Many people know me as a “blog therapist“, someone who helps others with their blogs. Whether its’ to create a new blog from scratch, or to rebrand/re-vamp an existing blog, my job is all about helping women (yes, only women!) create beautiful blogs that shine with their passions and purpose. I love my job, and the many clients I’ve worked with.
Some of my blog clients, women-owned brands, blogs and online communities
Much of what I’ve gone through in my last five years of blogging has been documented on my blog. You can say I blog about blogging, and always seek out better ways to create and manage truly useful blogs. I don’t know everything and I don’t claim to; I’m forever studying this evolving form of media.
But what I have learned so far is valuable:
Blogging has helped me to stay at home and be a hands-on-yet-working-mom. I do most of my work at home, from my little workspace (which I shared before on Glam-o-Mamas). My meetings are over Skype; my work days are pretty flexible; my community is mostly online. Thanks to blogging, I really have enough time to be with my young son, whom I’ve decided to homeschool at least until the end of his preschool years.
Blogging has also helped me in my parenting journey. I can say that most of the mom-friends I’ve made the past five years have been because of blogging. Many of my first readers have become dear friends, yes, offline. I can talk to them like regular people, not as blog commenters and followers. I can commiserate with them when they have parenting problems and concerns, because we can relate with one another, we can support each other. This is what I love most about the blogging world: The community, the relationships.
I’ve also learned that it’s also not easy being a blogger. I’ve learned that I will never please everybody, and I shouldn’t aim to do so. Depending on your reach and response level, some people will hate on you for your blog, even criticize you and talk behind your back. Well, life’s really like that, isn’t it? You won’t be able to please everybody, especially if you blog about how you run your household or what food you give your kids. I’ve been personally “attacked” as a blogger because I “mixed diapered” i.e. I used cloth diapers and disposable ones, interchangeably. Yes, really! (As if there’s anything wrong with “making things work,” right?)
Yes, you definitely need to consider many things when starting a blog.
I always tell women that blogging can help you to do several things:
Help you tell a story, whether it’s about your life, worldview, or beliefs;
Help you build a community, around an idea, around a business;
To market your business, your book, or a product;
To share your skills and gifts — photographers, artists, designers, coaches use blogging this way;
To make a living — which is true for professional bloggers who have made their blogs sustainable, profit-generating platforms
Whatever your reason for starting a blog, understand that all of the reasons listed above require time and an investment in quality content. You can use your blog as a “catalyst to live your best life,” as one of my mentors says, but only if you put in the effort. You can make blogging and your family life harmoniously, but only if you keep your priorities clear, especially if you have a family! You can make blogging your best asset in building a community and following that supports your business, but only if you are willing to learn the art of great relationships and meaningful connections.
Blogging is what you make it. So make it good, make it blissful.
Now, What questions do you have? Let’s talk about it in the comments.