A common misconception about blogging is that you have to have alot of money to do it but can’t be further from the truth. It’s very easy to run a blog with little or no budget available..
Tip 1: Choose your platform carefully
More Than Adored was first launched on Blogger because it was the most popular and also free. Now, I’m self-hosted which means I pay a fee to host my site with WordPress. I’m not going to go into the benefits of being self-hosted BUT to begin with, you don’t need to be self-hosted. A lot of people will tell you that it’s the only way to go but honestly, if you’re just beginning and testing out the blogging waters then opt for something that is free like Blogger.
Tip 2: Don’t invest in fancy equipment all at once
A lot of people think that to be a blogger you need the best camera, lens, lighting and a cute background but you don’t. I started off with a borrowed camera, no lighting and a piece of material as a background I bought from Spotlight for $10 (cringing at the though) BUT it worked. Nowadays you can get a decent photo with your iPhone camera so don’t feel like you need all the new, beaut things at once… God we still don’t have even half the equipment that I would like to have to optimise the photos on MTA. Start small and then build your way up. If you’re ready to invest some money I suggest lighting, then DSLR (only if you’re going to take the time to learn the settings), tripod and remote - the rest can come later.
Tip 3: Prioritise where you money goes
There are plenty of plugins, automative tools and so forth you can rack up a hefty monthly bill. Write a list of all the things that you need to pay for or would like to do then prioritise where your money is going to go. For me, I need to pay a monthly fee for hosting and security and also my domain every 12 months so they are non-negotiable costs the rest comes down to what I can afford month to month. Don’t feel like you need to pour lots of money into your blog just to run it, do your research as there are loads of free resources available!
Tip 4: Don’t get caught up in the hype
Bloggers have this amazing way to create alot of hype around tools, products and well, just about anything. It’s very easy to feel as though you need to either blog about the same things that everyone else is talking about OR as though you need to have those items to be a real blogger. I’ve been there so I know how it feels but honestly, run your own race. Don’t get down about not being able to afford certain things because it’s just not worth it!
Tip 5: Revisit popular posts
One of my favourite things to do when I’m feeling a bit crappy about not having any money to do what I want to do is to go through my analytics and see what posts have been the most popular. I then try to recreate something along the same lines, you guys love it and gives me a confident boost so win win!
Tip 6: Google It
I’m lucky enough to have an awesome friend Grace from Berry Vary (such a talented web designer if you’re looking for one) who helps me out with all the techy stuff here at MTA and has done for over a year.. BUT if you’re having a problem with your site try googling it first! SO many other people have problem experienced something similar. There are also alot of great step-by-step tutorials on how to customise your site etc. Google is your best friend!
Top tips from fellow bloggers over on twitter include:
‘Shopping my stash! I always have so many beauty products (and clothes for that matter!) stored away’ - Cliona from www.clionahill.com
‘I use my friends and families beauty stash :) like my mum and my sister and write about their faves.’ - Teenage Workaholic from www.teenworkaholic.blogspot.com.au
What are your top tips for blogging on a budget?
About Sarah
I'm a retail manager by day and a blogger by night aiming to bring you the newest beauty, fashion and lifestyle news. More Than Adored was created to help beauty lovers, like myself, make informed decisions when it comes to buying new goodies.
