TheCubicleChick.com will be officially 1 year old in a few weeks. Since I begun blogging, I have made my share of mistakes which I learned from and tried not to repeat. Along with my mistakes have been triumphs in which I am proud of, and has helped me grow my website. I have made several investments in my business and my blog that have turned out to be most beneficial for me.
Here are investments that I recommend you make as a blogger:
Domain:
Having a website that is blahblahblah/wordpress.org or blahblahblah/blogspot.com is nice but when you have a dot.com in which you own that is your brand and your personality, it speaks that you are truly invested in your brand. It is also a lot easier to remember. Domains do not cost much and the ROI (return on investment) is trifold.
Hosting:
When you are hosting on a server other than your own (Blogspot, WordPress, etc.), the material is not your own. It can be taken down at any time without your permission and the pictures and content of the site are not owned by you. Hosting your own site is an investment in that all of your content is yours and yours alone.
Business Mailbox:
I get so many packages and other items in the mail that I invested in a mailbox at the UPS store so that I could have my mail sent without breaching my privacy or my personal address. The UPS Store also signs for my packages and sends me emails when I receive items, and I find that helpful to me since I am not always at home. My business mailbox has paid for itself and I truly recommend it to those who are serious about making their blog their business and receive a lot of mail.
Conferences:
Attending conferences is a great way to network and learn. I have been to several conferences throughout this past year and I have more than made up the money I spent by the business opportunities that have come my way because of the conference. Look for sponsors who can help subsidize the cost of the conference and travel.
Professional Web Design:
Having a professional web design is critical to the success of your blog. Not only does it make it visually stunning but having a professionally designed by an expert can help in your SEO and increase the visibility of the site. My traffic is quadrupled since I got my blog professionally designed and it was well worth the investment.
Social Clubs/Organizations
I am currently a member of the Urban League of St. Louis, a membership item that I purchased from revenue of my blog and it has given me many contacts locally and nationwide that have really helped me. A $50 membership can pay for itself with the limitless amount of connections and introductions from a networking aspect.
My mama always said: you have to spend money to make money. Consider making the above-mentioned investments for your blog and watch how it takes off. Most items you purchase for your business can be written off as a business expense come tax time!
What investments have you made in your blog that have paid for themselves?
Great article. I’m looking into doing this right now! I think it’s a great idea if you’re serious about it.