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Be A Mommy Blogger: 5 Simple Steps

How to be a mommy blogger? Being a mommy blogger has a lot of perks. Free products from brands. Receiving products is one of the best perks of being a mommy blogger. I could not deny how happy I am every time I receive free Ariel, Safeguard of Krispy Kreme doughnuts. Ang laking tipid sa gastos di ba? At the same nakakataba ng puso when you know you are appreciated by other people. Aside from product seeding, may mga blog events pa where a mommy blogger can attend and meet fellow mommies. And if you’re lucky enough or influential enough, may mga sponsored or paid posts that will come your way.

So how to be a mommy blogger? Before, I would usually say, ah being a mommy blogger is not that easy. It takes a lot of time to be one. But recently, I realized that I always answer the question thinking how to be where I am right now. I keep forgetting how I started, how I first open an email and a blog.. which, thinking about it right now, is quite really easy. Now I am reliving that moment and sharing with you some of the things I wished I have known back then. This guide will be easy but I tell you, very useful.

5 Simple Steps To Be A Mommy Blogger

Step #1 To Be A Mommy Blogger: Create A Blog Name

I’m sure you’re expecting me to say open a blog as step 1 no? That’s how I did it back then.. without even thinking what I would name my blog. Trust me on this one, you need to start with creating a name for your blog. I find, Mommy (your name) fitting for a mommy blog. A short phrase about your life is a nice blog name too.

Here are the names of top mommy blogs here in the Philippines (based on topblogs ph, not in particular order):

See the pattern? Just by one look at their blog’s name/ title, you’d known instantly that these are mommy bloggers. Use Godaddy and Google as your tool when looking for a name for your blog. I suggest GoDaddy because later on,you would want your own dotcom. It would be best to know if the name you’ve chosen is still available as dotcom. I have to be honest with you, though some people opts for dotnet, dotph and the likes, dotcom is still most favored.

Step #2 To Be A Mommy Blogger: Create An Email

Now that your blog has a name, it’s time to create an email for your blog. It’s for branding purposes. I really wish somebody guided me on this one. Though easy, changing emails takes a lot of time. Your email should be the same as your blog’s name and use gmail. It’s very useful in the long run.

YOUR EMAIL SHOULD BE THE SAME AS YOUR’S BLOG NAME.

I use mommypehpot@gmail.com. From the list above (top mommy bloggers Philippines), My Mom- Friday uses mymomfriday@gmail.com as her email.

Step #3 To Be A Mommy Blogger: Open A Blog

Now it’s time to open a blog! Using your new email, create a blog at Blogger.com

What is Blogger? (from Wiki)

Blogger is a blog-publishing service that allows multi-user blogs with time-stamped entries. It was developed by Pyra Labs, which was bought by Google in 2003. Generally, the blogs are hosted by Google at a subdomain of blogspot.com. Blogs can also be hosted in the registered custom domain of the blogger (like www.example.com)

So you use your email, create a profile, better to create a profile at Google+. Create a NEW BLOG, give your blog a title and address, which should be the same as your email, do not forget that.

For your blog address, if you want to use a dotcom address, you can do so. Here’s a detailed blog post on how to>> How to use your own dot com in your blogspot blog.

Step #4 To Be A Mommy Blogger: Design Your Blog

I’m thinking of skipping this part but I realized, a good looking blog is what pushes me to write. There are hundreds or even thousands of free templates for blogger blogs. You just need to remember this 3 things when you use a free blogger template:

It should be responsive so that it looks OK on most screen size, mobile, tablet, laptop or big monitor)
It should have a customizable header so you can change it to something that fits your blog and title (and yeah, taste)
Avoid dark background with white or light text. It’s an eyesore. Go for something simple and yet elegant.

Here are some Free Responsive Blogger Template that I could use:

Check out Mommy Pehpot Facebook Page for the links where you can download free blogger template.

Step #5 To Be A Mommy Blogger: Write On Your Blog

Now that your set up is done, it’s time to start writing! So what should you write first? Where do you start? I find it a lot easier to start with outlining what will be the main topics of your blog. These 3 main topics will also serve as your 3 top categories and will be your guide when you write your ABOUT ME page.

Create your ABOUT ME page which should include short but interesting stuff about you, what you write about and how they can contact you.

Write some blog post and get ready to be called a “Mommy Blogger”

Next Post: How To Meet other Mommy Bloggers and How To Get An Invite To Mommy Blogger Events.

Blogger Media Kit: 3 Simple Steps To Make Your Own

How important is Blogger Media Kit? If a potential advertiser emails you and ask you about your blog, how do you answer?

-give him the link to your ABOUT ME page?
-send in links of your most popular blog post?
-create a carefully written article about you, your blog and why you blog and pray that he reads it until the last paragraph

You could do all three.. but that would surely scare your potential advertiser away. So how do you present yourself and your blog to a potential advertiser without boring them? The answer, my dear blogger friends, is thru a Blogger Media Kit.

Blogger Media Kit: 3 Simple Steps To Make Your Own

But How To Create A Blogger Media Kit? What should be included on your media kit? From my experience and from a lot of readings (how to create media kit etc) I created these 3 simple steps to start your own media kit.

Step 1. Tell something about you and your blog

Your media kit should speak of your blog, even at the first glance. What makes your blog stands out from other blogs? It’s your blog’s theme, your lay out, your color blog’s color palette, your blog’s font. And the best representation of your blog is your blog’s logo.

If you can include other elements of your blog such as your blog’s lay out, font and color, your blogger media kit is close to perfection.

Step 2. Include a professional photo of you

Let it speak more about you by including your photo. As much as possible, include a professional picture of you doing what you love to blog about. A garden background would be nice if your blog is about gardening. If you’re a mommy blogger like me, a nice shot of you and your kids is a good option. Gusto ko din yun eh kaso baka di kame magkasya mag iina! haha

If you need help in make up or need to hire a make up artist, I highly recommend Make Up by Sai Montes (read about our hair and make up session here)

Step 3. Answer these 3 easy questions:

Now comes the trickiest part, well, for me. I had a hard time figuring out what to put on my media kit aside from my logo and my picture. I can tell a story but how to tell it in a very limited space can be very challenging. Summarizing is not me. And I know most of you can relate. Kaya nga tayo bloggers eh, ang dami nating kwento!

Question #1 Who are you?

You can start by telling a little, OK 1-2 sentences, about you, your lifestyle and/or your family. Tell something about your blog and what you write about it. Try to summarize what your blog is all about in 2 to 3 sentences. Highlight your blog’s achievements or awards if you have any.

Question #2 Why they should work for you?

How influential are you and your blog? Answer it by listing your stats and your social media followers including your id/url on each social media site. It’s a plus if your id on all your social media accounts is your blog’s title/name too. Also include the type of people that reads your blog.

What people are saying about you? Include a few testimonials on your media kit from the people you have worked with or from your readers. Plus points if you can list the brands you have worked with in the past.

What can you offer? List what you can do for the client/ brand. Sponsored post? Banner placement? PR posting? Events coverage? For the rate, save it for your rate card.

I have a separate rate card where my packages were listed as well as the pricing and the brands I have worked with.

Question #3 How to contact you?

Your email address would be enough but if you want to put your mobile number, you can include it too.

For blogger media kit sample, you can download mine and study it 🙂

Blogger Media Kit Sample and Design

Now that you’re done with all the information you need for your media kit. It’s time to design your media kit. In my case, I let my designer do the job, best wordpress blog designer, Squeesome Design Studio. She offers media kit designing with discount! Just tell her you heard it from Mommy Pehpot 🙂

Affordable Hosting for WordPress Blog

My blog used to be with Bluehost but when my WordPress Blog designer moved to a more Affordable Hosting For WordPress Blogs, I knew I also have to migrate. It’s a big plus that migrating to that hosting company is super duper easy! You just purchase a hosting plan, give them your Cpanel credentials and they would initiate the transfer for you, FOR FREE!

BLOG MIGRATION FOR FREE?!? No way! Yes way and it’s called Namecheap Hosting

Affordable Hosting WordPress Blog

Check out their affordable hosting plans.

If you think you are ready for a self hosted blog and looking for an Affordable Hosting WordPress Blog, Namecheap Hosting is the best solution for you.

As far as I remember, the only time that I got stressed out over this blog migration is during the nameserver change. I have to do that manually on my domain registrar. I had to wait until the change is complete. Propagation is really my least favorite word!

Namecheap is highly recommended! Most of my friends are now under Namecheap hosting too!