Chapter 1: Introduction to Wealth Orb

Welcome to my inaugural behind-the-scenes blog post about Wealth Orb, a platform dedicated to enhanced personal finance, financial freedom, and entrepreneurship. I'm excited to provide a glimpse into my journey as I establish this blog, aiming for transparency to assist anyone interested in launching their own ventures.

In this series, I plan to share not only my successes but also my setbacks, alongside detailed financial insights regarding my business expenditures and earnings. Currently, my focus is on building a strong brand, delivering high-quality content, and ensuring a wonderful experience for my readers.

Launching a blog demands immense effort and dedication. There’s a lot happening behind the curtains, and I’m eager to reveal it all to you!

I'm currently navigating Ghost CMS—a fantastic content management system—while enhancing my website through coding and theme customization. Additionally, I’m creating a content calendar, drafting blog posts, and integrating various site services like Disqus for comments and a contact form for easier communication with my audience.

Although I'm not a web developer by trade, I work as a technical project manager and business analyst at an IT consulting firm. I possess just enough coding knowledge to be resourceful. Thanks to tools like GPT and Bing AI chat, I've streamlined the process of crafting a visually appealing website despite my limited web development skills.

All this effort occurs while I juggle a demanding full-time job, prioritize my health through better eating and daily exercise, delve into books and podcasts, and care for my adorable two-month-old daughter. It’s a complex balancing act, but we all have our busy lives, don’t we?

This isn’t my first experience with blogging. In fact, I’ve been writing articles for over a decade—both for others and on my own WordPress sites and Medium. If you’re curious, feel free to check out my story on my About page!

While I could have opted for a simpler platform, I chose Ghost because delivering an exceptional user experience from the outset is one of my business goals. This approach may require more time and investment upfront, but I believe the long-term benefits will justify the effort.

As a result, my initial expenses are higher due to my commitment to building a quality platform and brand. For those unsure about blogging or looking for a more affordable start, it's possible to launch a blog for under $20 with hosting options as low as $5 monthly. Free platforms like Blogger, Blogspot, and Medium also allow you to blog without a custom domain.

Now, let’s dive into the financials from the first month of running the blog.

The video title is Jackpot Orbs Wealth Slot Machine - YouTube, showcasing the exciting journey of building a blog while learning about finances and entrepreneurship.

Income — May 2023

$0

The feeling of earning the first dollar from my blog will be nothing short of exhilarating. I believe it's significantly more rewarding to earn money from your own business than from employment. Unfortunately, my first income will likely be digital, which means I’ll have to frame a screenshot of the payment instead of a physical dollar bill. For now, however, we are "Red in the Ledger" with all current expenses.

I'm quite certain that my income will remain zero in the first month, which is why I'm comfortable sharing this post before the month concludes. Moving forward, I plan to provide a monthly recap of Wealth Orb’s financials at the beginning of each month.

Building a blog allows for easier monetization once traffic and a loyal readership are established. My primary focus is on cultivating that audience, trusting that income will follow after putting in the necessary groundwork.

Expenses — May 2023

1. Ghost.org Managed Hosting: $300 for a yearly managed hosting package. For accounting purposes, this will be amortized over 12 months at $25 per month.

While self-hosting on a Digital Ocean Droplet could cost $10–15 monthly, I prefer the convenience of my current managed hosting, especially with a newborn at home. I’m willing to invest a bit more for a hassle-free solution.

2. ThemeForest: $85.81 for a premium blog theme. Although I’m customizing it myself, this quality theme surpasses free options and meets my needs perfectly.
3. NameCheap Domain and Basic Email Account: $2.06/month for a .com domain plus a basic email account ([email protected]) for contact forms and email marketing.
4. Midjourney AI: $10.81/month. I adore this tool for creating custom graphics tailored to my prompts for use on my blog. I aim to eventually hire my talented brother, Will Cordell, to illustrate featured images for my posts.
5. Additional Expenses:
   • Internet + Phone Plan: $37.48/month. A portion of my internet and phone bill can be deducted as a business expense.
   • Home Office Deduction: $1265/year = $105.42/month for utilizing my home office exclusively for Wealth Orb.

This month, I plan to deduct eligible business expenses on my tax return, although I am not a tax professional and validate my deductions with my accountant.

Free Services & Integrations

1. MailerLite: Free for up to 1,000 subscribers. I’ve used it for personal projects and find its pricing reasonable as I grow.
2. Canva Pro: Free trial for a month, then $12.99/month. This tool is excellent for social media graphics and blog visuals, complementing Midjourney seamlessly.
3. Other Tools: Various free resources like Chat GPT, Google Docs, and Twitter are invaluable for streamlining tasks related to building my blog.

Remaining Wealth Orb Strategy Plans for the Month

As I continue through the month, I aim to finalize essential service integrations for my business. I’m targeting 2–3 blog posts weekly, refining my brand, and growing my social media presence—starting with Twitter, with plans to expand to LinkedIn later.

While I’m unfamiliar with platforms like Pinterest or Instagram, I’m more comfortable with podcasting, having guest-starred on several. Video production might be a future venture, but for now, I’m focused on getting words onto the page.

In summary, my goal is to invest time in developing Wealth Orb, creating engaging content, and expanding the blog. I invite you to accompany me on this journey!

Stay tuned for further articles in this series where I’ll share my ongoing progress and insights into the operation of Wealth Orb!