Let’s be honest. There really aren’t many how-to books that excite readers today. The genre, by
definition, is straightforward and dry. But The
Digital Mom Handbook: How to Blog, Vlog, Tweet, and Facebook Your Way to a
Dream Career at Home seems to defy traditional categorization as a
fundamental how-to that’s also part autobiography, part social anthropology,
and a whole lot of inspiration. —
Written by two mommy bloggers who have built their own
careers on the web, The Digital Mom
Handbook grounds itself on seven basic steps for finding success in the
blogosphere. For the full list, be sure to check out the book itself. In the meantime, here’s a summary of some key points.
1. “Find your passion.“
I think this is the most universal piece of advice the book has to offer. If
you’re going to write a successful blog and post on a regular basis—whether
you’re a mother or not—it better be about something that interests you. If
you’re only mildly into a topic, readers will detect your lack of enthusiasm
and find other blogs that deliver on fervor, claim Audrey McClelland and Colleen Padilla. So
whether it’s feminine fashions or environmental activism that you obsess over,
hone in on your passion and let it drive the content of your blog. Any other
way would be backwards.
2. “Hang a digital ‘shingle’ and start typing.”
This is probably the step that most people get caught up on—and it’s only
number two!—because it requires actually
starting your blog and putting pen to paper, or keystroke to screen in this
case. As McClelland and Padilla point out, start-up costs are typically zero,
so there can be no excuse not to
start your digital venture immediately after you discover your passion. With
tips on everything from declaring the perfect site name to finding and
maintaining confidence while writing (and a tad on technical assistance), the
handbook eases readers into the idea of creating a post routine and/or
editorial calendar, and sticking to it. As they say, persistence is necessary.
Moreover, McClelland and Padilla strongly encourage their audience to go the
distance and hang a “360-degree digital shingle” by getting on Facebook,
Twitter, YouTube, Skype, and any other social networking site you find
valuable. Your chances of success (read: being found online!) will increase exponentially.
3. Find your tribe.
To really win at the digital mom game, you must effectively find your audience
and reach them with the content they crave. (If you just post and then hide in
a corner, nobody is going to find all the awesome things you have to say.) So
you really need to get of your comfort zone and “actively seek people to follow
and ultimately befriend.” McClelland and Padilla boil it down to three basic
steps: 1. Keep posting; don’t lose steam; 2. Peruse other sites with audiences
similar to your own; and 3. Get in touch with the founders of similar sites and
sites that you admire. Starting a conversation, and joining in on ones already
going on in the blogosphere, is critical to getting your name out there so you
can find your tribe. The handbook recommends taking part at virtual carnivals,
attending Twitter parties, and guest posting to contribute to other sites. And
once you’re out and about in the virtual world, McClelland and Padilla will
show you how to measure your own site traffic. (There’s nothing like the
instant gratification of rising page views!) What’s more, after establishing
yourself online you will then learn how to conquer “in-person” networking
opportunities like conferences and meet-ups…hopefully finding yourself a mentor
or a partner in crime along the way. You might be surprised to find just how
supportive a community is out there.
4. “Make
opportunity knock and learn how to answer that door.”
Although the book insists that
“you define your own success” and that “money may not be part of that,” we’re
guessing that most readers are interested in achieving an income through all
their hard work. If you fall into that category, keep reading. At this point in the book, most
readers start wondering when they’re going to cash in on their incredibly witty
or brilliant online ventures. For McClelland and Padilla, the money didn’t come
immediately but it did eventually come—which is likely the case for most bloggers.
So while keeping things in perspective, the handbook shows you what kinds of
opportunities may land at your feet, like spokesperson gigs, tickets to attend
swanky events, swag, consultation jobs, etc. At the same time, this book
outlines all the strings attached to such lofty offers, along with ways (and
reasons) to say “yes” and “no” to PR folks and anyone else knocking on your
door. Note: If you’ve already been blogging for a bit and are looking to build
your brand, you may want to flip directly to this chapter and skip the first
three.
Whether you’ve been casually blogging for years or have
never even heard of an RSS feed, if you’re serious about diving into the
digital world as a career at home I’m confident that you’ll find accessible
information and inspiration in The
Digital Mom Handbook. In it, McClelland and Padilla share the success
stories of some Digital Moms who have defined and achieved virtual victory on
their own terms. And after assuring readers that there will “always be room for
new bloggers” they sign off with an honest assessment of this increasingly-popular
career choice—happiness can be achieved, but only with professional perseverance
and a work-life schedule that fits your definition of success.
