Sorry, but I refuse to call it “mommy blogging”.
The term - especially as we’ve heard it used over the last week - is too often said with a disrespectful
tone.
Mom blogging and blogging as a business in any niche is HARD.
But it is also the most unique and amazing way to design a
completely customized lifestyle to match your family’s needs.
Running a business is never easy.
It’s completely different than
having a job where someone else worries about the bottom line and you just put in your hours and get a pay check at the end of the month.
There is not enough time to do everything you want/need to do for your business, your family and yourself.
That’s why I haven’t been able to email you regularly on Tuesdays as I’ve wanted to.
Sometimes the tasks you have to prioritize are the ones that pay the bills and have hard deadlines
attached.
You may have seen the recent rant of a particular mom blogger who decided to quit blogging and, on her way out, bash the industry as a whole.
Similar to Dooce's post about quitting blogging, she complained that sponsored posts can mean you have to write a blog post and take photos on days you don’t feel like smiling.
Personally, I remember having to smile at every other job I’ve had in the past even if I was in a bad mood.
By the way, the solution to that problem...
Only take on campaigns that fit your schedule and your family’s situation and then attempt your photoshoot ahead of the deadline so that if it’s not working out, you simply try again the next day.
If
the photos are for an on-location event or vacation, chances are you’d be asking your kids to smile for the camera anyway.
If your kids are acting spoiled and complaining about photos, explain to them how taking photos and writing
about your experience is part of the family business. But if they'd prefer to not be in the photos, they don't have to be.
Then cut back on review samples you’re giving your kids and consider adjusting the campaigns you accept so that they don't focus on children.
Remember, blogging as a woman with kids does NOT mean you have to write about or photograph your kids.
You can create the type of blog you
want.
Janice’s son is now a 14 year old boy and, as a typical teenage boy, he doesn't usually want to be in photographs or blog posts. We respect his wishes.
Are they always perfect during those photoshoots and videos?
NO!!!
Those photoshoots and video shoots can be tough and
stressful. Just as anyone who has arranged a family photoshoot with a professional has likely experienced, trying to get more than one child to smile for a series of photographs is often difficult.
But, even if there are bumps along the way getting the photos or videos we want, our girls are always excited to see their shots, read the blog posts and get ready for the next
campaign.
The key is evolving your blog to match your situation, your passions and your goals.
We have an awesome group of long term “mom”
blogging friends who have been in this industry with us for the last decade. All of our blogs have evolved into varied niches and are completely different from each other - but all are hugely successful.
Here are just 10 of our
friends’ blogs that show the various niches of “mom blogs” and what successful bloggers are doing right now to build awesome businesses.
It’s always tough to list a selection of blogs because you’re leaving so many out… but I feel it’s important to show you the variety of niches within the wide net of “mom
blogs”.
I’m cutting the list off at 10 but I could go on and on showing you fabulous “mom blogs” that represent all sorts of niches and bring in good incomes to support the hard working women behind them.
These are all bloggers who have been working hard for several years - most over a decade. The list is in alphabetical order.
As you can see from all of these blogs, the power to customize and create your own business and lifestyle is
liberating.
It’s incredibly hard work and some days we feel like quitting.
Just like motherhood is both the greatest blessing and
the hardest job, blogging as a business is phenomenally challenging but absolutely worth the work.