do the Chakras Have to Do with Launching?

Lauren Caselli

“Ready to transform your business with live events?” That’s Lauren’s rallying cry. Just because we have a special place in our heart for all things digital doesn’t mean we don’t appreciate the value of often-overlooked alternatives, like IRL gatherings. Lauren is your go-to for capturing the “unparalleled power” of said events.

Must-read post: Is Your Business Ready to Host an Event?

The Persuasion Revolution with Bushra Azhar

We knew Bushra was a woman after our own heart when we read this copy on her site: “What? You expect regular from me? WTF is wrong with you?” A self-proclaimed persuasion strategist (not to mention a spicy food connoisseur and a social psychology aficionado), Bushra is your go-to for using psychology to grow your business. Once you’ve soaked in all of her knowledge, head to her How They Persuade interview series to hear from other wise business owners.

Must-read post: The Mere Exposure Effect: How to Use Psychology to Remain Top of Mind All Day, Every Day

The Rule Breaker’s Club with Courtney Johnston****

“The Rule Breaker’s Club is a high octane, full-on passion-fueled bundle of joy with a strong side dish of sarcasm.” Given that powerful copy, you likely won’t be too shocked to find out that Courtney, the “Chief Rebel” of The Rule Breaker’s Club, is a copywriter by trade. She’s here to help infuse personality, strategy, and fun into your copy and client relationships, too, all in the name of making sales.

Must-read post: How to Host a Potential Client Call

Selena Soo

Selena has one question for you: “Are you a hidden gem who dreams of being a household name?” Whether you’re looking to gain more authority in your online space or land a dream business interview on TV, Selena is a publicity and PR powerhouse who understands what it’s like to be a highly-sensitive online business owner who’s comfortable stepping into the spotlight, regardless.

Must-read post: How to Grab a TV Producer’s Attention

Wholesale for Creatives with Carolyn Keating

Product makers, this one’s for you! You might call Carolyn wholesale-obsessed (it’s okay, she says it herself), but she’s also the first to acknowledge how “scary it can be to invest your time and money into a segment of your business that isn't a guaranteed success.” Luckily, she’s there to provide strategy, systems, and support for makers and product-based business owners.

Must-read series: Selling Wholesale

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Branding, Copy, and Content Strategy

The sites to visit for tips on designing and wordsmithing the brand and content that tells your biz story.community of solopreneurs

Category winner (tie): Copy Hackers**

If you’re looking for resources that’ll help you DIY your copywriting, look no further. The original home of “conversion copywriting” (founder Joanna literally coined the term), the Copy Hackers team and killer lineup of guest posters provide endless content on the best ways to use copy to boost your conversions. You don’t have to be a copywriter to love Copy Hackers -- but you just might want to be after visiting here.

Must-read post: Could These 3 Little-Known Conversion Triggers Jack up Sales in Your Email Campaign?

Category winner (tie): Your Content Empire with Hailey Dale

We couldn’t have said it better than nominator Rebecca: “Hailey is an absolute genius. The way she explains how to create and manage content is like nothing I’ve ever seen. She is super generous with what she gives away and is very engaging with her followers. Call me a super fan!” All we wanna know is: Can we join your fan club, Rebecca?

Must-read post: Epic Guide to Creating Your 2018 Content Strategy

community of solopreneursAnn Handley

You might know Ann from her uber-popular book, Everybody Writes, or through her leadership at MarketingProfs -- so, needless to say, this writer’s crushing it. But maybe you didn’t know that you could head right on over to her site’s blog, where she practices what she preaches, serving up writing and marketing lessons with real-life stories baked in.

Must-read post: Why Marketers are Embracing Long-Form Storytelling

The Branded Solopreneur with Dre Beltrami**

We might be partial to wine-guzzling Italians, but we think you’ll love this site because of the crazy detailed resources on branding, design, and visual strategies Dre provides -- in her sincere, straight-shooting way. “Visual revolution?” Yes, please!

Must-read series: The Color Series

Brittany Berger**

Unicorns. The praise hands emoji. Endless pop culture references. Oh, and incredibly in-depth articles on content creation and promotion. (Very meta.) In the words of one nominator, Brittany “helps you actually use the content you create, whether that's finding the right places to promote it or learning how to repurpose so you can be everywhere online.” Our advice? Dig deep into her archives for some stellar automation advice, too. She is, after all, fondly called the “automation queen” by nominator Jess.

Must-read post: How to Write a Welcome Email Series That Turns Subscribers Into BFFs

Copy Hackers**

If you’re looking for resources that’ll help you DIY your copywriting, look no further. The original home of “conversion copywriting” (founder Joanna literally coined the term), the Copy Hackers team and killer lineup of guest posters provide endless content on the best ways to use copy to boost your conversions. You don’t have to be a copywriter to love Copy Hackers -- but you just might want to be after visiting here.

Must-read post: Could These 3 Little-Known Conversion Triggers Jack up Sales in Your Email Campaign?

Kaleigh Moore

If writing is any part of your business (hint: we bet it is), you’ll love Kaleigh’s straight-up advice on self-editing, gaining more confidence in your writing, and overcoming that intimidating blank page in front of you. When she’s not writing or passing on her wisdom to all of us, she says she’s “usually speaking in strange voices to [her] dog.” We love that.

Must-read post: The 6 Best Pieces of Writing Advice

Kayla Hollatz****

“All impactful copy, content, and strategies are created in my cozy studio (aka my three season porch overlooking the lake) in Minneapolis, Minnesota, don'tcha know.” First of all: Can we come visit?! Second of all: Kayla is absolutely right when she uses the word “impactful” to describe her work. Come to Kayla for her copy and content advice...but stay for her thought-provoking posts on business ownership.

Must-read post: 10 Questions to Spark Your Year in Review

Magnoliahouse Creative with Irene Hardy

Irene is all about “more conversion, more cocktails,” creating “websites and brands to help you hit your numbers in time for happy hour.” We’ll cheers to that...but what you might love even more are her tangible tips for increasing conversions with your website, your client experience, and your overall digital presence.

Must-read post: 3 Tiny Ways to Increase Conversions on Your Website

Val Geisler**

Last year, Val was hanging out in the Mindset and Solopreneur Lifestyle category on The List -- but this year, the email marketing queen has made the hop to Branding, Copy, and Content Strategy as she coaches fellow small businesses on the do’s and don’ts of writing emails that actually work. You’re guaranteed to learn a thing (or 10) from the tear downs she does on her blog.

Must-read post: Email Onboarding Tear Down, Webinar Edition: CoSchedule

Your Content Empire with Hailey Dale

We couldn’t have said it better than nominator Rebecca: “Hailey is an absolute genius. The way she explains how to create and manage content is like nothing I’ve ever seen. She is super generous with what she gives away and is very engaging with her followers. Call me a super fan!” All we wanna know is: Can we join your fan club, Rebecca?

Must-read post: Epic Guide to Creating Your 2018 Content Strategy

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Biz Growth, Systems, and Productivity

The sites to visit when it’s time to hunker down and grow your biz — and the systems and productivity tips that’ll get you there.

community of solopreneursCategory winner: Tara Gentile****

There’s a reason Tara’s been a staple on The List since its beginning: She continually produces epic content geared toward helping entrepreneurs build healthy, sustainable businesses that blend profit and purpose. Whether you read her articles or listen to her podcast, What Works, you can’t go wrong.

Must-read post: The 12-Month Evolution Of A Digital Product Pricing Strategy: The Good, The Bad, And The Uglycommunity of solopreneurs

Amy Lynn Andrews*

You’d think after getting the same newsletter each and every week for over several years, you’d be slightly over it. Not the case with Amy’s The Useletter®, the Saturday morning email you won’t be able to ignore with its to-the-point, helpful tips, resources, and experiments for solopreneurs and small businesses looking to sharpen their systems and focus on what matters.

Must-read series: The Useletter®

Devon Smiley****

In her words, Devon teaches “essential skills for solopreneurs -- because they work way too hard to be stuck earning peanuts.” Preach, sister. We’re full-time devotees to Devon’s consistently deep dive into the know-how us solopreneurs need to negotiate for what we want -- and deserve. And her French flair est très amical.

Must-read post: 5 Habits of Highly Successful Negotiators

Kyla Roma****

There’s a reason Kyla’s been a staple on The List since year one -- and we have a feeling it has something to do with her focus on “profitable monthly, weekly, and daily routines that get reliable results.” If you believe different > better, want to prioritize profit, and break the cycle of busy, K-Y-L-A is your girl. (The chant never gets old.)

Must-read post: How to Elevate Your Team’s Marketing Skills Before You Launch

Megan Flatt**

Megan’s tagline continues to make us smile: “Run your business like a mother.” As a business growth strategist, Megan is out to help “women have the confidence and clarity to see motherhood as an advantage in everything they do.” Follow along as she spreads her mission -- and her mama wisdom -- on her blog and via her show, The Mama CEO.

Must-watch episode: Defy the 9-5

Miss GSD with Lanie Lamarre

Getting shit done...pretty essential for any business owner, wouldn’t ya say? With Lanie (aka Miss GSD) as your partner in crime, you’ll GSD till the day is done. (Or until naptime/happy hour, at least.) Nominator Meghan says, “As a one-woman show with a side-hustle, I need my systems to be on point to keep my sanity. Lanie always hooks me up with the best systems advice and workflows to make #allthethings seem less overwhelming.”

Must-read post: 5 Big Myths About Using Automations to Sell Services

Nesha Woolery**

“You don't need to hustle like a madwoman to build a profitable business. You need to work smarter, not harder.” Amen, Nesha! Project management. Client intake processes. Pricing your services. Nesha tackles all of these areas with grace -- and an amazing British accent, to boot.

Must-read post: 3 Income Plan Mistakes To Avoid

Small Business Boss Co.

From the ladies behind Scoop Studios, Small Business Boss Co. is the place to go as a service-based business owner who wants to ditch the “shoulds” and start owning the business side of being a...well, business owner. Between the blog and the podcast, you can’t go wrong if you’re looking to better manage your time, land more clients, create a signature process, and more.

Must-listen episode: Investments with Impact – Where to Spend Money in Your Business

sproutHR with Ashley Cox**

Be honest -- when you think “human resources,” you probably don’t think, “yes please!” That’s why we love Ashley’s blog over at sproutHR, where she helps entrepreneurs like yourself build people and hiring skills that will extend the impact your business can have even further.

Must-read post: 10 Simple (and Free!) Ways to Show Your Team You Appreciate Them

Tara Gentile****

There’s a reason Tara’s been a staple on The List since its beginning: She continually produces epic content geared toward helping entrepreneurs build healthy, sustainable businesses that blend profit and purpose. Whether you read her articles or listen to her podcast, What Works, you can’t go wrong.

Must-read post: The 12-Month Evolution Of A Digital Product Pricing Strategy: The Good, The Bad, And The Ugly

The Uncaged Life with Rebecca Tracey****

Every once in awhile, we think about the sites we’re obsessed with and ask ourselves, “Is this site really as good as we think it is?!” Spoiler alert: The Uncaged Life is. Nominator Jess agrees: “[Becca] cuts through all the BS out there about starting a biz and gives straight forward, actionable advice!” Becca’s embracing a new favorite F-word (focus) to help you cut out confusion and overwhelm and get on your way to what really matters in business.

Must-read post: 3 Sneaky (But Legit!) Ways to Make More Sales

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Finance, Law, and Other Things We Might Not Like to Think About

The sites to turn to for the “logistics”: what to do with that money you’ve made, and how to protect your business (and yourself).

community of solopreneursCategory winner: I Will Teach You to Be Rich with Ramit Sethi**

At first glance, Ramit’s content might seem like spammy clickbait -- “I Will Teach You to Be Rich”? Insert eye roll emoji. (We’re sorry, Ramit, we love ya.) But what lies beneath is some of the most easy-to-follow, actionable, foolproof financial advice we’ve ever read. And for that reason, Ramit reappears back here on The List in 2018.

Must-read post: Financial Independence: 4 Steps to Save $1,500,000community of solopreneurs

Amy Northard CPA**

When it comes to finances, accounting, and taxes, we have one wish: Please dumb it down for us. That’s what Amy does not just through her services, but over on her blog, where she offers digestible tips you can actually take action on when it comes to estimated taxes, 1099s, checking refund statuses, and much more. Accounting stress, be gone.

Must-read post: Everything You Need to Know About 1099s

Annette Stepanian**

Meet your legal BFF. That’s Annette -- and while “legal BFF” might be a self-proclaimed title, after you’ve gotten “the legal lowdown” on her Office Talk podcast, you’ll likely be using the term, too. We love what this reviewer has to say about Annette’s show: "It's like having a real-life Elle Woods in your ears each and every week helping creative biz owners through the legal stuff..."

Must-listen episode: Legal Quickie: 4 Essential Things the FTC Wants You to Know Before Endorsing a Company's Products

the artist’s J.D. with Kiffanie Stahle**

Kiffanie is back on The List this year because she has a section on her blog called “Don’t Be a Jerk.” We’re kidding, though making us laugh while discussing legal issues definitely gets you brownie points. Kiffanie is there when you need specific legal questions answered, but she’s also there to give you answers to questions you didn’t even know you should be asking.

Must-read post: How to Increase Sales by Including These 7 Legal Details

Autumn Witt Boyd**

It’s not every day that you want to spend time on a lawyer’s website. Autumn’s is different. Though her services are designed for “seven-figure+ creative and online business owners” (she’s got some big names on her client roster), you can still benefit from her expertise if you’re not quite at the seven- (or six-) figure mark. As Autumn points out, “you don’t know what you don’t know” when it comes to law, so study up on her site!

Must-listen episode: The Steps to Take Before You Start a Licensing Program

Britt and the Benjamins with Brittney Knies

Anyone who uses gym analogies in her work (and loves strength training, to boot) is a a friend of ours. Britt talks about confidence, motivation, and discipline in relation to money management and we can’t get enough. We’ll leave you with this reminder from Britt (and her Benjamins): “Managing your money is more emotional than mathematical, meaning your Psychology 101 class may have been more beneficial for you than you thought.”

Must-read post: The #1 Reasons Your Money is a Mess (& How to Change That)

Careful Cents with Carrie Smith****

If “careful” is a word you’ve never used to describe your financial decisions, that’s even more reason to check out Careful Cents. Business bank accounts, money management app reviews, and long-term systems for financial stability -- those are just a few of Carrie’s favorite things. And they might become yours soon, too. We promise, it’s not just wishful thinking with Carrie on your side.

Must-read post: How to Budget With Irregular Income to Avoid Going Broke

Ellevest**

It’s no surprise that we believe in investing in women. So, needless to say, Ellevest and their tagline, “Invest in Women. Starting with Yourself.” satisfies our love of investing, our love of self-care, and our love of supporting other women. Come for the platform that actually invests your money, stay for the sage investing advice that sets you up for long-term success. (Their resource center is good, but their emails are great.)

Must-read post: The Go-Getter’s Guide to Investing

Financial Best Life with Lauren Bowling

Financial Best Life -- which you may know previously as L Bee and the Money Tree -- is run by Lauren Bowling. While the older site was all about LB’s success and failures with money, the new version focuses on “brainstorm[ing] ways to be strategic so we never have to let money problems hold us back from the things we want to do, the places we want to go, or the things we want to create.” (Insert praise hands emoji.)

Must-read post: The 6 Biggest Credit Score Mistakes (+ How You’re Making Them)

The Holistic Wallet with Michelle Bobrow

Michelle’s about page had us fist-pumping in agreement: “We believe that your net worth doesn’t change who you are or measure your success. Actually, it doesn’t mean a damn thing about you! The only thing that matters with your money is that you use it to live a life that makes you feel proud.” Ain’t that the truth. Enter: Her rock-solid and easy-to-follow advice on money management, so that you can “turn your money mayhem into money magic!”

Must-read post: Money Moves to Make Every Month

I Will Teach You to Be Rich with Ramit Sethi**

At first glance, Ramit’s content might seem like spammy clickbait -- “I Will Teach You to Be Rich”? Insert eye roll emoji. (We’re sorry, Ramit, we love ya.) But what lies beneath is some of the most easy-to-follow, actionable, foolproof financial advice we’ve ever read. And for that reason, Ramit reappears back here on The List in 2018.

Must-read post: Financial Independence: 4 Steps to Save $1,500,000

Sam Vander Wielen

Sam -- a lawyer-turned-entrepreneur -- doesn’t just want you to create a service-based business that “gives you the freedom you’ve been searching for”... she wants you to do in a “fearlessly, Legally Legit” way. (Yep, she owns #legallylegit as a killer hashtag, too.)

Must-read post: The Online Entrepreneur’s Legally Legit Guide to Email Marketing

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Mindset and Solopreneur Lifestyle

The sites to visit when you need a fresh start, a different take, or a reminder to love the life you’ve built as a solopreneur.

community of solopreneursCategory winner: Danielle LaPorte***

The Desire Map. Fire Starter Sessions. White Hot Truth. Is there anything Danielle LaPorte does that isn’t spot on when it comes to reframing our mindset, bringing in new perspectives, and finding alignment? Add a new podcast to the line up: Light Work, “girlfriend-style sermons on serving the world while staying sane, cosmic connectedness over tech addiction, self compassion and more fulfilling friendships.”

Must-read post: Good Manners and Some Wuv. We Could All Use More of Them.

community of solopreneursAlexandra Franzen****

While Alex has been a staple on The List from the very beginning, 2018 marks the year she makes the move to the mindset category. Why? It’s simple: Her thought-provoking articles on business, on kindness, and on writing will make you reconsider how you prioritize, how you communicate, and how you live.

Must-read post: Get Out of the Cart

The Balanced Mamas with Heather Farris

Hey there, mama: On top of client work, product management, bookkeeping, and all that comes with being a one woman shop, you’re also running a household, shuttling kids back-and-forth to school, and, oh yeah, trying to keep your relationship alive. That’s where Heather at The Balanced Mamas comes in: her “real life solutions for stressed out moms” will help you bring more intentionality into your day, even with everything on your plate.

Must-read post: The One Thing You Need To Tackle Paper Clutter

Be More With Less with Courtney Carver**

You might not be looking to pare your closet down to 33 items, but Courtney’s take on minimalism and being more with less will undoubtedly shift your mindset on the things you say yes -- and no -- to in both life and business. (But really...she can help you with that closet, too.)

Must-read post: A Toast to the Tiny Steps (Every Big Change is the Result of 100 Tiny Steps)

Clarity on Fire***

It’s not revolutionary, but it’s not simplistic -- it’s clear, concise doses of clarity. That’s what lands Clarity on Fire on our list for the third time. Somehow Rachel and Kristen have us nodding along vigorously with every post -- from convincing us that it’s time to stop putting our lives on hold, to enjoying your free time again, to how to get your groove back.

Must-read post: 7 Questions to Ask Yourself Before Saying Yes to Anything

Danielle LaPorte***

The Desire Map. Fire Starter Sessions. White Hot Truth. Is there anything Danielle LaPorte does that isn’t spot on when it comes to reframing our mindset, bringing in new perspectives, and finding alignment? Add a new podcast to the line up: Light Work, “girlfriend-style sermons on serving the world while staying sane, cosmic connectedness over tech addiction, self compassion and more fulfilling friendships.”

Must-read post: Good Manners and Some Wuv. We Could All Use More of Them.

Hello 7 with Rachel Rodgers

You might know Rachel as the legal pro behind Small Business Bodyguard. These days, she’s lending her expertise to the same entrepreneur crowd, but with a different tilt: She wants to “help women hit seven figures without sacrificing their families and sanity.” We can certainly get behind that -- especially with this straight-talking, sassy mama’s style.

Must-read post: No More Business Booty Calls

Hey Katie Lee

With a motto of “how you live your everyday life is how you live your whole life,” Katie is on a mission to help “busy, over-achieving women” (sound like anyone you know?) be more intentional with their time in order to ditch the overwhelm and find more joy in each moment.

Must-read post: Have You Tried Reverse Pinteresting?

Impact Theory with Tom Bilyeu

As Tom says, “After the success of Quest Nutrition, I could have bought an island and retired, but that’s not the game I want to play. I believe that life is about the acquisition of skills and putting those skills to the test in service of something bigger than oneself.” Follow along as he interviews business owners, professional athletes, musicians, and more on the how and why behind the impact they’re creating.

Must-listen episode: Mel Robbins on Why Motivation is Garbage

Katherine Mackenzie Smith**

Introverts, time to come out of hiding (that’s an introvert joke) to celebrate Katherine and the online home she’s created for introverts. We absolutely loved reading all of Katherine’s about page -- that girl’s got a way with words and knows how to tell a story that connects with her readers. If you’re constantly thinking that the online business world is set up for extroverts, look no further than Katherine’s site for introvert inspiration.

Must-listen episode: League of Extraordinary Introverts: Being a Quiet Girl In a Noisy World

Kris Carr

Kris kickstarted a “Crazy Sexy wellness revolution” upon her own diagnosis with stage IV cancer in 2003, but she didn’t keep that revolution to herself. Today, she helps women (and men!) live healthier through her killer green recipes, her meditations and manifestation tips, and -- what we love most -- her insights on abundance and rest that all solopreneurs can take a cue from.

Must-read post: What To Do When Rest Isn’t Restful

Laura Simms***

“I call it a ‘career homecoming,’ because finding the right career feels like coming home.” Can we get a collective sigh of relief? With sections on changing careers, quitting your job, managing your mindset, you can think of Laura’s site as the “pre-work” for business ownership. But once you’re in business? You’ll love her “work for yourself” section.

Must-read post: A Simple Way to Feel More Powerful

MotherHustle

We’ve all seen the spammy “mom blogs” out there -- MotherHustle isn’t one of them. With themes like guilt, motivation, and self-care, MotherHustle feels authentic, through and through. One nominator says, “I love the monthly themes, which the panelists and various contributors use as a starting point for their own unique essays -- the various viewpoints on the same topic are so great to read. They always make me think.”

Must-read post: The Ripple Effect of Self-Care

Puttylike with Emilie Wapnick**

If the term “multi-passionate” strikes a chord with you, Emilie’s your girl. She’s branded you (and us, and herself) as “multipotentialites” -- and wants you to fully embrace your “dynamic, multifaceted lives, in practical and sustainable ways.”

Must-read post: Why You Should Stop Freaking Out About Wasting Your Time

Seth Godin***

Seth’s blog could truly fit under any category on this list -- which would make him an obvious choice for All Around, right? But here’s the thing: Whether he’s talking about marketing and sales; productivity and metrics; or legacy and leadership, one thing’s true of all of his writing -- his bite-sized insights continually shift the way we think about things. For a guy who’s written over 7,000 blog posts (and hosts a new podcast), that’s saying something.

Must-read post: Ignore Sunk Clowns

Tanya Geisler

“Impostor syndrome,” “impostor complex,” “lizard brain”...call it what you want. Whatever you choose, it’s no match for Tanya -- and after visiting her site, it won’t be for you, either. Tanya helps business owners everywhere break through impostor complex to “use your life and your gifts to instigate change and instill joy...for yourself and the world.”

Must-read post: Down With Diminishment

Thrive Global**

Around these parts, Arianna Huffington is like a fairy godmother, bestowing serenity, calm, and restfulness upon us. (If we sound like total fangirls, it’s because we are.) So it’s no surprise that she and her team at Thrive Global tackle issues of well-being, wisdom, and wonder with engaging, research-backed studies that we actually want to read.

Must-use resource: What’s Your Thrive Pulse?

Thriving Adventure with Christine Barnes

We’re suckers for sites that invite us to make ourselves at home. (What does this say about our lifestyle?) But when we’re not lounging at home, we’re all about sucking the marrow out of life. That’s where Christine comes in. In Christine’s words, “My goal with my work (both as a coach & a writer) is to help people reignite their courage so they can move forward with their lives once and for all.” You’ll find topics like resilience, redemption, and resignation on her blog, so get ready for her to spark some serious introspection and reflection within you.

Must-read series: Pivot

Yes and Yes with Sarah Von Bargen

Sarah is like that friend that gives you tough love when you need it most. Though not all of her content relates to solopreneurship, we’d be remiss not to include her on this list. Come for her mindset content -- habit building, getting what you want without following “the rules,” and self-care vs. self-sabotage -- and stay for her mind-expanding interviews, which will give you a regular dose of perspective shifts.

Must-read post: Why You Need an “Every Damn Day” List + How to Create One

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All Around

For the sites we can’t pin down to just one topic, try as we might. We admit: It’s hard to excel at everything, but these sites succeed.

community of solopreneursCategory winner: Marie Forleo****

You may know her from her beautiful brunette locks, her silly dance moves, her MarieTV episodes with the A-list guest line-up, or her signature catchphrase: “The world needs that special gift that only you have.” Incredibly valuable takeaways, wrapped up in a pretty bow -- that’s Ms. Forleo.

Must-watch episode: 3 Steps to Turn Envy into Your Superpower

community of solopreneursAll Up In Your Lady Business

Combine co-hosts Jaclyn and Jessica and you get an opposites-attract kinda situation -- sassy southern girl meets bubbly New Yorker. What results is two successful, wisecracking business owners gently ribbing each other, chit-chatting with guests, and spilling their business secrets. So grab a coffee or a sweet tea and get ready for some peppy, uplifting conversations.

Must-listen episode: The Uncomfortable Parts of Pivoting or Changing Directions

Being Boss***

Kathleen and Emily define “Being Boss” as “...owning who you are, knowing what you want, and actually making it happen.” You know it ain’t easy, but Kathleen and Emily make it approachable through their podcasts (yes, there are two now!), the aptly-named Being Boss and the newly-released Making a Business.

Must-listen episode: Are You Obsessed With Your Hustle?

byRegina with Regina Anaejionu****

She came, she wrote, she conquered -- and by conquered, we mean she’s been on our list of 100 Best Sites all four years and swept up in voting for the Branding, Copy, and Content Strategy category last year. It’s seriously tough to name all of the reasons we love engaging with Regina’s content, so we’ll leave it at this: She is the absolute queen of creating listicles that are actually valuable for your solo biz.

Must-read post: 16 Things You Can Do This Weekend to Streamline and Scale Your Business

Creative Empire Podcast

A creative biz attorney meets a life and business coach and an empire is formed. So goes the story of Christina and Reina, co-hosts of the Creative Empire Podcast. The most-used description of their podcast in iTunes reviews? Energy -- followed closely by humor, passion, intimacy, and honesty.

Must-listen episode: Becoming Obsessed with Your Business, with Melissa Cassera

The Entrepreneur Mastermind Show from Kickass Masterminds

Still relatively new on the scene but already kicking ass (see what we did there?), the Entrepreneur Mastermind Show is brought to you by Kickass Masterminds, a matchmaking site that curates + facilitates mastermind groups for entrepreneurs. We fully agree with nominator Devon that the podcast “is a great concept,” putting a different entrepreneur in the hot seat and bringing in an expert panel to help them through their issue, from selling to speaking and much, much more.

Must-listen episode: How Do I Create More Leveraged, Digital Products?

ittybiz with Naomi Dunford****

We’ll tell you this much: Naomi’s potential influence on your business ain’t itty. Naomi is a “triple Pisces, occasional redhead, and coach to small business owners ready for significant growth in the next 12 months” and though she prides herself on helping you “make confident marketing decisions,” she’s in the All Around category because she is so much more than just marketing.

Must-read post: The Benefits Of Writing A Book For Business: 7 Things You’ll Get, And 3 You Almost Definitely Won’t

Jenna Kutcher

If you’re on Instagram, it’s highly likely you know Jenna. If you’re into podcasts, it’s highly likely you know Jenna. If you’re a photographer...well, you get it. Jenna’s a household name these days as she brings her signature midwest charm to her beloved Instagram following, popular (and relatable) Goal Digger Podcast, and six-figure, multi-passionate empire.

Must-listen episode: How To Balance Being Multi-Passionate

Marie Forleo****

You may know her from her beautiful brunette locks, her silly dance moves, her MarieTV episodes with the A-list guest line-up, or her signature catchphrase: “The world needs that special gift that only you have.” Incredibly valuable takeaways, wrapped up in a pretty bow -- that’s Ms. Forleo.

Must-watch episode: 3 Steps to Turn Envy into Your Superpower

The Middle Finger Project with Ash Ambirge****

One word comes to mind when it comes to Ash: Unapologetic. And we love every bit of it. Whether she’s whipping your freelancer mindset into shape, shoving your solopreneur self to price appropriately, or hell, telling Barnes & Noble what’s wrong with their business model, Ash takes a no-holds barred approach to business and life, and will show you how to become unapologetically you in the process, too.

Must-read post: Fundamental Truth: You Can’t Make Money Unless You’re Making Offers

Paul Jarvis***

While often signing his Sunday Dispatches newsletter, “Your Internet Boyfriend” might seem a little presumptuous, Paul can call himself anything he wants while he continues providing invaluable content for freelancers through his blog, podcasts, and plethora of other free resources. What we love most? He turns the idea of success requiring exponential growth on its head and helps you build your business how you want.

Must-read post: Capitalism is a Snowball Rolling Down a Steep Hill

Pursuit with Purpose with Melyssa Griffin

You might recognize Melyssa as the artist formerly known as The Nectar Collective, but after making a million dollars in 2016 and finding herself absolutely miserable, she switched gears and is now the host of Pursuit with Purpose, an interview-based podcast where she chats with entrepreneurs about the impact they’re bringing to the world. No doubt listening to these interviews will inspire your legacy, as well.

Must-listen episode: Real Talk: Body Image, Self Love, Marriage, and Business with Jenna Kutcher

She's Building an Empire with Stacy Tuschl

When you land on Stacy’s website, it’s easy to feel intimidated by her -- picture-perfect design, great fashion sense, and a chill 11k followers on Instagram. But once you start listening to the podcast, we bet you’ll feel immediately at ease. Stacy is laid-back but excitable as she chats with her guests about all things entrepreneurship.

Must-listen episode: Releasing Blocks That Are Holding Your Business Back with Emily Aarons

Think Creative Collective**

Trello queens. Podcast hosts. Course creators. In the words of Emylee and Abagail themselves: “We help overwhelmed creative entrepreneurs create a functioning command center to tame the chaos of their business.” A word of warning before heading over to TCC: Prepare to be stunned by the sheer volume of incredibly valuable content you’ll find there.

Must-listen episode: Adding a Product Shop to Your Service-Based Business with Katie Hunt of Tradeshow Bootcamp

Wit + Wisdom

Wit + Wisdom is run by the dynamic duo Erin and Kirsten, who nominator Madeline says are “like the big sisters I never had -- with just the right balance of no-nonsense business insights and side-splitting approachable humor -- and I want to be them when I grow up.” Other words used to describe them? Real, honest, down-to-earth, thoughtful, cheerful, and “sometimes snarky.” (Sounds like our cup of tea.)

Must-read post: What It Means to "Treat It Like A Business"

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A Little Something Extra

Running a solopreneur biz is about more than accounting, marketing, and branding -- you know this. These sites and apps provide just a little something more for the solopreneur who wants to develop personally, give back, and decompress.

Calm***

Calm is like our steadfast friend who will never leave our side, even when we’re not contributing to the friendship. As on-again-off-again meditators, we appreciate that. Whether you’re new to meditation, begrudgingly getting back into it, or practically a professional, we recommend turning to Calm for a daily (or, ahem, weekly) pick-me-up. Hat tip to the Daily Calm for managing to provide us with insights every.single.day.

Must-read section: Daily Calm

The Imperfect Boss with Ashley Beaudin

While Ash Beaudin is far from a newbie to the online scene, her most recent venture is one we’d be remiss not to feature here. A few times a year, Ash leads #theimperfectboss campaign on Instagram -- and dozens (heck, maybe even hundreds) of solopreneurs jump in to share the vulnerable side of running their businesses. Transparency + connection? Yes, please.

Must-follow campaign: #theimperfectboss campaign on Instagram

Kiva***

A common question amongst solopreneurs: How can I fit giving back into my business model? While we have a myriad of ideas, Kiva is always top of mind. The micro-lending platform makes it incredibly easy to invest in fellow women-run entrepreneurial ventures around the world, and to keep reinvesting as that money is paid back. Choose your passion, and start lending.

Must-join Lending Team: The One Woman Shop team 🙂

POPSUGAR Fitness***

We constantly swear up and down about the impact that a healthy lifestyle (with wine and chocolate, too) has on our well-being as solopreneurs. So, while we have a variety of go-to resources for healthy eating and fitness, none are quite as comprehensive as POPSUGAR Fitness. If you’re in an exercise rut, need meal prep ideas, or are on the hunt for workout gear, this might just become your new go-to.

Must-read post: 21 Simple Meal-Prep Combinations Anyone Can Do

theSkimm**

Let’s face it -- reading the news isn’t always a whole lot of fun. Rather than crawl into a cave (though tempting some days), we love getting our daily dose of worldly news from the to-the-point, sometimes-sarcastic (okay, always) voices behind theSkimm. Stay informed -- and maybe even get a laugh in -- each morning without losing time or sanity.

Must-subscribe email list: The Daily Skimm

And with that, there you have it: 100 amazing resources to make your solo biz incredible. Don’t forget to cast your vote for the #1 winner in each category before 5/18!

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  1. Maria says:

    aaand bookmarked ;)super useful. Thanks a lot.

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