In light of recent events…

And yes, I mean the current state of U.S. politics.

…I’ve been thinking deeply about where my money goes and how I spend it, beyond how it impacts my lifestyle.

It’s an intentional move because.

Because let’s be real, my cart has carried a lot over the years: convenience, survival mode, guilt, and aspirations.

But with this switch, I’m not doing hauls or delivering hot takes.

I’m not interested in shame or perfection, either.

Reclaiming My Cart is about more than buying less or spending “better.”

It’s about tuning in. Asking new questions. Making peace with the messy middle.

I’m not pretending I’ve got it all figured out.

I’m doing this to be present with my money, values, and real life.

What to Expect:

• Honest reflections on where I’m spending and why
• Product swaps that match my values and account for my real life
• Notes on affordability, accessibility, and grace in the gray areas
• Encouragement to do this your way, not mine

This isn’t a no-spend challenge or a call-out series.

It’s a journey of reclaiming my time, power, and peace—one checkout at a time.

Honestly? I’m a little nervous to document this publicly. Mainly because nuance isn’t always welcomed online, especially these days.

But I still want to do this .

I’m still doing this – to shine a little light and hope in all the chaos and echo chambers.

Come Along For the Ride

Follow along as I buy better, not perfect.

Come along. Not for the aesthetics or a performance, but for the alignment.

Because I’m not here to tell you where to stop or how to spend.

I’m just here to show what it looks like when a woman reclaims her cart—and maybe, herself too.

<p>The post Reclaiming My Cart: A New Kind of Spending Diary first appeared on Baydian Girl.</p>

These beautiful roses reminded me that everything will be okay.

You see, life’s been life-ing.

My little family experienced a tornado at the end of March, and just a week or so later, we learned we’d be dealing with unforgiving student loan payments.

We’re not alone in either situation.

Many in our neighborhood had house damage, thanks to the high winds and unsecured trampolines. And recent government actions are putting more people in a student debt crisis.

For me, both brought on mental exhaustion and a heavy sense of dread.

From the minute I woke up, my mind was swirling with thoughts about what I could do for extra money. And even though I managed to get my kids ready for school and dropped them off safely, I still felt the weight of it all.

So that morning, I started listening to Defying Gravity. Just for a pick-me-up, but then it started feeding my soul.

And as I walked to my office, I passed these roses on our kitchen island, blooming beautifully despite everything.

Before the tornado, these roses thrived in the sunlight that shone through our sliding doors and filled our home with warmth. But now, with shattered glass and a boarded-up door, that light is gone—yet the roses still bloomed.

They were thriving anyway!

They showed up and showed out.

It hit me in that moment, and I just felt quietly encouraged.

All things will work out.

I’m expecting good and hopeful news.

I’m hopeful for a miracle and many blessings.

Good things are happening — to me, to my family, to the four of us.

For You

I know I’m not the only one navigating hard and uncertain things right now.

Remember, even when things break, something beautiful can still rise.

Roses still bloom.

And I know you are too.

<p>The post The Roses Still Bloomed first appeared on Baydian Girl.</p>

I miss creating content, and I miss y’all – my readers and followers.

It’s been 4 years since I wrote a blog post here and 3ish years since I shared anything on my Instagram.

Back then, TikTok was catching on. Clubhouse was a popular thing, and Twitter wasn’t called X.

So much has changed.

But before I get into that, let me address the elephant in the room – Where the heck was I?

Where I’ve Been

I’ve popped up online here and there, but mostly, I’ve been offline.

I can’t remember the exact timing of everything, but by 2022, I’d taken an unannounced break from keeping up appearances.

I retreated into the background at first because it all felt like too much. But later, I realized I needed to reconnect with myself and achieve some personal goals I’d delayed.

Think of it like this (…and remember, I love a good analogy 😉)

Garden soil needs to be replenished each season to remain healthy and produce crops.

I needed a change of scenery and a change of focus.

What’s Changed

So what’s new?

Well, you’re thirty-something sis is now👇🏾

• A mom of two
• A happy homeowner
• A thriving, multifaceted PR professional
• An up-and-coming speaker
• Co-host of #PRLunchHour

And trust me, there are many stories (wins and lessons) that I’m going to share from each of those journeys.

Anyway, what hasn’t changed, though, is I’m still married 🥰, a business owner, and on a mission to empower women of color in business and life.

Why I’m Returning

I’m back because I’ve noticed a need, and I’m here to do my part to fill it.

What’s that need?

Women of color – We aren’t encouraged to be ambitious, are hardly guided on how we can do so healthily, and rarely see someone who looks like us, share how they did it so we can use it as a reference to create our version of success.

How will I help solve it?

It’s simple:

1. Create educational, relatable, and motivational content that helps you step into the support you need to lead the life you want.
2. Collaborate with women-run businesses, providing the corporate-level media strategy you need to reach the next level.

Let’s live our dreams together!

No more limits. No more compartments 🫶🏾

Where You Can Follow Along

My Newsletter – New Heights

TikTok – @baydiangirl

Threads – @thebaydiangirl

Instagram – @thebaydiangirl

<p>The post Hello 👋🏾…I’m Back ☺️ first appeared on Baydian Girl.</p>

And as an entrepreneur, am I even allowed to admit that out loud?

Even as I write this post, I’m mentally preparing myself for the potential backlash and statements like:

• “Well, you have a problematic relationship with money”
• “You are playing yourself by not charging more”

…and the list goes on.

But despite those statements, which will come in the form of comments and DMs, I want to have the courage to say…Yes, I struggle with pricing my products 🙋🏾

My Truth About Pricing

Since I’m being transparent, my struggle with pricing has more to do with my own financial health and my ability to buy high-ticket items.

You see, for me, an entrepreneur who also works a full-time job and has a family…my income not only contributes to my dreams but also to those of my family.

To be more vulnerable, my income contributes to paying rent, date night with hubby, clothes for my daughter, and self-care for me.

Oh, and let me not forget daycare! A $1,000/month blessing.

In my life, these things are all necessary, and for me, they take priority over investing 4 figures into my business.

But to the girl boss crowd, that sounds absolutely horrible, right?

Like I put myself last?

Maybe that’s what it sounds like but that couldn’t be farther from the truth.

You see because I do believe in myself, I take $100 from each paycheck and put it in a separate account.

This account helps me prioritize and invest in myself.

To be more specific, I basically separate “Tamara money” from “family money.”

The family expenses are taken care of and there’s savings plus spending money.

But in addition to all that, I set aside a little for me to do whatever my soul desires.

I actually got this idea from my husband who always sets aside $100 from every paycheck since we’ve been married.

And in the 3 years (actually, it will be 4 years in August), I’ve seen him use these funds to do a range of things, including bless others, spoil me and participate in boys’ trips.

Once I adopted this same practice because of his encouragement and that of two girlfriends, I’ve thoroughly enjoyed the freedom it brings.

But then I go back to pricing…

And as I peel back another layer, I realize that in my current situation, I personally have a $200 per month budget to work with.

Only $200 A Month For A Business Budget?

It might be pennies to some BUT it’s gold to me.

As I mentioned, that gives me the ability to invest in myself.

And one of the ways I like to do this is by investing in my business!

But despite investing in business resources like software, systems, and a Virtual Assistant, I still have moments where I’m disheartened by the premium pricing of the infopreneur industry.

Idk how to say this because I’m not mad at infopreneurs for it.

I mean, every industry has to have premium pricing – just look at fashion as an example 👀

But when I see pricing that I cannot afford, especially when it’s equivalent or more than my daughter’s daycare expense, I restart my battle with pricing.

I feel absolutely horrible for not being able to afford it and support some of my favorite entrepreneurs and creators.

And I feel a pit in my stomach when the thought of charging my clients these amounts are recommended as a norm.

Again, no hate here.

I just reflect on my reality, and that of so many others, where we are being great stewards of what we have and simply want access to the information that will help us create a life we love – a life that would be better for our family.

So Now That You Know My Truth…

Do you feel me?

Am I alone in this struggle with pricing as a consumer and a creator?

Some days, I feel like I’m the only one who feels this way.

I do have the courage to say that.

And even in writing this post, I’m still scared to admit this out loud.

But honestly, I wanted to step up and share because maybe…just maybe…you – the person reading this, feels the same way too.

<p>The post Honestly, I Struggle With Pricing My Products first appeared on Baydian Girl.</p>

Here’s a doable way that you can!

Start with one (1) purchase.

No matter how big or small it is, one purchase at a time is all it takes.

Why The One-Purchase-At-A-Time Method Works

Honestly, isn’t life best navigated one step at a time?

Anyway, though, I truly believe that supporting Black-owned businesses in this way, especially during these tough economic times brought on by COVID-19, is a viable way to show your support long-term.

More than likely, you’ve made purchases up to this point without thoughts about where those businesses stood in the fight for anti-racism.

More than likely you made the choice to shop from the mos accessible store instead of looking into another option.

Look, no judgment here!! 💖 

I’ve done it too.

However, now that we’re both aware of how we can shop more intentionally and invest in the Black community, I truly believe that when we’re in need of the next item like sunscreen, we can make a more informed choice.

All it takes is one purchase after another 🙂

How I’ve Incorporated Black-Owned Business In My Everyday Style

Now I know that I mentioned sunscreen above, but that’s not the only way you can support Black-owned businesses.

You should also consider incorporating items from Black-owned fashion businesses into your everyday style!

Here are a few flashback photos that I’ve taken, which are really great examples of some stylish items you can purchase too.

(1) Mommy-Daughter Headwraps

When I wanted to bring one of my motherhood dreams to life of having matching headwraps, I purchased mommy-daughter headwraps from a woman-owned, Black-owned business, My Royalty Wraps!

(2) Print Bags

Second, I currently own two(2) amazing bags from B. Eclectic – a local artisan accessory brand in Columbus, OH that is also a Black-owned business!

The bag pictured above is the cross body travel bag option and my go-to everyday purse.

And the bag pictured below, which is now my daughter’s favorite, is a travel pouch cosmetic bag.

(3) Children’s Clothes

Third, for my daughter’s first birthday, she wore the adorable dress above from Jamison & Bexley– a local Columbus, OH kids’ clothing brand.

Since she’s grown out of it, I’ve since bought her another cute dress from this store!

Now, I own many more items that I’ve picked up from local events over time.

Nevertheless, I’m always open to hearing about new stylish Black-owned brands.

What are some of your favorite black-owned businesses, or recent discoveries?

Don’t forget to pin this for later!

<p>The post How To Incorporate Black-Owned Businesses In Your Everyday Style first appeared on Baydian Girl.</p>

It’s the belief that once you publish your content, or launch your product, or service…plus you made sure to follow SEO best practices, that all of a sudden your content will go viral and generate traffic immediately.

This is not true.

SEO, aka search engine optimization, is all about positioning what you have to offer to your ideal, potential reader or client.

It is very much dependent on them searching for the solution to a problem they have, or a product/service that solves a need they have.

Here’s An Example of How SEO Actually Works

Google has stated that the phrase “Black-owned businesses near me” has increased up to 300% because many people are looking to shift their spending in support of Black-owned businesses or creators during the call for racial justice.

Now, if you used this term on your website, or market your business this way, you’ve probably seen a spike in your website traffic.

However, note that your business or content is now the answer to the question so many people have.

And that is what SEO does!

When you initially post your content, product or service, you may not see a spike in traffic right away.

Why?

Because you’re waiting on your ideal audience to actually do a search via phone or laptop.

They literally have to type in a question or phrase into search engines like Google, Bing, or Yahoo.

Then…voila!

They will discover your brand.

It’s Time To Bust The SEO Myth of Instant Traffic

Here’s the fact:

SEO takes up to 6 months to a year to show results.

When you invest in SEO, you’re making sure that you don’t just get traffic today (whatever the date is that you’re reading this).

You’re investing in targeted traffic coming to your website tomorrow, a week from now, a month from now and years from now!

Because guess what?

The fact is that the problem you solve with your content, product or service, WILL exist beyond today.

In fact, I can guarantee you that someone is going to be searching for the answer you’re providing years from now.

Crazy, right?

But it’s so true!

That’s why SEO is a long-term strategy.

A Real-Life Example Of How SEO Has Worked For Me

Allow me to share one personal example.

In the past year, the most viewed blog post on my website has been my postpartum surgery story entitled: Labial Adhesions: The Truth  About My Rare Postpartum Recovery.

As expected, when I first wrote this post in 2018, it generated traffic and social media shares.

But even now, two (2) years later, it’s responsible for a consistent 5% of my traffic thus far.

That’s actually more traffic than I received from the post within the first day, or even week when I published it!

Not to mention, that I keep receiving engaging comments and social media messages about this post.

It easily is my most viewed lifestyle post to date.

Maybe lifestyle posts aren’t your thing, but again, this is just an example.

The point is that SEO outlasts the immediate gratification of social media, and it results in high-quality website traffic – aka website visitors who are already interested in what you’re sharing or selling.

So don’t get discouraged when you create your content today!

You’re simply positioning your awesome content/product/service in the right place so that at the right time, it’s discovered by the person who needs it.

P.S. I Have A Video For You Too!

If you’re more of a visual learner and prefer to watch a video, you can catch my IGTV episode about this SEO myth below:

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Tamara ⫸ Columbus Blogger 🇧🇧 (@thebaydiangirl) on Jul 18, 2020 at 3:00pm PDT

Pin for Later!

<p>The post A Common Myth About SEO That Will Hinder Your Growth first appeared on Baydian Girl.</p>

Hey sis,

I was looking over your blog and I love the content!

I also realized that all of your photos are of you smiling.

No one is smiling like that all the time.

It was another powerful statement from my little brother during our chats.

He said it so nonchalantly, and there wasn’t an ounce of judgment in his statement.

Nevertheless, it got me thinking.

Was the constant smiling real?

Like even in my own life, was it real?

I’m here to tell you that it isn’t.

Like you, I have my down days.

Motherhood on Instagram vs Reality

Outside of Instagram, the reality of motherhood is a lot more complex than the picture-perfect photos we see.

I mean, of course, I’d love to report that my house is pristine and looks like a magazine all the time.

I’d love to share that I always have it together as a mom.

In fact, I’d love to say that I never get irritated or overwhelmed.

But to say that would be a lie and a complete disregard of the beauty of the ups and downs in this thing called life – of this journey called parenting.

What you see is the highlight reel of motherhood.

And nothing is wrong with highlights!

But like a movie trailer, let’s not forget there’s a story behind it — an entire world with people involved, a place, conflicts, and resolutions, all captured in one still moment.

Yes, Good Moms Have Bad Mom Days

The reality is that…

Like you, some days I’m just tired.

Like you, some days I feel drained.

And like you, most days I’m afraid to ask for help because it may make me seem like I’m not a good mom, that I’m ungrateful, or that I’m simply a weak, complaining woman who isn’t consistent with her gratitude journal.

Deep down, I don’t believe I’m any of those things.

You don’t either (about yourself).

But we can both agree that these thoughts have most definitely plagued our minds and caused self-imposed shame, paralyzing us in fear and stopping us from speaking up.

Yet, even with all the paralyzing expectations, it’s time that we speak up.

It’s time that we allow our true selves to be fully seen in each moment. Whether that’s a moment of joy or frustration.

It is time to let go of being a superwoman, and it’s time to embrace our humanity.

Again, this is life.

We know there are highs and lows.

It’s about time that we include motherhood in this definition too.

So whether you have 1 kid or more, this is your reminder that you don’t have to always have it all together.

Down days are allowed, mama 💜

I’m human and you are too.

Pin This For Later!

<p>The post Hey Mama, You’re Allowed To Have Down Days first appeared on Baydian Girl.</p>

Does it seem like a foreign language?

I completely get it!

And I also have some good news. 🙌🏾

Here’s an easy explanation that will help simplify what SEO is, and will leave you feeling like a superstar.

What Is SEO?

SEO is an abbreviation of Search Engine Optimization, and it refers to a free and strategic way to increase the amount and quality of traffic your blog receives.

Another way you can think of it is simply positioning your content, product, or service online as the answer to someone’s problem or question.

Still, lost?

Here’s how you use SEO in everyday life.

I’m confident that once you see how you use it all the time, the definition will make more sense.

How You Use SEO Every Single Day

At some point during your day, you usually have a question and as a result, you head to Google on your phone or laptop.

Now, let’s say your question is about Black-owned restaurants close to you.

You’ll first type “black-owned restaurants near me” in the Google search field.

Then you’ll see search results that show you exactly what you were looking for.

That, my friend, is SEO in real-time.

In this specific case, these local businesses have optimized their content so that it can be discovered via a Google search.

Additionally, this applies to search engines, such as Yahoo and Bing.

That’s an easy SEO explanation, right?

But here’s the next question, how valuable is SEO for you and your brand?

Let’s find out.

Why SEO Is Important For Bloggers and Small Businesses

Well, approximately 84% of online experiences start with a Google search.

That’s right, 84%.

So, with that many people using Google in order to find an answer to a question they have, a product they want to purchase or a service they need…it’s not a stretch to say that SEO is crucial to any website.

That includes small businesses and content creators who have a presence online.

Secondly, people tend to trust a website that shows up organically in their search results more than paid advertisements.

In fact, it’s said that “organic rankings always equate to higher quality traffic that is much easily converted to a lead or sale.”

Need I say more?

My point is that no matter what, if your brand is online, SEO is absolutely important for you!

10 SEO Basics You Need To Know

Now that we’ve got the overview of SEO out of the way, I want to share some SEO tips that you should be aware of:

1. SEO IS about following best practices that will make your website better understood by search engines, and in turn, discovered by people searching for a specific answer, product, or service.
2. SEO IS NOT about using secret tricks to rank at the top of search results pages.
3. SEO IS for websites of all sizes, large and small.
4. SEO IS NOT a one-and-done digital marketing strategy. It’s best to consistently implement it and complete updates as best practices change.
5. There are three (3) SEO methods:
   1. White hat – SEO that follows best practices and “focuses on readability, content relevance, well-designed structure, and well-written content.”
   2. Black hat – SEO practices that do not follow approved search engine practices in an effort to “trick” a search engine into giving a website high rankings.
   3. Grey hat – SEO practices that aren’t necessarily approved by search engines, but are good for any brand online and will not negatively affect a website’s ranking. E.g. guest blogging.
6. There are three (3) types of SEO:
   1. On-page SEO – This pertains to optimizing an individual page on a website and usually includes, content creation and page structure.
   2. Off-page SEO – This generally pertains to how search engines view your site as a reputable source and mostly has to do with backlinks. For e.g. Did a site like WSJ reference your content on their platform? If they did, Google now thinks you’re a lot more of a trusted website.
   3. Technical SEO –  This “relates to non-content elements of your website.” Some examples of this are site speed and site security.
7. SEO DOES NOT replace writing content that is easy for humans to read. You actually want to write content that is engaging and readable, then focus on optimizing it for SEO.
8. SEO and Social Media Use work very well together. In fact, using social media can amplify your SEO impact.
9. SEO Performance can be monitored. You can and should track your SEO using tools like Google Analytics and Google Search Console.
10. SEO takes time and is worth the investment. When done right, it can result in increased, targeted website traffic that has a higher conversion rate to sales in about 6 months to a year.

In Summary…

I hope that as a content creator and business owner, that you now feel more confident in your understanding of SEO (at least the basics 😉 ).

And, I hope that you realize that SEO is something you need to start working on sooner rather than later.

P.S. You can learn more about how to use this method to grow your website traffic in my SEO 101 book. Click here to purchase!

Pin for Later!

<p>The post What is SEO? A Helpful Explanation in Everyday Language first appeared on Baydian Girl.</p>

It was time for me to schedule a therapy appointment.

In fact, it was past due.

For some reason, I had assumed I could postpone my mental health maintenance until the COVID-19 quarantine was over.

But a couple of weeks in, and I realized that that was definitely a mistake.

So I opened my email and began to type.

Hi,

I’d like to schedule some time tomorrow, if possible.

My mental health has taken a nosedive. Definitely need some time.

It was a desperate cry for help during an unusual time.

An honest moment where I said, “Hey! I need help navigating motherhood during quarantine.”

Why I Reached Out For Help

It goes without saying that parenting is an adventure that has no itinerary.

I mean, no one can really tell you exactly how everything will go.

And under normal circumstances, that’s uncertainty that every mom, dad, and legal guardian accepts.

But throw in an anomaly like COVID-19, and the highs and lows of parenting transition from a daily or weekly occurrence to ups and downs every few minutes or hour.

And that’s where I found myself.

Right before I emailed my therapist, I became consumed by the overwhelm.

In this new norm, I had to be a mom and a working professional simultaneously and continuously.

There was never really a hard start and stop.

And the guilt…the guilt I felt was worse than normal.

I felt guilty for letting my daughter watch hours of TV just so my husband and I could work without interruption.

I wanted to cry whenever I heard my daughter become distraught while I walked away to make a client call.

And the kicker, was when I had to look at her adorable face and say, “Honey, mommy can’t right now. She has to work.”

Then on the flip side, whenever my baby girl threw a tantrum or refused to take a nap, I secretly yearned for the day when daycare would reopen.

But right after, I felt like a horrible mom for even having the thought.

I mean people were losing loved ones during this pandemic. How could I even think of my hard days compared to theirs?

Plus what about all those essential workers who don’t get to see their kids?

I was a mix of emotions, feeling like I was failing at work-life balance, being selfish, and just not doing enough.

But thank God, after my mental health check-in, my therapist gave me some gentle reminders that helped me regain my composure.

5 Mantras To Help You Navigate Motherhood During Quarantine

Here’s what she shared with me to help me navigate parenting during COVID-19.

(1) Feel all the feelings.

As moms, we need to acknowledge exactly where we’re at with no shame. We need to allow ourselves to feel all the emotions coursing through our veins.

Suppressing them doesn’t help our individual mental health, and eventually, it will affect those at home with us.

We have to remember that it’s okay to feel.

(2) Stop holding yourself to a productivity standard from 2 months ago. 

The reality is that what you are able to tackle right now is entirely different from what you had the bandwidth to do over two months ago.

The old norm is gone, it’s time to be kind to yourself and embrace the imperfection of this new one.

(3) Be honest with yourself and others about what you can handle right now.

After you’ve come to terms with your new norm, it’s time to get practical about what you can actually handle right now.

For example, most days, I’m so tapped out by Baby Shark and juggling multiple roles in my life that I don’t have the energy to participate in a long phone call with friends. Yet I am willing to text.

There are also days where my daughter really wants more one-on-one time, so I set aside my phone and become completely unavailable.

Whatever, you actually can do, do it and set up boundaries with others.

(4) Take note of what makes you feel happy during this new norm and create a self-care routine around that.

At a time like this, it definitely feels like a self-care routine is impossible.

But when my therapist shared this with me, it reminded me of my dad’s advice to do five (5) small things for yourself throughout each day.

The idea here isn’t to do the same things day in and day out to practice self-care.

It’s more about doing a few things that allow you to invest in yourself on each specific day.

Maybe today, your five things as a parent are going to be (1) taking a hot shower by yourself, (2) having a cup of coffee, (3) reading a page from your favorite novel for 5 minutes, (4) not cooking and ordering in, and (5) staying up for an hour later to watch an action movie on Netflix.

And maybe tomorrow, your 5 things are combined into spending 2 hours playing a random game on your phone at the end of the day.

These actions aren’t necessarily ground-breaking or trendy but what matters is that they make you happy and help you feel recharged during COVID-19.

(5) Remember, that you are doing enough.

Last but not least, if you forget everything I’ve written and only remember one thing, remember this – You are doing enough.

My husband, not my therapist, actually said this to me…but that’s beside the point.

The fact is, parenting and doing all things during the current pandemic has a tendency to make us feel like we’re failing at something.

But in reality, we’re doing our best each and every day.

Try to remember that on your good and your bad days.

And from one mom to another, please remember that you’re not alone with how you feel during this quarantine.

Pin this for later!

<p>The post My Honest Confessions About Being A Mom During Quarantine first appeared on Baydian Girl.</p>

This is one of the most frequently asked questions by aspiring content creators and business owners.

And the answer is, not one-size-fits-all!

However, there are a few practical steps that anyone can follow to determine what will work best for them.

Follow This Guide To Decide If You Should DIY Your Website Or Not

(1) Set Your Launch Date

Be clear on when you want your website/blog to go live.

The date you choose will help you determine how much time you have available to get everything ready.

For example, if you decided that you wanted to launch your dream blog, 30 days from today, you would have way less time than if you were willing to launch 90 days from now.

That seems pretty self-explanatory, right?

I agree but I’ve seen many digital creatives skip this simple step and it usually results in frustration later.

(2) Evaluate Your Lifestyle & Priorities

You’re probably wondering, “What on earth does my personal life have to do with this?”

But hear me out.

When launching (or rebranding) a website, you need to be explicitly clear about what resources you have available.

You want to intentionally set yourself up for success!

So, let’s say that I chose a launch date 60 days from right now.

It’s not an impossible feat!

However, when I’m honest with myself and consider my current roles as a mom, wife, and full-time professional, the actual amount of hours available in a day to focus on launching a blog is limited.

Yet at the same time, maybe my family’s financial priorities include saving for a new home, which may also limit how much of my income is available to invest in my brand.

These are my personal circumstances. They may not be yours.

But I’m using them to emphasize a point.

[bctt tweet=”You will always make the best decision for your brand when you are fully aware of the time and budget you have at your disposal.” username=”baydiangirl”]

(3) Research Costs

Now that you’ve determined your launch date, the time you have available, and your working budget, you are ready to research the costs associated with creating a website.

First, you’ll want to evaluate the costs that you’ll incur whether or not you hire a web designer. These are:

• Purchasing a domain
• A Website Platform/Builder
• Securing hosting
• Branding Design
• Original Photography

Then you want to search for web designers you’d like to work with and compare their prices to what costs you would have if you built your own website.

With a website designer, you’ll typically get an all-inclusive deal, so the cost of everything is listed on the designer’s site.

On the other hand, when you’re researching the costs of building your own website, you’ll also need to consider the following expenses:

• A Blog Theme (see the many options offered in my favorite store, Envato Market Theme Forest)
• Free + Paid Plugins
• Technical Support

Next, we have the last step!

(4) Make Your Decision!

Up to this point, you’ve got all the data you need to decide if you should build your own website or hire a web designer.

All you have left to do is to make your decision.

Continuing with the example I shared in step 2, if I’m on a time crunch and a budget limit, the best option is going to be a DIY approach.

And that’s even if I’m willing to expand my timeline.

However, if I have a more reasonable timeline with a feasible budget then it is probably more practical to hire a web designer.

Personally, I have chosen the DIY route for my brand!

I’ve enjoyed building my website, and by doing this, it helped me not to spread my family’s budget too thin.

However, if you have different circumstances, you should feel free to work with a website designer to bring your dream blog to life.

The choice is really yours!

Which option are you leaning towards?

<p>The post Is It Actually Better To Build Your Own Website? first appeared on Baydian Girl.</p>