All the FREE Stuff I use
Calendar
I am really pleased! at long last I have found a calendar easy to keep up to date and do everything I want it to do with some great tools included which include automatically being able to schedule tweet reminders, this stops me from forgetting to tweet and remind people of events. It also includes being able to schedule repeat events and is quite comprehensive in that area. It has a search facility for end users, It is printable. It has the ability to put events into a group ie Parish Council Event, Earlswood Wildlife Partnership event which allows users to hide events they aren't interested in. It allows me to embedd the calendar in the blog, which I have chosen not to do. It also allows me to send the calendar to an email list (useful if I had one) and on top of all that it has an RSS Feed and the ability for users to download events into their own calendars and because I have at long last found what I need to do the job I will share this Free majgc tool with you it is called http://www.localendar.com/
Storing Documents
The other thing I have found that is really useful is somewhere to store documents external to the blog but accessible to readers and visitors I also really like this tool and will share it with you https://app.box.com/signup/o/sendlargefiles?kw=box I have used it for the NDP docs and love its simplicity. Once again I can choose to embed the files in the blog or share with a distribution list but I have chosen to link directly to it. It saves space and speed on the blog for those that not interested in reading material.
Blogger Templates
I am also really chuffed with this particular template, the one irritating thing I haven't mastered yet is getting the post pictures to link straight to the post without moving if clicked on. However the huge variety of templates free to use and adapt if you wish at http://btemplates.com/ is incredible.
Stat Counter
The stat counter I use to see what is Hot and What is not is something I haven't changed or experimented with. Just because it has always done the job I need it to. Yes I have to reset it every few weeks due to its free nature but it really does give me an insight http://statcounter.com/
Social Media
Of course there is Twitter that I use to spread the word www.twitter.com I have to admit however hard I try I just can't get on with Facebook but talking of facebook and twitter. I do use two tools to post and haven't quite worked out what is best. Buffer has some great analytical tools and allows me to schedule 10 tweets a day it shows me if they have been clicked on, retweeted basically what is popular. I also like Hootsuit but for different reasons it allows me to see what is happening all in one place but doesn't in the free version have the stats that buffer does.
Training and Showing
And here is one I haven't used on the blog but do use in other areas of my life for training this tool is brilliant it is called Screen O Matic http://www.screencast-o-matic.com/ Basically it is able to film your movements on a PC so using it as a training tools showing people how to do something instead of lengthy written instructions. It also allows you to narrate. It has been a true friend especially whilst training people remotely.
Collecting Opinion and Surveys
Something else I use outside of the blog and in my day to day work life. This is also another powerful tool for all those wanting to do a survey and collect stats. Survey monkey has it limitations as a free tool but plenty big enough for a small community https://www.surveymonkey.com