New Blogger Feature

This the first post of my ‘New Blogger Feature’ showcasing new bloggers. If you’d like to take part, please get in touch here!


Zena from Zena’s Suitcase


So how on earth did I stumble into this blogging lark.  Just 6 months ago I had no idea about the world of parent bloggers or twitter or the intricate world of social media, none whatsoever! So what happened?  To be honest it is a little bit of a blur.

I had to leave work way before my maternity leave was due to start after being plagued with pregnancy related symptoms and pelvic girdle pain.  The PGP made it impossible for me to go back to me desk job, but I needed something to keep me going.  Despite the hormones, the brain was still working in a fashion.  My OH is a geek and we have our own server and he builds his own websites, but nothing like blogging.  He knew I was bored and suggested working on a website, but his initial idea was around food.  It made sense, I liked food.  Eating it generally!  But I’m not sure I’d call myself a Foodie.


Somewhere along the line I found the world of #mummybloggers, but don’t ask me exactly when that moment was.  I think Twitter, BritMums and a bit of Google had something to do with it.  I had no idea what I was doing or where I was going with it, but that made it all the more exciting.

  
I loved that this whole new community unfolded before me of lovely people who embraced everything Parenting related and beyond, for personal reasons that was just what I needed.  It was a part of myself I really needed to embrace, not that I hadn’t before but I had gaps in my life I needed to fill.  Blogging has helped me fill them.

I enjoy the instant gratification of putting a new post out there into cyberspace, that something I might have written will strike a cord with someone or make them laugh.  I love learning a whole different way of interacting with the web and social media that is far more gratifying than keeping up with those people you went to school with.  I love the fact it can grow and give you opportunities but you won’t know what or when. 

I’m amazed that I’ve got my own space on the web, that I’ve grappled with wordpress, made my own badges and understand a little bit about the world of coding.  There’s still a lot I don’t get, but I will eventually.

For anyone whose thinking of giving blogging a go, these are the things I’d recommend doing to get you started

1. Read Blogs:  Get an idea of what you like and don’t like, it will help you decide what direction you want to go in and what you want your blog to look like.
2. Use Google: Ask it questions. Don’t just stick to parent blogging to get tips and ideas.  Some of the most successful blogs are techy ones, and parent bloggers can learn things from them too.
3. Capture Your Ideas: If something comes into your head, write it! On your phone, tablet or keep a note book with you all the time.  It’s not always easy to do, but I definitely think it’s when creativity flows best.
4. Comment, Comment, Comment: Oh, and comment some more! That’s how people get to know you and your blog as they’ll pop by your blog and return the favour.
5. Be Patient: Being successful in the world of blogging doesn’t happen over night and a lot of work goes into great blogs but they all started somewhere.