Bloggers Behind the Screens is a monthly interview series, where
fellow bloggers come together to answer a series of questions on a specific
theme. This is a chance to get acquainted with a whole range of bloggers, some
of whom you may not have encountered before, and learn a little more about
them!
This month, weâre talking to bloggers about the very thing that makes them bloggers. Their blogs.
When did you start blogging and why?
I actually started blogging back in 2011 after my eldest son was born, but I didnât really do anything with the blog until last year. Basically, in the space of four years I had four kids including a set of twins so couldnât really manage anything other than them. Last year everything started to calm down again and so I decided to focus more on the blog and actually open it up to the world.
How did you come up with the name for your blog?
I knew I wanted to write about how I was muddling through parenting as I am no expert and so I was playing around with names and thought about the idea that we navigate this parenting malarkey with no guide book or sat nav and that progressed to Navigating Baby
What do you blog about? Has that changed from when you first started?
I predominantly still write about being a parent, but I write less about the baby side of things now as my children are growing up. I also have started to write more about lifestyle and being me as well as being mummy as that is what
It is really all of those things. I am essentially a stay at mum who does some bits and pieces on the side to make a bit of extra income. I would like to monetize my site though as the kids go to school so that I donât have to ever go back to the corporate world
I feel like since I have only really started publicising the blog in the past year or so that I have been lucky to get to work with any brands at all and I love that the children and I have been able to attend events and attractions that with four kids would simply be too expensive to go to on a whim
I love writing about the children and our lives, but more so from the aspect of thinking about how I would like to parent them and my hopes for their future. Of course, our lives are far from perfect, but I do love to write about the more joyous aspects of parenting whenever I can
When I started, I used to have to ask my husband (IT professional) about everything, but now I am better at him at things like SEO and affiliate marketing so I love that I have developed a new skill set. I also am starting to learn about photography and image marketing which is really interesting
My favourite post is Raising Girls things that I want them to
know. It is my favourite post as I was
genuinely moved when I was thinking about what to write for this and actually
wrote a good deal of it through tears as I remembered my grandmothers and
thought about what I had been taught by them and how I am looking forward to
instilling these values in my children.
Have you ever been on TV or radio in your capacity as a blogger? If so, what for? If not, do you think itâs something youâd like to have a go at?
I havenât but would love to have a go. Iâll try anything once!
My least favourite thing is feeling like I have to write even when I donât feel like I have something to say.
Do you have any advice to give to anybody out there thinking of starting a blog right now?
Write about something you love not just what you think will sell as otherwise I am fairly sure you will run out of stuff to write about and it will just become a chore.
Where do you do most of your blogging? Do you have a home office, are you on the sofa or do you prefer to be out and about when writing posts?
With four kids running about most of the time I am usually grabbing time here and there. We do have a home office, but I rarely end up writing in there
I think there are at least two or three and no they probably wonât get finished. I think they are drafts as I wasnât as inspired as I thought to write them!
What are you most excited about for your blog in the last six months or so of 2019? Anything awesome in the pipeline for the summer or are we forever winging it?
I am excited about the growth that I have been seeing and hope that I can continue that momentum. My twins will start school in September so I am winging it until then, but plan to get more focused and organised once I have time everyday to write. I am excited to take a more professional approach to the blog and see where it takes me.
Finally, what is your absolute favourite thing about being a blogger?
I love the opportunities we have had as a family as a result of the
blog, but what I love the most about being a blogger is being creative and
writing. I just love writing!
Blog URL; http://www.navigatingbaby.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/navigatingbaby
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/navigatingbaby
Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/navigatingbaby
I know what you mean about feeling like you have to write something, I always try to have a few posts ready for times when I really donât feel like it! #blogbts
Like you, I feel very lucky and a bit humbled that brands want to work with me, we’ve had some great family adventures so far and looking forward to more.
https://dirtdiggersanddinosaurs.com
So interesting to see how others incorporate blogging into their everyday lives. I too have a home office that rarely gets used!