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Starting your own blog can be an exciting and lucrative venture. Sharing your expertise with the world can attract an audience and establish your online presence. But, you may find yourself first asking— how much does it cost to start a blog? Before you dive into the blogosphere, it’s important to be realistic about the costs involved in order to make it worth your while.
This article will outline the different expenses you may encounter from how to make a website when starting your blog, to domain name registration and web hosting fees. Once you know the potential costs of blogging, you can make a better informed decision about how to pursue your blogging goals.
Ready to create a blog? Get started for free with the Wix blog maker today.
How much does it cost to start a blog?
If you create a website on your own, a basic blog can start from free and cost as little as $16 per month. However, more complicated websites or ones that require the assistance of professionals like photographers, copywriters or designers, can cost upwards of $10,000. Let's examine the variables that can impact the cost of starting a blog.
Learn more: How much does a website cost
Can you start a blog for free?
Yes, starting a blog for free is possible. There are free platforms and tools to help you kick-start your blogging journey. Check out more on the best blogging platforms to see which one is a good fit. While starting a free blog may seem like a great idea, before diving in, it's important to consider a few key points:
Limited features and customizations: Blog platforms that are free may come with limited customizability options, which can make it difficult to establish your brand identity.
Restricted growth: Free blogs often lack the necessary features and tools to help you grow your website traffic and monetize your content.
Lack of ownership: The terms of service for free blog platforms can change at any time, meaning that your blog and its content could disappear overnight.
Distracting ads: Ads on free blogs can sometimes detract from your content and make it less appealing to users.
Security risk: Free blogs generally tend to be less secure than their paid counterparts, which can put your personal information and that of your readers at risk.
Ready to get blogging? Get started with Wix today.
Factors that can impact blog costs
Here’s a detailed breakdown of some considerations that can influence blog costs. Included in each section, we've outlined the average cost ranges to help you estimate expenses.
Domain name
Average cost range: $0-$1,000+ per year
While it may seem like a small detail, your domain name plays a crucial role in establishing your brand identity and making your blog stand out from the rest. Getting a unique and memorable domain name can give your readers an idea of what to expect from your blog and help build trust and credibility with your audience. The domain name cost varies depending on the provider and the type of domain you want.
Tip: A Wix premium plan, will give you a free one-year domain name voucher to offset your initial blog costs.
Website hosting
Average cost range: $0-$250 per month
Website hosting makes your blog accessible to readers all over the world via the internet. It involves a service that stores your website files on servers and delivers them when someone types in your blog's URL. The cost of web hosting can vary depending on the provider, package and level of service. Some providers, like Wix, offer free website hosting as part of their website builder package. Investing in a reliable and trustworthy provider that offers the necessary features to meet your blogging needs is worth considering. From security to site speed, web hosting affects your blog's overall performance, impacting your users' experience and your ability to drive traffic and revenue.
Website security
Average cost range: $0-$200+ per year
The costs of website security can fluctuate depending on your platform or hosting service. Some providers offer basic security measures at affordable prices, while others may charge more for advanced protection against potential cyberattacks. Being proactive in protecting your blog can ultimately save you money and avoid the cost of dealing with a security breach.
Tip: With Wix, security is already built in and included in the price when you start a blog. You’ll get 24/7 monitoring to detect vulnerabilities and keep both your information and your site visitors details safe.
Business email address
Average cost range: $0-$15 per month
Creating a business email address will give your blog a more professional look. Plus, it will streamline your communication efforts, keeping everything in one organized inbox. Investing in a business email address that includes your domain name is a relatively low-cost way to maintain a brand identity. The benefits of a business email address are worth the cost, including increased credibility, better delivery rates and improved brand recognition. You'll be able to communicate effectively with clients and readers, while also ensuring that your emails aren't getting lost in spam folders.
Templates
Average cost range: $0-$70+
Templates are pre-designed layouts that help you create the look and feel of your blog without having to code each element from scratch. Templates can be helpful to solidify your brand’s visual identity while also organizing your site’s content effectively.
Check out these totally customizable and free blog website templates to help you get started.
Logo and branding
Average cost range: $0-$10,000+ one time fee
A memorable blog logo, a well-defined brand identity and a carefully chosen blog name create a cohesive representation of your blog that helps distinguish it from others in your niche. Your blog name plays a role in capturing the essence of your content and attracting your target audience. Combined with a unified logo and look, it fosters brand recognition and trust amongst your readers.
The cost of developing a logo can vary depending on several factors, like the complexity of your design, the number of revisions you require and the expertise of the designer you choose. You can cut blog costs and create your own using a logo maker tool.
Use Wix's blog name generator to create a catchy and relevant blog name that aligns with your brand identity.
Email marketing tools
Average cost range: $0-$100+ per month
Having a strong email list of blog subscribers and readers is an invaluable asset when it comes to blogging. By collecting email addresses, you can start building relationships with your readers, making your blog a more meaningful destination. It's important to start building your email list as soon as possible. With email marketing tools, you have a way to engage with your readers and provide them with more content. Remember, the goal is to build relationships with your audience and make your blog a trusted and valuable resource. The cost to your blog can range depending on the number of subscribers you have and the frequency of emails you send.
SEO tools
Average cost range: $0-$1,000+ per month
When it comes to running a successful blog, paying attention to blog SEO—or search engine optimization for your blog is key. This is the process of optimizing your blog's content and structure to boost its visibility and ranking on search engine results pages (SERPs). There are a wide range of SEO tools—both free and paid, that can help you identify the best keywords to target, generate new post ideas and even learn more about your niche audience. By investing in SEO tools, you're giving yourself the best possible chance of making your blog stand out in an oversaturated market. Wix SEO offers a comprehensive package of tools to help manage your blog’s SEO strategy. Other tools like Ahrefs, Semrush and Keyword Everywhere can be helpful to find relevant keywords for your blog content. These tools offer free and paid versions, so you can always upgrade as needed based on your blog needs and cost limitations.
Social media tools
Average cost range: $0-$100+ per month
Repurposing or repackaging your blog content into social media posts or video content is a cost effective way to increase blog traffic. Social media tools can help plan long term content on multiple platforms and are designed to schedule and automate posting, driving traffic to your blog and easing the workload significantly. Tools like a Pinterest scheduler can pre-schedule blog content to also post on Pinterest. Additionally, using a video maker tool can streamline your efforts to turn blog content into video content for a range of social platforms.
Depending on the scale of your social media efforts, the blog cost prices will vary. Keep an eye out for free trials to test which tools are actually useful and maximize your blog content. You also want social media tools that not only schedule content but also monitor online conversations and analyze your data.
Main costs to build a blog review
Additional blog costs
Whether you’re just starting out, or a blogging novice, there are other blogging costs to consider as you grow and scale your efforts. Consider these additional costs as you estimate how much it will cost to start a blog.
Hardware
Having the right hardware is important to produce quality blog content—this includes a reliable laptop ($600 - $2,000), a smartphone with a good camera ($40 - $100 per month) and a strong internet connection ($20 - $80 per month). While all of these can add up, it's essential to invest in your tools if you want to produce quality blog content.
Blogging courses
Consider investing in courses to help you grow as a blogger. These courses come in different levels, from beginner to advanced, and vary in price. Free online learning platforms like Wix Learn provide valuable knowledge and skills to create better and more strategic blog content.
Outsourcing content
As your blog grows and you want to scale your efforts, you may look to hire external writers for a steady flow of fresh and captivating content. In addition, having freelance writers or content creators who are experts in their field will help boost your blog’s expertise, authority and trust—also known as EAT. Like website designers, though, their rates will vary based on their experience. Typically, you can expect to pay anywhere from $10 to $75 for a single blog post.
Blog costs using a web designer vs. a website builder
When mapping out your blog costs, you might consider hiring a web designer or using a website builder to initially get started.
Website builders, like Wix, offer customizable templates and drag-and-drop functionality, enabling you to design and launch a site quickly and inexpensively.
Web designers may offer a more hands-on approach. While designers can establish a unique brand identity and develop a website with specific features and functionality, this option can be more expensive and time-consuming.
Ready to start your blog now? Sign up with Wix today.
Types of blogs
As you delve into the world of blogging, there are many types of blogs you can start, covering a wide range of subjects. From fashion and real estate blogs to book and food blogs, the possibilities are virtually limitless. The key is to choose a specific topic that will be the central focus of your blog and its content strategy. This will help you establish a strong brand identity and provide valuable information to your readers.
Determine your blogging commitment
When estimating how much it costs to start a blog, it's also crucial to assess your commitment level and set clear goals right from the start. This can help you evaluate not only the costs involved, but also your time and energy. Let's explore the different categories below to help you get started on the right track:
Hobby blogging
If you're seeking a creative and engaging outlet, consider yourself a hobby blogger. Starting a blog requires little to no financial investment, making it perfect for exploring your interests without a long-term commitment.
Side hustle
If you’re looking to build a profitable blog but short on time due to other priorities like a full-time job, family obligations or other commitments, think of your blog as a side project. Side hustle bloggers are dedicated to keeping their blogs updated and engaging with their audience. They're willing to invest some money for long-term growth and success.
Full-time blogger
As a full-time blogger, you understand that investing in your blog can lead to growth and revenue. By treating your blog as a business, you recognize the importance of higher costs like professional website design, marketing campaigns and tech support. These investments help you establish a strong online presence and attract more readers, boosting the success of your blog.
Tips for starting a blog
If you're thinking about starting a blog from a cost perspective, there are a few tips to keep in mind.
Prioritize value over growth: Focus on building strong foundations for your blog, rather than solely chasing metrics and rapid growth. Take the time to assess your blog’s potential revenue, profitability and long-term sustainability before making significant financial commitments.
Determine your needs: When creating your blog, start by carefully considering the key features that are essential. Think about the specific functionalities and elements that would best serve your blog's purpose and target audience. Take inspiration from Wix user Zion Adventure Photog, a local photography group in Zion National Park. They effectively use a blog to provide tips and guides for planning an adventure in the park while promoting their photography services. With a blog focused on photography, you might prioritize features like a responsive image gallery, customizable image layouts and integration with social media platforms for easy sharing.
Plan for the future: When considering the growth of your blog, it's important to envision how it will evolve over time. Think about the potential expenses that might arise as a result of this growth, such as hosting fees, marketing campaigns and hiring additional team members.
Be specific: Finding a specific blog niche idea is more profitable than writing about just anything. Leveraging your expertise in one focused area can help you create better and more relevant content. For example, according to Ahrefs blogging statistics, the most profitable blogging niche is the food blog niche. "Food bloggers have the highest median monthly income ($9,169) as compared to bloggers from all major niches". If you want to tap into this specific blog niche momentum, learn more about how to start a food blog or how to make money as a food blogger. This will help you map out your blogging goals and understand just how much it costs to start a blog, knowing the potential money you can earn in return.
How much does it cost to start a blog FAQ
Is it worth it to start a blog?
Social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram and Twitter dominate the internet. The rise of short-form video content like TikTok and Instagram Reels has further changed the way we consume and create content. However, blogging is still a relevant and proven content marketing strategy if you're still wondering if blogging is worth it. Blogging can be a great investment if you're willing to put in the time and effort to create quality content and promote your blog. Whether you're looking to build your personal brand, create a passive income stream, or gain exposure for your business, blogging offers a proven way to achieve those goals.