Starting a blog can be extremely intimidating. After you pick the perfect domain name and get an idea of what you want your site to look like, there are so many additional tools that you can spend your money on.
You can buy a custom theme, hire someone to do a professional looking logo or header, email newsletter services, and on and on and on……
It’s worse than going into your favorite department store for a new shirt and walking out with 3 shirts, 2 pair of jeans, new shoes, and a new purse. (Note: I am in now way implying that my wife ever does this. Hehe….)
My wife gets asked quite frequently, “What blogging tools are must haves when getting started”.
In fact, a reader asked us this exact question below:
I have been reading through your website, and it’s very interesting! I got done reading how to make money on blogging in 9 months and saw you mentioned to take up Bob’s BYPU 101 and 201 videos. Did you guys take this class? It seems interesting and very informative, but I’m super hesitant and nervous about this whole thing. I’ve been reading both yours and his ‘recommended tools’ and it all seems like so much money to invest when I don’t know if I’ll be able to make money in the first place to make it all back.
I really, really want to blog and it seems fun, especially for a stay at home momma who would like some hobby of my own. But when I start thinking of a ‘website to call my own’ I get nervous about so many things! I see all these other blogs and how successful they are and how fun their blogs are.. and I don’t know if I can compete, I don’t know if my website would be what people would want… I don’t know.
I have a lot of if’s, and’s, and but’s. Since I am starting from scratch, what ‘tools’ would you recommend for the beginner? Any advice? I love reading your sites (House of Rose included) and I look forward to your future posts!! Thank you in advance for your response!
Since this isn’t the first time somebody asked us, we thought it would be fitting to film a video about it. See below to links on some of the items we reference in the video.
- Domain Name: Go Daddy
- Hosting: Lunar Pages
If you want to check out Bob’s course over at Blogging Your Passion:
Cool quote: “Don’t compare your beginning to somebody else’s middle.” <<<<< Click HERE to Retweet.
I had a lot of the same questions when I started blogging 6 months ago. I am so glad I went with self hosted wordpress on my own domain. $10 a month for hosting and $15 up front for a domain name is totally worth it.
I did design my own site up front with a horrid header but have since gotten a redesign. I personally like getting used to blogging for a couple months first because after those first couple months you really learn what you want your blog to look like. I couldn’t be more happy with my site redesign.
The longer and more consistent you blog the more readers you get. Posting consistency is a big key I think.
Great video for beginners 🙂
Do you guys have any suggestions as to where to purchase a header? Thanks!
Hi Guys,
I appreciate your friendly candor about blogging! Your video was honest and encouraging to those of us that are just getting started! Thank you!
Great video, thanks for sharing your thoughts. My wife and I are both just getting started about being more serious with our online endeavors and are enjoying learning from your several years of experience!
It is lovely to see such a detailed video. A couple of blogging sources which I would recommend are Windows Live Writer, the frenzy for research and above average writing skills. 🙂
Where can I buy a good header? I’m research stage, could last forever in this stage! Just wanna get started! I definitely have the passion to blog, just don’t have a lot of money to put into it,
@ Chelsea Check out Fiverr.com. You’ll be amazed on what you can get for $5.
Oh wow really, ok thanks so much! I’ll check that out ASAP, can headers be adding and changes at any time or do that they to be done at the set up on a new blog? You and your wife have been so helpful to me in my research stage, I feel like ill never get out of the research stage, there’s so much to know! I don’t wanna do it wrong, I’m so interested in it all, the coding design ect! Thanks so much!