6 Valuable Blogging Investments Worth Making

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[This article was originally published in February 2021 and has been updated for comprehensiveness.]

Are you planning to start blogging this year? Here is a list of blogging investments worth making in the beginning!

If you’ve dipped your toes into the blogging community, you’ve likely realized that it’s more than just tapping away at your keyboard. It’s about crafting content that resonates, building an engaged audience, and ultimately, turning your passion into profit. But here’s the secret sauce: Sometimes, you need to invest a little to gain a lot. In this article, I’m spilling the beans on blogging investments that are worth every penny.

Blogging investments worth making for bloggers

Blogging investments? Can’t I start blogging without making any investments or buying anything?

Of course, you can start blogging for FREE. However, you need to look at the purpose of your blog. You need to decide if your blog is going to be a way of expressing yourself and writing for fun, or if your intention is to turn it into a money-making business.

If you blog as a hobby and do not want or plan to make money from it, that’s totally fine to start with a FREE website (no hosting or domain). If you’ve selected the business route, you need to stay ahead of the curve and see growth by making blog investments. But I’m not talking about emptying your wallet on every blogging tool under the sun.

So what are the necessary blogging investments? What do you actually need to spend money on in the beginning? Let’s explore the key areas where smart investments can make a significant impact on your blogging journey.

Hosting: the foundation of your blog

What do you need first to start blogging? A website.

One of the first blogging investments you’ll need to make is on your actual website. You’ll need to purchase website hosting and a domain. You’ll also want to look at some of the other features and add-ons available, including adding an SSL certificate if you intend to accept payments.

Your blog’s hosting is like the foundation of your house. If it’s shaky or unreliable, the entire structure can crumble. Investing in quality hosting is non-negotiable. It ensures your blog is fast, secure, and always accessible to your audience. There are free options where your site is not self-hosted, but I truly believe that in order to turn your blog into a business and be taken seriously as a professional blogger, you absolutely need to self-host.

Consider reputable hosting providers like Lyrical Host, SiteGround, or WP Engine. While you may pay a bit more for premium hosting, the benefits in terms of site speed, security, and customer support are well worth it. Plus, fast-loading pages positively impact your SEO rankings, making it a double win.

A well-designed blog

After creating your website, you also need to invest in a professional blog design that can set you apart in the crowded blogosphere. A visually appealing, user-friendly blog not only attracts readers but also keeps them coming back for more.

When you visit a website, do you trust and engage with it more if it looks sleek, organized, and well-maintained? Of course, you do! The same principle applies to your blog. You can invest in a high-quality theme that works wonders for your blog’s aesthetics and user experience.

Email marketing

Email marketing is a tool you need to use if you want to make it to the blogging big leagues. Having and using an email list allows you to communicate with your audience more effectively – in a private way – than using social media or other means. With email marketing, there’s no need to worry about social media algorithm changes or your message disappearing in hundreds of other posts.

There are some free mailing services that can be a great place to start, but eventually, you’ll need a paid service for some additional features and functionality. A good email provider usually offers landing pages, forms, email sequences, automation, and broadcasts.

One of the best options for this is to rent a PO box. Convertkit (my current email marketing platform) offers a physical address to its customers that can be used to be compliant with this act. This email service then scans any mail sent to this address with my name on it. How awesome is that?!

Content creation tools

As a blogger, content is your currency. Investing in tools that enhance your content creation process can be a game-changer. For instance, consider a grammar and style checker like Grammarly or ProWritingAid to ensure your writing is top-notch.

Furthermore, Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is the bread and butter of a successful blog. It’s how your content gets discovered by the vast online audience. But here’s the catch: SEO is a complex and ever-evolving field. To navigate it effectively, investing in SEO tools is a game-changer.

Tools like SEMrush, Ahrefs, or Moz can help you analyze your blog’s performance, conduct keyword research, and track your rankings. These insights are invaluable for optimizing your content, increasing your visibility in search results, and ultimately driving more organic traffic to your blog.

Additionally, graphic design tools like Canva or Adobe Creative Cloud can help you create eye-catching visuals and infographics. Even investing in a good-quality microphone and camera for video content can elevate your blog’s multimedia offerings.

Online courses and training

Blogging is a constantly evolving field. To stay relevant and up-to-date, investing in online courses and training is a wise move. Platforms like Udemy, Coursera, and LinkedIn Learning offer a wide range of courses on blogging, SEO, content marketing, affiliate marketing, and more.

Additionally, consider investing in courses specific to your niche or areas where you want to grow your expertise. Continuous learning not only enhances your skills but also keeps your blog fresh and engaging for your readers.

Legal protection

Last but certainly not least, investing in legal protection for your blog is a smart move. Whether it’s drafting solid terms of service, privacy policies, or trademark registration, ensuring that your blog complies with legal requirements can save you from potential headaches down the road.

As a blogger or website owner, you are required by law to have a privacy policy. This tells visitors how you collect and use their personal information. There are no ifs, ands, or buts on this one. You also need a disclaimer that limits your legal liability regarding the content you publish. It essentially says your published content is for educational purposes only. A disclaimer can also include affiliate and other necessary disclosures.

Lastly, a terms and conditions page is needed to lay out the rules of your website, protect your property rights, review refund policies, explain your dispute resolution process, and more. This last piece ties your privacy policy and disclaimers together and limits your legal liability for errors, omissions, and inaccuracies in your content.

The moral of the story, these three legal documents are a must for bloggers and online business owners!

I know there are some free templates online you can find, but many of these are deficient, not created by a lawyer, and won’t hold up in court. Personally, using free templates wasn’t a risk I wanted to take. After conducting some research, I found some easy-to-use templates that are drafted by a lawyer turned blogger. How perfect is that?

I ended up purchasing a legal bundle that includes a privacy policy, disclaimer, and terms and conditions template. It took me about 15 minutes to customize these templates and add them to my website. This was much better than spending hours researching, creating my own templates, using free ones, or consulting with a lawyer.

While there are many ways to invest in your blog, this may be one of the most important blogging investments you make. This small investment allows you to protect your blog and your content from expensive lawsuits and legal liabilities.

Conclusion

To make sure your spending doesn’t get out of control, I recommend creating a blog budget to keep tracking all your expenses. Remember, you don’t need to break the bank to get started, but strategically allocating resources to areas that enhance your blog’s quality and reach is a winning formula. So, whether it’s sprucing up your blog’s design, boosting its SEO, or nurturing your email list, these blogging investments are your stepping stones to blogging success.

Keep in mind that investing in your blog is an investment in yourself. It’s a testament to your dedication and belief in the power of your words. So go ahead, make those smart blogging investments, and watch your blog flourish.

Are there any blogging investments you think should be included in this post?