What It Really Costs To Run a Successful Blog [Infographic]

As an influencer agency, we celebrate the work of professional content creators. We connect bloggers with brands for paid partnerships. These campaigns are designed to recognize bloggers’ creativity and storytelling ability. For many bloggers, their sites are hobbies. But the bulk of our community members are working part-time or full-time to create income. Below you’ll find an infographic to remind our community of influencers of the costs to run a successful blog. These expenses are important to consider when bloggers are negotiating contracts, doing their taxes and determining what the real expenses or running their businesses.

Each expense to run a successful blog is broken down by blog management, photography, and professional development. The costs can vary depending on the size of your blog and the amount of time you (or your team) dedicate to creating posts and social shares. This is the perfect infographic to share with your friends and family who think blogging is just a fun thing to do vs. a real business.

The Costs to Run a Successful Blog

Blog Management

These expenses here cover purchasing your domain(s) to hosting, then promoting your posts and social shares.

Domains: The cost to purchase your .com/.net are variations of your blog name.

Hosting: The cost to manage your blog with a hosting company.

Design: WordPress themes and custom WordPress theme to make your blog reflect your personality and focus.

WordPress Plugins: Free plugins are available, but premium plugins have more features and customization options.

Website Security: Protect your blog from hackers and viruses.

RELATED TOPIC: How to Protect Your Blog from Hackers: Q&A with BrothaTech

Email management: Pay your host for a custom email address instead of a Gmail or Yahoo email address; manage your email subscriber list.

Social Scheduler: Tools like Hootsuite, Buffer, Sprout Social, Tailwind allow you to schedule social shares.

Photography

Imagine all the equipment you need to create, edit and publish photos or videos.

Camera equipment: While many bloggers create stellar content with their smartphones, professional camera equipment is recommended.

Props/accessories: Lights, tripods, backgrounds, etc.

Graphic design: Logos, headers, Pinterest image design.

Photo editing apps: Picmonkey, Adobe, Canva, etc.

Stock images: Professional photographers allow their work to be featured on stock images sites for promotional and editorial use.

Development

These are the expenses that help grow and promote your blog. If you’re new to blogging, many of these expenses may not apply.

Professional Memberships: Fees to be a member or a blogging organization or professional organization.

Travel: Airfare, hotel, food during a travel stay or social media event.

Conferences: Fees to attend conferences, marketing events, etc.

Marketing Materials: Media kits, business cards and any printed materials designed to promote your blog.

Courses & Books: Social media/blogging courses and books.

Contributors: Writers who contribute content for your blog. Ex. craft contributor,

Virtual assistants: Remote workers who create/promote content for your blog and online profiles.

Advertising: Facebook ads, Twitter ads, efforts to boost social posts and sell products.

COMMENT BELOW: Have you counted your blogging expenses? Do you consider them monthly, quarterly or yearly? Do you have a business plan for your blog that includes paying yourself a salary?

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