10 Mistakes Mommy Bloggers Make
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You know those mommies at the playground who look like they have it all figured out and you find yourself thinking, “What’s she got that I ain’t got?” Those mommies exist in the blogosphere, too.
They make blogging look so easy. They write one measly post about some funny thing their kid did or said and they get double or triple digit comments. Take a different mommy blogger with the similar silly story and nothing, zip, zilch, nada comments. What’s the difference?
Here are ten missteps in mommy blogging that can make the difference between a comment box full of love and a comment box full of chirping crickets.
10. Not posting enough
You’ve got to keep your blog fresh. Blogging is a commitment. If you want comments and regular readers, you’ve got to keep them coming back for more with regular posts.
9. Posting too much
Posting too often doesn’t give your readers a chance to comment. It sends the message to your readers that you don’t care what they think and you’re moving on to the next topic.
Posting to your blog once a day may be too much to ask of a busy mommy blogger, once a week is too little, three to four posts a week seems to be the magic number for the most successful mommy bloggers.
8. Bad template
Make sure your blog is easy to read and navigate. Is your text too small? Is it hard to read the lime green text on the coral pink background? Do you have an obnoxious playlist? Is it clearly marked where your readers “click” to comment? Is it overcrowded with adware? Your blog is your virtual home on the Internet. Make it a nice place for people to visit.
7. Not commenting on other mommy blogs
If you want to get, you’ve got to give. It’s a “you scratch my back, I’ll scratch yours” kind of thing. You can start by finding mommy bloggers with similar interests such as photography, cooking, or working out. Searching out mommy bloggers with kids the same age as yours also gives you instant compatibility. Don’t worry about commenting on someone else’s blog that you don’t know. Bloggers are in the business of comments. If they didn’t want comments, they would turn off their comment box or make their blog private.
6. Writing too much about junior
We all know you have a cute kid. We all know that he walked early, talked early, potty trained early, and balances your checkbook. Can we hear about something else already? You were an interesting person (or maybe not) before you were a mom, share some of your own interests outside of mommyhood. We know you are proud mommy, but change up the topic a little. A daily brag rag of junior’s accomplishments gets old really fast.
5. Whining too much
Mommy blogging allows moms to not feel so isolated. It’s not hard to find another mommy out there in the blogosphere who is sharing the same thoughts and feelings that you are. I know many a mommy who has found comfort, solace, and sisterhood through sharing her burdens on her blog. That being said, this should be a once in a while occurrence. Mamas have their own drama. Don’t make your blog your Kleenex.
4. No pictures
It may seem voyeuristic, but your readers want to see pictures of your life. If you are afraid of putting yourself out there too much, maybe blogging isn’t for you. Just like any good news story has footage to go with it, any good post is made better with pictures.
3. Ignoring your readers
A good mommy blogger asks her readers for their thoughts. Share your anecdote, story, or complaints and then ask your readers a direct question, i.e. How would they have handled the misbehaving tot on your play date? What do they think of your new highlights? Which detergent is better for getting out formula stains? If you don’t want other people’s opinion, keep a diary.
2. Not networkin’ it
Successful mommy blogs network with other moms. The easiest way to do this is to have a “blog roll.” A blog roll is a list of other bloggers on your sidebar that you read. This makes it easy for their readers to find you and your readers to find them. Also, join mommy blogger web rings. This makes it easy for moms with similar interests to link to each other. BlogHer, with its coinciding adware, is arguably the grandmammy of them all.
1. Not keeping it real
I like to call this the “Pottery Barn Mistake.” Even if every item in your home is from Pottery Barn, if you live with kids, your house will not always look like the picture in the catalog.
Real life has its ups and downs. Visitors will lose interest fast in a blog that reads too much like an advertisement for your perfect home and perfect family. Don’t be afraid to be vulnerable, relatable and honest with your readers. Your sincerity will pay off in comments.
What’s that mommy blogger got that you ain’t got? Nothing…she’s just got it.
Don’t yet have a blog and want to start one? Checkout our Blogging 101 Guide for the Beginning Blogger. Then, make sure to let us know. We’d love to make you a part of Colorado’s largest community for mommy bloggers!
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All right, if you want more pictures, you got ‘em.
Well you got me thinking. I’ll get the camera out more.
got the picture thing down, but can see other areas that may need a bit of improvement.
thanks for the insight and help.
http://www.pedalingfast.blogspot.com
Is my blog still cool, even if I am not a mommy?
I think those are all great tips!! So how come you never comment on my blog?? ;)
Yeah, I’m with Tori! Admittedlly I’m kinda new so still learning the ropes. Been doing most of what you suggest and will work on the rest. Thanks!
great tips for newbies and great reminders for those of us who’ve been around for a while! :)
thanks,
amy
http://crunchydomesticgoddess.com
Great tips! I so agree with you! :)
Here’s my very favorite line (it cracked me up!):
“…the difference between a comment box full of love and a comment box full of chirping crickets”
Great tips! Although I don’t consider my blog to be a “mommy blog” I do follow most of these tips :)
http://www.utahtib.blogspot.com
Love the suggestions! I really enjoy seeing bloggers link to one another’s posts – ones that particularly interested them, made them laugh, or touched their hearts. Linky Love at its finest!
http://www.thornytreelady.blogspot.com
The blueberries are just for you, my dear.
Very well said! However, I do just say how it is and if they don’t like it, they don’t have to read it. :)
Okay Annie, I graded myself. Here’s what I think. I think I pass on #10-7
I don’t think so on 6–
So help me if you think I whine too much—you’d tell me, wouldn’t you
I could add more pictures, I know…
I’m very good at asking for feedback.
A big fat fail on the networking business.
I think I keep things real.
Okay, my guru, this is your one shot to tell me where I’m failing-just email me, though, would ya? I don’t want to be grilled in public :)
10 excellent tips for new and old bloggers.
It’s all about keeping it real =)
Even worse than writing too much about junior is writing too much about the family pet. At least junior’s range of activity extends beyond shaking hands, rolling over and getting into stuff.
I’ve stopped reading more than a few blogs because the author seems to think the world can’t get enough of Spot or Kitty or whatever.
In fact, if I ever started my own blog, its tagline would read “I will NEVER write about my dog.”
Annie, this is great!
I still can’t bring myself to do a blogroll.
You always keep things fresh and light.
nice post, annie. as usual!
All good tips!
I’ve met the most amazing people through blogging, and to think I just started doing this for myself…a way to chronicle our adventures. The community I found in the process is amazing.
I’m popping new blogs into my GoogleReader every day, so it is OUT of control. :) I stopped using a blogroll a while ago because I didn’t want to leave anyone out, but it was getting too hard to manage. (I have found that “sharing” on GoogleReader is a neat way to alert others of cool posts from other bloggers, etc.)
This was a great post! :)
When I first started blogging I was able to post several times a week. Now, not so much. I have strong perfectionistic qualities that I am trying to overcome. You can only do so much, right?
What has worked best for me, is trying not to care too much if people I comment on don’t always comment back. I scratch a lot of backs, and don’t get a lot back. I comment on blogs of people I know and enjoy, and on some blogs, if they are getting a lot of comments already, I feel free to lurk a little. It lightens my stress some.
Excellent words of blogger wisdom
Excellent post!! Thanks for the tips—you have a lot of insight.
Great tips. I have made some good friends through blogging.
3maamsandtheirguy.blogspot.com
http://www.3maamsandtheirguy.blogspot.com
Let me try this again….
http://www.3maamsandtheirguy.blogspot.com
As someone contemplating starting a blog, it is good to see this advice before I get started. It helps me evaluate the time commitment in creating a good blog, not just throwing something out there.
Great tips! It’s funny because I get asked a lot how I get so many comments and followers. I never know what to answer. I don’t have a clue why people come and read my blog. I read this post and found myself nodding my head through the whole thing. You described perfectly why I visit some blogs and have stopped visiting others. I’d add one more if I could…and that is “posts that are too long” sometimes I go to a bog and see these HUGE long posts of nothing but words and think…I don’t have time for this! Keeping it short and simple makes me want to stay to read the whole thing and then leave a comment. Thanks for the tips. Great post!
http://www.momontherun.net
Great post! There are definitely some mistakes I’ve been making – ie: blogging e too often. I have noticed through stats that there are some days of the week i get more traffic, like Thursdays.
Wow, cool list! I found you from Pedaling! Glad I did! I got some work to do!
I Love this article!
I still struggle with the blogroll, though. I think if I only put up blogs that I really like and read I would probably offend more than one person. If I put up blogs I don’t really read that doesn’t seem very honest. What’s your opinion on that?
Great write-up, Annie.
I am fairly new to blogging (4 months) so I have lots to learn. I just found Facebook.
Oh, and the Examiner just took me on and they’ll show me diggit and so on. I’ts a whole new world out there.
True – dat.
to add to my to do list:
blog more than once a month
comment on other’s blogs.
got it!
What a great post. Just what I needed for the start of a new year of Blogging. Since I am headed into my 3rd year of blogging. I have been thinking about what I want from my blog. Would love others opinions right now on how to improve. Even asked the question recently to my readers. I am going to link this post, if you don’t mind. I want to share the great information.
Jenny at simplyafamily.blogspot.com
Great post. Thanks, annie.
I have found I have gotten the best responses from posts that I was a little scared to put out there. And while you don’t want the deep thinking every day, it is nice to feel that human connection.
Great tips! And look at all the comments!
I will err on the side of not posting if it comes down to me basically sharing my grocery list or something. Content needs to be fresh and meaningful.
Great blog post! Thanks for the info- I really learned some useful stuff! Yes I agree about the networking and posting on other blogs- sometimes the posting on other blogs gets pushed aside- now I know I need to make it a priority! Would it be ok if I posted this article on my blog with all due credit of course!
Thanks!
http://www.techtalkformoms.blogspot.com/
http://www.livebornfit.blogspot.com/
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Thanks so much for this – it was well timed for me and my supposed-to-be-funny blog that I just started. I will check out some of these mom blogs for inspiration.
http://www.letmesmellyourbutt.typepad.com
Great tip for new bloggers!!
Thanks for the information…I will keep in mind for my blog so I don’t do this kind of mistake!!!
Thanks for the post, i enjoyed reading it. blogging is not as easy as many think it is, it’s hardwork. any how thanks.