Blogging Resources

If you are here and wondering how to start a blog like mine, let me give you a hand. On this page,  I share the tools and resources used to maintain my blog as you see it today.

Starting out can be a bit overwhelming but not to worry, with the help of information I have gathered for you, you will be on your way jumpstarting your blogging life!

Pinterest

First, create a Pinterest account if you don’t have one already. Here is mine if you need to get the lay of the land. Why is it important? Pinterest is filled with pictures as you know. And if you are a visual person, then creating a “blogging board” will be a great way to start gathering ideas in a way it sticks to your mind. Take a look at my blogging group board. I have this since 2013. I pin everything that is blogging related here. How to start a blog, how to write content, how to choose right blog images, how to network… any topics you name it, its there. Easy to keep all your ideas in one place for reference. Your Pinterest board will be a great resource for your curated ideas to help you along in the blogging world.

Siteground

Now that you are familiar with the theoretical part of blogging, let’s take the first step by creating your own space in the online world. And do it with Siteground.

I have made the switch to Siteground just recently after being with Go Daddy for years! I will talk about the reasons for switching in another post but for now, let’s stay on topic.

So, what is Siteground?

They are a full service hosting company providing shared hosting, cloud hosting, and dedicated servers as well as email hosting and domain registration. They help you set up your WordPress site and offer you tremendous support with all the tech stuff along the way. Think of hosting as a home for the content you write. You need a place to keep them? That’s what Siteground does.

Signing up is pretty easy!

Step 1: Choose a Hosting Plan

Step 2: Choose a Domain Name

You can choose to buy a new domain, or sign up with an existing domain. Siteground offers a wide range of domain extensions at affordable prices.

Step 3: Review and Complete the Order

Unlike many other hosting providers, Siteground’s advertised discount applies to any of the initial periods chosen during the sign up process. Being able to get the low price for the one year period is a fact that increases conversions greatly in comparison to other providers where the lowest monthly price applies only for the longest period.

Yay! Your blog is now set up! You are ready to start writing. Almost.

Blog Design

If you have an eye for beauty and possess technical know-how, then it will be easy for you to design your blog professionally, no need to invest in a blog designer. An aesthetically pleasing blog is a pleasure to visit if you are a reader. Since my tech knowledge is limited, it is important for me to outsource this task to an expert. If you like the look of my blog, then I am happy to introduce you to Chelsea at Swoon & Co Creative. She is wonderful and quite intuitive about her clients’ needs. Check her out for services offered.

Blog Images

It is now time to think about the images you want to go along with the posts. There are tons of free stock image websites you can use like Flickr or Pixabay. I subscribe to Bigstock Photos for my blog images, except the ones that are mine. The truth of the matter is I can’t be bothered with licensing and copyright issues when using free images found online. With Bigstock, I do not have to worry about that part as I am paying monthly to have access to all their pretty pictures with appropriate licensing. Again, this is a matter of preference for most. You can start with free images and once you get the handle on this whole blogging thing, you can consider paid services, totally up to you.

Photo Editing- Canva

Next up is a photo editing tool/software. It is really the fun part of blogging if you ask me- hunting for the PERFECT picture for a post you poured your soul into and then editing the heck out. I love it!

I use Canva. For the longest time, I was with Picmonkey. But, when I learned about all the features and tools Canva provides compared to Picmonkey, switching was a no brainer for me.

Check out Canva and see the possibilities.

Blogging Book- How to Blog for Profit: Without Selling your Soul

If you have some extra time to read, then get your hands on Ruth Soukup’s How to Blog for Profit: Without Selling your Soul. It offers solid advice and practical action plans for creating an authentic, successful, and profitable blog. It is light read without bombarding you with technical jargon or hard to follow methods. This book is definitely a keeper if you are in this for the long haul.

Also, check out some of my blogging tips shared over the years.

Resources mentioned in this post will help you start out the right way when considering a career in blogging. If you were looking for just barebone information on creating a blog, then your search ends here. Because what I wrote is just elementary, something to get you started. Remember, a lot of work is required to perfect the art of blogging and become successful at it. But it will come with time and practice.

Good luck to you. Ask away any questions, I will try my best to help!

xx

With love, Vinma

P.S: This post contains a few affiliate links. Please see the Disclosure Policy page for more on that