How to start a parenting blog

If you’re here, you’ve probably heard about how starting a parenting blog can be cathartic, a creative outlet and even more a way to earn a living from home by working online. It seems like the holy grail but it is possible. This post will take you through the basics of starting a blog and then how to set it up to make money from.

It’s easy to start and make it look pretty, but it does take work to maintain and promote and gain readers. I really enjoy the whole process: writing, creating images, doing the photography, networking and promoting, and of course social media! It’s given me loads of opportunities that I wouldn’t normally have had plus lots of nice things – they aren’t free, I write a review in return which takes time and effort. I like to do a good job for the client, especially if I’ve enjoyed using the product. If I haven’t or thought there were negatives which are rare, I’ll point out to the brand or PR what I think and will say so in my review.

I also make money from sponsored campaigns with brands and PRs, and guest posts. This is possible in two ways: brands want exposure through your audience and social media followers, and then others want to use your website authority (also known as domain authority) to link to so they can make their website more authoritative and rank higher in search engines.

It’s also given me a platform to educate in my area of expertise – Midwifery, breastfeeding and early days parenting, along with blogging of course. One of my most popular posts is How to settle your newborn in their own bed at night, and midwives and doulas all liked my post You know you’re an on call Midwife when… On a more personal note, I’ve managed to write a book which tells my story of love and loss in The Gift I couldn’t keep, which is something I’ve always wanted to do. I discovered I love writing reviews, and since I started doing them, they’ve always been well received.

So if you’re thinking of starting your own parenting blog which you intend to make money from, or monetise as it’s called in the business world, here is my step by step guide.

1. Find your perfect blog name and register the domain. There are plenty of free platforms to blog if you just want to hobby blog (e.g wordpress.com, blogspot, wix etc.), but if you’re serious about it becoming your business then you need to register a domain name. I started with a free platform on WordPress then bought a domain name through them, then went self-hosted. I have both the .co.uk and the .com for each of my websites so I have secured the domains. The .co.uk ones are parked domains, so if people type in midwifeandlife.co.uk they immediately get redirected to midwifeandlife.com, and the same for my other domains. The cost varies depending on what you choose and who you go with, but it shouldn’t be more than £15-20 per year. The .com and .co.uk domains are the most popular and get taken first, there are plenty of other endings you can have but it’s always beneficial to have the .com and .co.uk. I also have two more blogs through my host Lyrical host.
2. Choose a web host. I host all three of my websites (this one, parentbloggingsecrets and midwifeandlife and homemadeshakes) through Lyrical Host, a UK company with really good support and they’re very reasonably priced. I pay £14.99 a month which covers all my sites.  I am no web designer or technical guru, and the support you get with Lyrical host is second to none. It’s family-run and you actually know the people you’re talking to. It comes with a supportive Facebook group, loads of resources, and free courses to help you on your way. You can get 10% off any hosting package through my discount quoting SECRETS10 when you check out. They will also help you set up your theme and install WordPress software for you. I originally started blogging on the WordPress free platform as I had no idea what would happen with it if I’d known I’d have gone the ‘self-hosted’ route from the start, because it gives you so much more freedom to monetise, plus you get taken more seriously by brands. If they see your blog with .wordpress.com at the end they won’t choose you – not always, I still got some review opportunities when I wrote on the free platform, but no sponsored posts, plus when I changed over it was like looking at HD after watching analogue! You’ll save yourself a hassle if you start off self-hosted. If you just want a blog for keeping a diary and a record, then I would recommend starting with free web hosting. Lyrical host also have some really good free resources you should definitely check out.
3. Pick a theme – once you’ve set up your website you’ll need a theme. There are loads of free themes on WordPress to choose from to start, they’ll often lure you in with a flash preview but then you find to get that look you need to upgrade. Have a play around and see what you like best. They’re relatively easy to customise and get the look you want. When you’re self-hosted you can pay to use an external theme, I’ve had a couple of different ones, my current one is Elle Blog theme by City House Design form Creative Market. It’s very reasonably priced and simple to install. The owner is always happy to be contacted too. Creative Market has other themes too on offer. There are also loads of pretty themes on offer from Etsy, choose wisely if you’re paying, some of them require adding plugins and a knowledge of coding, something I have minimal knowledge of. If a theme needs a genesis framework, you need to buy that separately.
4. Find your ‘niche’ – this gets bandied about a lot in the blogging world, the narrower the niche the better the audience and the more targeted the ads, therefore you get a higher conversion rate. It’s better to have 1000 targeted readers than 5000 that don’t engage. I used to be broader but now I stick to new parenting and pregnancy, and this site is purely for blogging tips and related content.
5. Get writing! Creating great, shareable content is what gets you noticed. You may also want to pitch to brands if there are any particular ones you want to work with.
6. Research. I spend lots of time reading blogging tips, mostly on Pinterest, or from fellow bloggers, there’s a wealth of posts out there. The blogging community is super friendly and we’re always sharing tips and passing on information. Join my parent blogger Facebook group here.
7. Join the community. There are a number of Facebook groups which have been invaluable to me, I’ve ‘met’ lots of lovely people who I now count as friends. They also often share opportunities for paid posts and reviews, plus PRs and brands often recruit from them. My favourites are UK Bloggers, UK Parent Bloggers, and UK Blogger Opportunities There are also groups specifically to reciprocally share your posts, tweets, etc. which can give you a boost. Talk to other bloggers, share each other’s content, and guest post on other’s sites. Comment on other people’s blogs, and get noticed. Participate in link-ups.
8. Social media. Sign up for social media accounts in at least the big 4 – Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest with your blog name and get networking and sharing. Don’t forget LinkedIn, if you’re already on it, add that you’re a blogger and share your relevant content. Tik Tok is fast becoming a staple too. You can get inspired by other content creators and download your favourites to recreate in your own style by using a downloader like the one from YeetDL.
9. Join blogging directories and sites relevant to your niche. I’m on mumsnet, netmums, pickablogger, tots100, parentblogger rise, activate by bloglovin, sheknows and probably some more I can’t remember! Tots100 also has Food, travel and homes and interiors sections and are an important ranking tool for some brands. Since I started I’ve seen my rank climb from 1000 something to start with to now 248, it fluctuates, and I’ve worked with them on campaigns such as this one for Supernanny.
10. Sign up to affiliate marketing programmes. Almost everything can be linked to as an affiliate,  it means if someone clicks on your link or an ad on your site and buys something,  you get a commission and the buyer doesn’t pay any extra. Effectively the brand pays you for driving the sale. I use AWIN, which has loads of well-known brands, eBay partner network, and Amazon associates. Affiliate window charges £5 but that goes back on your balance and you get a payout when you reach the payment threshold, I’ve already made mine back. You can also post your services on their marketplace.
11. Sign up for Google Adsense. It’s not the only form of adverts but it’s easy to install and they pay per view as well as per click and the ads are targeted, which is where a niche blog comes to its own,  the more targeted your audience is, the more targeted your ads become therefore visitors are more likely to click on your ads and maybe buy. You choose where and how many you display.  They have a £60 minimum payout, which I’ve had several times now. Once your blog has a minimum of 25000 sessions, you can apply to a more lucrative ad network like Mediavine.
12. Consider using a VPN to protect your personal information and browsing activity, ensuring a secure online environment while building your parenting blog.

Here’s what the WordPress interface looks like, it’s basically a bit like a word document.

It can be hard to fit blogging in around family life, and if your children are babies or you’re just starting your family even more so. Just try to fit in what you can to start with and don’t over stretch yourself. You will have more time as they grow and childcare comes in. The good thing is there are always small (and big) things you can do on your phone and nap time is a godsend. Think about your strengths and interest, and play to your passions. Maybe you love baking or crafts, or you’re hilarious at observational comedy. Are you into gentle parenting, raising vegan kids or rocking being a glamourous Mum? They can all be used to make your parent blogging niche.

Think about whether you will name your children in your blog, will they stay anonymous? It’s a good idea to have basic safety in mind, don’t photograph them outside your home, never reveal exact addresses or locations and always hide school clothes and logos.

I hope you found this post useful if you’re looking to set up a blog. I’d love to know how you get on, and please let me know if you have any questions. When I was starting out I got help from more experienced bloggers which I was so grateful for. If you have a blog and you’d like to take the next step and really learn all the secrets, sign up for my course Blogging Secrets. It’s completely free, and you’ll get all the shortcuts and insider tips to getting you earning a regular income from your blog.