Here are 42 free web tools guaranteed to make your web life easier.

1) Icebrrg

Need a feedback form?  Survey? Registration form?  Head on over to Icebrrg.com and get one for free.

No technical expertise needed. They will even store your information in a database and allow you to export the info to Excel.

You can create up to 3 forms for free.

2) Picnik

Rotate, crop, re-size images and photos right from your browser.  A much easier alternative than GIMP, in my opinion.  (Thanks for the suggestion, Lisa)

3) Image-Maps.com

Need to turn parts of your image into clickable links?  Image-Maps.com will take on the task for free.  All you do is upload your image, complete a few fields, get your code and you’re ready to go.

I just used this site to image map my new YouTube channel banner.

Note: I don’t usually endorse Internet Explorer, but I had trouble using this tool in Firefox, so this is one of the few times I will recommend using Internet Explorer instead.

4) SXC – Free Stock Photography

Looking for some royalty free photograhy?  SXC has a nice selection, especially for a free site.

5)  123-Banners.com

This site has been around forever! I remember stumbling upon it as a web newbie over 11 years ago.  It’s still going strong and now allows you to create Flash and sound banners.

Normally free banner creation sites are pretty cheesy, but their templates aren’t bad for a free site.

6) HTML Basix Javascript Banner Rotator

Everyone always asks me about my rotating/refreshing banner script at the top of my blog.  I used to use Magic Image, but I recently switched to HTML Basix’s script because it doesn’t require an external file.

I like these kinds of banner rotation scripts because the banners change without needing to refresh the page.

Note: I wish I could find one like this that shuffles the banner order.  Please comment if you know of one or how to tweak the code.

7)  Free Hand-Written Fonts

I’m somewhat of a font junky.  I like to use different fonts for images I create in Photoshop.  This blog has a good list of hand-drawn fonts you can download.

Just download the fonts you want and go to the Fonts section in your PC’s Control Panel to install.

8)  My Live Signature

Use this tool to create a graphical version of your signature you can use on your site or any electronic document.  (Thanks, Elaine)

9)  e-Book Cover Templates for PhotoShop

If you own Photoshop, you can use these Actions to generate e-covers for your e-books, software or any other digital goods.   All you do is load the Actions (templates) into your PC’s Photoshop directory and they’re ready for use!

I used these Actions to create the cover for my free e-book, ThePerfectSiteGuide.com.  As a matter of fact, I use them for all my e-books.

10) Firefox

I joked about a Firefox mandate on Twitter a while back, but it really would be nice.

While later versions of IE are much better at handling CSS, nothing compares to the speedy, safe Firefox browser with all the cool add-ons.

If you are a webmaster or blogger still using IE, shame on you.

P.S.  Google Chrome is great too. If it ever supports an add-on feature like Firefox, it will be a close rival.

11) FireFTP

A very handy Firefox browser add-on.

I love being able to FTP files to my host without having to shut down my browser and open another application.  FireFTP works right inside Firefox and simply opens a new tab.

12) FileZilla

If you don’t use Firefox or don’t like FireFTP, FileZilla is another great FTP option.

13) BrowserShots.org

Just because your site looks fabulous in Firefox 3.0, don’t assume it looks so hot in other browsers.  This site will give you a preview of your site in virtually every relevant/current browser and multiple versions.

14)  IETab

Want a quick preview of how your site will look in Internet Explorer without having to fire up the browser?  Install this Firefox add-on and all you have to do is right-click your mouse on the page and select IETab.

15)  Twitterfeed

Manually announcing your blog posts on Twitter is sooooo 2006. Let Twitterfeed automate the process for you.

16) OpenOffice.org

An open-source software suite for spreadsheets, word processing, presentations, databases and more.  Hard to believe that it’s really free… but it is!

17) Toodledo

Organize your day, keep track of deadlines, set goals and be more productive.  That’s what this free app will help you do.

It’s even fun to say…. Toodle-lee-doo.   There’s also an iPhone app.  (Thanks for mentioning this one, @retireat21.)

18) DropBox

This is a great tool for synching, saving, backing up and sharing files online.  What a handy site. (Thanks @Oceanlugano!)

19) Instapaper

Save web pages to your computer or phone for later reading. Works for iPhone and iPod Touch too.  (Thanks for the recommendation, @TamiaS)

20) SearchStatus

There are many tools that report a site’s PageRank, Alexa Rank, backlinks, etc.  But this plug-in also tells you whether or not a site is using no-follow or do-follow links.  (So does SEOQuake.)

Nofollow means a link from that site will not transfer any PageRank to your site.  So Google ignores it as a potential backlink to your website.  Many blogs use no-follow in the comments area.

I don’t obsess much over dofollow or nofollow links/sites, but I know it’s important to a lot of you.  I still believe that if you spend more time focusing on writing quality content, you will eventually get enough quality dofollow links that count.

21) Google AdWords Keyword Tool

Numerous keyword tools have surfaced over the years, but this is still my favorite.  Anytime I want to check keyword search demand, I come here.

22)  Joomla & Drupal

Want an interactive site but don’t want to learn how to program or hire anyone?  These two content management systems lead the pack in their category.   You can usually install them on your domains for free through your web host control panel.

23)  Ning

Setup your own social networking site in seconds.  No fuss, hassle or programming involved.  Just understand this script is remotely hosted, meaning your site sits on Ning.com’s servers.  (Always somewhat of a risk when you use a 3rd party to host your content.)

You can still buy a domain name and redirect it to your Ning site for branding and to make your site’s web address more concise and easy to remember.

24) Elgg

The self-proclaimed “leading social engine.”  Unlike Ning, you can install this social networking script on your own domain and have much more control over the design and customization.  Yes, it’s open source.

25) Kompozer

A free, WYSIWYG HTML editor for creating web pages.  I know a lot of people that use it and love it.  Just be warned, it can do some odd things with your CSS files so make sure you read the documentation.

26)  HTMLDog.com

This is the place to go for learning about HTML and CSS.  Start here.

27) FireBug

Another nice Firefox add-on.  It allows you to edit any site’s CSS code right from your browser.  It’s a great way to test updates/changes before going live.

This plug-in is also great for figuring out how other sites use CSS to develop cool layouts and designs.

Note: Of course, you cannot actually edit anyone’s site.  The changes will only be seen on your browser.

28)  FreeCSSTemplates.org

Quality CSS templates you can download and use for your site’s design.  They also do a great job of adding new templates on a regular basis.

29) ColorZilla

Yet another handy Firefox add-on that allows you to retrieve the HTML hex color code, by simply pointing the eyedropper tool to any place on your browser.

30)  Hex Color Scheme Generator

This handy, little tool has made this page one of the most popular pages on my site.  Not only can you get the hex color code from the color wheel, but you can generate a color scheme for your site as well.

31)  Google Analytics

This is without a doubt the best and most comprehensive stat package on the web.  I love that you can integrate stats from AdSense, your shopping cart, AdWords, Google Custom Search and more right into the reports to get a complete picture of how your site is doing in multiple areas.

32)  Google Reader

This online content aggregator continuously scans your favorite sites and blogs for new content and feeds it to you so you never miss an update. (Can’t believe I forgot about this one.  Thanks for the reminder, @socialarts!)

It also looks great on the iPhone and many other smart phones.

33)  Google Voice

Get your own Google number and forward it to any number.

You can also choose where calls are forwarded based on who’s calling.  You can even listen in before taking a call or direct chosen calls to voicemail automatically.

34)  Google Custom Search

Need an internal search engine for your site?  Installation is easy.  Just copy and paste a few lines of code and you’re ready to go.

And if you’re an AdSense member, you can also make money when users click the contextual ads that appear next to the search results.

You can even opt to show the results on your own site so your visitors never have to leave your domain.

35)  WordPress Theme Generator

Create your own custom WordPress theme with this free generator. No HTML, CSS or PHP knowledge needed.

Of course, if you’re not familiar with CSS, that means you will be limited when it comes to your design.  However, using this tool may encourage you to learn more about CSS and blog design.  (Thanks for the link, @KenmonPittman.)

36)  WordPress Database Backup

A must-have plug-in for WordPress users that will automatically back-up your blog’s database using the time interval you specify.  I have it setup to send a backup file to my e-mail once/week.

People often backup their posts, but neglect to backup their databases — which is equally important. (Thanks, Paul from TechnicallyEasy.net)

37)  Thesis OpenHook Plug-in

If you use the WordPress Thesis Theme, you will fall in love with this plug-in.  It makes an already cool theme, even cooler.

You can overwrite and customize almost any section of your blog’s design (header, footer, sidebars, etc.) by simply pasting your custom code in the appropriate sections of the plug-in.  No need to open or edit the actual source code.

Note: This plug-in is only compatible with the Thesis theme.

38) Tell-A-Friend Form

Make it easy for your audience to tell their friends about your site.  No programming needed.  Just sign up and SocialTwist.com will give you the code to create the tell-a-friend form on your site.

39) XML Sitemap Generator

A sitemap keeps the search engines updated on all your content.  This site will crawl your site and generate the code for your sitemap.  All that’s left to do is submit it to the major engines.

Most blog platforms create XML sitemaps automatically, but this is good for static, HTML sites.

Note: If you use WordPress, just install the All-In-One SEO Plugin and it will create and submit your sitemap automatically.

40)  CutePDF

Create PDF files from virtually any printable document using this free app.  A great alternative if you don’t want to shell out $450 for Adobe Acrobat Professional.

41)  Feedburner

If you own a blog, this is a must-use tool.  Feedburner reports, tracks and helps you promote your blog’s RSS feed.  It’s not just for blogs, however.  You can use it for any site that has a feed.

For example, I use it to display the latest posts from my forum’s Blogging & RSS category at the bottom of this page.

Read a more detailed explanation of how Feedburner works.

42)  CubeStat

CubeStat estimates any website’s worth, ad revenue and much more.  These tools are always fun to play with.  Just don’t take the data too seriously.

What are some of your favorite free tools?

It was time to breathe some life into my website tutorial that I was offering on 2 Create a Website.

When I wrote that guide some 5 or 6 years ago, it was current and relevant.

Well, the Net has evolved, and the book needed a major overhaul and face lift.

Who Is This Book For?

If you’ve already started your site and are getting decent traffic, making money, etc. this book probably won’t tell you much that you don’t already know.

There are some traffic tips that you may find interesting, plus you can take a look at some of my favorite tools that I use to manage and monetize my sites.

This book is really for people who are just starting out, or people who are struggling to find success online.  As the title suggests, it really is the “perfect guide” for people starting their first site or blog.

I focus on a lot of tools and techniques I used to create and promote my sites.  So the book is very personal in that sense.

50+ Pages for Free? Are You Serious?

You may wonder why I would write a 50+ page book and not put a price tag on it.  Well, the book is monetized with affiliate links so I would feel a little strange slapping a price tag on a book with affiliate links.  I’ve always felt this way, which is why I tend to offer my e-books for free.

And speaking of those affiliate links, I’d like to point out that I own and use every single product that has an affiliate link tied to it in this book.   That was an intentional effort on my part.

Offering the book for free was also a marketing decision.  I know that offering something like this will spread virally.  I figured if my old tutorial that was only 5 pages deep spread the way it did, this one should really take flight through the Netmosphere.

Special Offer Inside

There’s also a coupon in the book that first-time website builders may appreciate.  You can only access the coupon through the book.  I do not offer this on my websites.

Download The Perfect Site Guide Today!

Accessing the book is easy.  Just go to http://www.ThePerfectSiteGuide.com and you will be redirected to the PDF file.  (Must have Adobe Reader on your computer.)

I would highly recommend you go to File, Save Page As in Adobe after the book loads so you can save it on your computer.

Feel free to e-mail the book to your friends or offer it as a free download from your site.  (Selling is prohibited.)

Enjoy the book!

P.S.  This book will be updated often, so make sure you come back to http://www.ThePerfectSiteGuide.com regularly to ensure you have the most recent edition.

Since my flat stomach site has been completely “CSS’ed”, I’ve really been pushing the benefits of using CSS on your site.

If you are looking to start your first site or want to redesign your existing one, this blog post is important.

CSS (Cascading Style Sheets) allows you to control large sections of your site’s design and layout by updating one file.

Not only does it make your HTML code much cleaner, but it makes for faster loading Web pages and quick site-wide updates.

You should never build a site or blog without it.

To help you learn CSS, I’ve taken my template from flat-stomach-exercises.com and provided it as a free download. I’ve inserted notes so you can learn how to make updates.  This is something I wish someone had done for me. I probably would have picked it up faster had it been presented like this.

Now, don’t be frightened when you first see the template because it looks nothing like my finished site. I did that for a reason.  First of all, I want you to create your own design, and I want you to understand how the CSS file controls the various areas of the site.

So what you will find when you download the template is a completely “dumbed down” version with no logos or cohesive colors. I’ve provided instructions in the index.html file so you can customize the template to your liking.

Download my free 3 column CSS template here and don’t forget to read the instructions.html file first! Also do not try to view the template file (index.html) through the zipped folder.

It will not display properly if you try to double-click the index.html file while inside the zipped folder.

Open the zipped folder and drag the “CSSTemplate1″ folder to your Desktop (or some location on your PC) and then view the index.html file.

When you open the folder you should see 3 files…

1) instructions.html file – Please read this first

2) index.html – Your homepage and template you can modify

3) style.css – This is your style sheet and controls the index.html file’s layout and design

To get the most out of this, it’s best to open the template files in a Web editor like FrontPage, Dreamweaver, Nvu (free) or CoffeeCup.

————–

Update 6/12/08: I have also created a slightly different version of this template that includes a header image. You can download it here and watch the instructional video to learn how to customize it.

Enjoy and happy learning!

Why use the same, boring orange RSS icon? Call attention to your feed and add an ounce of flavor to your site with a refreshing button or icon.

Your RSS feed will never be ignored again.

Notes:

Please “Save As” to your own PC and upload to your Web server. That way if I ever move or delete these icons, they won’t appear as broken images on your site.

The icons marked “Transparent GIF” will blend in with any background color.

Enjoy and please Stumble this post if you find my graphics useful. Thanks.

WebsitePalace.com is offering free e-Book software (Windows users only) to anyone who purchases from their website.

All you do is create your book on your computer using your favorite program, (Microsoft Word, Notepad, or even an HTML editor) and tell the software where your files are located.

Within seconds, your book is compiled into an .exe file that you can upload to your server and it’s ready for your visitors to download. You can even set it up so a password is required to open it.

I’ve actually used the software and it’s not as cheesy as I thought it would be. (You know how some of those freebies are!) Sure, it doesn’t have a lot of the bells and whistles that a non-free program like eBook Edit Pro would have, but you can still create a very presentable e-Book with this software.

Special Tip: The link to the free download is located on the order confirmation page, so don’t miss it!

I have to admit, I was a little ummm….overwhelmed by this free tool called Search It! because there are so many options. However, once I took some time to play around with it, it can be an extremely powerful assistant to your Net marketing efforts…and it’s FREE!

This one tool alone will tell give you information on…

1) Your competition (where are they?)
2) Your site’s popularity
3) Local business competition
4) Forums/discussion groups in your niche
5) Blogs/RSS feeds in your niche
6) How many of your site’s pages are indexed in certain engines
7) And so much more…

Try Search It! today. Be careful though, you might get addicted.

Make Your Site Sell! (MYSS!) is honestly the best book I’ve ever read on how to build a profitable website. Whether you’re an affiliate or selling products of your own, this is an absolute must read.

Even at its old price of $30, it was a tremendous bargain…but now it’s even a bigger bargain because it’s free! Hard to believe something this good won’t cost you a cent.

Download it today.