5 Helpful Things I Bought to Kickstart My Blog

As a new blogger, you may find that you have to spend a little money to make a little money. I was no exception to this rule. When I first started, I found myself having to make a few decisions on purchases that I wasn’t sure would pay off. Fast forward to now and I can reflect on 5 helpful things I bought to kickstart my blog, and can now share those items with you!

Naturally, I purchased more than 5 things, but these are the items I found to be the most helpful. Below I’ll list the five things and why they helped me! If you have any super helpful blogging items, I would love if you shared them with me in the comments!

DISCLOSURE: affiliate links are used on this page. I only recommend products and services I absolutely use and love! You can read my full disclosure here. If you decide to make a purchase through my links, I make a commission (at no additional cost to you) which goes to supporting my blogging dreams. which I can use to help support yours and many others! Thank you for all the love and support!

5 Helpful Things I Bought to Kickstart My Blog

1. The Content Planner

One of my first big girl blogger purchases. This planner is perfect for bloggers, content creators, YouTubers and Instagrammers alike. The content planner is designed to allow you to organize your content, plan like the girl boss that you are, and make that money.

Some of the amazing features of the Content Planner are the monthly themes, the list of holiday and marketing dates, and the growth chart. The Content Planner is fully customizable and has ample space for you to write down your dreams. For my full take on the Content Planner, read my post here!

2. Stepped Up My Lighting Game

As someone who is quite active on both Instagram + taking photos for my blog, I absolutely needed better lighting. While natural lighting is always preferred, in the winter months (hello Canada) that lighting isn’t always available. To substitute (and to simply step up my lighting game) I have two little secret weapons I’m going to share:

Dimmable Selfie Ring Light for Cellphones

This little guy clips right onto your phone, has a dimmable option and is lightweight. Virtually can be taken anywhere. I throw this little guy into my purse and go.

Perfect for: selfies on the go, creating a video (Instagram story, SnapChat, Vlog)

Other Features: lightweight, small, comes with usb charger.

Shop here!

Dimmable Ring Light Tripod Stand

This light stand is perfect for doing videos at home. It includes 3 different light settings, a cell phone holder (not pictured). The legs to the tripod stand are adjustable so it can be it’s full height (100cm) or it’s miniature version (35cm), as well as a variety of heights in between (the legs have 3 different points to adjust as well as the top part which is extendable)

Perfect for: makeup tutorials, videos (YouTube, Snapchat, Instagram stories), taking photos when you’re on your own)

Other Features: lightweight, easy to put together/take apart, adjustable heights ideal for being able to take photos on your own.

My personal tip: the tripod can be adjusted/the top light portion can be removed to lighten up photos for flat lays.

from left to right: white light, white yellow light and yellow light settings

Shop here!

3. Fur Blanket

Ah yes, for every flat lay on Instagram there’s a fur blanket nearby. Not an absolute necessity, but as someone who takes their own photos for pin covers and flat lays, this was a must. Peep below two different flat lays using the same blanket:

Perfect for: flat lays, product lays, backdrop for photos, accessory to any photo shoot

I purchased mine from Pier 1 a couple years back (before I even had a blog) but I’ve linked below two others you may find helpful!

Full Sized Fur Blanket

Newborn Sized Fur Blanket – 50 x 60cm, smaller and more budget friendly – perfect sized prop for just doing flat lays.

4. Tailwind Subscription

I did the free trial, I used a free code to get me a month free and then I finally bit the bullet. Tailwind is such an integral part of driving my blog traffic, I couldn’t say no.

Tailwind offers a free month trial (you can find out what Tailwind is and how to use it here), and you can also get 1 month of Tailwind Plus free using my code here.

However, if you’re continuing to use Tailwind at a monthly rate, I recommend just purchasing the year. Purchasing the year saves you 4 months worth and allows you schedule unlimited pins for the whole year (way better than the 400 per month with Tailwind Plus). Check out your options with the one year plan here.

5. EllDuclos’s Pinterest Course

This is the number one tool that got me from barely getting any views at all to over 5k views a month on my blog just months after I started (and still growing). EllDuclos’s Pinterest course is one of the hottest topics in the blogging community. I swear by this course as it truly transformed my blog and my blog traffic.

You can purchase her course here and even become an affiliate once you’ve completed it (and make all of your money back!)

Recap

Blogging is an individual journey, and I would love to hear what items helped you when you first started blogging. #2 is my personal favourite as it has transformed the way I blog as well as it has allowed me to step up my Instagram to the next level! Let me know if any of these have helped you/what items were crucial for you!