There has never been a better time in history to be a parent. For first time mothers and fathers trying to navigate the tricky task of raising a child, there are countless sources of parenting advice and support. There are pre- and post-natal classes, support groups, daycare centers, and a wealth of YouTube tutorials telling you how to do everything from breastfeeding to changing dirty nappies.
But one of the most popular sources of parenting tips is blogs. There are thousands of mom and dad blogs out there, full of tips and tricks that the bloggers have gained firsthand from their own experience as parents. Who better to turn to for help than someone who has been through it all before? If you’re unsure of the best way to reprimand a naughty child or convince them to eat their vegetables, simply type your query into Google and pick from one of the many blog articles explaining how to do just that.
The best thing about these blogs is that they are usually written by everyday people. Sure, some of them may be child counselors or pediatricians but for the most part they are just regular mothers and fathers without any technical training or qualifications in childcare. You don’t have to be an expert to start a parenting blog.
If you are tempted to start up your own blog, don’t be dissuaded by the large number of parenting websites out there. Your story and experience are unique and you can no doubt provide value to all the struggling parents out there. Perhaps you’re not a writer or you have no idea how to build a website. Fortunately, these obstacles are easy to overcome with a little help, and if you follow these eight steps, your parenting blog will be up and running in no time at all.
Pick a niche
The first step to starting a blog is to decide what it’s going to be about. You know you want to write about parenting, but if you want your blog to be noticed, it’s a good idea to have a more specific niche. Use your interests and passions to help steer your blog in a certain direction. Perhaps you could make yours a food blog about feeding children and creating delicious family meals? Or alternatively it could have a fitness focus to do with staying active as a new parent.
Come up with a name
Now that you have decided on your blog subject, you should now choose a name that reflects this focus. A good name is crucial to any blog as it helps to catch the reader’s attention as well as telling them what it is all about. Take a look at some of the most popular parenting blogs for inspiration.
Get the right equipment
It may be possible to create and maintain a blog entirely from your smartphone, but it’s not the most practical solution. A good laptop is an essential tool for any respectable blogger, as it gives you enough storage and processing power to accomplish any task, while also being portable enough to work wherever you choose. If photos are a big part of your blog you will need a high-quality camera, whether it’s part of your smartphone or a separate DSLR. If you need more storage for photos and videos, there are plenty of cloud solutions that can give you more space.
Choose a blogging platform
Now comes the technical part. In order to create your website, you need a blogging platform on which to host it. If you’re not very technically-minded, you might be feeling a little nervous right now, but don’t fear. The most popular platforms, such as WordPress and Wix, are incredibly easy and intuitive to use. They provide website templates that you just need to feel with words and pictures, with step by step instructions and full technical support in case you get into trouble. Although there are free blogging platforms out there, you will most likely be unable to monetize your blog this way. If you aim to make money through ads and sponsored posts, you will need to pay for a platform such as WordPress.
Choose a domain name
Choose a domain nameAs well as a platform to host your blog, you also need a web host and a domain name. Your domain name is simply the URL of your website, so this should resemble the name of your blog to avoid confusion. Web hosts, such as Bluehost, offer a variety of pricing plans depending on the user’s needs so consider how much storage and support you’ll require when you make your decision.
Design your blog
You now have your own blog. Great job! It will be looking a little blank at the moment so now it’s time to create your design. Unless you have some web design skills, the easiest way to build your blog is to use a template. There is a huge selection to choose from, and you can customize the layout, colors, and fonts however you like. Remember that the design you choose will essentially be your brand, so make sure you are happy with it before you go live.
Start writing
Now all that’s left is to create your first post. Ideally, you will have a backlog of posts already written in the beginning so you have plenty of content to populate your site. If you want your content to be discovered and read, it should be succinct and punchy while providing plenty of value to parents. If you’re not much of a writer, the best thing you can do is to practice. Make writing an integral part of each day, whether it’s crafting new blog posts, drafting emails, or putting your thoughts down in a journal. Over time you will become much more fluent and confident in your writing abilities.
Promote yourself
It might take a while to build up a large following, so you need to know how to promote your blog to the parenting world. Social media is essential for this. Most parents use Facebook and Instagram, but you may also wish to use platforms like Twitter and TikTok as well. Eventually, you will draw people in and start reaching a wider audience.