If you’re a fellow mum considering venturing into the blogging world, you may be unsure where to start, or perhaps you’re wondering how you can find time to work from home when you have children.
With that in mind, I thought I would share with you some of the tips and tricks that I’ve learnt from working at home as a blogger while also being a busy mum.
Create A Workspace
Before we get into the details, I cannot over stress the importance of having your own set working area. Whether this is an office, a desk in the corner of the living room, or even just a chair you pull up to the kitchen worktop, create a small work space that is just for you. This helps to set boundaries, reduce interruptions and boost productivity, as when you go to this area, it signals to your family that it’s time for you to work.
Keep Costs Low
I think there’s a misconception that running a blog costs nothing and although I wish that was the case, it’s simply not true. The costs of running a blog may include: your laptop or computer, internet and utility bills, furnishing your workspace, and fees for your hosting and domain name. If you choose to work with guest bloggers, you’ll also have to deal with invoices; if you review items you may have to make regular payments to a courier like TNT. And there’s also other general business administration costs, such as printing and bookkeeping.
Running a blog can cost more than you realise, so it’s important to start out with a realistic budget and try to keep overheads as low as possible.
What to Write About?
There are thousands of blogs focussing on every topic you could imagine, from parenting and lifestyle, to the utterly bizarre. When deciding on your niche, it’s a good idea to consider three things: What do you know? What do you like? And will people want to read about it? Choosing a subject you enjoy and know a lot about will make it easier to come up with new posts, keeping your blog exciting and relevant.
Creating Your Blog
This is the bit you’re probably most eager to get to: starting your blog. There are many options here, so you may have to do a little research to find out which is best for you.
When first starting out, there are sites that offer free blogs, but they often come with limited space. This means that as your blog starts to grow, you may need to upgrade to premium services. In addition, there are also many different website hosting companies out there (who will host your blog for a monthly fee), and you may have to pay for your blog’s domain name, too.
Marketing is Important
Marketing is all about helping to increase the number of visitors your blog receives, so it’s essential if you want to make your blog your full-time job. You can do this for free through Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest.
It’s also important to make sure that your blog is optimised for search engines, as this will make your blog and its content easier to find. This means using carefully chosen headings and keywords, writing well structured posts and also posting on a regular basis. Don’t worry, it’s a lot easier than it sounds!
Starting a blog can be a confusing process but I hope these tips will help you on your way. The important thing is to take your time, do your research and breathe. I did it and you can, too.
Leave a Reply