What New Working Moms Should Know
One of the biggest challenges of becoming a new mom is figuring out your new role as a working mother. You can make the transition go a lot easier by having a plan to deal with both the logistics + the emotional fallout that this new role in life may bring.
Here are three primary things that all new working moms need to know:
1. How to Take Time Off
Depending on what type of maternity leave package your company offers, you may need to get creative to stretch out your time off from work after baby arrives. Maternity leave is one of the most common uses of short-term disability. According to Darras Law, you can also use long-term disability to help cover the necessary maternity leave period.
Speak with your human resources staff prior to going on maternity leave to ensure that you understand how to maximize your time off of work while minimizing the disruption to your income + benefits.
2. Transitioning Back to Work
Jumping back in to work full-time can be a real challenge. If possible, try transitioning back to work on a part-time basis so that both you + your little one can gradually get used to this change. Talk to your boss about possible work arrangements to make this a reality.
Possible solutions include working half days for the first few weeks back or spreading your maternity leave out so that you have long weekends as you make the transition back to work.
Or perhaps you can work from home initially in an effort to help ease the separation. According to Work Options, there are a variety of ways to make this work for both you + your employer.
3. Leave the Mom Guilt Behind
According to The List, it is normal to experience a level of guilt upon your return to work. However, it is important to not let these feelings consume you. Remind yourself that you are making the best decision for your family + it is not up to anyone else to decide how you should feel about this.
Making the most of your time with your child can also help to ease your feelings. It is important to remember that quality time is more meaningful than the quantity of time.
In the end, it is also critical that you do not neglect your own self-care. As a new mom, make sure you pay extra attention to your new emotional + physical needs. Taking care of yourself + your feelings can help to make this transition a better experience for everyone involved.
Self-Care for Moms
I remember after having my first daughter, I totally lost myself in motherhood + being a wife. I gave up all the things I loved doing — reading, working out, going out with friends, getting my nails done.
It was the WORST possible thing I could have done.
Self-care for a mom is soooooooo important. It goes back to putting your oxygen mask on first before helping your child put on theirs when you’re on an airplane. If mom isn’t breathing then nobody is.
So, Mama, put on your oxygen mask. It’s going to make you a better mom, person + wife if you take care of yourself first.
Why Self-Care for Moms Matters
You’ve probably heard the term “self-care” used a lot lately. It’s become a popular buzzword in the media + in personal development circles. However, you still may be unclear on what it means. While the concept does involve taking care of yourself, it actually goes much deeper. Read on to learn what self-care is, why it matters + how to get started doing it.
About Self-Care
Self-care covers a lot of areas with regard to caring for yourself. It involves nurturing your body, mind + spirit. It focuses on building yourself up so that your internal resources don’t become depleted.
Essentially, self-care is being as good to yourself as you would be to someone you care about. It requires you to show yourself some compassion + encourages you to be vulnerable with others, asking for help you when you need it.
What doesn’t fall under the umbrella of self-care are self-destructive coping mechanisms such as using drugs, drinking, gambling or retail therapy. These things only make you feel good in the short-term.
The Benefits of Self-Care
There are lots of benefits to practicing self-care. Embracing this concept can be difficult for those who’ve always placed emphasis on the welfare of others. However, giving all your energy to those around you without filling your own back up leaves you depleted + empty.
That’s no way to live.
Instead, spending time + effort on yourself rejuvenates + energizes you. Taking time to indulge in your own interests demonstrates your worth, leading to improved self-esteem + a more positive outlook on the world. It teaches you a lot about yourself + provides you with insight into what you need to be the best version of yourself.
Self-care helps you better cope with stress + to prioritize what’s important to you. You’ll be better able to take care of others when you also take time to meet your own needs.
Examples of Self-Care
There are countless ways to add self-care into your routine. The key is to choose activities that are most enjoyable to you + provide you with the most benefits.
Going for a walk in nature is great for those who enjoy the outdoors. Other forms of exercise like yoga, running or going to the gym work well, too. Spending time with friends can be rejuvenating, but so can saying no.
Allowing yourself to decline invitations or favors when you’re feeling run-down is a big part of caring for yourself. Treating yourself to a favorite, affordable indulgence like a movie, manicure or ice cream cone are all good examples. As is taking a bath or meditating. These are just a few of the ways you can easily incorporate self-care into your life.
Now you know what self-care is + why it’s important. You’ve also got some ideas of how to get started, so you’re well on your way to adding this useful practice to your life.
Start + End Your Day With A Little Self-Care
Like any new habit, adding self-care into your life can seem kind of tricky. You probably wonder how you can find time to do anything extra for yourself, let alone how you can remember to do these things.
One of the best ways to get started is to build your activities into predictable parts of your day. In order to make something a habit, it has to happen regularly. Keep reading for some tricks to making self-care a routine part of your life.
Make It Personal
The first thing that can will help you in creating your self-care rituals is to choose activities that are meaningful to you + that you enjoy. This is your practice, so you want to be sure it’s customized in order to get the most out of it.
Consider making a list of things that help you to feel relaxed, peaceful, excited or happy. These activities should be able to be done in a short amount of time + easily fit into your life without special equipment or tools. At least as you begin your practice, the things you choose to do should be as simple as possible.
Fit It In
You should add your self-care rituals to the most convenient parts of your day. Choose times that are already somewhat flexible so that incorporating something new into that space is less stressful.
Many people go with morning or evening routines, right when they wake up + before going to sleep each night. Getting up fifteen minutes earlier than usual + setting aside a window during the usual night-time schedule are usually things most folks can do.
However, designating your daily lunch break as your self-care time might work better for you. Consider activities like writing a gratitude journal entry before bed, listening to music while having your morning coffee or going for a short walk over your lunch hour. It might require trying out self-care activities + times of day to find a moment to call your own.
Be Flexible
It’s best to come up with a routine that works for you + stick to it. Committing to a particular schedule can help you create a habit + ensures that you get the self-care you need. However, try to cut yourself some slack.
Some days are more hectic than others. You may not be able to fit in your anticipated self-care activity + that’s okay. Tomorrow is a new day + you can try again. Soon, you’ll find yourself wanting to take part in these rituals, + getting back on track becomes easy.
Getting into the practice of regular self-care doesn’t have to be difficult. Making a few adjustments to your existing schedule can free up some space in your day. Choose things that refresh you + that are simple to make getting started a breeze.
Try Something New Today
While creating habits + adding activities to your calendar help increase your chances of sticking with your new routine. Another way to keep things interesting is to treat yourself to things you’ve always wanted to do.Adding new + novel experiences to your self-care routine is like giving yourself a little gift every day. It’s a great way to stay motivated to do things to care for yourself.
Pamper Yourself
Taking physical care of yourself in a pampering way makes us feel good. Pampering is a go-to for many people when it comes to their self-care routine. Think of something you’ve never done before. It doesn’t have to be expensive.
A small act of indulgence can have the same effect as an extravagant one. Maybe consider scheduling a manicure if you’ve never had one. A bubble bath with candles can be soothing if this is something you don’t do very often. If your budget allows, a spa day with a friend can rejuvenate your body + spirit.
Celebrate Today
Most of us don’t buy ourselves presents very often or even give ourselves little treats. You can change that starting now. Think of something within your budget you’ve been wanting for a while now.
Then give yourself permission to buy it. Maybe it’s that snazzy pair of shoes you’ve had your eye on or the cell phone upgrade that would make your life easier. Giving yourself one gift, no matter how small, can be a boost to your self-worth.
Enjoy the Little Things
Self-care really doesn’t have to be on a grand scale. The tiniest gestures can be the most meaningful. Indulging in small free or low-cost treats allow you to spoil yourself more often.
What are some little things you’ve never done for yourself that you can start adding to your life today? Have you ever bought yourself flowers? Give it a try.
You get a little boost every time you see that beautiful bouquet on your table or desk. Think of your favorite food item, the one you have on special occasions. Why not make one day a week a little more special by trying a new version of it? For example, commit to tasting a new truffle each week at your favorite chocolate shop. Get creative with it.
Adding new experiences to your self-care routine keeps things interesting + can also help make them more meaningful. Novelty can also expand your world + enrich your life. Plus, it’s just fun!
Make A List Of 5 Simple Self-Care Routines
Beneficial habits like self-care often go by the wayside during stressful times. It can be difficult to focus on anything but the bare minimum when life gets hard. The fact is, though, that these are the days when you most need to take care of yourself.Keeping a list of self-care routines as part of a self-care toolkit can make it easier for you to implement them when needed. There are some other tricks you can employ to get you through the tough times, too. Keep reading to find out more tricks you can keep up your sleeve.
Make a List
Create a list of at least five activities you can easily fit in your life during the most stressful periods. The list is a simple reminder you can keep on-hand + pull out when you need to pick a little something for some self-care.
These can include super simple reminders like go to bed early so you get enough sleep, eat nourishing food to keep your energy up or ask for help you need it because these are all things you might forget when you’ve got a ton on your plate. During times of trouble, the very basic foundations of self-care can be the most important.
Make a Care Package
Another way to focus on self-care during hard times is to prepare a care package ahead of time. This can include some of your favorite little indulgences like a good book, herbal teas, facial mask, fuzzy slippers + classical CD.
Consider it your own subscription box!
Include anything that brings you joy. Being able to reach for this package when you’re stressed can mean the world + make a huge difference to your outlook.
Enlist Your Crew
When things look bleak, you may require a bit of help to get back on track. That’s why it’s a good idea to reach out to trusted friends + family now to enlist their help for the future. Talk to your closest confidantes to ask for their encouragement with your self-care routine.
Share with them the benefits it’s provided you + tell them you’d appreciate their assistance if they see you aren’t caring for yourself as well as you should be. Sometimes those who know us best can see things we don’t. When your crew knows to look out for you in this regard, they can reinforce your self-care needs during times of stress.
Taking steps to plan now can make maintaining your self-care routine easier in the future. Always remember it’s during the hardest times that you need to nurture yourself the most.
Self-Care Doesn’t Have To Cost Anything
Lots of people get the wrong idea about self-care. They think they have to be deserving of it. They feel like it’s splurging to do something good for yourself. It can seem extravagant.I’d like to change that mindset today.
Self-care is something you deserve. Everyone does. It benefits us all, along with those around us, when we put our own well-being at the forefront. You can’t take care of others when your own well-being is suffering. Let’s take a look at some free + low-cost ways you can care for yourself.
Take a Time Out
Sometimes just a little bit of alone time is all you need to feel rejuvenated. So why not give yourself a time out? Lock yourself in your room with a nice cup of tea. Listen to some quiet music. Just sit still + let your mind wander for a bit. It’s a luxury we all can afford.
Waste Some Time
We often feel pressured to be productive all the time. Being busy is a sign of worth + accomplishment. However, it really doesn’t have to be that way.
Just kicking back + doing nothing is important to recharging our batteries. Let yourself have some down time to do something frivolous like binge your favorite Netflix show, take a nap or just sit + pet your cat. You deserve it.
Do Some Writing
Even if you don’t consider yourself a writer, journaling can be a very therapeutic activity. Jotting down what you’re grateful for has been proven to be beneficial to well-being.
It can also be energizing to simply do a brain dump in which you write down all the things that are floating around in your head. Jotting down dreams for the future might inspire + motivate you to take action. Give it a try.
Reach Out to Someone
Socializing is a crucial part of self-care. Even introverts benefit from interpersonal connection. Humans aren’t meant to be isolated.
Pick up the phone to call a friend you haven’t talked to in a while. Sit down to Skype with your favorite Internet pal. Meeting up in person for a walk together or a cup of coffee is even better. Connecting to others might just provide the spark you’ve been missing.
Change Your Perspective
A change of scenery can be a wonderful source of renewal + it doesn’t have to be an expensive trip, either. Just heading out to walk in your neighborhood might help when you’re feeling stir-crazy in your home. If you’re able to afford it, a low-cost staycation to a nearby location for a day or two is a fun way to switch things up. It’s surprising what this change of perspective can do for you.
While these are just a few of the countless ways you can indulge in self-care without spending much money, perhaps they’re just the jumpstart you need to begin exploring this concept. You truly do deserve to spend time, energy + effort on your own well-being.
Don’t Feel Guilty For Practicing Self-Care
Mom guilt — it’s probably the #1 reason moms don’t indulge in some self-care now + then. Maybe you feel guilty for spending time + resources on yourself.
It’s actually good for those you love when you take care of yourself. You truly can’t fill another’s cup if your own is empty. So, I’d like to take this opportunity to emphasize why you shouldn’t feel any mom guilt for practicing self-care + encourage you to do so in every area of your life.
It’s Not Selfish
Taking time to care for yourself is not selfish in any way. It may be hard to get past the mindset that the needs of others are more important than your own, but overcoming this mindset is essential to allowing yourself to adequately meet your own needs.
Care isn’t a zero-sum concept. When you care for yourself, it doesn’t have to mean you don’t care about others.
It’s Necessary
Self-care isn’t a luxury; it’s a necessity. It really is like the airplane air mask comparison. You have to ensure you can breathe before you can help those around you. If you’re tired, rundown + overwhelmed all the time, you absolutely cannot give your best self to your kids, your spouse, or anyone else. You also can’t offer yourself the very best. Remember that self-care isn’t selfish.
It Sets a Good Example
Investing in self-care for moms is not only good for you, but it sets a good example for your kids + for those around you. In order for a stigma to end, it has to be normalized. When more of us let the world around us know why self-care matters, they may begin to change their minds about the concept, as well.
It Demands Respect
It also sets a precedent for how you expect others to treat you. When you demonstrate that you value yourself + that you find worth in investing time in yourself, others will respond in kind. Learning to say no + set boundaries is good for your relationships. It teaches others how you expect to be treated + makes it clear that you see yourself as a priority. There’s no reason to feel guilty for that.
With practice, you can come to see the benefits of self-care and that it doesn’t have to be something that causes guilt.
Tips To Continue To Take Care Of Yourself
Self-care is a process. It requires practice + dedication if you want to make it stick. Don’t get discouraged if it takes time to make this new concept a part of your life. It’ll get easier, and you’ll probably find yourself craving your self-care activities so much you’ll wonder how you ever lived without them.
However, there will inevitably be times that are busier or more stressful when self-care may go by the wayside. If you find that happening, be sure to follow these tips to continue to take care of yourself going forward.
Follow Your Gut
Sometimes we get so busy that we find ourselves living on auto-pilot. That’s only natural during hectic times, but it’s critical that you make an attempt to listen to your instincts during these times to know whether you’re in need of a boost.
When you start to feel especially frazzled or fatigued, it’s your body + mind telling you that you need a break. Listen to these clues. Look for other unusual signs that things are off balance with you such as irritability, eating poorly, losing sleep or indulging in bad habits. These things are telling you to take care of yourself.
When I feel especially frazzled (usually from being with my three kiddos 24/7), my husband always tells me to go do something out of the house. Whether it’s girls night out, heading out to read a book or get a manicure + pedicure, I always come back a much better person, wife + mother.
Sometimes it is only a 10-minute or an hour break but this small time to give something to myself is priceless + it is just enough to calm me down + make me come back refreshed + ready.
I’ve also started regular self-care with:
- Book club for moms (We read a book a month but we really just meet up for dinner + drinks rather than a book discussion)
- Bunco group
- Professional mani-pedi once a quarter (paint my own in between appointments)
- Spa day once a year courtesy of my hubs
Schedule It In
A trick that helps some people to fit self-care into their schedules when life gets busy is to actually write it in their date book or calendar. Treat your self-care commitments like any other appointment or event. Write down the time your self-care “appointment starts + finishes.
Try to be specific about the activity you’re going to engage in. Doing these things increases the odds that you actually follow through. It’s easy to put yourself on the back burner when life gets crazy, but don’t forget that these are the times you need self-care the most.
One final word. Take time to assess your self-care needs regularly. This can help you stay on track. Ask yourself once a week or so if you’re giving yourself enough time + attention. Listen to your instincts. Make adjustments as necessary. Self-care is an ongoing + evolving process that requires your constant attention.
How to SEO a Blog
Bloggin’ + Mommin’ ain’t easy. Every Mama knows that search engine optimization (affectionately known as SEO) is the key to getting blog posts to rank in search engines like Google.
The challenge is how to SEO a blog without hiring an expert that costs the big bucks or that you find the process of optimizing a blog post so complex that you give up before you even start.
I’ve been blogging full-time since 2008 + I have searched for an SEO expert for almost as long. I knew all that time how important SEO is to a blog + I taught myself some things here + there.
Just this year, I FINALLY found an SEO expert that is an SEO GENIUS, Mike Pearson of Stupid Simple SEO.
I took his free course + loved it so much that I immediately enrolled in his paid course. I lucked out that it was open for enrollment because it’s only open a few times per year. Enrollment is opening again August 12-16. If you miss it or just want to test Mike out first, you can also register for his free SEO course.
I am not going to go over all of the steps Mike covers on how to SEO a blog but I am going to share how to SEO a blog so you can rank your blog posts the easiest way possible.
How to Learn SEO for Bloggers
The first step in how to SEO a blog is to figure out the keyword (or at least the blog idea you’re going to write about). This post focuses on the SEO part of writing a blog post. If you are looking for a course on SEO to do keyword research, check out Stupid Simple SEO. His approach to finding keywords is so simple + it is far less complex than any other “expert” I have turned to in the past to learn SEO.
Once you have the keyword you want to target, here’s how you set up the post SEO on WordPress.First, install the WordPress plugin WordPress SEO by Team Yoast.
Once you have the plugin installed, the SEO information you need to fill in each time automatically shows on each page + post of your blog.
You’re going to want to complete these steps for each page or post on your blog. When you’re on the post or page you’re SEOing, scroll down to the bottom to the section that says Yoast SEO.
Start by filling in the keyword in the Focus Keyword box. You can edit the title of the post + the meta description by clicking on the Edit Snippet button. The title + meta description should include the keyword.
In reality, the meta description doesn’t really have anything to do with SEO for search engines but it is the description that people searching for the keyword see (+ presumably read) in the search engine rankings. It is more likely these searches are going to click on your link if the meta description contains the keyword they were using to search.
You also want to include the keyword in the main body copy of the post a few times, in the permalink of the post (this is the URL of the post) + at least one sub-header (h2) in the post.
You can give your EO a boost by using the keyword in the graphics or pictures you include in the post.
Check SEO for a Blog
Once you save the draft of the post or update it, check on the analysis section. You do not need a green light for all of the lines + you do not need the SEO check to be green in order for you to be good to go.
Your goal is to have a green light for:
- Not previously using this keyword (You don’t want to compete with yourself for Google ranking)
- That the keyphrase is in the meta description
- Text length (how many words is in the post)
- Keyphrase is in the slug (URL)
- The post includes outbound + inbound links
All of these are important for SEO. Check each of these lines to see what color light you have. If it is anything but green, make changes one thing at a time until you get a green dot. Then, move on to the next line. You do not need a green light for every single item in Yoast for your SEO to be good.
Do Your Homework on How to SEO a Blog
Before you start batch writing blog posts + before you start updating old posts to SEO them, make sure you fully understand the types of readers you’re trying to attract to your blog. Think about it. How can you write blog posts they are searching for if you don’t know who you’re writing for in the first place.
SEO Tools for Bloggers
You can use free tools like Keyword Planner from Google (you have to have a Google account to use this free tool) or paid options like SEMRush or Ahrefs to help you find the keywords people are using to search for the information you’re providing. This is the foundation for creating content your visitors want to read + that they can find because you’re using keywords that helps it rank higher in the search engines. It’s a win-win.
How to SEO a Blog Using Long Tail Keywords
Simply put, a long tail keyword is a more specific keyword. For example, the term “mom blogger” is a highly competitive keyword. In the Google search below, you can see that 14,800 searches a month are for mom blogs.
A longtail keyword that is less competitive, but still competitive is “working mom blogs” or “mom lifestyle blogs.” You can see that 880 searches a month are for “working mom blogs” + 320 searches a month are for “mom lifestyle blogs.”Place Keywords Carefully
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) + in a sub-headline (H2).
For example if you’re trying to rank for “best wedding planner in New York City,” then include this keyword phrase in your h1 (Headline) + at least one h2 (sub-headline). This way, you spread out the SEO juice across the page in all the right places.
Include it at least 3 times in the body copy of the post. You can include it more times in longer posts but there is no need to go overboard. You can leverage SEO to make it easier to rank a blog in the search engines. If you want all of the details laid out as simple as possible, check out Stupid Simple SEO. Remember, it is open for enrollment August 12-16.
- What New Working Moms Should Know
- Self-Care for Moms
- How to SEO a Blog
- Writing Copy Stinks
- How to Write an eBook to Make Money
- Resources + Recommendations for Mommin’ + Bloggin’
- The 5 Biggest Blogging Mistakes + Lessons Learned
- How to Start a Lifestyle Blog
- How to Use Content Marketing as a Mom Blogger
- How to Increase Blog Traffic Fast
- How to Increase Blog Traffic for Free
- How to Find Blog Ideas
- 5 Ways to Balance Life as a Work-From-Home Mom
- 7 Ways to Grow a Mom Blog in 2019
- How to Build an Amazing Mom Blog
- The Rise of the Work-at-Home Mom + How To Do It
- How I Grew My Facebook Group to Over 4k Members in 2 Years
- How to Start a Mom Blog
- Some of My Fave Marketing Blogs
- How You Can Boost Traffic To Your Mom Blog Today
- How to Use Pinterest for a Mom Blog
Writing Copy Stinks
Writing copy + content is the most time-consuming part of marketing a blog or online business.
It’s also one of the most important pieces.
So when it comes to writing website copy or content, you have to work at it. You have to practice it.
I was offering website copy reviews for a long time but I took a break. I did one again recently for a loyal subscriber, Nancy.
After reviewing her copy + content + providing feedback to her, I realized that bloggers like Nancy don’t necessarily need a copywriter like me to write their website copy or blog posts from scratch but they do need more than just feedback on how to write it.Bloggers like you + like Nancy need a copy or content re-write.
So here I am offering copy + content re-writes.
Copy or Content Re-WriteYou already have website copy or a blog post. You don’t need a copywriter like me to write it from scratch but you do need a re-write. I edit, re-write + revise one page of your website copy or one blog post (up to 1,000 words).
If you have more than one page or more than one blog post you want a re-write for you can change the quantity during checkout.
$75.00I can help your website copy or blog post stand out + make it really compelling.
Sign up for a copy or content re-write with me. It’s only $75.
If you want more compelling website copy or blog posts, register for a re-write.
- What New Working Moms Should Know
- Self-Care for Moms
- How to SEO a Blog
- Writing Copy Stinks
- How to Write an eBook to Make Money
- Resources + Recommendations for Mommin’ + Bloggin’
- The 5 Biggest Blogging Mistakes + Lessons Learned
- How to Start a Lifestyle Blog
- How to Use Content Marketing as a Mom Blogger
- How to Increase Blog Traffic Fast
- How to Increase Blog Traffic for Free
- How to Find Blog Ideas
- 5 Ways to Balance Life as a Work-From-Home Mom
- 7 Ways to Grow a Mom Blog in 2019
- How to Build an Amazing Mom Blog
- The Rise of the Work-at-Home Mom + How To Do It
- How I Grew My Facebook Group to Over 4k Members in 2 Years
- How to Start a Mom Blog
- Some of My Fave Marketing Blogs
- How You Can Boost Traffic To Your Mom Blog Today
- How to Use Pinterest for a Mom Blog
How to Write an eBook to Make Money
If you’re like most moms + bloggers, you’re probably on the hunt for other sources of income, beyond 1:1 client work or ad income.
Writing + selling an eBook can be that additional stream of income (+ a lucrative one at that).
My friend Ana over at The She Approach is opening her eBook Bestseller Bootcamp. She starts by answering the question:
Is there any real money to be made by creating + selling eBooks?
If you sell a $200 online course, you only need 3 sales to make $600. But you need to sell 20 eBooks at $30 apiece to make the same amount of money.
So wouldn’t it be more profitable to just create courses instead of eBooks?
The math makes sense. But what people fail to consider is how much harder it is to make a $200 sale than it is to make a $30 sale. (Not to mention the cost of creating/hosting a course vs. creating an eBook. Spoiler alert: it’s nearly triple! Take it from someone who’s done both.)
But enough with the hypothetical. Ana shares with you exactly how much money she makes with her eBooks, to show you what’s possible if you enroll in her Ebook Bestseller Bootcamp.
How much money Ana made selling eBooks:
- In May of 2017, she launched her first eBook. By the end of the year, she earned $3,504.05 with her digital products.
- In 2018, she made $11,512.79 out of which $8,099.72 were eBook sales alone.
What changed? She got better at launching a digital product, at selling it throughout the year (+ not just during the launch), at marketing it + at working with affiliates. Ana also launched a new eBook.
Her audience grew as well + people began to trust her expertise more, but Ana believes that her sales skyrocketed because she improved her skills + process.
She’s including everything she learned in her signature course, Ebook Bestseller Bootcamp. Because when you know what you’re doing + you have a plan, your earnings show it!
It’s not too late! If you enroll before Monday, July 29th, you also receive Ana’s best selling eBook ever – her Pinterest eBook – for free!
- In the first 6 months of 2019 alone, Ana has already reached $15,000 in sales. ($14,964.16 to be exact)
That’s an estimated revenue of $30k this year. All she did was launch 2 more digital products (including a $3.99 Amazon eBook) + used the same exact launch + marketing strategy that she teaches step by step in EBB.
Ana’s email list is under 10,000 people so you DON’T need a huge audience to make real money with eBooks.
Don’t forget that if you enroll before Monday, July 29th, you also get a free copy of Ana’s Pinterest eBook, that’s going to help you send more traffic to your sales page + blog.
Here are a few of the lessons Ana covers in EBB:
- How to come up with an eBook idea that sells
- Choosing the best platform to publish your eBook
- Formatting + designing your eBook to meet the Amazon KDP requirements
- Creating an eBook cover that stands out
- Self-publishing your eBook – a step-by-step guide
- How to create a launch calendar + strategy
- How to work with collaborators to increase your eBook sales
- Email Marketing 101 for eBook authors – growing + using your email list to make sales, without coming across as salesy
>> YES, I WANT TO LEARN ALL OF THAT <<
Use the secret code “EBB20OFF” to get $20 off when you pay in full.
Skipped to the end?
- Doors for Ana at The She Approach’s signature course Ebook Bestseller Bootcamp are officially open!
- And if you enroll before Monday, you get a free copy of her Pinterest eBook on top of the 30 lessons + $500 worth of bonuses included in EBB.
- On August 8th the price goes up to $197, so you save an additional $50 if you enroll before then!
- What New Working Moms Should Know
- Self-Care for Moms
- How to SEO a Blog
- Writing Copy Stinks
- How to Write an eBook to Make Money
- Resources + Recommendations for Mommin’ + Bloggin’
- The 5 Biggest Blogging Mistakes + Lessons Learned
- How to Start a Lifestyle Blog
- How to Use Content Marketing as a Mom Blogger
- How to Increase Blog Traffic Fast
- How to Increase Blog Traffic for Free
- How to Find Blog Ideas
- 5 Ways to Balance Life as a Work-From-Home Mom
- 7 Ways to Grow a Mom Blog in 2019
- How to Build an Amazing Mom Blog
- The Rise of the Work-at-Home Mom + How To Do It
- How I Grew My Facebook Group to Over 4k Members in 2 Years
- How to Start a Mom Blog
- Some of My Fave Marketing Blogs
- How You Can Boost Traffic To Your Mom Blog Today
- How to Use Pinterest for a Mom Blog
Resources + Recommendations for Mommin’ + Bloggin’
I started bloggin’ waaaaaayyyyy back in 2001 (not full-time until 2008). I started mommin’ in 2013 when my first daughter was born.
Over the years, some things have stayed the same + other things have completely changed.
I’ve tried a lot of resources, courses + apps for bloggin’ + mommin’. I’ve compiled a pretty comprehensive list of these resources that I recommend for bloggers + moms to use.
Check ’em out. You can find everything you need from things to pamper yourself as a mom to Pinterest courses to take you blog to the next level.
Mommy Swag
Mommy Mailbox: I might have a small obsession with subscription boxes. I think it has something to do with the fact that this box shows up at my door full of surprises. I have them for my kids + I found one just for me! Mommy Mailbox is a subscription box just for moms. It comes with 5-6 surprise products each month that retail for $55-$85. Subscriptions start as low as $33.95. I love Mommy Mailbox + you will too!
Stitch Fix: I don’t have the time or energy to shop for + try on clothes for me but I do like to look nice when I go on a date with my husband, play bunco with the ladies or go to book club with my mom book club. Stitch Fix sends me a box full of clothes + accessories. I try it on, pick what I want to keep + send back the rest. I usually buy the ENTIRE box, which might show how much I love Stitch Fix + so will you! (HINT: They have men + kids’ boxes too!). You can also save $25 on your first box!
Stella & Dot: I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE to accessorize. Seriously, a necklace, bracelet, ring or pair of earrings can really make an outfit pop. Stella & Dot allows me to accessorize without making me cringe at the price tag. Most of the pieces are classic but stylish so they are pieces that can I use for years to come. Get your accessories, Mama!
Activities + Gifts for Kids
Little Passports: This subscription box is great for kids from toddlers to about age 12. Little Passports is a monthly subscription box that kiddos get super excited about receiving monthly. There are different versions (travel, science, US edition, etc.) you can choose from. Beyond the fun activities inside the box, I love that you can order by age so that the activities are age appropriate. Give the gift of adventure your kids with Little Passports.
Green Kid Crafts: Green Kid Crafts is another kids’ subscription box that has activities + crafts that focus on being creative but in ways that are friendly to the environment. They also focus on STEAM so it can help your kiddos academically while they are having a great time. If you’re looking for fun + creative ways for your kids to learn, check out Green Kid Crafts.
Meal Prep + Planning
My FreezEasy Meals: I am a huge fan of saving time in the kitchen, saving money + saving my sanity when dinner time rolls around. Freezer meals do it for me. I can spend some time prepping meals, freeze them + pull them out when I need to feed my family (They insist on eating EVERY. SINGLE. DAY.) Starting May 1, you can join 100 Days of Summer Freezer Meals so you can spend more time in the sun + less time in the kitchen during the summer!
Healthy Meal Planning Bundle: I try to cook at home rather than eat out so I am always on the hunt for meal plans + recipes that are healthy, yummy + that my girls will actually eat [insert eye roll here]. Did I mention that I want those recipes + meals to be quick + easy? Yup, that’s why I love the Healthy Meal Planning Bundle. It has everything I need in one place. You can even instantly download a free sample. Check it out for yo’self now.
Instacart: Shopping for my weekly groceries with Instacart — life changing! Dragging 1-3 kids through a grocery store (or really any store) is not my idea of a good time. I can shop from my phone. I can shop from different stores + it all gets brought to me at the same time. I am an express member so the service fees + delivery fees are waived. I suggest giving Instacart a try. You can save $10 on your trial!
Mom Blog
Stupid Simple SEO: 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. He has a 5-day email course that is free + a paid course — Stupid Simple SEO that is ah-mazing. It’s only up a few times a year but it is open now until Friday, May 17 @midnight PST.
The Blog Plan: Suzi from Start a Mom Blog offers a 12-month planner for your blog FREE. I printed three sets (one for each of my blogs). You can instantly download it + start planning right away + it does not cost you a dime. BONUS: It’s pretty. There’s that whole saying if you fail to plan you plan to fail. Yes, that applies here so download the FREE blog planner NOW.
Start a Mom Blog Ebook: If you’re not ready to spend money on Suzi’s Blog By Number Course then you can invest in her book for less money. It’s a scaled back version of the course but is still full with information on how to start + run your blog. Check out the ebook now.
Start a Mom Blog Course: I took this course, Blog By Number, with Suzi from Start a Mom Blog. Not only is Suzi an amazing source of information but she is nice (+ lives in FL, which is where I’m from so there’s that). Her course walks you step-by-by through the process of setting up your blog, writing blog posts, promoting the posts, etc. It’s super comprehensive + she sells it at an affordable price. I refer back to the course often! I highly recommend you check it out. BONUS: If you register for the course with my link, send me the receipt + I’ll email you a FREE copy of my Mommy Business Blogging eBook ($27 value).
75 Productivity Tips eBook: I started working at home waaaaayyy before I had kids. Somehow after the kids came, though, I seemed to lose my sense of time management + productivity. Then I found this FREE ebook of 75 Productivity Tips. Whether you are a working mom, WAHM, or a mom, these 75 tips can help you be more productive on the daily! Download the free 75 productivity tips now.
SiteGround: I had my domain name, hosting + email accounts with BlueHost. After a MAJOR problem with them, I searched for + found SiteGround. I find them to be affordable + to offer all the services I need to run my business online. WordPress hosting is not a problem + they offer good customer service when (+ if ) you need it. I highly recommend checking them out if you are starting a website or blog or looking to move from your existing host.
BONUS: If you buy a hosting plan with my link, send me the receipt + I’ll email you a FREE copy of my Mommy Business Blogging eBook ($27 value).
NameCheap: 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 + domain names at separate companies.
Grammarly: Sometimes you need a second set of eyes on the copy and content you write. Grammarly offers proofreading tools to help you catch misspellings + grammar mistakes. Grammarly also helps you to become a better writer overall by making suggestions on how to structure your sentences + paragraphs so it is easier for your visitors to read + easier for your readers to make a connection with you + your business.
Pinterest Ninja: I’ve had a tremendous amount of success using Pinterest for my blog. In fact, it’s the #1 source of traffic to my blog. I decided I need to really focus on Pinterest so I bought + read through Pinterest Ninja. I’ve been working back through it to implement the strategies. Since using the strategies I had TWO pins go viral within HOURS of pinning them!
Making Sense of Affiliate Marketing: I have dabbled in affiliate marketing over the years, but then I decided to get serious about it. I heard a lot about Michelle’s course Making Sense of Affiliate Marketing. I researched it online. I talked with other bloggers that had taken the course + then I invested in it. I devoured the entire course in one sitting in one night while I was reading in bed. I went back later module by module to implement the strategies, tools + advice that Michelle gives in the course. Check out Making Sense of Affiliate Marketing + save big now. BONUS: If you register for the course with my link, send me the receipt + I’ll email you a FREE copy of my Mommy Business Blogging eBook ($27 value).
Email List Building
Milotree: Milotree offers a pop-up that allows you to grow your social media followers on networks such as Pinterest, Instagram, YouTube + Facebook. As a BONUS, it also allows you to grow your email list so it is a pop-service that combines growing your following via email + on all your social media networks.
Sumo: 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 + accessible for people like me and you.
Mailerlite: 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. Save $20 if you go with a paid plan.
Building a Blog/Website
BlueChic: 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 wedding business. I also find their templates to be super affordable, easy to install + simple to personalize + customize to fit your mommy blog or business. BluChic also offers other types of templates so check them out to help you create your online brand + presence. BONUS: If you buy a template with my link, send me the receipt + I’ll email you a FREE copy of my Mommy Business Blogging eBook ($27 value).
A Prettier Web: If you’re building a WordPress website for your mommy blog or business 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. BONUS: If you buy a template with my link, send me the receipt + I’ll email you a FREE copy of my Mommy Business Blogging eBook ($27 value).
Restored 316: Restored 316 offers a variety of feminine WordPress themes, which is perfect for mommy bloggers or businesses. All of the themes are pretty affordable. If you’re looking for a custom design, Restored 316 offers custom site-building too.
BONUS: If you buy a template with my link, send me the receipt + I’ll email you a FREE copy of my Mommy Business Blogging eBook ($27 value).
WPBeaverBuilder: If you have a WordPress site or are starting to build a WordPress site then WPBeaverBuilder is a great tool for taking complete control of your website pages + design. It has WordPress page templates but you can also EASILY modify the page design so your site looks + works EXACTLY how you want it to! BONUS: If you invest in Beaver Builder with my link, send me the receipt + I’ll email you a FREE copy of my Mommy Business Blogging eBook ($27 value).
Social Media
Tailwind: Tailwind is a scheduler for your Pinterest pins. In fact, it is the ONLY scheduler for Pinterest. Pinterest + Tailwind are good buddies. I use Tailwind + I LOVE it. If you use my link, you get your first month of Tailwind for FREE + SAVE $15. If you’re not using Pinterest, start using it now. Pinterest is the second largest search engine (second only to Google).
Milotree: Milotree offers a pop-up that allows you to grow your social media followers on networks such as Pinterest, Instagram, YouTube + Facebook. As a BONUS, it also allows you to grow your email list so it is a pop-service that combines growing your following via email + on all your social media networks.
Recurpost: 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. 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 and Recurpost uses it over and over again). You can also schedule updates for one-time use. Recurpost is my crush. You can open a FREE account or use a paid plan.
Buffer: Buffer is a social media scheduling tool. You can add your social media accounts, create an update one time, and send it out into the social media universe. The main difference between Buffer and 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.) Try Buffer FREE for 14 days.
Loomly: 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.
Instagram: Alex Tooby is THE Instagram expert. She offers two courses to help you take your Instagram from ho-hum to wow. Her courses are Infamous to Influentialand Hashtag Hero. Check one or both out if you are looking to up your Instagram game.
Stock Photos
SC Stockshop: Mamas are always oooooo-ing and ahhhhhh-ing over my photos that I use for my blog posts, social media updates + Pinterest. SC Stockshop is one of the stock photo shops I use. If you want to pretty up your website, blog, or Instagram feed, check them out. Get 20 FREE styled stock images instantly.
Oh Tilly: Gorgeous stock photos are so hard to find! I refuse to pay for photos, but want them to look great as part of my blog posts or my teaser banners, or whatever! Oh Tilly is a great resource, with fab photos, and it’s free. Register on the site + she delivers FREE + FAB stock photos to you on a pretty regular basis. Sock away those photos + when you need one for something, start looking at the pics you have on hand. Download the ones you need, when you need them. She also has a paid plan. Grab 15 FREE photos today!
Design Tools
PicMonkey: I love this monkey! (Maybe I just like monkeys in general because I’m a MailChimp fan too.) I use PicMonkey to create my own “teaser” photos, banners, etc. You can edit a photo online, add text + add other embellishments. Again, you don’t have to be a design genius to figure this stuff out, but it can help you look like a genius when it comes to promoting your business.
Canva: Canva has some free pro layouts for various types of promos. Some are Instagram posts, PDF docs, FB cover photos, Twitter profile backgrounds + more. It offers some free layouts + embellishments + some are paid (I think they are like $1 for each one you use). Awesome way to create professional looking, well…almost anything.
Kids Party Supplies
Minted: I love minted birth announcements, stationery, kids’ birthday invitations + other invitation options. Minted offers one-of-a-kind type designs by independent artists. As a freelance writer + blogger, I love to be able to support other freelancers. Check out these designs by independent designers today.
Kids Clothes
Kids on 45th: With three girls, we have a need for a lot of clothes. I was shopping consignment sales to pick up (mostly) name brand stuff at bargain prices but how exhausting (+ sometimes annoying–you know with all the other people?)! Then, I found Kids on 45th. They ship the gently used (+sometimes new) clothes we need right to our doorstep for cheap + I don’t have to step foot in a store or a dressing room with all three girls. Try it out + save $10!
Babies
Honest Co. Diapers + Wipes Bundle: Diapers with adorable designs that I get to choose show up at my door along with 4 packs of wipes. The diapers + wipes are organic/natural/water-based so are good for my baby + good for the environment. AND I always have diapers + wipes on hand without having to go to the store to get them! Check out Honest Co. diapers + wipes bundle. Start your FREE trial of the subscriptions service.
- What New Working Moms Should Know
- Self-Care for Moms
- How to SEO a Blog
- Writing Copy Stinks
- How to Write an eBook to Make Money
- Resources + Recommendations for Mommin’ + Bloggin’
- The 5 Biggest Blogging Mistakes + Lessons Learned
- How to Start a Lifestyle Blog
- How to Use Content Marketing as a Mom Blogger
- How to Increase Blog Traffic Fast
- How to Increase Blog Traffic for Free
- How to Find Blog Ideas
- 5 Ways to Balance Life as a Work-From-Home Mom
- 7 Ways to Grow a Mom Blog in 2019
- How to Build an Amazing Mom Blog
- The Rise of the Work-at-Home Mom + How To Do It
- How I Grew My Facebook Group to Over 4k Members in 2 Years
- How to Start a Mom Blog
- Some of My Fave Marketing Blogs
- How You Can Boost Traffic To Your Mom Blog Today
- How to Use Pinterest for a Mom Blog
The 5 Biggest Blogging Mistakes + Lessons Learned
I started writing blog posts for clients full-time way back in 2008. After this, I started my own blogs, along with writing for clients.
I would LOVE to say that I did everything right + made a bunch of money right out of the gate, but that’s just not true.
While I did do a lot of things right, I also made a bunch of mistakes. The important thing is that I learned from those mistakes + used what I learned to make all of my blogs better as well.
So here are some of the biggest blogging mistakes I made at the beginning + the lessons I learned.
1. Not Having a Professionally Designed Site
It is so easy these days to put up a website. There are some free templates on WordPress + Square Space, even Wix. I use WordPress so I was using a free template for my website + blog.
The problem with this is that the template never truly represented my brand + my business (even though I could customize colors + fonts — to an extent). It didn’t function the way I needed it to, either, which was a big problem.
When I started using a Premium WordPress Template + then later had a designer custom design a site for me, it made a world of difference for me, my brand + my business.
If I had to do it again, at a minimum, I would have bought a Premium WordPress Theme + then had the company customize it to fit my needs.
2. Not Investing in Education
I was the Queen of why would I pay $297 (or whatever the price was) to learn this stuff when I Google here + Google there + spend the rest of my life until I retire finding all of the info I need?
Yeah, not smart at all.
I learned that being cheap was really expensive.
I wasted a lot of time, which cost me a lot of money.
Once I realized what a HUGE mistake I was making, I took courses like:
- Blog by Number
- Stupid Simple SEO (Open for enrollment in August)
- Making Sense of Affiliate Marketing
- Pinterest Ninja
OMG…tons + tons of expert information, tips, tricks, advice…everything I needed to truly take my blog + business to the next level — all in one place.
Seriously. I don’t know what I was waiting for or why I wasted so much time.
3. Choosing the Wrong Host
I started out with GoDaddy + had a good run with them. Then, the bottom fell out.
I switched to Bluehost + it was a disaster.
I switched to Siteground several years ago + I’ve never looked back. Pretty much 100% uptime, superior customer service, yeah, great.
4. Trying To Do It All Myself
Another HUGE mistake I made was trying to do it all myself. Not only when it came time to learn but also just trying to keep up with the amount of things I had to do to keep the blog running.
I started outsourcing + quick. OK…not so quick because I kept telling myself that I couldn’t afford to pay someone else to do “the things” for me (PLUS, I might be a teeny-tiny-weenie bit of a control freak.).
Similar to education, though, I realized that I was LOSING a ton of money by focusing on the tasks that weren’t actually making me money.
I hired a VA to take care of these tasks + now I focus almost solely on writing content.
5. Choosing to Be a Generalist
For years + years + years, I wrote for any industry that would hire + pay me to write for them.
The day I started writing for one niche, my business increased instead of decreased.
I made more money because I became a specialist instead of a generalist.
PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE, learn from all of my blogging mistakes so you don’t make the same ones, too!
- What New Working Moms Should Know
- Self-Care for Moms
- How to SEO a Blog
- Writing Copy Stinks
- How to Write an eBook to Make Money
- Resources + Recommendations for Mommin’ + Bloggin’
- The 5 Biggest Blogging Mistakes + Lessons Learned
- How to Start a Lifestyle Blog
- How to Use Content Marketing as a Mom Blogger
- How to Increase Blog Traffic Fast
- How to Increase Blog Traffic for Free
- How to Find Blog Ideas
- 5 Ways to Balance Life as a Work-From-Home Mom
- 7 Ways to Grow a Mom Blog in 2019
- How to Build an Amazing Mom Blog
- The Rise of the Work-at-Home Mom + How To Do It
- How I Grew My Facebook Group to Over 4k Members in 2 Years
- How to Start a Mom Blog
- Some of My Fave Marketing Blogs
- How You Can Boost Traffic To Your Mom Blog Today
- How to Use Pinterest for a Mom Blog
How to Start a Lifestyle Blog
Moms like me + like you LOVE to start a lifestyle blog so you can work from home, take care of your kiddos + make some money.
Am I right?
If you’re thinking about becoming a blogger, I’m going to walk you step-by-step through the process of starting a lifestyle blog.
What is a Lifestyle Blog?
Plain + simple, a lifestyle blog is a blog about daily life. While I blog a lot about blogging, I also blog a lot about daily life raising my three girls. I have a lifestyle blog.
You can have a lifestyle blog, too. You might want to carve out your niche in the world of lifestyle blogs. Maybe you’re a boy mom. Maybe you’re an organization expert so you want to blog about that. Maybe you have a child with autism or a learning disability so your blogging journey is a glimpse into what life is like for you + your child.
I can go on + on (but I won’t). I think you get the idea.
Benefits of Starting a Lifestyle Blog
Maybe, just maybe, you are scratching your head, wondering why in the free world you would want to start a lifestyle blog.
Here’s why:
- To make money (Yup, you can actually make 6+ figures with a lifestyle blog)
- You get to stay home with your kiddos
- You can travel with your family + still make income
Don’t get me wrong. Blogging is hard work. You’re not going to make money overnight. Some bloggers do start making a livable income within a few months of starting a lifestyle blog.
Some take years. Some never make any money.
The key to starting a successful lifestyle blog that allows you to do what you want to do + make money while doing it is to start out on the right foot.
Investing in your blog at the beginning can really set the right tone for your success. Investing in SEO courses like Mike Pearson’s Stupid Simple SEO, Suzi Whitford’s Blog by Number, Meghan Johnson’s Pinterest Ninja + Michelle Schroeder ‘s Making Sense of Affiliate Marketing was the turning point for me + my blogs.
After investing in + applying what I learned in these courses everything changed for the better for me, my blogs + my income.
Niche It to Rich It
Some people laugh when I say this but I wholeheartedly believe that choosing a niche — narrowing down the focus of a lifestyle blog to be as specific as possible — can end up making you a lot more money than being a generalist.
People say, “Oh but isn’t it better to reach more people with my blog than to alienate someone that might not fall in my niche?”
My answer is a resounding NO!
The more niche you can be, the more your focus is, the more of an expert you are + the more money you can make because everyone wants to work with the expert.
So the first thing you want to do when you decide to start a lifestyle blog is to choose a niche or a focus for your blog.
Pick a Domain Name
After you know what your lifestyle blog is going to be about, pick + buy a domain name. Try to pick a name that associates with your topic or brand. Mine is Girl Mom Chaos because I am blogging about parenting + raising girls. I also talk a lot about blogging + writing content since this is what I do for a living.
If you need to buy a 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 a lifestyle 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 them whether you are just starting a lifestyle blog or need to switch hosts.
In case you didn’t catch it already, I use + recommend you use WordPress to build your website + blog. WPEngine is another hosting option. You can get 3 months of hosting for free + you also get Genesis Framework + StudioPress themes for free.
Create a Logo
Next, you want to create a logo for your lifestyle blog. You can certainly do this yourself with a program like Canva. You can also hire a designer to create a logo for you.
I used a pre-made logo from Autumn Lane Paperie, which cost me $17.
This is my logo.
Pick a Premium WordPress Theme
Next, you want to pick a premium WordPress theme for your WordPress blog.
Generally speaking, you want to choose a theme that represents your blog topic + brand. You can hire a designer to create a custom design for you but this is the more expensive route.
You can also buy a premium theme + use it as is. You can also customize it as necessary with the designer you buy it from or by hiring a designer to do it for you.
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 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.
You can find premium themes but not pay a premium price.
Restored 316: Restored 316 offers a variety of premium + feminine WordPress themes, which is perfect for a lifestyle blog. 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 lifestyle blog. I also find their templates to be super affordable, easy to install + simple to personalize + customize to fit your lifestyle blog. BluChic also offers other types of templates (Canva social media templates + landing page templates) so check them out to help you create your online brand + presence.
How to Set Up a Lifestyle Blog
Now, that you have a domain, host, theme + logo, you’re ready to set up your lifestyle 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 lifestyle blog is now set up on your website.
Woot! Woot!
Now, you’re ready to start blogging.
How to Blog
Once you have your lifestyle blog up + running, its time to write blog posts + promote blog posts to attract the readers you want.
Suzi Whitford goes through the entire process of lifestyle blogging in her thorough course Blog By Number. She provides step-by-step instructions on how to blog, what to blog about, how to monetize your lifestyle blog, etc.
You can also check out these blog posts for more information on blogging.
- How to Find Blog Ideas
- How to Use Content Marketing as a Mom Blogger
- 5 Ways to Grow a Blog in 2019
- How to Increase Blog Traffic Fast
- How to Increase Blog Traffic for Free
- How to Boost Traffic to Your Mom Blog Today
- How to Use Pinterest for Your Mom Blog
- Mommy Business Blogging eBook
How to Make Money with a Lifestyle Blog
Once you have a lifestyle blog you can stay home to take care of your kiddos but how do you make money with a lifestyle?
The truth is the a lifestyle blog typically makes money from several different streams of income. So as you go through this list of ways, realize that you do not have to rely on just one way to expect it to make all of your income.
Sell a service
Probably one of the quickest ways you can make a buck (hopefully, more than a buck) is to offer a service. I offer my content + copy writing service.
Some lifestyle bloggers offer:
- Virtual assistant services
- Pinterest account management
- Social media management
- Design consultations
- Photography
- Organization services
- Graphic design
The service you provide can (+ should) relate to a skill you have — something you can offer to people that need it 🙂 Keep in mind, you can offer a virtual service or in-person service (or sometimes both as an option).
Sell a product
While you can create + sell a physical product, you can also create + sell information products, such as ebooks. After selling a service, selling a product is probably the second biggest way a lifestyle blog makes money.
An interior designer might create an ebook on how to decorate a home for those who do not want to hire her for her design service but instead want to do it on their own with professional advice.
A mom blogger might have a course on how to start, write for + promote blog posts, as well as make money from blogging.
Ana from The She Approach offers a bootcamp on how to create an ebook that you can sell + make money. She’s opening up her ebook bestselling bootcamp at the end of this month (July) so you can check that out for help.
Ana recently vacationed overseas + made $1,500 in ebook sales while she was away 🙂
Affiliate marketing
Instead of selling your own product or service, you can also make money by referring other people’s products or services. This even includes products on Amazon.
Affiliate marketing is when you refer a product or service. When the person makes a purchase from clicking on your affiliate link, you earn a commission or portion of the sale price.
This is another great way to make money without having to do 1:1 work or create your own products or services.
The master of affiliate marketing is Michelle Schroeder. Her course is Making Sense of Affiliate Marketing. Michelle is a financial blogger who makes 6 figures from her blog all while traveling year-round with her boyfriend.
Sponsored posts
Sponsored posts are another way to make money from a lifestyle blog. Companies pay bloggers to review or feature their product or service on their blog.
As a boy mom, a diaper company might approach you to give your honest opinion of their boy training pants. You can write an entire feature piece on your experience using their training pants.
Usually, you get the package of training pants (so the product) for free + they pay you to write + publish the blog post on your blog.
BONUS here is that you get fresh content for your blog without having to come up with a topic 🙂
This is just one of the multitude of examples of getting paid to write sponsored posts.
Ads
Those ads you see running along the sidebar of a blog or weaved into blog posts are another way to make money with a lifestyle blog. You can hand pick + feature ads. I do this on this blog, so that the appropriate ads show up + it’s ads for items that I use + recommend.
You can also go the route of Google Ads. It took me a few years (almost 2) to truly make money from Google Ads (I made almost $1,000 in less than 2 years).
You can also search out ad networks, such as Media Vine. You do have to have 25,000 sessions per month to get approval for an ad network like this but you can make more money than using Google Ads.
Start a Lifestyle Blog
So, are you ready to start a lifestyle blog?
Starting + running a lifestyle blog is a great way to do what you love while making money doing it.
So whether you have a desire to share your beauty tips, tips on decorating a home office or offering fashion advice, a lifestyle blog is right up your alley.
- What New Working Moms Should Know
- Self-Care for Moms
- How to SEO a Blog
- Writing Copy Stinks
- How to Write an eBook to Make Money
- Resources + Recommendations for Mommin’ + Bloggin’
- The 5 Biggest Blogging Mistakes + Lessons Learned
- How to Start a Lifestyle Blog
- How to Use Content Marketing as a Mom Blogger
- How to Increase Blog Traffic Fast
- How to Increase Blog Traffic for Free
- How to Find Blog Ideas
- 5 Ways to Balance Life as a Work-From-Home Mom
- 7 Ways to Grow a Mom Blog in 2019
- How to Build an Amazing Mom Blog
- The Rise of the Work-at-Home Mom + How To Do It
- How I Grew My Facebook Group to Over 4k Members in 2 Years
- How to Start a Mom Blog
- Some of My Fave Marketing Blogs
- How You Can Boost Traffic To Your Mom Blog Today
- How to Use Pinterest for a Mom Blog
How to Use Content Marketing as a Mom Blogger
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.
How to Create Graphic Content for Content Marketing
Adding photos to your blog content is like adding milk to your cereal. (Technically, photos are content too, so this might be an obvious one.)
Your posts are OK without visuals, but they are yummier with photos! Sooooooooooo many free + low-cost photo sites exist that you truly have no excuse for not adding at least one visually appealing photo to every post on your blog.
Here are a few of my faves:
SC Stockshop
offers beautifully styled stock photos with all different color options, layouts + topics. I use these styled stock photos all the time to add to my blog posts, create Pinterest pins + more. You can get 20 FREE styled stock images right now.Oh Tilly
: Gorgeous stock photos are so hard to find! I Oh Tilly is a great resource, with fab photos + it’s free. Register on the site + she delivers FREE + FAB stock photos to you on a pretty regular basis. Sock away those photos + when you need one for something, start looking at the pics you have on hand.Download the ones you need, when you need them. She also has a paid plan. Grab 15 FREE photos today!
You can also use these photos to create graphics for social media such as Instagram + Pinterest with a tool like Canva (also free or low-cost options).
Canva has some free pro layouts for various types of promos. Some are blog posts, Instagram posts, PDF docs, FB cover photos, Twitter profile backgrounds + more. It offers some free layouts + some are paid (I think they are like $1 for each one you use). Awesome way to create professional looking content of all types for content marketing.
PicMonkey is another option. I love this monkey! (Maybe I just like monkeys in general because I’m a MailChimp fan too.) I use PicMonkey to create my own “teaser” photos, banners, blog post graphics + more.
You can edit a photo online, add text + add other embellishments. Again, you don’t have to be a design genius to figure this stuff out, but it can help you look like a genius when it comes to content marketing your mom blog.
How to Promote A Blog Using Content Marketing
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.
- Head on over to your fave search engine.
- Conduct a search on the topic of your article.
- 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.)
- Once you’re in your snip.ly account, paste the link to the article you found + click the snip button.
- Fill in the popup box info + hit create.
Does Size Matter in Blog Content Marketing
When you sit down to write a blog post, you’re likely wondering if a short post is better or if a longer blog post is the way to go with content marketing.
There are two main schools of thought on whether a blog post should be short or long.
1. Blog Posts Should be Short
Some think, my readers are busy. They have short attention spans, so they don’t pay attention for longer than about 20 seconds (maybe even less).
I have to shove this information down their throat..do it quick…+ get them to do what I want them to do.
It’s not a wrong thought process + one the advertising world has been using for DECADES.
2. Blog Posts Should be Long
Maybe you’re thinking, “Define long.”
Fair enough.
Long is typically copy of 1,000 to 2,500+ words. This school of thought has a valid point. When someone is looking for information on a topic, they want to come to one place, get all the info they need.
Truth be told, search engines like Google LOVE long content too.
Studies show that the best results for rankings with Google in 2019 are blog posts or pages that have at least 1,705 words. (That’s at least 1,705 words, which means more words can mean even better rankings.)
When you think about it, it’s pretty hard to cram a lot of quality content into the average 500-word blog post. It generally takes quite a bit more words (more detail) to truly provide the quality content that moms + Google are looking for.
So, which is the right choice?
It depends.
What does it depend on?
I am so glad you asked.
#1 Audience: Who You Want to Attract
It depends on the mamas or the peeps you are trying to attract. Some are information hounds. They crave info. They seek it out. They devour it when they discover it.
(I would say that generally speaking MOST moms fall into this category but it’s not all of them, of course, so you have to determine what kind of mamas fall in the category that you’re trying to attract.)
Others are time starved + don’t have time to belabor every, little word you put in your blog post. So, first, you have to know who you’re dealing with on the other end of your words.
The best way to figure this out is to ask them + to test out the length of your blog posts to see which performs better. You can view your site stats to see which of your blog posts get more traffic.
It’s easy to see if these are ones that are shorter or longer in length.
Tim Brown, the owner of The Hook Agency, goes into detail about how to determine which length of blog posts is your best performers in his article, “How long should a blog post be in 2019 for SEO purposes?”
#2 The Info: What Information You’re Sharing
Another factor is the type of information you’re sharing. Some information requires details — a ton of information. Some doesn’t.
My school of thought + the one it seems search engine optimization is leaning toward, is to write so that it covers the subject at hand + forget about how many words it is.
If it takes you 495 words to share, great! If it takes you 2,014 words, then that’s great too! Maybe even better since the minimum length for SEO this year is 1,705 words.
#3 What Your Competition is Doing
Spy on your competition. Google the keyword you’re trying to rank for with your blog post. Find out what your competitors (other bloggers, not huge authority sites) are saying + how many words it’s taking them to say it.
Your goal is to make your content better + longer than your competition so that your blog post has a change to rank higher than your competition.
- What New Working Moms Should Know
- Self-Care for Moms
- How to SEO a Blog
- Writing Copy Stinks
- How to Write an eBook to Make Money
- Resources + Recommendations for Mommin’ + Bloggin’
- The 5 Biggest Blogging Mistakes + Lessons Learned
- How to Start a Lifestyle Blog
- How to Use Content Marketing as a Mom Blogger
- How to Increase Blog Traffic Fast
- How to Increase Blog Traffic for Free
- How to Find Blog Ideas
- 5 Ways to Balance Life as a Work-From-Home Mom
- 7 Ways to Grow a Mom Blog in 2019
- How to Build an Amazing Mom Blog
- The Rise of the Work-at-Home Mom + How To Do It
- How I Grew My Facebook Group to Over 4k Members in 2 Years
- How to Start a Mom Blog
- Some of My Fave Marketing Blogs
- How You Can Boost Traffic To Your Mom Blog Today
- How to Use Pinterest for a Mom Blog
How to Increase Blog Traffic Fast
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.
- What New Working Moms Should Know
- Self-Care for Moms
- How to SEO a Blog
- Writing Copy Stinks
- How to Write an eBook to Make Money
- Resources + Recommendations for Mommin’ + Bloggin’
- The 5 Biggest Blogging Mistakes + Lessons Learned
- How to Start a Lifestyle Blog
- How to Use Content Marketing as a Mom Blogger
- How to Increase Blog Traffic Fast
- How to Increase Blog Traffic for Free
- How to Find Blog Ideas
- 5 Ways to Balance Life as a Work-From-Home Mom
- 7 Ways to Grow a Mom Blog in 2019
- How to Build an Amazing Mom Blog
- The Rise of the Work-at-Home Mom + How To Do It
- How I Grew My Facebook Group to Over 4k Members in 2 Years
- How to Start a Mom Blog
- Some of My Fave Marketing Blogs
- How You Can Boost Traffic To Your Mom Blog Today
- How to Use Pinterest for a Mom Blog
