software recommendations

FTP

FTP programs let you upload and download files to your web hosting space.

• Best free FTP program: AceFTP Freeware
• Best paid FTP program: CuteFTP
• For Mac users, try Fetch (free trial)

Newsletter Services

We have two recommendations:

• MailChimp has an innovative feature set and the free plan includes 1000 subscribers. Cheekiness included.
• Aweber is popular for its autoresponders and marketing tools.

Web Authoring

• HTML editor: We hear good things about CoffeeCup Software. They have a free version of many of their products. Folks also recommend Komposer and Notepad++ which are both free.
  
  
• Web Design Software: Adobe Photoshop & Dreamweaver (combined in Creative Suite 5 for Web) are the standard (although not cheap).