.JPG)
This year, I'm going to be focusing on one blogging related aspect each week to help me really develop my blog. By develop and grow (in the title), I'm referring to quality (content, photos, interaction), not quantity (followers, statistics).
Week Two: The Blog Budget
I enjoy my financial freedom. No debt. No credit cards. Having to save. Having to budget. I budget religiously and quite efficiently and effectively for clothes and shoes and I've started thinking how wonderful it would be to have a blog budget! I don't want my blog to cost me a lot money but at the same time I want to have a little bit of money set aside for layout touch ups and advertising/sponsoring.
I've decided how I'm going to be spending money regarding my blog this year.
Here's a brief breakdown of things you might like to consider:
via edited by Vanisha
I've decided how I'm going to be spending money regarding my blog this year.
Here's a brief breakdown of things you might like to consider:
- sponsoring - will you be sponsoring blogs?
sponsoring other blogs makes up the bulk of my blog expenses
how much are you looking to spend each month x number of months you'd like to sponsor?
eg. $30 per month x 4 months - layout - will you be getting a new blog design?
these can be expensive, I've heard of blog friends get their blogs redesigned for as little as $40 and others can spend up to $300-$400.
do your research.
My layout cost me about $250 dollars (after a significant discount) - updating layouts - you might already have a layout that you love, but as your blog grows you might want to/need to change a few things.
again this depends on what you want to get done
changes to my layout cost up to $80 - swaps - who doesn't like a good swap?
I love them but I feel like I never have enough money to do as many of them as I would like.
swaps can be costly, not really on their own but when postage is added.
most swaps have a $20-$30 budget, add another $15-$20 onto that for postage (especially if you're paranoid like I am and want to have the package sent by registered mail)
I'd budget about $50 per swap and then decide how manyI'd like to doI could afford to do a year
$50 per swap x 2 swaps per year
These are just examples of possible things to consider for your blog budget. Creating a budget for your blog, like for any other aspect of your life, means that you have to think through how you're going to interact with the blogging community. I wouldn't want to miss out on trips or clothes or shoes because I don't have enough money, in the same way, I wouldn't want to miss out on a fun swap and the opportunity to interact with new audiences. Budgets really help me ensure I don't miss out of any of the fun!
With a little planning, and saving, I truly believe that the time and effort you put into these activities will definitely pay off.
Do you currently have a blog budget?
How you do you manage your blog spending?
26 comments:
I wouldn't say i have a blog budget per se. I have a budget for miscellaneous expenses that i tend to carry over each month. That is where i take money out of to do sponsorships, donations and blog redesigns (which is the bane of my design existence). I think last year i spent more on blog redesigns than anything else so i am looking to curb that this year.
But in general, if i don't have anything left in my miscellaneous budget, i don't spend anything :)
xo Stephanie
Hi Vanisha,
I'm really enjoying this series you're doing. Being so new at this whole thing I am finding it so interesting and I'm learning so much! I have been looking at getting a layout design, there are so many talented people out there who are so good at these things, that's probably first on my to-do list!
Looking forward to reading more of these posts, hope the thesis is going well!
Zoe xx
A blog budget sounds like a fantastic idea. I should try this. I would love to see you do a post about how you budget in other aspects of your life. I am always interested in peoples ideas on how to save, budget for things ect.
Really informative Vanisha, I am enjoying reading this series of posts.
I don't have a blog budget, mine is a cheapo job :)
I'd never thought of a blog budget but I do know that my blog cost me a lot last year. It's a great thing to think about! Thank you!
great post! I've never thought of a blog budget, but it's a great idea :)
That's the good thing about most blog sites, they have layouts for free so no need to spend. Except for a domain name etc, you shouldn't go all out of spending money on a blog.
I have been thinking about my blog budget greatly as of late. Before I would purchase a sponsorship if I followed and enjoyed the blog and could afford the space (+ to have Den of Thieves make the button) but after having only a few of my sponsorships be worth the dollar (that I could have spent shopping) I have decided to not sponsor as much in 2013 unless it seems really worth it (and I build up a deeper relationship with the blogger).
I have also been thinking about subtle things I would like to have the gals at Den of Thieves work on for me that shouldn't cost too much but after that I'm done. I need to save up for a scanner, a killer camera and an instanx camera (plus my grad school $$$). So here in 2013 I am trying to blog smarter.
I am really loving this series V! You are so amazing and have so much to share with the blogging world. You really need to write a book on blogging. Even if you just sell it for a few bucks here on your blog it would be so worth it!
Chao
Poppie
http://thepoppie.com
Good luck with developing your blog further! X
You know, I'm lucky to be able to say that I've spent almost no money on my blog over the years... but nevertheless, this post definitely gives me some things to think about. Sponsoring other blogs had never really crossed my mind but it can be a fun way not only to get your blog out there but also to connect with other bloggers. Great article, Vanisha!
xox,
Cee
I found this post very interesting - thanks for writing. I have a budget for mine to cover the costs of prizes for competitions and also to pay for my domain name and business cards during the year. Haven't ever considered paying to advertise on another blog - that's definitely one to consider for 2013. Thanks for a great post - have a super week! Avril x
Great post! I have never thought about a blog budget but I also never sponsored a blog before or paid for a blog design. I would like to get a professional design though. And I would love to participate a lot more in swaps. I only did one so far, sent my package and never got one back. That was very disappointing.
Have a wonderful week, Vanisha!
Hi Vanisha, this was an entire new budget blogging lesson for me! Thanks, I had no idea that you could do these things...seeing the price in dollars - it would be multiplied by 8 or 9 in my currency, but I am sure that are local sites and people here who would like to co-sign on these.
I'm loving this blogging series you've been working on. Truthfully, I hadn't thought about a blog budget before but it's definitely something to consider. Since I'm still relatively new to blogging and haven't tried sponsoring or ads yet, this would definitely be something I'd do before taking the plunge and trying sponsorships or getting a new layout. Thanks for the ideas!
I am thinking about blog budget for most of things you wrote above. Blog design can be so expensive that's why I designed my own last time around. hopefully this year i can spend some money of it.
nice post.
I always do it on a whim, so it'd probably be good for me to start budgeting a little!
i definitely don't have a blog budget. i did one sponsorship and i only got one new follower from it and very little traffic so i have been gun shy to try again. i did pay someone to design my blog and that was money well spent!
i dont want to invest too much money in my blog right now because i am not dedicating enough time to blogging to justify that. for me, for now, blogging is just a fun way to share. if more people come by that's great but i am not working on growing it until i have more time to do it right.
I thought about having a blog budget once, but in reality everything I've done so far didn't cost me anything. A few exceptions are the giveaways I did in the past(I had a figure in mind for that) and my domain name, which I bought (again I had a figure in mind for that in the past) but haven't used it yet. For me it's more about the time and content - I love writing and it takes time that can be in short supply these days. :)
Vanisha, first up, I just want to say that your comment on my blog put a huge smile on my face. LOL! Famous! I'm far from it but I feel so privileged to have your friendship. You're a kind and generous soul! Yes, I'd love to contribute to your next post. Just flick me an email and we can go from there.
I've never had a blog budget before. My new-ish blog layout cost £37 but I still haven't quite finish tweaking all the little bits and bobs. But I'll have to budget for a new camera soon. The cost to service it would be far more than its resale value.
Totally with you on the whole issue of having a blogging budget. I'm just in the middle of redesigning my site and that is one thing I set a budget for. It's the only thing I've paid for on my site - other than hosting and buying the domain name. xx
what a smart post. Thanks for sharing!
xo,
nancy
This is so clever!
I don't really put much money into my blog but I DID just sign up for my first swap, a book swap! It seems like such a fun thing to do and I was thinking I'd actually like to HOST one some time, but I can definitely see where it would get expensive.
this is a really interesting post--i've never set out a blog budget before but recently started thinking about it. i have looked into swaps and foodie pen pal type things, but it's hard for me to commit and put out that $$, hah!
I'm learning a lot from your blogging posts. It's always something I've been wondering how bloggers are doing it--sponsoring and how ad swap works. I've never tried them before. The concept of blog budget is all new to me. Your post answers a lot of questions.
I've never thought to have a blog budget but now that I've read your posts, it makes so much sense to have one!
Great series! I am a newbie blogger and I am having a lot of fun. I am learning more and more as I get involved with different communities and meet new people.
I have one question concerning this post...what is a "swap?"
Adding you to my Bloglovin'
-Karen
www.yourstylistkaren.com
Post a Comment
The comments you leave on my blog are as great as getting letters in the mail. Thank You! I do ask that you not spam me with "follow me and I'll follow back" comments.