How much does it cost to start a blog anywhere in the world?
If you want to start a blog in 2022 and pay your first year’s expenses, you can expect to spend between $0 and $99 to do so, depending on your ambitions and the type of site that you want to create.
To begin with, it’s vital to understand that the cost of beginning (and maintaining) a blog can vary greatly based on the selections you make across a wide variety of launch charges and regular purchases. This blogging cost guide will concentrate only on making wise financial selections.
This year, there are an estimated 31.7 million bloggers in the United States alone—and if you’re reading this, you probably think that now is the best time for you to learn how to start a blog and get started in the field.
After more than 14 years of expanding this blog to over 500,000 monthly visitors and turning it into a full-time company for myself, here’s my honest take:
Starting a blog may be a lot of fun, lucrative, and immensely fulfilling, but it’s also crucial to first realize how much it costs to blog.
Is the initial investment in starting a blog worthwhile in the long run? Yes, and we’ll break down (item-by-item) the specific blog costs you may expect to incur in 2022 in this guide to understanding blogging costs for your own particular blogging goals and demands.
Most importantly, I’ll teach you how to start a blog on the cheapest feasible budget—as well as the expenses you can anticipate spending after your site is established and you’re ready to fully invest in turning it into a viable blog business.
Here, we’ll break down the average cost of establishing a blog for three major groups:
- Bloggers who do it for fun (blogging solely for fun or as a creative outlet)
- Bloggers with a Side Hustle (blogging on the side of your day job to slowly build a business)
- Bloggers who work full-time (blogging as a full-time business)
The question, “how much does it cost to create a blog?” is a common one, but fortunately for you, we’re well-equipped to answer it. LoreleiWeb.com, after all, began as a humble blog many moons ago! Things have changed since then, but the process of starting a blog has remained largely unchanged.
How Much Does Building a Blog Typically Cost?
How much does it cost to start a blog? Monthly Cost of a Website Feature
- Subscription to the platform: $0–$49
- Website hosting costs between $0 and $5.45 per month (Get a $50 discount from Dreamhost).
- SSL Certificate for $0
- Premium WordPress Theme: $0–$200 (Elegant Themes are best at $2/theme)
- $12-$60 for a domain name
- $0–$250 for apps and integrations
- SEO and marketing: $8.99-$150
- Hardware costs range from $0 to $2,500.
- Use Grammarly to proofread your posts. $0–$11/month.
As with any new activity, doing your research and obtaining a broad estimate of how much it will cost you to start a blog is a smart idea.
Your total outgoings will be determined by the method you use to construct your blog. If you want to construct it yourself, you have two choices: a website builder like Wix or Squarespace or a Content Management System (CMS) like WordPress.
You may also hire a designer to do it for you, but this could cost $5,000 or more, depending on your needs. We recommend avoiding this method when you initially start out if you want to keep prices low.
Using a website builder is the most cost-effective approach to getting your blog up and running. This is because the pay-monthly plans available will keep your prices steady.
If you don’t want to use a website builder, WordPress is a popular and technically free blogging platform, but you’ll have to pay for hosting, themes, and plugins, which can all add to your overall costs.
The cost of blogging hardware
When answering the question “How much does it cost to start a blog?” you may not actually think of hardware expenses. Professionals approach blogging in an entirely different way than amateurs. They normally use a dependable laptop, a good webcam, a good microphone, and a DSLR with a couple of extra lenses. Here’s why you need it, what the entry-level equipment looks like, and how much it costs.
A good laptop
Using a laptop as a blogger has numerous advantages over using a desktop computer. The biggest advantage is, of course, the opportunity to create and manage your blog and other associated activities from any location you want. You need something dependable, with good battery life, an HD screen, at least 8GB of RAM, an i5 processor, and nothing too large or heavy.
If you prefer Apple to PC, you can’t go wrong with the MacBook Pro 15-inch; it’s a dependable and wonderfully speedy laptop. It has powerful hardware, so you may use it for picture and video editing as well. With a battery life of 10 hours, you’re getting a solid piece of hardware that will last you at least a couple of years. The cost of this one is $2,399.
If you’re not an Apple fan and want to spend less money while getting roughly the same power, the HP Envy with a 13.3-inch full-HD display can help. It has 8GB of RAM, an i5 processor from the current generation, and a 256GB SSD. The cost of this one is $679.
Camera and microphone
Because today’s audience loves to meet the person behind the blog, you’ll also need a good webcam so that you can do some quick vlog entries when you’re traveling, for example. To summarize, you should stick with Logitech because its cams have the best performance-to-price ratio.
If you require a higher-quality video, the Logitech HD Pro Webcam C920 is an excellent choice. It is priced at $100. On the other hand, the Logitech HD Webcam C270 is available for $40. However, keep in mind that the more expensive model allows you to capture videos in front of a green screen.
You will also need a microphone to record high-quality sound. It can be used while filming vlogs or, more commonly, podcasts. You won’t need anything too fancy; the Audio-Technica ATR2100 costs $69. DLSR and lenses
It’s no coincidence that images have become the most valuable sort of content for internet marketers. It has the ability to draw a viewer’s attention and engage the audience. Consider taking your own images if you want to add more value and uniqueness to your site.
The Nikon D3300 18-55mm VR Lens Kit is an excellent entry-level camera for bloggers. It comes with everything you need and costs $450. It is preferable to get the kit because it is significantly less expensive than purchasing a camera body and lens individually. If your blogging niche necessitates the usage of zoom when taking images, and 18-200mm lens should be considered. It will cost you an additional $450.
Having multimedia tools for your blog topic will undoubtedly help you write better content and grow your following more quickly.
The cost of blog hosting
If money is an issue, and you wonder how much does it cost to start a blog because you are afraid it will cost too much upfront – don’t worry, there are plenty of cheap hosts out there.
There are numerous hosting businesses available online. To minimize any hassles, such as frequent downtimes or poor customer service, you should have your blog website hosted by a reputable business.
Many hosting providers charge between $2 and $20 per month for their services. If you desire any of the sophisticated plans offered by these companies, the price may rise.
Bluehost, our recommended hosting provider, is offering a special deal to our readers that includes a FREE domain name. If you are dissatisfied with their services, they will refund your money within 30 days.
The cost of a blog domain
The domain name is significant since it will be the name of your blog and, therefore, will be linked to your brand identification. It will lend credibility to your blog and raise its level of professionalism. A domain name can be purchased through a registrar or a hosting business.
An A.com name, for example, costs about $14 per year on average. When obtaining a domain name, make certain that you will be the sole owner of it. We’re only mentioning this as a precaution. Alternatively, you can choose Bluehost and receive a free domain name when you sign up for a hosting account.
The cost of blog design
Here, you have three alternatives. You can have something fully customized, professionally crafted, and constructed from the ground up to match your specific wants and objectives. The other option is to use WordPress and purchase one of the most popular blogging themes or purchase a theme and alter it further. Another aspect that influences the cost of the design process is whether a firm or a freelancer does the work.
The most cost-effective solution is to choose a ready-to-use WordPress theme. Blogger-friendly themes cost between $30 and $60.
Please keep in mind that these estimates are only estimated because we don’t know how many and what types of customizations and website functionalities you’ll need. Customization of a free or premium blog theme that does not involve structural modifications to the theme design can cost up to $500.
You may have a highly customized, one-of-a-kind theme for your blog for between $500 and $2,500. On the other hand, if you want a fully unique design with improved functionality, you’ll need to budget $2,500 or more. The costs will skyrocket because there is no theme to modify, and a team of people will design your website.
You’ll also need a bespoke header and logo design if you wish to venture into professional waters. Thanks to the various freelancer networks available online, you may get this job done for less than $100.
The Cost of writing content
You can grow an entirely blog-based website naturally. But, you can always outsource writers on Fiverr. You should be able to write one or two high-quality blogs per week. Building an organic blog takes a tremendous amount of time and effort.
You can expedite the process by hiring other writers to write copy for you. Simply search for those with experience writing in your niche on any of the freelance platforms. Copywriters’ hourly rates range from $15 to $50.
On the other hand, if you own a company and want to launch a blog section on your official website, it is far preferable to pay for the material than hire a full-time copywriter if you don’t already have one on your staff.
If you’ve been wondering when you’ll start receiving offers from contributor authors, here’s your answer. When your website has a domain authority of 35 or higher, the number of offers made by contributors will begin to increase.
Because the majority of these offers are made as part of a backlinking campaign, you should review each offer to ensure that the article is relevant to the subject and that there are no links that could harm your reputation or domain authority.
Advertising expenses
There are several strategies to promote and publicize your blog that will only cost you time. However, if you already have high-quality content on your site, you can spend money on promotion and advertising to get things moving in the correct direction.
Google AdWords is a service provided by Google that may be used to promote a blog on Google Search. The good news is that you will not be charged when your blog’s link is shown. Only if someone clicks on it will your account be charged.
You can create and adjust the price model whenever you want, and you can start, pause, and stop your advertising campaign whenever you want. You will have complete control over your budget and be able to decide the price. The cost varies depending on the keywords you select. Each click can cost anywhere from $1 to $50.
A Facebook advertising campaign can be used to precisely target your audience. The cost will vary according to the size of your audience and your niche. It could range from $0.16 to $1+ per click.
You can employ sponsored tweets, accounts, and trends on Twitter. You will be charged $200,000 each day for promoting trends. Bloggers should not use this approach, although promoted tweets and accounts are will cost between $0.50 and $4 per engagement.
The cost of LinkedIn advertising is determined by your targeting options and the level of competition. The average cost per click is approximately $2.
Software for blogging
Fortunately, the vast majority of the software tools used by bloggers are completely free. Take, for example, Google Docs. On the other hand, some tools may assist you in being more efficient at what you do.
A speech recognition program will assist you in transcribing text by voice. These technologies have progressed to the point where they can recognize specific phrases and acronyms associated with various niches. They can also pick up new phrases and words. This software ranges in price from $35 to $80.
Consider purchasing project management and writing tools to help you organize your ideas and keep track of them. This form of two-in-one software can assist you in storing, sorting, and structuring your ideas while on the go. These tools can be really useful if you are writing 10x content. The average cost of one of them is $40.
It is also necessary to proofread, edit, and fine-tune your text. You can use certain tools to help you with this. You will receive grammar and spell checks, extensive writing style customization, and advanced vocabulary augmentation. This software service costs approximately $30 per month.
Grammarly is a grammar tool that we use and recommend.
Because many bloggers use WordPress as their blogging platform, we’ll also discuss premium WordPress plugins. Any blogger should think about using headline optimizers. These plugins employ engagement analytics to evaluate which headline is the most accurate and has the most engaging potential and whether the content lives up to the headline. These are typically priced at $70.
Stock photography
If you do not intend to take your own images, you should generally use stock photography.
The good news is that there are numerous good free stock picture websites, such as Pixabay, Pexels, and Unsplash.
Is it possible to start a blog for free?
In a technical sense, the answer is yes. It is entirely possible to start a blog for free. Starting a blog for free, on the other hand, is a bad idea.
There are several significant disadvantages to opening a free blog (also known as a “hosted” blog).
- Making money with a free blog is quite difficult.
- A free blog appears amateurish.
- What you can do with a free blog is severely limited.
Free blogs are not always what they appear to be—there is generally a slew of hidden extras that you only find out about after you’ve already invested time and effort in your ‘free site.’
Free blogs often expand at a much slower loading speed.
You have less invested in a free blog because you haven’t paid for it. If you have “skin in the game” (i.e., you’ve put money into it), you’re far more likely to work hard on your blog and see it succeed.
If you start a free blog, the following are the two most likely outcomes:
- You will eventually give up because you will become frustrated with the slow growth and the fact that your site is not profitable.
OR
- You will realize you made a tremendous mistake and will have to start over with a paid blog.
I know it’s tough, love. But I’m telling you all of this because I don’t want you to make a massive mistake before you’ve even begun.
The most crucial question, though, is whether you should start a blog for free.
In general, if you want your blog to be considered seriously, we don’t advocate choosing a free account.
Your site will frequently be riddled with unwelcome advertisements, and the website builder you’re using will add its own domain name to your website address.
Other costs, such as email marketing and apps or plugins, are comparable.
You can usually join up for a free plan with these platforms, but the features you get are limited, so you won’t get the full benefit.
If you actually want to build the success of your site, we recommend at least the first premium tier.
Why should you handle your blog as a business?
I understand that this may appear to be a large sum of money to you… But, when you think about it, it’s a relatively small amount of money compared to the cost of launching almost any other form of business.
Because if you want to make money blogging, you are essentially starting your own business.
And it’s only common sense that if you handle your blog like a company, you’ll be much more likely to make money and be successful than if you treat it like a hobby!
If you were establishing any other type of business, you would very probably incur start-up fees as well, and in most circumstances, the setup expenses would be much, much higher than $99 or even $9999!
Consider starting a business. You’d have to pay rent, buy stock, pay for a sign, get a logo developed, and acquire all kinds of equipment so you could accept payments… and the list continues on and on.
In comparison, it’s truly astonishing how inexpensive it is to create a blog. Even more amazing, blogging can frequently earn you significantly more money than other, more traditional businesses.
Blogging is a low-cost, low-risk, and incredibly high-potential type of business to start. However, in order to gain the full benefits, you must first invest. And, as with other businesses, the more you invest, the better the returns will be, and the sooner they will arrive.
What Is the Difference Between WordPress.org and WordPress.com?
Don’t worry; you’re not insane – there are two distinct WordPress options in this post! When determining how to start your blog, you must understand which is which.
WordPress.com is the company’s website builder. That simply means it’s a hosted platform, so you won’t have to worry about setting up hosting for your WordPress.com blog.
On the other hand, WordPress.org is a content management system (CMS) to begin developing your blog. You’ll need to sign up for a hosting plan separate from your WordPress account.
If you want to learn more, we’ve created a guide that explains the differences between WordPress.com and WordPress.org.
How much does it cost to start a blog with a Website Builder?
Website builders are the most cost-effective option to get a blog up and running quickly, but their rates vary. Wix and WordPress.com also have a limited free plan, but Squarespace requires payment – though it does provide a 14-day free trial to get you started.
Because we do not encourage using free blog plans, these are the beginning prices for each builder’s paid packages:
- Squarespace costs $12 per month.
- Wix costs $13 per month.
- WordPress.com costs $3 per month.
We don’t advocate starting your blog with anything too complicated. The simplest plans are the most affordable, and they usually perform precisely what you need them to, especially if your site is still in its early phases of development.
There are a few exceptions to this rule. To begin with, while WordPress.com’s cheapest plan is a mere $3, this low entry point comes with a catch. The package is created primarily for bloggers (ideal!).
However, if you want to take advantage of the free domain name offer, keep in mind that it will include a “.blog” subdomain. If you don’t want this, you’ll have to pay $8 per month for the premium package.
Second, if you want to sell things on your blog, you’ll have to pay a little fee to have access to your builder’s entire range of eCommerce features. Squarespace, Wix, and WordPress.com all offer eCommerce subscriptions ranging from $29 to $45 per month.
Top Blog-Starting Advice
When determining how much it will cost to launch your blog, there are numerous factors to consider. In the end, it comes down to the type of blog you want to operate and how you want to build it.
Whether we stick to hobby blogging or step out into the big scary world of digital monetization, we all start from the same place, so check out some of our top ideas for establishing a blog below.
Start Small
Rome was not built in a day, and your blog will not be at the top of search engine rankings within an hour of being published. Because these activities take time and care, we recommend beginning small. Monetization may come later, but it will eventually fail if you haven’t laid a solid basis first.
Invest in ‘Must-Have’ items over ‘Nice-to-Haves,’
You may believe that owning the most expensive applications and themes is the key to unlocking blogging success, but these aren’t required when you’re just starting out. Take some time to think about what’s important to you so you can invest your money in a few key purchases rather than blowing your budget on stuff you don’t need right now.
Maintain Your Budget
When it comes to budgeting, make one and stick to it. Budgets exist for a reason, and they will keep you from getting carried away and spending all of your money all at once. Be strict with your spending and make sure you organize everything, so you know where every penny goes.
Make a Future Plan
It’s fine to have a lofty goal for your blog; it offers you something to strive for. When making selections now, it’s also useful to determine where you want your blog to go. For example, if you know, you’ll need more thorough SEO help, later on, buy an app or plugin with an upgrade option and good advanced features for when you need it.
So, what are you holding out for? How that you know how much does it cost to start a blog…
It’s time to start a blog!