Some business owners and entrepreneurs are reluctant to blog, assuming it will cost a fortune. While it typically does require some initial investment up front, there are ways to minimize these costs. So if you’re looking to start a blog without breaking into your savings account, keep reading for some essential tips.
Choose a Free Content Management System
There are dozens of content management system (CMS) platforms available, but many charge a flat fee per month, which can cost you several hundred dollars over the course of a year.
Consider using a free CMS, such as WordPress, Joomla and Drupa, for your blog instead of an expensive “premium” one.
Don’t Pay for Stock Photos
Stock photo websites like iStockPhoto offer a simple and convenient way to find relevant images (and videos) for blogs. However, they can quickly burn a hole in your pocket by charging up to $10 for a single image!
A more affordable option is to download images from free-to-use sources, such as Flickr Creative Common and Pixabay. You may be required to leave attribution for the author, but most bloggers agree it’s better than shelling out $5 for a single image.
Register Your Domain Name
Unless you plan on creating a blog under a subdomain of an existing website or plan on using a free “hosted” blogging platform like Blogger, you’ll need to register a domain name. The good news is domains are relatively inexpensive, often costing just $12-$15 per year depending on the registrar and extension.
You can lower the costs of your blog’s domain even further, by opting for a longer registration period. If you are truly dedicated to your blog, go ahead and choose a 2-year, 5-year or 10-year registration period. Longer registration lengths yield decent savings over time.
Consider Shared Hosting
There are generally three different types of web hosting services: shared, virtual private server (VPS) and dedicated server. Virtual and private servers may cost several hundred dollars per month, whereas shared hosting services may cost as little as $5-$10 per month.
Unless your blog develops the necessary traffic, it’s best to stick with shared hosting for the cost-savings benefits it offers. When you need to upgrade, you can then switch to either a VPS or dedicated server.
Have any other blogging-on-a-budget tips that you would like to share with our readers? Let us know in the comments section below!
