Posted by Blogging can be an excellent way to stay in touch with your readers, build your audience and sell more products.
But in the beginning you might not have a big budget to invest in your blog for all the toold you might want to have. Starting a blog can me more expensive than you think, and like any business, you have to spend money to make money.
Investing in the right tools and resources will help to build your business faster while saving you money in the long run.
With that in mind here’s how to save money as a blogger:
- Purchase plans on an annual basis.
While some blogging tools are a must-have if you want to be a successful blogger, you can still save significantly by buying them in bulk.
For example: Web hosting, plugins, social medial tools, and so forth can cost as much as 50% less if you purchase an annual or even multi-year plan rather than pay monthly.
Some companies even offer special first-time deals. Purchasing the maximum allowed can save you money for years.
For example, a hosting company might normally charge $150 a year, but only $5 a month to get you on board. If they allow you to pay for 3 years in advance at the $5 rate, you’ll save $270.
- Save Money with Free Trials
Free trials are a great way to test a product before making a purchase. If they require a credit card when you sign up, write yourself a note so that you remember to cancel before you are charged if you don’t like the service. If you do like the service, then you get to use it for free for a time before you have to pay.
Some hosting services and email services offer free trials. Don’t sign up until you’re sure you’re ready to start using it immediately. Also know that if you choose not to continue with the service, you’ll have to move your site or your email addresses, so keep that in mind.
Other services that offer free trials such as software are easier to try and then drop if you don’t like them.
When you think you want to try a service, if you don’t see a free trial, try Googling, “Name of service” “Free trial”.
- Consider Using Cheap or Free Alternatives
Sometimes you can start using a service for free and then upgrade later. This is especially common with software that allows you to access a limited number of features for free for as long as you like. Most of these free versions are just enough and there is no need to upgrade to their premium version if you are on a budget. You won’t have to pay anything until you decide you need the advanced version.
You might start your WordPress site with a free or low cast theme and later upgrade to a paid theme. This is an especially good idea if you have no idea right now of what you want in a paid theme.
Other examples include using Canva instead of purchasing Photoshop, and using Mailerlite for a much lower price than ConvertKit.
No matter what software you need for your site, odds are there is a cheaper or even free version you can use, at least while you’re first getting started.
- Use Cashback Sites
Get cashback deals when you purchase products or services online from your favorite store. Purchase anything from blogging software, office furniture, useful gadgets, etc, and get a percentage cash back of what you spend.
(If you’re wondering how they do this, I believe they act as affiliates for shopping websites and then they give you a portion of the commissions they’re earned.)
Some cashback sites I recommend:
Rakuten
Install the Rakuten extension on your browser or get the Rakuten app and shop from your favorite stores. Join today and get a $10 welcome bonus when you spend $25.
BeFrugal
Install it on your browser chrome extension and get a $10 bonus plus up to 40% Cash Back at over 5000 Stores. Payout is made via Check, PayPal, Direct Deposit, Venmo, Zelle, or Gift Card.
- Take Advantage of Lifetime Deals
Most companies give you one-year license access to their products and once it expires you are required to review. But did you know that you can get some blogging tools or resources for lifetime access? This means that once you pay, you can use it forever and never pay again.
Some lifetime deals you can take advantage of. Keep in mind that some deals may have changed since this was written:
Elegant themes: Pay a one-time $249 lifetime deal instead of paying $89/year.
ThriveCart Shopping Cart: This is shopping cart software that creates high converting cart pages, upsells & affiliate campaigns with ease. Save money as a blogger on your e-commerce shop by paying a $495 one-time fee.
Smart Quiz Builder Lifetime Deal: Starts at $69, Create quiz funnels that generate leads and recommend the right products and resources to potential customers.
SendFox Lifetime Deal: Starts at $49, best ideal for content creators who want to turn their followers or audience into customers.
These are just a few. Anytime you’re contemplating a new purchase for your blog, be sure to check for free trials and lifetime deals. You never know where your next savings will come from.