Tech Gadgets for Blogging + a FREE Worksheet!

It’s no secret that I absolutely love blogging. I’d have to in order to write four blog posts per week. It’s my space to be creative, express myself, and meet new people. I’ve grown a lot in the year and a half that I’ve been blogging.

Here’s the thing, though. It can become a big investment. If I didn’t budget well, I’d be in massive debt with all of the awesome classes, gadgets, and hosting options available. Luckily, I’ve been taking my time and slowly making these big-ticket investments.

So, which ones have helped me the most? Here’s my list of recommended tech gadgets for blogging. Oh, and scroll down to the bottom for a FREE worksheet.

A Computer

Duh, right? While you can connect to the internet and can technically blog from a smart phone, I (and many others) prefer to do it from my computer. You’ll obviously need internet access to publish your posts and do the web design, but you can do a lot of work offline as well.

I also highly recommend investing in Photoshop, but only if you’re comfortable with it. There are quite a few good classes out there as well if you’re interested in learning more. It’s a great program that can be used for a lot of different things. Plus, it looks great on a resume!

A Smart Phone

Yes, I did just slam the idea of blogging solely from your phone. But that doesn’t mean smart phones aren’t useful in blogging. In fact, quite the opposite. You’ll want 24/7 access to social media, comments, email, etc., and smart phones are the best way to do that.

I use an iPhone 6 right now, and I love it. It’s big enough to do a lot with, but small enough that I can fit it into almost all of my pockets. Plus, it’s got a great camera. This is a big selling point if you aren’t ready to invest in a DSLR camera. iPhones aren’t the only ones with good cameras–make sure to research camera quality if you’re in the market for a new smart phone.

A DSLR Camera

Now that we’re talking about cameras, let’s get to the big guns. DSLR cameras. They’re the ones with the big lenses that come on and off the body. I’ve had two in my lifetime so far: a Nikon and a Canon. I like both brands, but the Canon camera I have (an EOS Rebel T2i) is easier for me to use. I’m just more comfortable with it.

I highly recommend going to a store and trying out a few different DSLRs if you’re going to purchase one. Find one that feels good in your hands and you understand. It’s a big investment ($500 or more), so you want to make sure you really like the camera you’re investing in. It doesn’t have to be one of the top-of-the-line DSLRs right off the bat. A lot of really successful bloggers have basic DSLRs.

Once you’ve got your DSLR, invest in a class so you actually know how to use it. I had to take a few different classes before I really got the hang of it, so don’t worry if it goes over your head at first. Just keep trying, keep practicing, and you’ll get it.

A Wacom Tablet

I’d always been intrigued with Wacom Tablets, and then one day my coworker came over and offered to sell his to me. Ummm, yes please. If you aren’t familiar with them, they’re the tablets that plug into your computer so you can draw things by hand. They come with a fancy pen and are a lot of fun.

They’re great for adding your handwriting onto things like images, cards, etc. It adds a personal touch that can be difficult to replicate elsewhere. But if you can’t invest in one yet, The Nectar Collective has a great tutorial on how to get your handwriting onto your screen without a tablet or a scanner.

A Coffee Machine

Yup. I said it. You definitely need a coffee machine if you’re a blogger. It’s no secret that I love my turquoise Keurig K250, but you could have any coffee maker that brews the good stuff for you. Especially if you’re juggling school, a job, or children while trying to run your blog, you’ll need the extra energy. Just make sure you aren’t wearing yourself out. Rest is important, too!

What are your favorite gadgets to use while you blog?