You’re here because you need to start your blog cheap, so read on! With a few well-chosen tools and plugins, you can launch a fully functional, visually appealing, and SEO-friendly WordPress blog without spending a fortune. I built my blog at Rlfleming.com for only $75- and that includes a custom domain name with two years @ Godaddy, a 1-year unlimited web hosting with some additional freebies, like a free SSL certificate, and full cPanel administration, and some serious discounts for different online services. If you’re ready to start blogging on a budget, this guide is for you.
I’ve chosen HostMonster for my blog hosting because, at the time of building Rlfleming.com, they had the competition beat for low-cost, self-managed hosting plans in the United States. This type of self-managed hosting is essential for anyone who wants full control over every aspect of their online start-up, from site security to SEO customization. HostMonster’s plans meet many key needs for SEO control and site security, making them a solid choice for beginners who want an affordable option. However, there are many quality competing hosting providers available, so do your due diligence and keep in mind your SEO needs at this point are: A US-based hosting provider that offers self-managed web hosting, supports WordPress, and includes full cPanel administration. My specific hosting plan included some additional benefits & features that truly fit the bill for my needs and wallet! I don’t have any endorsements or affiliates on my blog—I’m simply sharing what works for me. If you’re serious about making your site easy to use, manage, and become profitable, then DON’T skip this part of my post. I’m sure to discuss SEO strategies further on and in future posts 🙂
For now, let’s focus on keeping things simple and flexible so you can get your blog up and running quickly without wasting time and money! I’ll walk you through the best free plugins and themes that are proven to work seamlessly for most entry-level blogs.
Why Not Use the One-Click Install Option?
Before diving into the list, here’s a quick tip: avoid using the “one-click install” option when setting up WordPress. It might seem like a time-saver, but it often installs extra stuff you don’t need. It’s better to install WordPress manually—it’s easy and clean. Plus, you’ll have more control over what’s included on your site.
Now, let’s talk about what’s essential you need to start your blog cheap!
The Minimalist Blog Setup: Essentials Only
When you’re starting, less is more. Focus on simplicity, great SEO, and a clean design. Below, I’ll outline seven free plugins and a couple of free themes that are perfect for this approach. These tools will help you write, publish, and promote your content effectively.
Best 7 Free WordPress Plugins To Start Your Blog Cheap
- UpdraftPlus
This is the must-have backup plugin; I cannot recommend it enough. No matter where you host your blog, install UpdraftPlus. It allows you to create automatic backups, so you never lose your hard work. You can even store your backups on Google Drive or Dropbox for free. Trust me, this is essential! This works directly with your existing Google account. Giving your blog real-time backup as Google includes 15 GB of storage with their personal accounts. - AIOSEO (All in One SEO)
Search engine optimization (SEO) is crucial for getting traffic to your blog, and I personally use AIOSEO (the free version). It’s simple to set up and integrates perfectly with other tools like SiteKit and TinyMCE. This plugin helps you optimize your titles, meta descriptions, and keywords to make sure search engines like Google can easily find and rank your site. The real power in the free version of AIOSEO is that it offers free useful features right out of the box, such as a Headline analyzer and post/page SEO tools - Site Kit by Google
To track your blog’s performance and connect with tools like Google Analytics and Search Console, Site Kit is a no-brainer. It helps you monitor how visitors interact with your blog and gives you data directly in your WordPress dashboard. This is another of those Must-have WordPress plugins because it seamlessly integrates its internal schema directly into your WordPress blog’s overall online presence, availability, and communication, adding additional layers of usefulness, security, and value, all for free! - TinyMCE Advanced
If you want more control over your content editing, TinyMCE is an excellent addition. It enhances the default WordPress editor, giving you extra formatting options. It’s especially helpful if you like adding code manually or want more advanced styling options. - WP Super Cache
Speed matters, especially for SEO. WP Super Cache is a plugin that improves your site’s loading time by caching static pages. Fast load times make for a better user experience and boost your rankings in search engines. - Social Snap
To make your blog easily shareable on social media, you’ll want a plugin like Social Snap. It adds beautiful social sharing buttons to your posts, making it simple for readers to spread the word. Social sharing is a key way to drive traffic to your site. - Smush
Image optimization is another critical factor for both SEO and user experience. Smush automatically compresses your images without reducing quality, helping your pages load faster. This is particularly important if you’re planning to use lots of visuals in your blog posts.
Best Free WordPress Themes for a Minimalist Blog
- Twenty Twenty-Four
This theme is clean, simple, and mobile-friendly, which is crucial for SEO. It’s a great base for beginners, offering plenty of customization options without overwhelming you with too many features. - Minimalist
As the name suggests, this theme focuses on simplicity. It’s lightweight and fast-loading, which is perfect for SEO. Plus, it looks modern and professional, making it a great option for a basic, entry-level blog. I’m using the free version with a few edits for my publishing needs.
How These Plugins Work Together
The plugins I’ve mentioned are carefully chosen because they complement each other. AIOSEO helps with search engine visibility, Site Kit tracks performance, and TinyMCE gives you more control over your content. Together, they help you write and optimize your blog for better search rankings. WP Super Cache and Smush make sure your site is fast, and UpdraftPlus ensures you never lose your hard work. Finally, Social Snap helps you promote your blog on social media.
These tools are all 100% functional in their free versions but offer paid upgrades if you need more features down the road. For now, you can stick to the free versions and still run an amazing blog.
Building Your Blog for Future Growth
By starting simple, you can focus on content creation without getting bogged down by complex setups. As your blog grows, you’ll have the option to add additional features or upgrade to pro versions of these plugins. HostMonster’s low-cost hosting plan makes it easy to expand later, which is why I chose them for my WordPress blog. For just $75, I got my blog off the ground, and you can too!
In summary, this is the bare minimum you need to start your blog cheap while maintaining and controlling an SEO-positive framework and publishing engaging online social media-based content:
Host your blog on a low-cost US-based platform.
- Install WordPress manually.
- Use a simple, fast-loading theme like Twenty Twenty-Four or Minimalist.
- Install the 7 free plugins listed above for SEO, speed, and social sharing.
That’s it! With these tools, you can start your blog cheap today and start sharing your content with the world.
If you found these WordPress tips helpful, let me know in the comments below! I’d love to hear your thoughts or answer any questions you have about WordPress, or how to start your blog cheap. And while you’re here, don’t forget to like and subscribe to my blog for more valuable content on making money online. Share this post with your friends, and please consider making a small donation to help cover the costs of running this site and providing quality content.
Disclaimer: I do not have paid endorsements or affiliate relationships with any of the mentioned goods, services, or linked content. All of my recommendations are based on my personal use and research for value and usefulness.