When I first started writing years ago before Sex and the City even came out, it was a fun hobby. Then Sarah Jessica Parker made it seems like this was an actual job that I could do. I kept it on the sideline. Then came marriage, a baby, another baby and so on. It was put on the back burner while I pursued a career in Operations Management running other people's companies for them. I reveled in the fabulousness of Carrie Bradshaw until she went off the air and enjoyed reruns and movies and pretended one day when I grow up (then at age 40 in 2014), that I would do this thing they call writing. I had been sitting on a book idea for a while and thought this needs to be told. Friends were told about it, loving it, and I was encouraged. I started writing on paper in a notebook in July of 2015 and have been ever since. I have also tried my hand in the past few months at blogging. Blogging is way harder than you think. I want to make some money doing what I love, being available for my kids while my husband travels for work, and gaining a presence online that will be helpful in getting a book deal. Let's face it though, I 'm no Carrie Bradshaw.
I feel like most people I know think it is a passing hobby, or that they could do better. So therefore they won't like your work just to be spiteful. The worst thing people do is just plain ignore the fact you are trying at all. None of which makes sense. I like everyone that sends me a Facebook professional page request, proud for them of putting themselves out there. I worked for two national speakers and I have learned one thing from all of this...I am tired of making money for other people. I am really good at what I do. What I did, to be more exact, is build business plans, develop and execute strategies for growth and prepare manuals and communications protocols. Why couldn't I do that for myself? Guess what? I can. But my head is spinning from the different formats for blogging for twitter promotion and all of the trends and opinions.
So far in the past two days, I have read to put hashtags in your Twitter bio and then read not to. Which is it? What makes someone right or wrong? This brings us to today's post---Trial and error. What I did read consistently from twitter content experts like Sam Hurley or Donna Moritz is that you have to try what works. I read content, not just share it without learning from it. Just like I learned today that you have to have several different angles on query letters to literary agents to see what works, you have to see what your audience wants. There is a massive amount of research that goes into this and I have implemented some of these big time Twitter and visual content experts ideas. I now use words like, "content marketing" and "visual marketing" in a much bigger capacity and understanding then when I outsourced people to handle social media for the company I worked for. I have now increased my presence on Twitter, gained more followers in 36 hours than I did in a week, so something they are doing is working. People are engaging. I know because I am proof. I can do this! I used to think 25 new daily followers daily was incredible; now I am up to almost 100 a day.
What else am I learning as mom in the chapter of life?
1. You must learn something new weekly if not daily.
2. You must find a niche. Key word in our business.
I was struggling with that until I saw that a lot of mom's blogs and how to build these blogs, but in a mom blog over saturation, most can't be heard above the noise. It is the retelling of the same old thing. First time mothers are looking for support everywhere, I did. But those like me now, with three children...that's really not where I am. I love talking with other moms, finding what works for them and trying it for myself. A lot just..aren't. They didn't invent the wheel and aren't going to gain my readership because they aren't giving me new information where I can grow as a parent. How to build a successful readership? Experts all say, "Define your audience." Words like, "niche marketing" are everywhere. What I am closing in on, is the growth hacking mom. I myself want to read articles that teach me something or shed new light on a subject. You can write about diaper duty all that you want, but why should we listen to you? Most are not defining that. They crank some articles out with some success, but in the long run can you make that switch to the Big Time? They aren't honing in on what specific tip makes them better. I think I can combine my success in my growth hacking blog and cross over into my mom blog universe. If DC and Marvel can do it, then so can I. This is my world for right now, and even though I struggle for my place in the online world, I am evolving. Listening. Participating. Learning. I can shed some light onto this mom blog arena. I think I can be of use, not in writing every little family antidote, but helping shape others into powerful bloggers with a few growth hacking tweaks into their niche, to market themselves better.
I am a long way from being a blogging niche marketing success story. I have lots to learn, and I want to be involved in writing so I can be present for my children. I may not sit at my lap top with a view out of a brownstone like Carrie, wondering if I should call my editor back yet or go for cocktails, but I have a great view of my backyard with my son and my very own Mr. Big, playing baseball. That call from the editor, it will come. I will make it happen. And when I do, I will be wearing my Manolo Blahniks just like Carrie. I'll be posting things about my agent and editor and discussing latest trends like a boss. Those who weren't so supportive of my "hobby" will be the ones trying to get my attention the most. I just may be pondering whether to call them back, or go for cocktails. Who am I kidding? Being the fun loving, encouraging person I am, I'll invite them. Because they need to see when you have a dream, you make a dream come true. You do that by making the dream a reality, and make that reality a goal. Make this life we are given count. I want to do what I love. What I love, is to tell a good story, offer some advice and encourage those who can't find it in themselves to push forward in their struggles. I can make a difference the same as anyone else. I even have two articles on motivation published at an online magazine Inspire Us that I am very proud of. Now I am on here, on The Huffington Post. I plan writing the way I have been doing it so far... one story at a time. Making the money at writing will come. I may be on to this whole niche marketing thing; then again it may be a bust. However, I have some huge social media influencers with over 130K follower that are taking note and retweeting my growth blog posts. One even suggested this niche market for me. Right now I am more proud of what I do than any multi-million dollar I ever closed. The best part? I am not making a dime, but I am rich in self worth. I am here for my children and someone else isn't raising them for me. Now that, is something far more valuable than money.
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