Inside: How much does it cost to start a blog: cost breakdown in 2023
If you have thought about starting your own blog for a while now but have no idea where or how to start, you are in the right place. After this article, you will have no more excuses as to why you haven’t started yet.
I know that out-of-pocket cost is a big reason many people stay away from creating their own blog, but it actually isn’t very expensive at all.
Like, at ALL. It’s just your fear of talking.
So I am going to go over exactly how much it cost me to start my very first blog. I will walk you through the steps and what you need to do to not only start but maintain your site so that you will ultimately be successful.
You may not even be starting this journey with financial gain in mind, but there are plenty of opportunities. Let’s jump right in.
How Much Does It Cost to Start a Blog In 2023?
I am going to break this down into steps, each with a price breakdown. I will have a running total near the end, so you will know exactly how much it will cost you monthly. I hope that this makes you realize how affordable it is to create your own blog. There are some upfront costs, but other than that; it’s pretty simple.
Step One: Decide Is This Personal Or Professional?
First things first, you are going to want to decide if your blog is going to be a personal one or if it’s something that you plan on turning into your career or profession. There is a lot of money that can be made by blogging, but it is a different style of work. You are still writing, but you just do a little more research and work closely with SEO to get to a place where there is financial gain.
The reason I bring this up in the very beginning is that you have two options from the get-go: You can build your blog on a free platform, or you can build it on one that you pay for monthly. As enticing as the free platform is, you are not going to be able to monetize your blog when the time comes because that site owns it.
Meanwhile, the other platform is owned by you, and you can work with it to create a thriving career. So the choice is yours. I know that the more expensive route is a little daunting, but don’t let it scare you.
Step Two: Sign Up With A Host
When you are just starting out, one of the most popular hosting services and the one I use for all our niche blogs is is Big Scoots. You can imagine your host like your online rental space. Big Scoots is the perfect platform to start you out with because they are user friendly and is a great company to grow alongside you as your blog gains traction.
Right now, Big Scoots has a plan that only costs about $10.00 a month.
Step Three: Choose Your Domain Name
This is where you will be naming your blog. It’s what you will type into the search bar to bring you to your site. This name should reflect the name you have chosen as best as possible. In an ideal world, you will be able to find your exact name idea in the domain search, but it may be taken. Just play around with it until you find one you are happy with.
Your domain will cost between $2 and $10. There are premium domain names that can cost thousands of dollars, but you don’t have to worry about that. Since your name is unique, you will be paying a lower price. This price is yearly, so you won’t have to pay for it again for another 12 months!
Step Four: Download WordPress.org
This part is free. WordPress is going to be like your workroom. It’s the behind-the-scenes for your site. This is where you can create your posts, style your site, and much more.
The WordPress Install is Free.
Step Five: Pick a Theme
A theme is essentially the style of your website. WordPress comes with a few simple ones for free, but you can buy ones that you like and then import them. Fancier themes can be upwards of $1000 dollars, but you can find some seriously cute ones that are fast and easy to update right here. In fact these BlueChic themes are what this site and all my sites are built with.
My first theme only cost me $125, and it was a one-time payment.
Step Six: Download Plugins
There are certain plugins that you are going to need, and many are free. But if you are planning on monetizing your blog one day, there are a few that are essential. I have a list below of some that I think you will need.
Remember that you don’t have to get them all at once, but you can build up to them once you get the hang of the rest of the site:
- Yoast SEO – $0 A Year
- Link Whisperer – $0 A Year
- Monster Insights – Free for Basic Package
How Much Does It Cost to Start a Blog In 2023?
So, how much does it cost to start a blog in 2023? On the low end, you will be spending as little as $30.
On the higher end, with buying the new theme and the plugins, you should plan on spending about $200. This pricing could be anywhere in between; it all depends on the features you want!
There are a few other random things that could cost you here and there, but for the most part, starting a blog in 2023 will cost you less than a nice date night out. I told you this was going to be much cheaper than you thought!
You can also always slowly add the other additions so that you aren’t paying for them all at once.
There are many ways to make this cheaper. For example, many online bloggers and YouTubers start out on social channels which costs nothing! Although you should know by now that I’m a big fan of owning your own platform and blogging helps you do that.
What’s Stopping you?
I don’t think you have any valid excuses now; you have to start a blog. I know that you have been thinking about it, but let me be the first to tell you there is no time like the present. As scary as it might seem, it will be so worth it.
You may feel like you are too behind and know nothing about how to do it. But that is how everyone starts out, so kick that imposter syndrome in the butt. If you are going to go through with this(which I am pushing you to do), then I am here to help you on the journey. Check this out to see how to earn your first $1000 blogging!
One reason that I am just so passionate about blogging is that it gives you an artistic form to help you express yourself. Every week I am finding new ways to better my blog; I am always learning. I am so very grateful that I found this path, and you will be too!
