The internet is filled with big-name influencers flogging the next tea-tox or fitness craze.
But beyond the surface of this relatively new cultural phenomenon, the digital world is also filled with individuals sharing their experiences, passions and hobbies for the love of it.
Many of these creative souls turn to blogging to find their audience, and amongst the most popular topics are travel, cookery, crafts and of course parenting.
Not only are lots of people writing such blogs, but plenty of others are reading them too! At a time when many parents are struggling to get a moment’s peace, lots are finding refuge in the relatability of so-called ‘mommy blogs’; first-hand accounts by parents from all walks of life that feature top tips, helpful hacks and saving suggestions to boot.
If you’re a parent and blogger hoping to find your community online, grow your readership and reach out to others like you, these three tips will help you find your feet and further your ambitions.
Here are 3 things you can do to build your way to a successful parenting blog:
1. Bring your personality to your blog
It’s only natural to compare yourself to other parents. It’s something we do instinctively whether it’s during the school run, at PTA meetings or on social media. So if you’re putting yourself out there online, it’s easy to feel the need to step up your game a little.
Certainly, absorbing content from other creators may influence your approach to your own work, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. But don’t feel the need to compete with what everyone else is doing or pretend you have it all worked out.
Parents looking for blogs like yours appreciate honesty and authenticity, and sharing the truth about your highs and lows will help your readers connect and relate to you far more than a falsified picture of perfection.
If anything, publishing plenty of transparent, frank, self-deprecating content – with extra points for a little laugh-out-loud or gentle humour – might be a savvy way to differentiate yourself from some of the more humdrum, middle of the road parental ramblings which permeate the blogosphere.
2. Focus on the things you love
Life isn’t all sunshine and roses, and you don’t have to pretend otherwise. So it can be good to share difficult emotions and experiences through your blog – not only is it a healthy outlet, but it shows your readers that they’re not alone in their struggles. A successful parenting blog is one that focuses on giving the reader an experience.
Also Read: 137 Proven Hacks for Millennial Parents To Be More Productive
But remember that focusing on the things you love rather than those you don’t places an emphasis on positivity in your life, and can provide distraction in troubling times, for you and your readers. Don’t feel bound to parenting topics either – just like you, your readers have their own personalities outside of parenthood, and will enjoy reading about yours too.
For instance, if you’re a voracious reader, perhaps you can test the water with a few posts musing about the latest page-turner that’s kept you up at nights? If this catches on, you could find yourself with your own book club feature that spawns lots of user generated content, adds traffic and authority to your website and makes it prime internet real estate for a tasty sponsorship deal with a bookseller.
3. Find revenue streams that work
You should always know your worth – but when it comes to cold hard cash, your blog could be worth more than you expect, whether it’s a little extra income or the gateway to a full-time job as a writer.
Don’t be afraid to dream big and invest if possible. There are digital agencies that can help perfect your website and content as well as social media management. All of these are crucial in building your personal brand and boosting your reach to make sure you stand out from other bloggers in your field.
Remember that one you start to seriously monetise your blog, you’ll probably find that you’re suddenly forced to wear several hats – before you know it, you could be trying to learn bookkeeping and balance accounts, schedule appointments and keep track of meetings, and perhaps even hire an assistant to help with an aspect of your burgeoning operation. So be mindful of the reason you started the blog in the first place, delegate as many of these specialist tasks as you can afford to and focus on your strengths – this way, your energy and enthusiasm won’t wane and that will be reflected in your ever-fresh content.
These three terrific tips are all valuable, but perhaps our first is the most important. There are plenty of parent blogs out there, but there’s only one you – so use your unique personality to differentiate, be confident in your relatability and you’ll quickly make the type of empathic connections that generate a loyal following. With parent blogging, as with most things in life, it’s not just what you do, it’s the way that you do it.
Whether you’re new to the blogging biz or simply want your existing project to grow, these three tips will help you build a successful parenting blog.
So don’t dilly-dally – jot down a few parental topics that float your boat today, grab a good web developer, suss out which social media platforms your audience hangs out on, start recording your parenting journey and you’re ready to roll!
Also Read: 12 Productive chrome extensions to help with your work-life balance
Photo by Tirachard Kumtanom from Pexels
