Blogging Tools – 10 Basic Essentials

Have you been thinking about blogging for a long time, as well as what would you write about and what content would be present on your blog? Depending on what level you intend to reach in blogging, you should also consider the amount and depth of research you have done. If you have decided that it is just a hobby and a passion for your pleasure, then it should have been a pleasant experience that will ignite memories of why you were attracted to that chosen interest in the first place.

If you still want blogging to bring you income, we will not lie to you, the journey will be difficult and long, but it is not impossible. Either way, below are the top 10 tips and everything you need to get off to a successful start and maintain your blogging world.

1. Get yourself a proper PC / laptop

It doesn’t need to be the latest, the fastest, the biggest, or a status symbol for bragging rights. You are just starting on this journey and we are talking the basics so it just needs to be functional and suitable for all your blogging needs. It would be ideal if you wouldn’t share it with others. That part of technology needs to be available for you at any time and for that reason, you should only keep it for yourself. So, choose your blogging buddy and emerge yourself into that world.

2. Good Internet connection

Ideally wireless, as it gives you the freedom to move around seeking writing inspiration is our advice number two. Besides that, this type of internet connection should also be reliable and if there are any restrictions regarding download/upload limits check with your ISP (Internet Service Provider). Inspect what additional charges there would be if you went over your limits and how it would be to upgrade to the next level or unlimited.

If you however want a wired internet connection, go for it, perhaps your ideal place for creativity is your carefully managed home office, room, garden, or balcony.

3. Creativity area

Probably couldn’t be called a tool in the literal sense, but in some way, it can be a very important element (if not one of the most important). Firstly, it will be a space to keep all your other tools of the trade-in in one place. Secondly, you can pin up reminders, inspirational quotes, guides, and maybe even some blogging guides. It needs to be your space dedicated to blogging. You shouldn’t run around the house trying to collect and find what you need and waste valuable time before you have even started when you can have it all in one place and always available.

4. Software

You probably wonder why software is present on our list of advice for you since it comes as a part of the computer. But, we should ask ourselves is the present software configured for our blogging needs? Long story short, you will need a basic photo editing software package, (a free one will do, for the beginning), also maybe your camera had one in the box! Check that out also. Besides that, software needs to contain anti Virus software, up-to-date versions of Java & Adobe, a Word editor of some description (or online word), browsers such as Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, etc. Take the time to familiarise yourself with all your software as it will save you a lot of time in the future.

5. Camera

Having a camera to capture all those inspirative moments and things that captivate your attention is a must-have for leading a successful blog. But, no room for worry because any camera will do. Regardless if it is your phone camera, a compact camera, or any other option, as long as you have one to take your images, it will be enough. So many times asked questions about the cameras and which one of them is the best choice, and still, our answer will always remain: The one you have in your hands. Because, through time you can improve and buy a much better camera if needed, but the main thing that you should be driven by is to create. Creativity will always be catchy as well as your blog, led by your heart and unique touch.

6. External Hard Drive

If you can afford it, it would be great to equip yourself with an external hard drive (1 Terabyte would be more than enough). Back up all your work regularly, save all your images and create a logical folder structure. Do take the time to name and catalog your images as you do them. I promise it will save you a lot of time in the future (experience is talking).

7. An environment to support you

Your environment, family, friends, or partner can be your support mechanism as it will take time and sometimes a little luck to get to where you want to go. You can try to try to involve them in your work and if they came up with an interesting idea or an opinion – use it, consider it, evaluate it. But, still, arrange your blog according to your desire.

8. Friends

It is not a tool but as well a supporting environment, family, partners, and even friends are crucial for the success of the blog. Good friends can be good levelers as well, get their opinion as well, run the ideas past them and see what they think, after all, it’s the opinion of the majority that matters (only if you want readers). It may be that some of them came with amazing ideas or perhaps one has a nice camera and is a keen photographer. Spark his hobby to take pictures you can use for your blog. One of them may have a talent for writing or a complimentary hobby to yours (free guest posts). Remember it is some kind of social media so involve everyone. Of course, last but not the least, your friends also have other friends besides you so you can suggest them to promote your blog on their profiles. Your blog should be public and not something you secretly keep for yourself.

9. Desire

We cannot emphasize how much desire is important to fuel the blog. All you have to remember on this is level of desire (together with hard work) determines success.

10. Dedication

This needs to be to the level you set yourself. Be realistic do not set targets that you can not keep. Once, twice, three, six times a week or set it to an amount of time per week or per day. Just stick to it, don’t let it slip. Give yourself a chance.

Conclusion

These are just the basics of blogging tools and some of the essentials. There are many more things you will need on your way to becoming a successful blogger. Remember why you started the journey in the first place and always keep the focus on the joy of having your space, blog, and your opinion so use it wisely.