Over the past few years blogging has really taken off in the UK. For those of you who don’t know what a blog is it comes from the word web-log and is basically an online diary where you can share the details of your day to day life, offer advice and tips and build up a following of regular readers.
Blogging really appeals to mums as not only is it a great way to keep a record of your child’s early years but it can also be a fantastic creative outlet that gives you a break from the mundane routine of nappy changes and night feeds. There is also an amazing social scene for any wannabe Mummy Bloggers out there with Twitter and Facebook chat forums and even Mummy Blogger workshops, conferences and awards!
So if you have decided that Mummy Blogging is something you would like to do you need to make sure that you stand out from the crowd and get people reading your blog. Here are 5 great top tips for how to succeed in the blogging world.
Get The Name Right
The first challenge for any Mummy Blogger is deciding what to call their blog. You will want something that is catchy but that also tells people about who you are and what you write about. Some bloggers like to name themselves after the town or county that they live in i.e. “London Mummy” which is a great way to bring a local feel to your blog and to encourage readers in the same area to read your blog. Others like to give their blog a name to do with their children and family such as “Just the Three of Us”. Take your time over choosing your blog name as you will also be using it on your Facebook page and as a Twitter handle so you want to get it right.
Choose A Striking Blog Design
Most Mummy Bloggers use WordPress or Blogger to host their blog and you can just choose a basic design from one of these platforms. However to make your Blog look really professional you need to make sure you have the right look. You can get basic “themes” for both Blogger and WordPress but if you want something more eye-catching there are also a range of premium themes that you can purchase. You don’t need to be an HTML guru to get your blog looking great as most designs are easy to upload. If you decide that you need something more personal there are a number of blog design agencies that will offer you a bespoke design for a reasonable price.
Decide what you want to write about
So now you have a blog set up, your own blog name and a fabulous design…you just need to write something! Although your blog is your own space where you can write about anything you want lots of Mummy Bloggers have an area of speciality that they like to focus on writing about. This can be anything from your favourite recipes to home-schooling tips or innovative craft activities. It’s always best to choose something that you are really passionate about as this will shine through in your writing. Most Mummy Bloggers will write about parenting but it is also great if you have a niche interest or hobby that will make your blog stand out from the crowd.
Get Organised
To keep your readers coming back for more you will need to update your blog regularly – otherwise you will find people might lose interest. It can sometimes be hard to think of subjects to write about which is why it’s a great idea to set up a blog planner. This could be as simple as a calendar or spreadsheet where you log your ideas and the dates that you are going to write about them. Most blogs let you schedule posts in advance so if you have a great burst of creativity you could write a few posts in one go and then add them to your planner to go out each week.
Interact on Social Media
Engagement with other bloggers is a big part of being a Mummy Blogger and getting out there on Facebook and Twitter means that your blog will be seen and get read more often. It’s a wise idea to make sure that you have a Facebook and Twitter account set up to complement your blog when it goes live. Spend a bit of time each day promoting what you have written on your social media platforms and take the time to read and comment on other Mummy Bloggers posts. This is a great way to get into the blogging community and you might find that you make some new friends too!
Photo Credit: Flickr/Maria Reyes-McDavis
