Is it your goal this year to FINALLY jump head-first into the world of blogging?

Admitting that you want to is a huge first step! The next ones aren’t quite as easy, but also aren’t as hard as you think.

The main things to keep in mind when you startup your blog is to set aside some money for inevitable blog startup costs, and also to get in the right mindset to start off strong. Let’s talk more in-depth about the finances and mindset required to startup your blog.

Finances Required to Startup Your Blog

The money you put into blogging can range from none to several thousand dollars, depending on your experience level with digital marketing and basic web design.

Hosting

There are both free and paid options to consider.

The free option is to set up an account on WordPress.com. The URL will look like this:

YOURBLOGNAME.wordpress.com

This is an excellent option for someone looking to get their feet wet with blogging, but isn’t fully committed yet. Someone trying to monetize a blog will want a customized URL, which will require some kind of hosting plan.

Hosting plans usually range from $5-10/month. You can set it up through WordPress.com or self-host on your own provider. We recommend SiteGround, it’s affordable and powerful.  Learn more about this in our WordPress Pre-Flight Course.

Web Design

WordPress templates are becoming more and more easy to edit for non-techy people. There are plenty of nice free templates, but you can buy premium ones with additional functionality and customization options from $40-100.

You don’t necessarily need a web designer to have a nice-looking blog, but it also doesn’t hurt to be acquainted with someone you can call to make small changes when you can’t figure out what to do.

On the other hand, a professionally customized WordPress website is an invaluable branding tool for a blogger looking to monetize. A blog design can cost anywhere from hundreds to thousands of dollars, depending on who you choose to work with and what functionality you require.

Plugins

Most good plugins are free. At this point in your blogging journey, you probably don’t need to be budgeting for them. However, some plugins give your blog additional functionality – all without having to hire a web designer.

Equipment

Once you’re starting to hit your stride, you’ll want to start thinking about the technology that can help take your blog to the next level. A good laptop/desktop computer for a blogger will be fast and easy to use. You don’t need anything super fancy, but you should invest in something that helps you work smarter and doesn’t get in your way.

Furthermore, a good camera is a solid investment for a blogger. Visuals are very important in blogging, and people can tell the difference between a picture you took with your phone and another you took on a DSLR.

The Mindset Required to Startup Your Blog

Finances aren’t the most important thing when trying to startup your blog. What’s more important is being in the right mindset. Here are a couple ways to do that:

Define Your Niche

The more specific, the better. For example, you don’t want to just write a Fashion blog, you want to write about the street style of Chicago, with an emphasis on budget pieces. Some people are scared to push themselves in a corner, but it’s good to define yourself for your audience – you’re likely to get better followers!

Brainstorm Topics

As a way to test your passion for and knowledge of your niche, aim to brainstorm anywhere from 20-50 article ideas before ever trying to write them. This will give you a good base to start from and fall back on when you have writer’s block.

Figure out Your Name

Once you know what you want to write about, and you have some ideas for topics, you need to start thinking about your name! Once you’ve got this figured out, you can look through your hosting options.

Make a Commitment to Your Blog

Get in the mindset that you’re going to post a certain amount of times each week, month, etc. It doesn’t matter what you commit to, just that you follow through! In general, the more blog updates, the better.

Hold Yourself Accountable

Find another blogger, or a blogging group in your city, and make a pledge to update your blog in accordance with the goals you set in the previous step. Frequently check in with your blog buddy to keep each other on track!

After finishing these steps, the hard part is over and the fun is about to begin. How do you personally get in the right mindset to give your blog your best shot? Let us know in the comments!