Top-Online-Discoveries-2010I spend a lot of time using the internet.  This year I’ve logged more hours than ever, having thrown myself wholeheartedly into blogging and social media.  Over the past 12 months, I’ve come across quite a few resources that have helped me do those things efficiently and opened up doors that I didn’t even know existed.  Hopefully some of these resources can do the same for you.

  1. Chris Guillebeau: I’ve mentioned Chris before in my newsletter, and he’s the perfect person to kick off this list.  His book, The Art of Non-Conformity, has changed my way of thinking about work and the way I live my life, and his Empire-Building Kit has given me the tools to implement those changes.
  2. WordPress.org: I may have been a bit behind the times on this one, seeing as how Listen & Learn began as a Blogger blog.  I had a great experience using Blogger, but WordPress allows me to do so much more with this site than I ever though possible.  I wrote about my move to WordPress.
  3. Wisestamp: This great little browser plugin allows me to include my custom signature, including links to my websites and social media profiles, on every email I send automatically.
  4. Amazon Associates: I’m always recommending books, music, and other resources that I use and find helpful in my work as a music therapist, singer/songwriter, and studio teacher.  This free affiliate program allows me to collect a small profit when others buy the products I recommend.  Although it’s not much, those small paychecks (which I choose to receive in the form of Amazon giftcards) are put to good use each month.
  5. Linoit: I featured this site as a Friday Fave in the fall, but it bears repeating.  I use color-coded online sticky notes as my  to-do list, which I can access from both my work and home computers.  It saves paper, and it is extremely satisfying to “peel off” each note as I complete the task.

What are your top online discoveries of the past year?  Maybe it’s a blog that you have found particularly inspiring, or a tool that makes your online activities easier.  Whatever it is, I want to know about it!