Babies and Blogging: Blogging 101 and how to get started today, mama!

Thanks to technology it has become increasingly easier for more people to start their own blog. From mummy bloggers to authors to stylists, you’ll find people from all walks of life who are blogging. Perhaps you’ve thought about starting a blog but aren’t sure what it really is and how to begin. Let’s start with some basics:

What is a blog?
A blog is simply an online platform/website where you can post content. Words, pictures, videos, you name it. It’s a vehicle to share what you want with the online world.

What’s the point of one?
It depends. For some a blog is something purely personal. You can use a blog to express yourself, discover your voice and share your passions.

For others it can be a full-time career or business. Some bloggers are able to monetise their blogs, relying on advertising dollars and high traffic to get paid. However, a blog is most typically used to support other products and services that a business is selling. As a mum, a blog can be a great platform to try out a new career or business.

Why you should start a blog if you want to start a business:
Business owners can use blogging as a valuable marketing tool to find clients. Unlike a static website, blogs are updated regularly which encourages people to come back to the website. Pro tip: Create an opt-in box on your blog, which allows visitors to subscribe by entering their email address. That way you can update your community every time you have a new post to share. By producing valuable content through your blog, you have an opportunity to showcase what you do and who you are. When people need your services they automatically think of you.

More specifically, starting a blog can help to:

• Position you as an expert/industry leader
• Differentiate your business from others
• Express what you sell and what you stand for
• Allow your customers/clients to interact with you and create community
• Improve search engine optimisation (SEO) whereby people can find you when they’re searching in Google.

What you should blog about:
Anything. If you’re stuck, then ask yourself these 3 questions to get your creative juices going:

1. Get clear on why you’re blogging in the first place.

Perhaps you want to:

• Start one just for fun to share what’s going on in your life
• Use the blog as a creative experiment to explore topics that matter to you
• Create a personal brand online that supports your career / business goals
• Start your own business and use blogging as a tool to establish yourself as an expert
• Monetise your blog from the get-go

2. Brainstorm a list of topics that you love talking about.

Write a list of all the things you want to share on your blog. Perhaps you’re passionate about working women in the workplace, the challenges of being a mum, healthy recipes for babies, or family organisation tips. Write down everything and anything that you would like to blog about.

3. Think about your audience.

Who is your blog going to serve? Most people go online to find an answer to a problem. Whether it’s answering a question or finding entertainment, there’s a purpose to people being on the internet so it makes sense to think of your audience up front.

If your blog is just a hobby for your own personal use then don’t sweat this one too much. If you’re blogging for business or career goals then step back and think about what you want to help your audience with. What topics will be of interest to them? What is your message all about? What do you want to convey? Whittle down that list from step 2 and choose one main area to focus on (at least for now so that you actually get started).

How often should you blog?
This is completely up to you and what the purpose of your blog is. Whatever you decide, consistency is key. Whether it’s twice a month or twice a week, pick something that feels good to you and stick to it!

How to set up your blog:
There are a number of lost-cost platforms that you can start with right away e.g. Wix, Weebly and Tumblr etc. However, WordPress.org is one of the most popular blog platforms as it’s easy to set up, highly customisable and great for search engine optimisation (SEO).

SEO is important if you want to be found on the internet and are keen to drive traffic to your website. If you want to do more research, you can read more about the different platforms over here.

What matters is taking action so don’t let perfection get in the way here. Have fun with it.

Good luck!

Leave a comment below and let us know: What are you going to start blogging about?