RESOURCES
Resources are one of the major keys to creating a successful blog. You need to use professional tools which will ensure that you have a great looking and well-functioning blog. These do not necessarily need to be expensive.
Starting a blog is essentially starting your own business, and as with any new business there is an amount that you will need to invest. Luckily with a blog, you only need a small amount to get started!
Below are the resources that I personally use to create my blogs; to design them and to build my audience. These are all resources that I personally use and highly recommend.
Disclaimer: Some of the links below might be affiliate links. Should you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. Thank you.
Blog Hosting

To create an awesome blog that is going to generate an income for you, you absolutely have to host it with a reliable and efficient web hosting company.
Bluehost provides you with unlimited disk storage, domain hosting, email addresses, a free domain name for a year and excellent online support, 24/7. Bluehost is the hosting company that I personally use and highly recommend it.
Click here to get your first year’s hosting at a reduced rate.
Cost: Less than $3.00 per month
Blog Theme
Purchase Elegant Themes and you have many fantastic themes to choose from, including Divi. Divi is an easy-to-use WordPress page builder and is the most popular WordPress theme in the world!
The best thing about Divi for me, is how easy it is to use. Divi has a drag-and-drop feature so you can create pages and posts just as you want, BUT you also have access to 880+ pre-made layouts and 110+ pre-made professional looking websites if you prefer to use that.In addition, you have access to 24/7 online support, and three different plugins (Divi builder plugin, email optin plugin and a social media plug in).
Join Elegant Themes and with 1 licence you can create unlimited websites.
Cost: $89.00 per month or $249.00 once-off for a lifetime membership
Printables and Design Work
You are going to need images, banners and graphics for your blog, your marketing and your social media.
Canva is a free tool that you can use to easily create your own designs. You can create anything using templates provided or you can upload your own images and create anything that you want.
Cost: Free
Outsourcing Your Design Needs
Fiverr is an online market place where you can find people to create just about anything that you need for your online business!
This includes UX, GIFs, 3D animations, logos, voice overs, coloring-in pages, printables, eBooks, checklists, audio files, video and so much more! It is incredible. And even if you don’t know what you want, have a look to see what is available and you will find something that you just HAVE to have!
Cost: Free to join; you pay per project starting at $5.00
Building Your Email List

Having an email subscription service from the beginning is a MUST for bloggers and online business owners. You will use it to connect with your audience, share ideas and earn an income.
More email subscribers = more traffic = more income.
With ConvertKit you can easily collect email addresses from your audience, set up documents for your audience to download automatically, create email sequences that are automated, make online sales and so much more.
Cost: Starting from $29.00 per month, PLUS you can click here and get a 14-day FREE trial!