Resources I Use and Recommend
This page is part of my journey as shared in my book While the Kids Slept. When I started my online business with no savings and two kids to care for, I had to find tools that truly worked. Here I’ve collected the platforms and services that helped me the most — so you can save time and avoid the trial-and-error I went through.
Building a business from scratch takes the right tools. Over the years, I’ve tested dozens of platforms, apps, and services. Below I’ve listed the ones I actually used to grow my Etsy shops and online stores — tools that saved me time, money, and stress. Some links are affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you sign up (at no extra cost to you). I only recommend what truly worked for me.
Store Platforms
Etsy — one of the best places to start if you’re selling handmade items, printables, or custom gifts. If you use my referral link, you’ll get 40 free listings to kickstart your shop (and yes, I’ll get some free listings too — win-win!).
Shopify — perfect if you want your own standalone store with full control and tons of integrations. You can try it with this link to get a special trial and see if it fits your business.
Amazon Handmade — if your products are truly handmade, you can apply through this link to sell inside the world’s largest marketplace.
eBay — a classic platform for selling physical products and collectibles. Get started with this link to open your seller account
SEO & Keyword Tools
Helium 10 — all-in-one toolkit for Amazon and Walmart sellers, with 30+ tools for product research, keyword tracking, SEO, PPC, and analytics. Use my referral link to get Helium 10 with the best available discount (20–35% off, depending on plan) and start scaling smarter.
eRank is one of the most popular SEO tools for Etsy sellers. It helps you find keywords, track competitors, and understand what’s trending on the platform. If you use my link to eRank, you can explore the features and boost your Etsy shop’s visibility.
EverBee is a Chrome extension made for Etsy sellers. It shows you real sales data, best-performing listings, and keyword insights so you can make smarter decisions about what to sell. Use my link to EverBee to start optimizing your shop with real data.
Publisher Rocket — keyword research for authors publishing on Amazon via KDP. Click here to try Publisher Rocket to find high-demand/low-competition keywords and categories, see estimated Amazon search volume, and analyze competing titles— so you can optimize your title, subtitle, and description before you publish.
Finance & Cashback Tools
TopCashback — one of the easiest ways to save money on everyday online purchases. Whether you shop on iHerb, AliExpress, Booking, rental cars, or thousands of other stores, you get a percentage back. For e-commerce sellers, that means significant cashback on business expenses too. Sign up with TopCashback and you’ll receive a bonus on your first registration.
Wise — a global online bank designed for small business owners. It offers low-fee international transfers, multi-currency accounts, and easy ways to get paid worldwide. Click here to get started with Wise and manage your e-commerce finances more efficiently.
Payoneer — a trusted virtual bank solution for online sellers. It lets you open a business account, receive marketplace payouts (like Amazon or Etsy), and send international payments without the hassle of a traditional bank. Click here to open a Payoneer account and set up your global business banking in minutes.
Security & Hosting
NordVPN a VPN built for small businesses and remote teams. Encrypts internet traffic, provides threat protection, and enables secure access to private networks from anywhere. Set up in minutes without IT overhead — click here to secure your business with NordVPN.
Marketing & Analytics
Tailwind — an all-in-one scheduling and analytics tool for Pinterest and Instagram. It helps you plan posts in advance, discover trending ideas, and track performance to grow your traffic with less effort. Start saving time and boosting results with this Tailwind link.
TinyEmail — a simple but powerful email marketing service built for small businesses. You can design campaigns, set up automations, and track results without the complexity of bigger platforms. Stay connected with your audience by joining TinyEmail here.
Freelance & Outsourcing
Some tasks AI can’t replace. On Fiverr, you’ll find experts for trademark and Brand Registry, custom logo and packaging design, professional product photography, complex Shopify or WordPress fixes, video editing, or even accounting and taxes for small business. Post your project — pay per job.
I’ll keep updating this page as I discover new tools and platforms that help save time and grow sales. Bookmark it and check back anytime you want to see what’s working for me right now.
