Starting a blog is not easy, however it can be inexpensive to start.
The first question that comes to mind is what to spend your money on when starting a blog.
Many moms start a blog as a way to make some money while staying home with their children.
One reason that this option is so appealing is that startup costs are relatively low.
We started this blog with a $300 investment.
A typical small business would have an initial investment of thousands to tens of thousands.
If you are anything like us, you want to keep your start up costs low.
For this reason, I am sharing this post on What to Spend Your Money on when Starting a Blog.
Table of Contents
Hosting
We highly recommend using WordPress.org and having your blog independently hosted.
We use Green Geeks and are very happy. Hosting starts at $2.95/month.
Obtain your own Domain
Whether or not you choose to go with WordPress.org and thus need independent hosting, we highly recommend purchasing your own domain.
Even if you plan to stay with Blogger or WordPress.com, it is well worth the investment to have a backup plan.
It would be a shame to build up a blog as http://totsfamily.blogspot.com and then not be able to switch to http://totsfamily.com down the road.
This investment can cost as low as $1, and typically less than $20 for a year.
Having a Professional Logo Created
You have likely heard the term ‘branding’ in blogging. It is very important to create a professional image (also know as a brand) for your blog, even right out of the gate.
This cost can vary and will likely be between $5-100. We definitely encourage you to look at a company’s or freelancer’s past work and decide if they might be a good fit for you.
Then ask for a quote or check their detailed listing. Fiverr is also a great option. You should also keep in mind that the traditional method of sourcing a logo is different than crowd sourcing.
The latter typically involves many different designers competing for your business and you only pay for your favorite design.
Purchase a Professional Blog Theme
Once you have decided on WordPress or Blogger, you will need to have a theme.
There are many free options out there, but likely you will find more options, customizability, and ease of use with one that will cost you a little more to get it done.
For our WordPress based site, we use the Genesis Framework.
Our theme cost us about $50.
Installation and Customization of the Blog Theme
If you are at all ‘tech savvy’ you might be able to install the theme on your own and save some money.
However, if you need any customization, you will likely need to hire someone.
Companies typically have an option to help you with installation and customization.
Please let us know what you think of What to Spend Your Money on when Starting a Blog.
And check out this popular article 10 Things a Small Business Shouldn’t Waste Money on.
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Great tips! I have made some mistakes along my way of starting a blog. This would have been so helpful! I am just now getting the branding done after using something I am not happy with for awhile. Kinda wish I had done it to begin with!