Content marketing is one of the MAJOR players in the marketing world. It is the #1 way to attract new readers to your blog + then convert these visitors into money for your blog.

What is content marketing?

Content marketing is sharing information with the audience of people that you are trying to attract. When you share information, think of it like talking with your best gal or guy pal over a cup of coffee. When you give readers the info they seek, they start to build a relationship with you + your  blog.

As you build trust + credibility with them, you increase your chances that they end up hiring you instead of Susie Q, who didn’t share her expertise — didn’t build a relationship — with them…at all.

If you’re not providing a product or service through your blog, but instead are using ads or affiliate marketing, this still holds true. Content marketing, sharing information with readers through content is the #1 way to get them to click on your links + ads.

8 Reasons to Use Content Marketing

I love how WebProfits lays out many of these reasons you should be using content marketing in this infographic.

Here are at least 8 reasons you should be using content marketing for your mom blog.

#1 Content Marketing Has a Conversion Rate 6x Higher

Blogs, businesses + websites using content marketing convert six times more visitors than businesses that do not use content.

#2 Content Marketing Has a Higher Closing Rate

Organic search leads (those that come from conducting online searches) that bring people a blog post have a higher closing rate than other types of marketing.

Think back to the mom frantically searching for everything she needs to know about returning to work as a pumping mom. Your blog — content marketing — provided her with all the answers to her burning questions.

Content marketing closing rates are 14.6%, while outbound leads (like sales calls or cold emails) only close in the neighborhood of 1.7%.

Moral of the Story: When you use content marketing, search engines, like Google, pick it up. The people searching for the information you’re providing find it in their searches. When they read your content, they hire you, buy from you, click on your affiliate links + ads. The best part is that content marketing doesn’t cost you a dime but it does mean that you have to have your SEO on point.

#3 Content Marketing Delivers More Leads

Content marketing bring 54% more leads than outbound marketing efforts. That’s more than double the leads, my Mama friend. That’s more than double the chance to convert visitors to your blog into money!

#4 Your Peeps Love Content

Ninety percent (that’s almost 100%) of consumers say that they find custom content USEFUL. If your peeps find that you are providing useful content, information, tips + advice, it is reasonable to conclude that they are going to see you an expert, as a source of information + maybe even hire you, buy from you or start clicking on affiliate links + ads that make you money.

#5 It Shows Peeps You Care

Seventy-eight percent of online searchers say that bloggers sharing custom content (content that is USEFUL + relevant to them) want to build good relationships with them.

#6 Your Peeps are Looking for Content

Online searchers admit to spending half of their time online (53%) searching for content—searching for information. When you give them the content they seek, you’re putting your company in a position to do blog/business with them. Think about that!

#7 Content Marketing Drives Sales

More than half, 60%, of consumers that read content about a specific product or service make a purchase or hire the service provider. This is HUGE.

More than half of the people that are reading content use this as a jumping off point for hiring a service provider or for buying a product that relates to the content topic.

#8 Desire Info over Advertising

People crave information. Content that you write + share with them provides people with information. The stats prove this because 70% say they would rather get to know a blogger/business/professional by reading their content than by reading their advertisements. People are not dumb. They know when they are being marketed to with an ad.

Content that contains links to useful + relevant products or services is viewed as helpful + useful rather than sleezy sales tactics. (Of course, it is the law to tell readers that it is an affiliate link they are about to click on but since you’ve built a relationship with them by providing them information, they don’t mind making that click.)

These facts + figures can quickly reveal why content should be part of your marketing plan. Use marketing content to attract more visitors + make more money.

Here is Content Marketing at Work

Let’s say you have a blog about pumping. You share information on everything a mom needs to know about pumping.

A mom who is getting ready to go back to work after maternity leave is frantically searching online about everything she needs to know about returning to work as a pumping mom.

She’s looking for the best pump bags, how to store her pumped milk, a pumping schedule, ways to convince her baby to take a bottle (+ the list just goes on + on).

She comes across your site + starts to browse your blog posts — your content. During the browsing process, she comes across your blog that shares a sample pumping schedule for working moms + tips + advice about pumping while working.

She devours this article, subscribes to + downloads the printable pumping schedule + then clicks on your article about the 10 Best Pump Bags for Working Mothers. She falls in love with one of these bags, adds it to her cart + places the order. It’s going to arrive just before she heads back to her job.

As an affiliate for the pump bag company, you’ve just made a commission.

Next up, your article on the easiest ways to convince a nursing baby to drink breast milk from a bottle. She weeps with joy.

You’ve just become this mom’s SHE-ro! She bookmarks your blog + subscribes to get blog updates. She is never going to forget your name or the name of your blog + the next time she needs an information, tips or advice, guess whose blog she’s going to hit up first?

Yup, yours.

This is all content marketing at work. In this particular example, it is one type of content marketing at work — blog posts. I’ll talk more later about other types of content marketing + how to do content marketing for a mom blog.

Types of Content Marketing

As a mommy blogger, you’re probably already using at least one form of content marketing on your blog — blog posts. Content isn’t just text. Content goes beyond blog posts.

Content you can share online these days is all about:

• Blog posts
• Infographics
• Teaser graphics/text (for Pinterest, Instagram, FB, etc.)
• Videos
• eBooks
• Case studies
• Audio files
• Webinars
• PDFs
• Printables
• Checklists
• Templates
• Email marketing

(To name but a few.)

Today, I’m going to share with you some resources to create all types of content marketing for your blog.

Here are five ways that you can use content marketing like a pro to BOOK MORE WEDDINGS.

#1 Make Memorable Videos

Video marketing is supposed to be ALL. THE. RAGE. Using videos as part of your content marketing strategy is not just about producing videos, though.

No.

It’s about producing memorable videos—videos that are going to attract, engage + entertain.

Check out this example form the Dollar Shave Club.

#2 Pin it to Win it to Use Content Marketing

Pinterest is all the rage. Essentially, it’s an electronic bulletin board (or a series of boards) but, hey, it’s addictive (+ moms are addicted to it). In reality, though, Pinterest is a BIG ‘OLE search engine so you should use it as such.

ModCloth tapped into the addiction + SO CAN YOU!

The nitty gritty of the contest doesn’t matter because you can run any kind of contest that requires brides + grooms to pin their ideas from Pinterest.

Brides + grooms planning their weddings are soooooooo using Pinterest already. ModCloth’s campaign is genius because they are using the content on Pinterest to attract BRIDES + GROOMS that are already using the site anyway.

But…that’s not all.

ModCloth is an evil genius because contestants also had to “tag” their pins with the hashtags #weddings and #modcloth. This makes them evil geniuses because these hashtags help the entries to get in front of other BRIDES + GROOMS who are planning their wedding.

#3 How You Use Our Wedding Product/Service Submissions

Invite the users of your product/service, just like Sharpie did, to submit blog posts (with pics) on how they use your product or service.

Sharpie took submissions (+ FILLED THEIR BLOG) with all of the different ways people use Sharpie pens.

Everything from wall art to clothing, decorated coolers + more popped up on the blog.

This is genius because they filled their blog with content they did NOT even have to create.

You can accomplish the same thing with a service-based biz. Have brides + grooms submit ways they used your service.

#4 Instagram It to Use Content Marketing

Take a pic. Post it. Caption it. That’s what Instagram is all about.

You’re a mommy blogger. You’re writing a sponsored post for a brand  toddler snacks. You snap a shot of your toddler sitting in her booster seat munching on the snacks.

You post it on Instagram with a caption that reads, “It’s not just another toddler snack — even though it’s her 100th snack today :).” Check out my thoughts on some of the best toddler snacks up on the blog today. Link in profile.”

Link to the blog post in your profile.

A plug for the sponsor + a way to drive traffic to the content on your blog. That’s CONTENT MARKETING, my Mama friend.

You can do the same with a page from your notebook or a page from your calendar. Blur it out a bit so people cannot read the EXACT details. Caption it with “All of the things on my grocery so that my toddler has healthy snack options. Find out what I think about the healthy snacks that XYZ Company offers up on the blog today. Link in profile.”

#5 Irresistible Free Offer

If you’re looking to build your mailing list, IFOs (irresistible free offers) are the WAY. TO. GO. You can promote it in soooooooo many ways to drive traffic to your blog + get them to sign up for your list.

A free offer can be as simple as a checklist or a bit more complex, such as “7 Ways to Pump at Work.”

The point of content marketing is to share your knowledge with those most likely to buy your services or products or click on the affiliate links + ads that make you money from your blog.

While your own blog is an ideal spot for your content, you also have to spread the word that your useful + relevant content exists.

Social Media for Content Marketing

One of the biggest ways to get the word out that your blog post exists is to share it on social media. While Pinterest is not really social media (remember, it works like a search engine), one of the best ways to pin on Pinterest is to use the scheduler Tailwind.

I use it + love it. If you use my link, you get your first month of Tailwind for FREE. As a blogger, if you’re not using Pinterest, start using it now. Moms are all over Pinterest + Pinterest is the second largest search engine (second only to Google).

For other social media platforms, such as Facebook, Twitter + Instagram, I am in L-O-V-E with Recurpost. It is a social media management tool like no other.

Not only can you schedule your social media updates, but it puts your social media updates on autopilot (autopilot on steroids). You see, Recurpost stores your content in categories that create.

You can create a schedule of your categories. Recurpost chooses content from your content library to share from the appropriate category (So you upload content one time + Recurpost re-posts it over + over again).

You can also schedule updates for one-time use. Recurpost is my crush.

Hootsuite is another option for automating your social media posts. When you want to send out an update, you can type it one time + it updates all of the social media accounts you have connected to Hootsuite.

Buffer is another social media scheduling tool. You can add your social media accounts, create an update one time + send it out into the social media universe.

The main difference between Buffer + Hootsuite is that Buffer does not allow you to monitor other people’s updates from your social media accounts (Hootsuite does).

(HINT: If you’re solely looking for a tool to push updates out, then I like Buffer better. If you’re looking for something to schedule updates + monitor your social media accounts simultaneously, then Hootsuite is the better option.)

Loomly is a social media scheduler that helps you put your posting on autopilot. It also provides advanced analytics so you can measure how your posts are performing. You can try Loomly for 15 days FREE, no credit card, no obligation.

Email Content Marketing

The very first thing I do with new content (after posting it to my blog) is to turn it into an email campaign to the appropriate list. I don’t always email it out right away. Instead, I schedule it to go out.

(HINT: This often allows me to have my email content marketing done + my email campaigns scheduled well into the future, so I’m not creating these things by the seat of my pants.)

Email campaigns get your content in front of the people you know want to hear what you have to say. Include share options (forward to a friend + social media icons in your email campaigns) to make it easy for them to share the content, so you can grow your list.

Share the love (the content) with your list. These are your raving fans so make sure they have an insider’s view of the content. At the very least, be courteous enough to let them know when you have something new to say. When you write a new blog post, send out a notice to your email list or include the post in the next edition of your e-news.

I use + highly recommend Mailerlite. It’s a free (or low-cost option) + easy service that allows you to manage your email list AND build + send e-newsletters + email blasts that look like a pro did it.

It’s a free way to send out marketing emails that look like a pro designed it. It has all sorts of templates so if you can cut + paste copy into a template + you’re good to go. It has ALL of the features you need — including autoresponders!

You have to start paying once you reach 1,001 subscribers, but plans start at $10 per month, so it’s a great program for bloggers with lists of less than 5,000 names (although Mailer Lite does offer programs for lists that exceed 50,000 subscribers too)!

Another free + low-cost option is MailChimp.

I’ve been using Sumo as part of my list building for quite some time now. Some big names that you probably recognize use it, too (AirBNB, theChive, Tony Robbins, Tim Ferriss).

Sumo is a suite of tools that help automate your business’s growth. What I love about this tool is it is something that is used by some of the biggest sites on the Internet but is also easy to use + affordable for people like me + you.

Content Marketing with Reddit

This is hands down one of the biggest sources of traffic when I promote wedding content. From one blog post that I shared on Reddit, it generated 143 visits to ONE post in ONE DAY.

It is totally free to set up a Reddit account + you can make it easy to share by adding a Reddit button to your blog post pages. After I post to my blog, I click on the Reddit button on my post + it allows me to add it to my Reddit account to share with the universe. (It’s soooooo simple I’m convinced my one-year-old can do it.)

Snip.ly

Snip.ly is another content marketing option that allows you to piggyback on the content marketing that big businesses/websites/companies/publications are already distributing. I was able to piggyback on an Entrepreneur article with a similar topic that brought the most comments to date to my blog posts.

1. Head on over to your fave search engine.
2. Conduct a search on the topic of your article.
3. Copy the link to the article you choose. (HINT: If it’s at the top of Google, for example, then it probably is there because it has a lot of views, shares + comments.)
4. Once you’re in your snip.ly account, paste the link to the article you found + click the snip button.
5. Fill in the popup box info + hit create.

Does Size Matter in Blog Content Marketing

Once you’ve had your mommy blog for a while, you’re going to have a lot of old blog posts. Sure, some of the information on these posts is evergreen (so it doesn’t really change much) + it remains sage advice.

Other blog posts age, however, so the information becomes outdated. You can breathe new life into your old blog posts, which can mean that you attract the search engines + your peeps by running through your old content + doing one or more of these 10 things to update blog posts.

How to Increase Blog Traffic Fast

So the #1 way on how to increase blog traffic fast is to update old blog posts.

#1 SEO the Title

Search engine optimization (SEO) plays a huge role in your audience finding your content, your blog post, your website/business + you. Focus a lot on optimizing your blog posts so your audience finds the information you’re sharing.

Start at the beginning with the title of the blog post. Revise the title to include the keyword you are focusing on for this particular post.

#2 SEO the Link

Then move on to optimizing the URL or permalink for the blog post. Generally, this link is your domain name followed by the title of the post. When you revise the title to include the targeted keyword make sure that you change the link/URL/permalink to also include the keyword.

It’s one more positive step toward optimizing your blog post to help it rank better in the search engines + be found by your audience.

#3 Re-write + Revamp Copy

If your blog post is a few years old, you’ve probably gotten a lot better at writing. Show it off by going through the copy of the post + re-writing + re-vamping it to show off your refined writing skills. You can finesse sentences, switch out words + do whatever else you need to do to make the copy + content pop.

#4 Fix Spelling + Grammar Errors

We all have typos + errors (even me!). We are, after all, human. Proofread your content to make sure that it is free of spelling + grammar errors, which can be a big turnoff to some. Use a spell check + grammar check program, if you need help in this area.

#5 Update Old Facts + Figures

Update any old stats, facts or figures that you include in the blog post. Again, if the post is 1 year or older, these stats, facts + figures can easily be outdated. This is especially true if you list out dates or years in your posts.

For example, a post on the top 10 strong girl names for 2018 became outdated as soon as 2019 began. You can create an entirely new post by going through to update everything in the article that has changed.

#6 Add Links

Go through the post + add links, where appropriate. Add internal links, so links to other blog posts or pages on your site that provide additional information on the topic you’re covering in the post.

Also, add external links, so links to blog posts, articles + other websites that provide additional information. It should be said that you should link appropriately + don’t get too crazy with the links. One internal + one external link per post can be sufficient.

Although, Neil Patel from QuickSprout suggests adding a link about every 200 words but only when appropriate.

#7 Fix Broken Links

Links in your post can be outdated + broken. Check existing links in the post to make sure that it still works + goes to the right page, post or article. Fix + update any broken links so they work again or remove links that cannot be updated or fixed.

#8 Optimize Photos

All of your blog posts should have at least one photo. If it doesn’t, then get on it–adding at least one photo, pronto! You can optimize your photos, too.

Simply name the photo as you save it + upload to your post so that the name of the photo contains the keyword you’re focusing on for the post. If it is an existing photo on the post, you can either rename it + re-upload it or edit the photo name in the post so it contains the keyword.

You can also change the alt text + title of the photo so it contains the keywords.

#9 Create a Pinnable Image

Pinterest is huge so it should be a huge focus for mom bloggers. Make sure that all of your posts contain at least one pinnable image. You might notice that I have an image in my posts that is on brand for my business + then I have a pinnable image also. You can do it the same way or you can have one image that is optimized, on brand + pinnable.

#10 Update the Keyword + Meta Description

Update the keyword (if necessary) to match the keyword you’ve been using throughout your updates. Re-write or revise your meta description. While the meta description doesn’t have anything to do with the search engine ranking, it is what your audience tends to read when your blog post pops up in their search. Make sure it contains the keyword + a description that is going to grab their attention.

Updating old blog posts is easy + can go a long way in helping to increase blog traffic by gettting your blog posts in front of the mommies that you’re trying to attract.

Confession time.

I rarely publish new blog posts on one of my blogs anymore. Between writing blog posts for my other blogs, writing copy + content for clients, raising three girls + just life in general, there just aren’t always enough hours in the day to get it all done.

The fact that I don’t publish new blog posts there all the time has NOT decreased the amount of traffic I get to this blog, though. In fact, it’s increased traffic.

Whaaaaaaat??????

That’s right + I’m going to share with you how I do it so you can increase the traffic that flocks to your blog/website, too.

#1 Increase Blog Traffic for Free by Focusing

There’s Pinterest, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, SEO, oh my! The biggest mistake mommy bloggers make is that they try to be on all of these platforms + manage all of these platforms.

All this does is leave you exhausted + wondering why none or a very small amount of traffic are trickling to your site.

Instead, pick two things to focus on + give it your all. My advice is to focus on:

• Pinterest
• Search Engine Optimization (SEO)

These are the two areas that are going to give you the biggest results. BONUS: Both are FREE ways to increase traffic to your blog/site. These are the two areas that I give my all + it pays off.

If you haven’t heard of her before, Ana from The She Approach is a wealth of information on increasing blog traffic + Pinterest.

#2 Try Something New to Increase Traffic to A Mommy Blog

It might sound counterproductive since I just told you to choose SEO + Pinterest + give it your all but you do have to test the waters for other avenues to attract new traffic, too.

You’ve probably heard the saying that goes something like you keep doing the same things over + over again but expect different results. This applies here.

If all you’ve been doing is writing blog posts, slapping a link on social media to it + then you hear crickets, it’s probably time for a change. Again, I would set your sights on Pinterest + SEO.

Ana from The She Approach offers you highly actionable tips on increasing blog traffic + how to use Pinterest to do this for a highly affordable price without having to spend $197 for each course on the topic.

Even if you decide not to focus on Pinterest + SEO then try something new. Try one new thing at a time so that you can run a true test to see what is working for you.

Maybe you guest post on a popular site that reaches your niche. Maybe you get quoted in a magazine article that reaches your audience. Maybe you simply add sharing buttons to your website + blog posts.

#3 Make it Easy to Go Viral

Get other mommies to do the work for you. Make sure that your website + ALL of your individual blog posts have share buttons. Mommies can share your information with other mommies.

After all, who is better at sharing than MOMS?

Moms can pin your pins to their Pinterest boards to reference later + to get other moms to pin it to their Pinterest boards. You can add these buttons for free to your website + blog so make sure they are there!

#4 Update Old Content

Once you have a lot of content on your blog or your blog has been around for a while, like one of my other blogs, you don’t always need to produce brand new content all the time. You can actually breathe new life into old content, instead, which is almost the same as creating new blog content.

Check out 10 Ways to Update Blog Posts to Increase Traffic to find out exactly what you need to do.

What can you do today to start making some changes that can attract more traffic your blog + to your business?

BONUS: If you decide to buy one of Ana’s ebooks with with my link, I’ll throw in my Mommy Business Blogging eBook FREE.

Go ahead. Grab your blog traffic ebook or your Pinterest ebook today. You know you want + NEED to increase traffic.

#5 How to Use SEO to Increase Blog Traffic Free

Use SEO to drive more traffic, they say.

You say, how in the heck do I do that? Then you freeze + do nothing, which is the worst possible marketing strategy for your blog.

As a blogger, the way you market your blog can make or break the traffic you drive to your blog. When you use the right online marketing techniques, you can drive a tremendous amount of traffic to your business.

When you use the wrong techniques, you can miss out on the traffic + then you can forget about turning the traffic into any kind of money. 

SEO is the bridge between traffic that is milling around out there on the Internet + the traffic you drive to your blog. 

Do Your SEO Homework

Before you start batch writing blog posts + before you start going through old posts to SEO ’em up, take a step back to make sure that you truly understand the types of people you are trying to attract.

The bottom line is that you have to understand these folks better than any other blogger that is offering the same type of information, products or services that you are. 

Use the free version of tools like SEMRush to help you find the keywords  your people are using to search for the information you offer (or are going to offer).

You can also consider paid search tools like Ahrefs. 

This is the foundation for creating content people want to read + that they can find because you’re using keywords that helps the content rank higher in the search engines. 

Talk about a win-win.

I am no SEO expert but I did take Mike Pearson’s Stupid Simple SEO course. He has a free version you can check out + I highly recommend it. Mike only offers his paid course a couple times a year but starting out with his free course is useful.

Place Keywords Carefully

Once upon a time, keywords were the easiest part of SEO. All you had to do was scatter it throughout your content to attract the right traffic to your blog.

In the SEO industry, this is known as keyword “stuffing.”

Google got smart a few years back + now if they catch you keyword stuffing, it can remove you from the search engines altogether.

And…nobody wants that.

Instead, use the keyword you want to rank for up to 3 times in the body of your content + then in some strategic places that I go into detail about in in the last section of this post.

External Sites Can Help You Use SEO to Drive More Traffic to a Mom Blog

Onsite SEO is when you use keywords + SEO strategies on your website + blog to attract traffic.

Offsite SEO is when you leverage external websites to rank in the search engines.

When other websites or blogs link back to your website or content these are backlinks. Backlinks from quality sources can help you climb the search engine ranks.

Guest blog posts are one of the best ways to gain backlinks to your content + rank higher in the search engines. 

Add SEO to Headlines + Sub-Headers

Creating fab content is #1 in importance. Creating that fab content also has to do with how you format it.

Formatting + SEO go hand in hand. When you’re formatting website copy or a blog post, make sure you use your keyword in the headline (H1) and in a sub-headline (H2).

For example if you’re trying to rank for “best doula in New York City,” then include this keyword phrase + variations of it in your h1 (Headline) and h2 (sub-headline) tags.

This way, you spread out the SEO juice across the page in all the right places. 

Leverage SEO to make it easier to find your blog. It’s not always about how much traffic your drive to your blog with SEO but it is all about driving high quality traffic to your blog. SEO is what helps you achieve this.

Do you ever sit down at your computer searching for an answer to one of your latest problems + feel instantly OVERWHELMED with all of the info that pops up in your search engine?

Don’t worry. You’re not alone. Other moms feel the same way as you. (Confession: It happens to me ALL. THE. TIME.)

So how do you make your blog post stand out from the crowd so that it doesn’t overwhelm your audience? How do you cut through all of the noise to write about topics your fellow mamas care about reading?

The First Step in Finding Blog Ideas

Be YOU when you write. By this, I mean being you when you write is one of the BEST + FIRST ways to cut through the noise that all of the other “mom bloggers” are making on a topic + finding blog ideas your audience cares about reading.

Better yet, that answers their question or gives them a solution to the problem they are having.

I cover (at length) how to be you – how to write like you — in the Mommy Business Blogging eBook, but let’s take a few minutes to get an overview of what this looks like.

Bloggers ask my advice on writing all the time. My #1 tip that I love to share is to be you when you write.

It sounds so simple, right?

You are one of a million bloggers milling around in the blogosphere. What makes you so different from all the other bloggers sharing information online?

YOU!

That’s what makes you different. Your voice, your tone, your personality + your point of view are what makes you different, what makes you stand out from the crowd + what attracts your peeps to you.

Now, If you are a poor speller or your grammar sucks, then you have some adjusting to make before you launch a best seller, but…other than that, when you write, write using your own words, your own voice + voice your own opinion with your words (+ the facts that support what you think).

Take a moment to figure out your style.

1. Do you write like you would talk if you were having a conversation with someone sitting in front of you (or on the phone)?
2. Are you sarcastic?
3. Do you like to make jokes or use puns when you’re writing?
4. Are you serious and conservative?
5. Are you formal + stiff?

Remember, there are no wrong answers. You can’t BE you in the wrong way, unless you’re acting like someone else + not like you at all!

Remember, too, that you are writing for other people to read + understand, so write like a human being talking to another human being. Write like a mama talking to another mama.

The main point is that you give your content a voice, an opinion, a viewpoint that makes the content unique to you + isn’t just a regurgitation of what all the other mamas are saying — even if it is the same topic.

So that’s that. If you have a topic to write about in the first place, then put it in your own words, use your own opinions + your own experiences to write about it.

Now let’s talk about finding blog ideas when you don’t really know what to write about.

If you’re struggling for topics, here’s some secret sauce on how to come up with topics that moms actually want to know about, read + find the answers to their burning questions.

Buzzsumo for Blog Ideas

Head on over to Buzzsumo (www.buzzsumo.com).

I should mention here that there is a free + a paid version. You can decide for yourself which version is best for you. I use the free version + find that it suits my purposes. Again, only you can decide which one works for you.

I think you get about 10 searches per day with the free version. You may find this suits your writing needs just fine. The free version also limits the number of blog ideas you can see (I think it’s 5 blog ideas). If you want to see the whole kit + kaboodle then you have to go with the paid version.

Anywho, once you are at Buzzsumo, a search box appears at the top.

Type in a topic, keyword, or even a URL (of a site that is yours or covers similar topics to your site).

Buzzsumo then pulls up articles, blog posts + content that matches what you typed into the search box.

Alongside the content, it lists out each social networking site + how many times the content was shared. Buzzsumo covers the primary social media sites, so FB, Twitter, LinkedIn, etc.

These numbers are big clues on what moms find interesting enough to share. If they find it interesting enough to share, then they find it interesting enough to read.

Take a look at some of the articles. Read them. Pull out bits of info. Think on it.

Do you have an opinion on the article content?

Do you have a different viewpoint or experience from the author about this particular topic?

Can you expand on, condense down, or embellish the info that is in this article?

If you can do all of these, then you can even come up with more than one blog idea. BAM! A whole bunch of blog ideas from ONE. LITTLE. SEARCH.

OK, so that is Buzzsumo. Let’s move on to a second way to can conjure up some topics.

Google Trends for Blog Ideas

Trends are trends…well, because they are popular + hot at the moment. You saw a little of this just from our search on Buzzsumo. Google Trends lists out the hottest topics of the moment + the day – the trends come from how many times people are Googling the listed topic, talking about it, sharing it, etc.

Lots of parenting topics are evergreen but parenting trends pop up all the time.

So, peruse the topics that show on Google trends + see if there is any way to tie your knowledge + info in with something that is H-O-T. It can be far-fetched, but it can work.

I’ll give you an example. One of the most popular blog posts I wrote was something I tied in with a documentary I watched on Showtime called, My Date with Drew.

I wrote an entire article on what this documentary reminded me about marketing. I tied everything the guy did in the documentary with marketing tactics.

People loved it!

Plus, it was fun to write. I notice when I really love what I’m writing about it shows in my writing + it shows in the enthusiasm people show in reading + commenting on the blog post.

While I am not an SEO expert, I do know this, tying your content to hot topics + applying SEO rules to it can help couples find your articles + find you. (More about this later).

So that is Google Trends. Pretty simple in getting your creative juices flowing. Now, for a third way you can generate blog ideas – a Swipe File.

Ahhhh……the good ole swipe file. A swipe file essentially is a document or list that you put together or that someone else put together that you can just pull up + “swipe” or grab a blog idea from it.

(HINT: There’s a swipe file at the end of this post full of blog ideas + you can download it too!)

By the way, there are two different kinds of swipe files that I use.

1. My own: When I come across info that I think I can use at some point, I “swipe” the link + the title into a spreadsheet or folder on my computer. Later when I’m looking for something to write about, I scan my swipe file for ideas or inspiration. This might be blog posts I read, social media updates, emails that land in my inbox, or content from a Google alert that I set up about a particular topic.
2. Other people’s swipe file (OPSF): Bloggers, writers, marketers + people (in general) share swipe files all the time. Some are free. Some try to sell them to you. When I receive these, I keep them in a folder on my computer or I keep the link. Generally, these are not SPECIFIC topics, but contain a list, such as, “___ Ways _______ Taught Me How to _________.

Recently, I came across a pin on Pinterest offering 8,209 blog post ideas. This, my friend, is a SWIPE file.

Even if the swipe file is specific. Say it is about personal finance topics, which might seem hard to tie to a mom blog (except if you are talking household budgets + spending or family financing). You can still use these as idea generators.

Obviously, it is much easier if it is a swipe file that covers the industry you blog about.

Swipe files are blog idea generators. In a way, though, you can pretty much copy + paste with some revisions + additions on your part.

Again, you want to give it your own voice, tone, opinion, etc. You want to avoid simply regurgitating what someone else is already saying.

So a swipe file title of 7 Ways to Green Your Home might morph into The Top 7 Ways to Serve Up an Eco-Conscious Family Meals (or something like that).

I think you probably get the idea.

OK. Moving on to Competitive Shopping (OK, Browsing).

Take a tour of your competitors’ websites + blogs. Check out what other mom bloggers + other industry bloggers are talking about.

Once you find the bloggers you want to stalk, I mean, follow, Google their names to see what guest blog posts are published on sites other than their own – although you can also just look at what they publish on their own sites.

Again, go back to the questions that we talked about when using Buzzsumo. Figure out what they are saying + what you have to say about it too. You can even copy + paste their article link into Buzzsumo to see just how popular that article is in the world of social sharing.

You don’t want to say the same exact thing they are. You want to put your own twist on the same old, same old.

Sometimes, reading these articles generates an idea of a totally different topic. You might read a blog post about the 7 alternatives to using pesticides in your garden + decide to write about the 7 natural/organic cleaning products you can use for “safe” + healthy home.

Again, it is simply a jumping off point that might spur up a totally different blog idea in your head. Then, it’s a matter of hitting the publish button.

OK. Another way to find great topics is Inspired Reading.

I read articles + blogs all the time. I’m often inspired while reading. I voice an opinion or put my own take on the same or similar topic.

Am I saying copy someone else’s idea or work? NO WAY!

All I’m saying is that it can get your creative juices flowing by doing some research, looking around + reading what you normally read. Whether you jump on the Wall Street Journal site or People Magazine or Scary Mommy site every morning while you’re sipping your morning cup of Joe, it doesn’t matter.

It might not even be an industry blog that inspires you. Like I said before, a simple documentary about landing a date with Drew Barrymore inspired a very popular post about marketing. At the time, all I was doing was my morning ritual of walking on the treadmill + watching a little TV while I did it.

Reading a financial blog post about financial planning for the future can inspire you to write an article about ways you can save for your child’s college education or creative ways to pay off all your debt.

The possibilities are literally endless.

Just Ask for Blog Ideas

Ask other mamas or mamas that read your blog what kind of info they are looking for. Trust me, they are more than willing to share this info with, to pick your brain + to hear what you have to say.

Also, listen to what they are saying to you during your conversations. Listening more + talking less can really fill the pool with blog ideas. (My 5-year-old reminded me of this saying just yesterday when she told me her teacher told her it’s why we have two ears + one mouth. It made me chuckle.)

Mamas are usually willing to tell you what their problems are, what their issues are + what kind of information they’re seeking answers + solutions about – essentially what they are looking for from you + other bloggers like you.

Yes, these are opps to insert your services (or products) BUT they are also HUGE opportunities to position yourself as the expert that you are by creating content pieces that speak to their burning needs or desires.

Because if these are hot topics for the people you’re talking to that read your blog, then don’t you think other mamas like them probably have the same or similar issues that they’re searching for solutions or answers?

Answer yes to that question.

Talk to other bloggers that blog about similar topics to you. They are often a wealth of info on what readers are asking them. While you can set up a formal face-to-face coffee meeting or a virtual Skype meeting, you can also just listen to what they are saying when you do happen upon each other and have a convo.

Better yet, what they’re talking about on social media, in FB groups + on Twitter + Instagram.

When I was a wedding planner, I took courses, learned from hands-on work, but I learned THE most from talking to fellow wedding planners. When I first started out blogging, I learned the most from other bloggers. I still learn a crap ton of things (Yes, that is a technical term) from other mamas just like me who are bloggers in their own world of the blogosphere.

Trust me, it’s a fabulous way get the in on topics that are hot so you can bank on it.

SEO (The Easy Way) to Blog Ideas

I recently took on email course on SEO by Mike Pearson. While I have some general + basic knowledge (+ maybe even a little more advanced than general + basic), Mike truly simplified the process of keyword research.

Most SEO experts tell you to brainstorm the keywords you think your audience is searching for + then find out how competitive these keywords are. Blah, blah, blah.

Mike comes at it from a different (+ mind-blowing) angle. BTW: This is a free email course that Mike offers so what I am about to say is not leaking any of his course information (except that the email course does include some of what he covers in his paid course — Stupid Simple SEO).

Anyway, I digress.

Mike suggests you use a tool like SEMRush or Buzzsumo to research your top competitors to see which keywords they are ranking for + then…wait for it…create EPIC content so you can rank for the keywords that your competitors are.

One of the caveats is that you have to look for other bloggers, not huge publications like the New York Times, Parenting, or Good Housekeeping, for example.

Instead of plugging in a blog idea or a keyword, plug in the domain of the competitor + see which keywords they’re ranking for. Check out the content they wrote that is ranking + then find your own way to write a blog post that is EPIC + soooooooo much better than theirs so that you rank higher than them (theoretically).

Finally, Think of Your FAQs for Blog Ideas.

Think about the questions that readers ask you or that you hear being asked all the time. They are asking these questions because they want the answers. You can easily turn one question/answer topic into a piece of content.

It is easy peasy.

If they are always asking you about how to create a household budget, write a piece that details out exactly (step-by-step) how to create a household budget.

Get detailed.

Go line item by line item if you wish.

Add a household budget worksheet download or printable as a BONUS!

Again, this is but one of an infinity of examples…

OK, so now you have all of these blog ideas. Now what. Well, you actually have to write the blog post.

Once you find a topic, it’s time to write it with your own twist. Don’t write about the same old crap, in the same old way that everyone else is!

Be you when you write it! It really and truly is what cuts through the noise – setting you apart from all of those other bloggers in your area – all of your competitors.

Your readers relate to you in a way that they might not relate to another blogger. When your words, your story, your background, your credentials, resonate with them they want to read what you have to say because of your tone, personality, or character, or viewpoint on a common blog topic.

Whatever it is, it is something that connects your words to their hearts + BAM! They realize you are the pro they have been searching for all this time.

I cannot count how many times my client convos start with, “I’ve been following you for a while…” + this is all about sharing content that my people care about.

The same applies to you + your blog or mommy business.

So here is my challenge for you…

Come up with five fab pieces/topics/headlines of content you want to create for your blog.

Bang out the headline or topic (make it yummy, please) for each blog idea.

Then, of course, you have to write the content.

It’s OK. It happens to all of us.

Blog Ideas for Moms

Pregnancy Post Ideas

• Pregnancy announcement ideas
• Creating a birth plan
• How to deal with the birth not going as planned
• C-section recovery
• Birth recovery
• What to pack in a hospital bag (for mom + for baby)
• Foods to eat
• Foods to avoid
• Exercising while pregnant
• Best parenting/baby books to read
• Dealing with morning (or all day) sickness
• Maternity clothes
• Postpartum body
• Postpartum expectations
• Dealing with postpartum blues/depression
• What to expect each trimester
• Reviews of best car seats
• Reviews of best strollers
• Reviews of best [insert baby product here]
• Financial prep for baby
• Surviving a miscarriage
• Gender reveal ideas
• Baby shower ideas
• Babymoon ideas
• Meal prep for after coming home from the hospital
• Midwife
• Doula
• Home birth

Baby Blog Ideas

• Nursery decor
• Must-have baby products
• Surviving the first few weeks with baby
• Breastfeeding
• Sleeping (baby)
• Learning how to function on no/little sleep (adult)
• How to choose a diaper bag
• Top items to keep in a diaper bag
• Diapers (options/brands/which ones to use)
• How to care for a newborn
• Food for baby
• Sign language for babies
• Best books for babies
• Baby registry
• How to care for a newborn
• Formula feeding
• Baby’s first foods
• Baby food recipes
• Baby clothes
• Baby wearing
• Baby names/naming a baby
• Girl names
• Boy names
• Favorite apps for tracking feeding, diaper changes, etc.
• Traveling with a newborn
• Introducing baby to siblings
• Co-sleeping

Parenting Post Ideas

• Anger management (how not to lose your $#@! as a mom)
• Sibling rivalry
• Teaching kids to learn
• Teaching kids to read
• Discipline for toddler
• Discipline for adolescent/teen
• Single parenting
• Top mommy bloggers to follow
• Top parenting books
• Best parents books for caring for babies
• Best parenting books for caring for toddlers
• Best parenting books for caring for teenagers
• How to be a calmer mom
• Vacationing with kids
• Parenting multiples (twins/triplets)
• Marriage after kids
• Mommy self-care
• Home schooling
• Raising girls
• Raising boys
• Chores for kids
• Positive (instead of negative) parenting
• Discipline differences between parents

Toddler Post Ideas

• Rainy day activities for young kids
• Craft projects for kids
• Sleeping (toddlers)
• Girls’ hair
• Learning activities for kids
• Sensory activities for kids
• Books for kids
• Books for girls
• Books for boys
• Food for toddlers
• Food for picky eaters
• Toddler clothes
• Yoga for toddlers
• Raising low-screen/screen-free kids
• Potty training
• Temper tantrums
• Transitioning from crib to toddler bed
• Toy rotation/toy libraries
• Indoor activities
• Outdoor activities

Teen Post Ideas

• Dealing with defiant behavior
• Depression
• Anxiety
• Peer pressure
• Teen clothes
• Best books for teenagers
• Prepping teens for high school
• Prepping teens for junior high
• Prepping teens for college
• College application process
• Choosing a college
• Yoga for kids
• Exercise for teens
• Self-esteem/self-confidence in teens
• Dealing with bullying
• Digital age

Money + Finance

• Starting a blog
• Working from home
• Side hustles for moms
• Budgeting
• Budget-friendly family activities
• Paying down/paying off debt
• Teaching kids about money
• Allowances for kids
• Working mom
• Frugal living
• Couponing
• Organic on a budget

Life as a single or married adult without children is busy enough, but when you add children to the mix, life can go from hectic to absolute chaos in about 2.7 seconds.

Working from home so that you can take care of your children seems like the ideal solution for many moms. There are definitely some benefits, but it also requires some time management, an ability to adapt + a constant assessment of your priorities to create a sense of balance.

I was freelance writing from home for 8 years before I had my first daughter. The biggest lesson I learned is that all of the work still got done BUT in a much different way than it did before I had kids.

Working from home + raising children is doable. You just have go at it with a very strategic approach.

#1 Set Up a Home Office

Ahhhhh…the luxury of an office — with a door — right? Sometimes this is hard to come by when you have a small house or multiple kids. I had an office until that office became a nursery 🙂

Seriously, though, working from the kitchen table just isn’t feasible when you’re trying to run a business from home. If you have a room you can dedicate to your office then do it.

At the very least, find a space that’s all your own — even if it’s just a little nook in your dining room or a closet. It’s an essential step to staying productive. Otherwise, it’s very easy to get distracted (oh look, shiny object) or for your business paperwork, notes, or items to get mixed up with everything else that is in your house.

When you’re in your office, hang a sign to let your partner know that it’s their turn to answer your child’s cries. Having a separate space can also help you stay organized because it will be more difficult for children to find your papers to crumple + create their next work of art.

#2 Schedule Time to Work

I know this can be tough. I have three ages 5 + under so I get it. Schedule time on your paper calendar or in your phone calendar (however you keep track of appointments) + make an appointment with yourself to get your work done.

It is highly possible that you have to become a “naptime warrior.” It means working in the morning before your kiddos get up, working during naptime, when your older kids are at school + after they go to bed at night.

Even though you “schedule” time to work you also have to be flexible. The one day you have the biggest project to tackle is the one day that your baby is not going to nap or that one of your kids stays home from school sick. You’re going to have to roll with the punches, Mama!

#3 Automate + Put Systems in Place

When you have a limited amount of time to work, you need to ensure that each moment that you have counts to the fullest. Put systems in place + automate as much as you possibly can.

Set up automation or autoresponder series for those that join your email list. Use apps like Tailwind to automate your Pinterest pinning. Get Recurpost set up to automatically post + automatically recycle your content on social media (including Instagram).

While you do have to dedicate some time to getting these systems in place, it’s going to save you time, money + so much hassle in the long run to have these systems + automations up + running.

#4 Schedule Time with Family + to Have Fun

You’re trying to build a business, but don’t forget about one of the reasons that you wanted to be a work-from-home mother in the first place. More than likely, you wanted the ability to raise your children rather than letting someone else do it for you.

So just like you schedule time to work, schedule time to have fun too! I believe downtime from your business actually makes you a better blogger, writer, baby blanket maker or whatever it is that you do.

Schedule time for some Mama self-care, too. I try to schedule a mani/pedi for at least once a quarter (It’s so sad that I used to do this every two weeks when I was single). I joined a mom book club (because I love to read). I joined a women’s bunco group. I attend events for the very active mom group in my neighborhood (We recently had a DIY sign party).

The point is that I notice that I come home refreshed + ready to deal with my family, my life + my business when I have some downtime that is all my own! I think you’re going to find that you need something similar for yourself.

#5 Talk to Your Partner

When the lines between work + home life get blurry, if you have a partner, communicate with them so they know how to support you. If you don’t have a partner, get a business buddy! Find a like-minded Mama that has her own business so you can be accountable + use each other as sounding boards.

Just like you schedule everything else, set up a schedule or make a plan to divvy up responsibilities with your partner. It helps to alleviate some of the stress on your relationship + allows you to focus better when you are working.

If you’re a work-from-home mom, you’re likely looking for ways to make your business more successful while enjoying as much time with your family as possible. Take some extra time every week to schedule out blocks of time to work on your business + to spend time with your family.

If you’re looking to start your own blog, check out How to Start a Blog. It walks you step-by-step through starting + setting up a blog.

Whether you’ve been blogging for awhile or you’re just starting out, the end goal for blogging is to grow your mom blog big enough to attract the right people to it — + then turn those reading your blog into buyers of your product or service, clickers of your affiliate links or whatever your end goal is for making money with your mom blog.

1. Create Quality Content

Moms are information hounds. They are on the hunt for ALL. THE. INFORMATION. they can find about babies, getting their toddler to sleep, raising kiddos that don’t turn into little $H*^s (you know, the norm) + the list just goes on + on.

Moms are actively searching for YOUR content — your information — so make sure you’re giving it to them in the form of high-quality content.

Whatever your mom blogging area of expertise, moms are seeking your expertise, experience + personal twist on how you deliver information to them. One of the best things you can do for your mom blog in 2019 is to offer free value-packed content.

2. Update Old Content

Nobody says you have to reinvent the wheel when it comes to content, either. If you have old blog posts, go back through them. Add valuable content to beef up the information that you’re sharing.

Update the information you’re sharing so that it is current. Make it 2019 instead of 2009, for example.

3. Write Content Moms Want 

Billions of searches are happening online each day. That’s a TON of searches. Out of those 3.5 billion searches happening each day, how many are looking for information on the topic you’re blogging about?

4. SEO the Heck Out of Your Posts 

If you write it they will come is not the strategy you want to have for your blog. Instead, take a proactive approach to making sure that the people you’re after find the information you’re trying to share with them.

I recommend Mike Pearson’s free SEO email course + his paid course Stupid Simple SEO. I took both courses + it is a wealth of information to FINALLY get your SEO on track.

5. Invest In Your Blogging Education

This blog post gives you a lot of great ideas on how to create fab content, attract more readers with your fab content + get the chance to turn them into cash.

As great as all that info is, it’s also important to invest in in-depth blogging education + in tools that can take your blog (+ business) to the next level. Level it up! 

If you need a start to finish blueprint on how to blog, what to blog about + how to promote your blog posts to attract more readers, check out Blog By Number by Suzi Whitford.

Even though I had been blogging for many years when I started my mom blog, I knew that I needed the knowledge + experience of someone who did it before me. I took Suzi’s course Blog By Number + I highly recommend it.

It is literally a step-by-step guide that walks you through every aspect of starting your blog, maintaining your blog + promoting your blog.

BONUS: If you register for Suzi’s course using my link, I’ll throw in my Mommy Business Blogging eBook FREE ($27 value). Just send me an email (girlmom@girlmomchaos.com) with the name + email you use to purchase Suzi’s course + I’ll send my eBook bonus right over to you.

BONUS #2: Whether you decide to register for Suzi’s course or not, grab this FREE blog planner. It is everything you need to start planning out your blog content for an entire year. I downloaded + printed off + use one blog planner for each of my three blogs!

6. Content Upgrades

The content upgrade. It’s essentially an incentive for the people visiting your blog to read your post because then they can download a freebie at the end.

The content upgrade is a two-for-one because not only does it draw visitors to your site that want to download what you have to offer, but it also GROWS your email list at the same time.

Yup, when they get to the end of the blog post, you offer them a freebie (checklist, PDF of the post, or whatever) in exchange for their name + email address.

Brilliant!

7. Pinterest

You might think of Pinterest as a time suck because once you get on there you just start pinning away + before you know hours have gone by.

As a blogger, you have to be where your audience is. I’m here to tell you that they are ALL. OVER PINTEREST–especially if your audience is moms.

This means that you need to be ALL. OVER. PINTEREST. too. So, get pinning.

Do you have any plans or strategies to grow your blog in 2019? Drop your strategies or ask a question in the comments below.

With over 100 million blogs online, your blog has to offer readers something they can’t get elsewhere OR you have to offer info in a way that totally engages them.

It may be the ease of starting a blog that makes it such a phenomenon. It might just be that more + more mommy bloggers want to stay at home with their kiddos + replace the income they’re leaving behind when they leave their jobs.

Maintaining a blog, on the other hand, requires a lot more work than starting a blog. Maintaining a blog requires design, traffic, social media strategy, monetization +  more.

The Mom Blog Plan

Putting a blog plan in place for your mom blog is one of the easiest ways to ensure its success. Use this three-step approach to turn your blog from ho-hum to holy cow.

1. Become Your Audience

You have to think + act like the readers you’re trying to engage with your blog. Put yourself in their shoes + use this mindset to always make sure you’re providing information on your blog that is relevant to the blog topic + to the types of readers you want to attract.

Questions to Ponder About Your Readers

• What are their cares?
• What are their interests?
• What are their likes and dislikes?
• What do they desire?
• What do they fear?

Then, assess what experience or knowledge you possess that answers the call of the information they seek. As is the case with any marketing medium (+ a blog is a marketing medium), you have to know your audience.

2. Stay Engaged

Consistency is the key component of a successful blog. Consistency equates to posting to your blog on a regular schedule. If you can post EPIC content at least two to three times per week, then schedule to commit to it. Even once a week, if it’s EPIC content, is consistent.

If you can’t commit, consider getting guest bloggers to share posts to fill in the blanks. OR commit to writing at last one EPIC blog post per week. Really give it your all in the content + promoting the post throughout your social media networks, email list, etc.

Also, share + talk about information that you know. Turn to the experts on topics + areas you want to cover when you aren’t an expert by using guest bloggers or interviews or roundup posts.

3. Integrate Technology

A blog without integration is an island of its own. Make sure that your readers can leave comments on your blog, but also be sure that you’re utilizing other communication tools.

Social media networks such as Pinterest, Twitter, Facebook + Instagram should be included on your blog. Your blog address should also be included on your Pinterest, Facebook, Twitter + Instagram profiles + posts. As technology changes, your blog needs to change with it.

With over 100 million blogs in the blogosphere, make your mom blog stand out from the crowd. You’re not into blogging to create “just another blog.” You’re into blogging to create an amazing mom blog.

It’s probably a question you’ve asked yourself: Do I want to stay at home + be the primary caregiver, or do I want to continue in my career?

Long gone are the days where moms have to choose between their children + their career. It is much more common now to be a work-at-home mom. Some work-at-home moms work for a company (maybe even the one they worked for prior to have kids) while others opt to work in direct sales with a direct marketing company, or start their own business, blog or website.

Modern Careers for Modern Moms

The Internet has been incredibly helpful for those who want to work from home, effectively making it more possible than ever. While not every job can be performed from home, many office positions can be.

Work Flexibility states that with roughly 4 million Americans working from home + 24 million working mothers, there’s bound to be some overlap between those two groups. Being a mother doesn’t mean someone’s passion for work disappears.

If you’re able to prove to your company that you’re willing to continue your work, it’s possible your boss is more than happy to allow you to work from home.

How Can You Be Work-From-Home Mom?

When a work-from-home mom reveals herself, people can be impressed and/or skeptical. Many will ask, “How can you do it all?” or “How do you find time in the day?” Some might even ask, “Can you teach me how to do that?”

Others might think that there’s no way anyone can pull that off without giving some things up. Let’s consider one woman who had to make a decision of whether or not she’d become a work-at-home mom. This woman used her gut instinct when choosing to work with doTERRA over other essential oil companies, when there were both pros + cons.

She saw the benefits of the network + support, which helped her make her choice. Your support network can have a significant impact on your decision to become a work-at-home mom. Anyone who discourages you outright from choosing this path might not have your best interests in mind.

Moms Know the Meaning of Responsibility

Not everyone is able to pull off being a work-from-home mom. It can be a lot of work + it often means you have to work more effectively + efficiently than ever before.

Sometimes that means your partner needs to have a more equal role in child care (which should be a given, but you know how it can be). Or making connections with other mothers, your family or other people to take care of children in crunch times or other difficult times.

Those who struggle can end up finding themselves quickly overwhelmed by the balancing of both responsibilities. If you’re able to tend to your baby + send emails without missing a beat, then the work-at-home mom life is for you. Reaching this point of confidence takes time.

This writer from Her Money discusses how being a work-from-home mom is like being part of a secret club. It takes a lot of work, but there are almost always others who are going through similar experiences + it’s nice to hear their stories. Try to solicit advice from work-at-home moms with plenty of experience.

A work-at-home mom should not be viewed with judgment from those who are primarily stay-at-home moms or those who commute to work. All of this also doesn’t mean that husbands or other partners can’t help out in the childcare process!

Parenting should be a shared responsibility, but we understand that sometimes not all partners are able to help out as much as primary caregivers would like. That doesn’t mean there’s nothing they can do! Try to actively support your partner help with the child care process.

Now, some don’t have a partner or someone to help. Being able to juggle both of these incredible responsibilities is worthy of applause. As a work-at-home mom, you’re showing that you’re capable of handling two jobs at once, including one that’s monetarily unpaid (but is paid with plenty of snuggles, hugs + kisses). This can be your path to becoming an even stronger woman.

The #1 lesson I learned running my business from home after having kids is that it all still gets done BUT in a much different way than it did before I had kids.

For help in getting your blogging business off the ground, check out my Mommy Business Blogging Ebook. It’s packed full with step-by-step information on exactly how to get your blog up + running, how to write blog posts that attract business + how to promote your posts to attract the business you want.

In late 2015, I had been freelance writing full time for just over 7 years. It was the fourth quarter of the year and I knew I wanted + needed to make a change in my business.

I hired + worked with a business coach + I decided at that time to niche my writing business waaaaaaaay down to only focus on writing for the wedding industry–specifically wedding planners.

I didn’t launch my new site (this site) until February/March of 2016.

Since FB was (+ still is) one of the top social media networks, I went out on a hunt for groups that were specifically for wedding planners. I found almost none that were for just wedding planners. Yes, there were some that catered to wedding professionals in general but not wedding planners alone.

What’s that saying? If you can’t find what you’re looking for then create it yourself?

Well, that’s just what I did.

Wedding Planners Society was born.

I announced recently that the group is now over 4,000 members and one of the members asked if I would share how I did it and how long it took.

Hence, this post 🙂

I would imagine that wedding planners would create some kind of a group for potential clients rather than other wedding pros, but the sky is the limit –depends on your goal for your group.

There are tons of resources out there to tell you how to pick a group topic, niche, members, etc. I’m just covering how I grew it to where it is today.

Create It + They Will Come

At first, it seemed a little Field of Dreams, “If you build it, they will come.”

Surely, this is the case. Well, yes + no.

I spent some time perfecting the group page–making sure the description + rules were up + that all of the information was filled in + complete. That the banner was appealing. That there was a way for the wedding planners to get to my website, contact me, or download a freebie.

Then, I waited.

Member requests to join started to trickle in here + there. Then, about 6-8 months into it, my group was listed in the “suggested groups” people see along the right side of their FB page.

BOOM! Member requests really starting flooding in right about that time. I don’t use that term loosely, either. Some days, there were 100s of requests to join. Other days, dozens. Today, I still get at least a handful of requests per day.

Since I manually review the answers to the questions I ask, not everyone is allowed into the group. AND, I have a hard + fast rule that if you spam the group with any kind of self-promotion (except for the posts that call for it), you’re out.

I’m not into second chances.

So how did that BOOM in membership happen? It took some hard work. I don’t profess to know the algorithm that gets your FB group in the list of suggested groups but I would assume it has something to do with playing by the FB rules + that your group relates somehow to the person it’s suggesting the group to + the content you’re sharing within the group.

And then there is all of this…

Show Them The Benefits

I think the #1 way I was able to grow my group from 0 to over 4,000 members in two years is I offer benefits to members that I don’t offer elsewhere–exclusive benefits.

Sometimes, I give them freebies (checklists, eBooks, workbooks, courses, etc.) that I don’t give away anywhere else.

Sometimes, I give my time + expertise for free, such as Pay It Forward Fridays, where I would offer the first 3 people to respond a website copy review. I would offer 3-5 tips on how they could change their copy + content to help them book more weddings.

Sometimes, it’s one of my high-price courses or items at a deep, deep discount.

I also think that wedding planners adored that they had a place that was all for them + wasn’t necessarily full of other types of wedding pros (although other wedding pros are members).

They can get really specific on getting answers to their questions, finding software + programs, etc. that directly relate to being a wedding planner + not a wedding photographer or florist or other wedding pro.

How I Grew My Facebook Group with Total Engagement

Not only was I posting all these freebies but I also remained totally engaged with my audience. I was responding to their comments + posts. I was answering their questions. I was giving my opinions + sharing my experiences + expertise in the wedding industry.

It’s not all about giving but it is all about engagement. It’s imperative that when you start + run a FB group that you are fully engaged. It’s almost like having another baby or another business!

When I disengaged because I had a human baby or I get busy with my writing business, I see a noticeable difference in the amount of people joining the group + engagement in the group also goes down.

Dedicated Days

I dedicated certain days of the week to focus on specific promotions or posts in the group. Marketing Monday, Workin’ It Wednesday + Pay It Forward Friday are but a few examples.

Group members seemed happy to post their comment or question, offer advice + interact with other group members on these dedicated days.

Invitations

I never invited people from FB to join my FB group (although that is probably another good way of ramping up the number of group members you have). I did invite my email list.

I had a couple thousand on my email list before the niche down so I had very few subscribers that were just wedding planners. Once I cleaned up my list to be just planners + then started working on growing my list, I would send out an invitation to join the group from time to time.

I also posted an invitation to join on my other social media profiles, such as Twitter, Instagram + even Pinterest. As I started to grow a following on all of my social media profiles, more people saw the invitation to join + requested membership.

Offers a Sense of Belonging

I touched on it earlier but wedding planners seem to love that the group caters to wedding planners. It gives them a sense of belonging. They know that everyone in the group can relate to the rant session or has the specific answer to their specific question because they are wedding planners just like them.

We all just want to feel like we belong + wedding planners have the same feelings.

Now, you may be scratching your head wondering how you can create a FB group, who you can create a FB for + how it can change your wedding business.

It’s possible.

You have to dive deep. Your first stop is determining exactly who your dream clients/group members are + then buil a community that speaks directly to their hearts, wants + needs.

You can download my Dream Client Worksheet to start building your dream wedding couples today. Then, go from there in building your own FB group, website, or business.

If you’re just starting out in the blogging world, your obvious first stop is to get your website/blog up + running.

While it’s an exciting time, it can also be overwhelming.

Fret not, you can do it my mama friend. All you have to do is start at the beginning + I’m here to walk you through step-by-step exactly how to do it.

Pick a Domain Name

Your first stop is to buy a domain name for your website (the website where you’ll also be building your blog). Usually, if you have a business behind the blog, you try to buy the domain name that is your business name.

You can certainly go this route.

If you need to buy your domain name, I suggest NameCheap. I buy all of my domain names from NameCheap . As their name suggests, the domain names tend to be less expensive than other places + I tend to keep my hosting (more about this later) + domain names at separate companies.

This means that I buy my domain names from NameCheap but that I host my WordPress site with Siteground.

Pick a Host

The next step in setting up your website + blog is to pick a hosting company.  NameCheap  has an option for hosting, so you are certainly welcome to check out what they have to offer.

I use + highly recommend SiteGround. I find them to be affordable (plans start at $3.95 per month) + to offer all the services I need to run my businesses online. You can host a WordPress site without a problem + they offer superior customer service when (+ if) you need it. I highly recommend checking them out if you are starting an online presence or looking to move from your existing host.

In case you didn’t catch it already, I use + recommend you use WordPress to build your website + blog.

Pick a Theme

Next, you want to pick a theme for your WordPress site + blog.

Generally speaking, you want to choose a theme that represents your wedding business. You can hire a designer to create a custom design for you but this is the more expensive route.

You can also buy a theme, use it as it, or customize it as necessary.

If you’re interested in buying a theme, these are the companies I highly recommend you check out:

A Prettier Web: If you’re building a WordPress website for your blog or you’re looking to change the theme, but can’t afford to hire a designer to customize it quite yet, check out the WordPress themes from A Prettier Web.

Restored 316: Restored 316 offers a variety of feminine WordPress themes, which is perfect for wedding planners most mom blogs (depending on your taste + the style of blog you’re going for). All of the themes are pretty affordable. If you’re looking for a custom design, Restored 316 offers custom site-building too.

BluChic: This is one of my fave places to buy feminine website templates. BluChic offers WordPress templates that are perfect for any business + this includes a mom blog. I also find their templates to be super affordable, easy to install + simple to personalize + customize to fit your mom blog. BluChic also offers other types of templates so check them out to help you create your online brand + presence.

How to Set Up Your Mom Blog

Now, you’re ready to set up your blog.

So, here you are.

You have a domain.

You have a WordPress site.

You’re ready to set up your blog + start blogging.

Step #1 Login to WordPress

Step #2 Set up Your Blog Page

Once you log in to your account, your Dashboard opens.

From your dashboard, click on the Settings Link on the left + then Reading option in the dropdown menu.

You have the option of having a static home page or having your blog posts as the “home” page. If you want to keep your home page static, then choose the dial button that says “a static home page.”

Then, choose the home page from the drop down menu next to Front page. From the posts page drop down menu, choose your blog as where to publish new blog posts.

If you want your blog posts to be your home page then make sure the dial button is checked for “your latest posts” to be the front page displays.

(This is the default option so you should not have to change it unless you are changing a previous setting.)

Congrats! Your blog is now set up on your website.

Woot! Woot!

Now, you’re ready to start blogging.

How to Blog

Now that we have your mom blog up + running, it is time to write blog posts, promote blog posts to attract the readers you want.

Mommy Business Blogging is my ultimate resource for mamas to blog your way to more readers, business + sales.

It covers all the HOW to blog in a very step-by-step process so that you can build your blog, write + promote your content. 

If you answer “Yes!” to any of these, this ebook is for you!

• You sit down to write your blog post + you end up staring (for hours) at a blank screen.
• You scour your site analytics, so you can see that your peeps are visiting your blog, but they are NOT hiring or buying from you.
• Your bank account is low on funds or empty
• Your content is FAB (or not so FAB), but (+) it’s definitely not reaching the right people for your biz.

HERE IS WHAT’S COVERED

BUILD YOUR DREAM VISITOR

Start off on the right stylish flat by getting to know the people you want to attract to your blog so you can write content that attracts them (like a MAGNET).

FIND TOPICS THEY CARE ABOUT READING

Stop struggling with what to write about. Use my step-by-step tips to uncover topic after topic that your audience wants to read–keep them coming back for more until they buy from you or hire you.

PLAN + SCHEDULE POSTS

Learn the step-by-step process to planning out your blog posts + scheduling your posts, so you stop scrambling to post on your blog + you continue to attract new readers with your content (+ keep your existing readers coming back for more, too!).

CREATE FABULOUS CONTENT

Discover how to create fabulous blog posts. I walk you through how to write the content, create pinnable images + how to get readers to click, buy from you or hire you after they read your posts.

SEO + GET YOUR CONTENT INTO THE UNIVERSE

Finally tackle the “S” word (search engine optimization) so that each blog post helps you rank in the search engines, grabs the attention of your dream clients + gets them to your blog (+ one step closer to hiring you or buying from you).

Uncover exactly how + where to promote each blog post so that your content gets in front of the right people–attracting them to your business + to you.

It’s a super-comprehensive ebook that covers everything a mama needs to know about blogging.

Did I mention it’s ONLY 27 BUCKS?

(Don’t let the low price fool you. It’s all the info you need to successfully blog for your wedding biz.)

Want in on it PRONTO?

Sign me up, Buttercup!

Have any Qs. I’ve got As. Email me or leave a comment below. I personally respond to all of the emails that land in my inbox or to comments on blog posts.