Day 4:Analyze Top Niche Blogs
Talk about really getting out there and getting to know your competition. Darren walks you through Day 4 by telling you that you need to get out there and study the top niche blogs in your field. Many may think this is an easy task but it really isn’t. Sure you can just pick those blogs you hear all the time but to really stu
dy them it means doing your homework.
My blog isn’t your typical mommy blog since it mixes with everything in life, including giveaways. So I’m looking for someone that does both. Normally when someone hears of mommy blogs they instantly think of “Dooce” who’s blog is a huge success story for many of us. You figure she wrote a blog, got fired for it and is a huge name now…that’s definitely success. My only issue is when I use to read her blog she had comments off for a long time, I don’t like when I can’t comment on a blog so this turned me away. Comments must stay on for me to consider it a blog I’d want to take after.
All Top has the following 6 mommy blogs: (by the way they do have many more on that page so check them out)
1. Silicon Valley Moms Blog: This looks like a great blog, in fact I use to read this one every day and still do from time to time. I don’t know what it is about this blog. Moms sharing their stories, pictures and interacting with the comments. LOVE IT! Course they haven’t posted since the beginning of July so it may not be active. (something blogs should never do is miss more than 2 weeks)
2. Oh The Joys- She loves blogging about her family and even gets her husband to guest post a time or two. Not to mention she gets at least 10 comments per post and always has a picture. (I think pictures are key in writing a post)
3. Good Mom/Bad Mom–I love the look, it reminds me of a magazine site. I’d definitely come back for more, but there is no subscribe button. (bloggers must have a subscribe to me way)
4. Parentopia- This seems to hit on many of the topics about parenthood, including mommy guilt and comparing you to your parents. I can definitely see some topic ideas going through my head for some future posts on my own site just looking at this one. The blog though seems to be once a week, not every day or every other day. This could deter some but it could help out with say going to college.
5. Selfish Mom- She’s funny, plain and simple and people love her for it. I’m not a very funny person so I can’t copy her but man I’d love to try. The fact that she comes close to having 5000 followers on twitter proves my point. :)
6. Busy Mom – I’ve read this blog for a long while, but rarely comment myself. This is one of those “famous” blogs (at least to me) with her signature cartoon mom holding a serving tray and a couch behind you always wonder what she’ll post next. the site/blog’s color scheme is great, the design is easy to look at and even makes you want to make sure you see everything. Posts are always engaging. She’s also part of the BlogHer network, which is something I aimed at getting into for a long while. (I never made it)
Doing a quick google search for “mommy bloggers” you will see: www.MommyBloggers.com, www.babble.com, www.momdot.com and several mom blog directories. What did I learn by analyzing blogs? Here’s 8 things I discovered:
1. Have a nice design that doesn’t take forever to load.
2. Always include pictures with every post.
3. Leave Comments on.
4. Always reply to comments. (it makes people feel welcome)
5. Post frequently, don’t let your blog go untouched for more than two weeks.
6. Make it easy to subscribe to your blog.
7. Comment on other blogs from your niche area.
8. Visit those that visit your blog. It’s never nice to visit a blog weekly and never get them to visit your blog.
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Mommy Ideas!, Kelly Smith. Kelly Smith said: The Life of a Home Mom » Day 4:Analyze Top Niche Blogs http://bit.ly/cs25vv gno http://bit.ly/bb4AFH [...]
Looks like you learned a lot! Those are awesome blogs!
Stopping by from 31DBB!!! Have a wonderful evening!!!!
Hello from 31DBBB!
Way to combine assignments – analyzing and making a list post! I love the site – very clean and organized. One thing I like to do on mine is make sure all the 125×125 boxes/buttons are either centered or flush to one side. It’s an easy code thing. If you want it centered, add random code for button here and if you don’t want it centered, remove the and .
Happy blogging!
This is a great post! You really dived into analyzing other blogs in your niche. I’m of the belief that we create our own niches. Who wants to be just another one in the crowd anyway?? I like how you listed things that you learned from other blogs as well. Good job on this task!
Hi! I’m giving you some comment love from SITS. I like the look of you blog. This color is very calming and Moms need that don’t they? You mentioned that not blogging for two weeks is not a good idea. This comment stood out for me. I’m trying to get to posting everyday. I think it’s hard when you’re busy, sick or tired and you feel like no one is reading anyway. My plan is to learn how to do scheduled posts with Blogger so I can write more when I have time and to write some posts that are timeless so I can use them if I had a crazy day. Do you have any suggestions?
I’m just beginning the 31DBBB, and it looks like I have a lot of work ahead of me.
I agree with most of what you’ve shared, and the blogs I love the most are the ones I hear back from- you put it so perfectly, readers want to feel welcome.
Thanks for sharing what you’ve learned!
Sending you some comment love
I found that I didn’t fall into a specific niche either – I have a few…crafts, cupcakes, baking, craft business. It’s hard to narrow in on just one. The list you posted is great!
Thanks for the great tips of things you discovered while looking at the other blogs. I agree on the no comments, I know many suggest leaving comments off until you build a following, but if you can discuss with your readers then what’s the point?
Yes I think those are good things to do to have a great blog. That plus lots of hard work seems to be the key, or else lots of luck.
Stopping by from 31DBB to.
Just stopping in to say hello because I know that being a mommy can sometimes be lonely—and all mommies need adult friends!
Best,
Irene
Wow I feel so special and each comment put a smile on my face when I logged in this morning. Talk about feeling loved. Moving into a new town is hard enough, coming to an empty blog in the morning makes it even harder, ya’ll definitely know how to make me feel welcome.
@Mandi I’m really learning a lot through #31DBBB and the mommy blogs.
@Audra I’ll definitely go through my sidebars when I get home and center all my buttons. Thank you for the advice I had no clue you could take things out of a code. BTW I didn’t mean to combine the assignments, I’d actually done a list post but this just happened to look nicer.
@Maranda Thanks, you are right I actually like being one of my own. But for the assignment I tried comparing myself. One thing I learned, never compare yourself to the top bloggers, it can make you feel very small.
@Colleeng I actually emailed you my advice. But for everyone else you can pre-post on blogger (blogspot) by going to the bottom of your post (before hitting publish) and click on more options. you can then pick schedule at and determine day and time.
@Kelsey Thanks for commenting. For me, those that comment back or leave a comment need a welcome.
@Liz I am always categorized as a mommy blog even though I blog about everything in life. I consider it more of a blog about life but that’s not really a category. Your blog sounds more like a crafty blog with a side order of cooking.
BTW we have the same name, I’m Elizabeth but go by Eliza..on the net I am Homemom3. (Funny since I now have 4 kids)
@Julie There were so many times I wanted to comment on other blogs but the comments off made me feel more like an outsider and I wasn’t welcome. I decided then I’d never do that.
@Tracy LOTS of hard work I think it the key since we have to do so much just to get our blogs looking good.
@Irene Thanks Irene, yes being a mommy can be very lonely at time. I love any ADULT conversation I can get, even if it is a comment.
Great points, especially to always include a picture and place to subscribe. Biggest pet peeves are when I can’t find the subsribe button and there is no pic to be found on any posts. It just gives the site good energy. I will check out some of those blogs you mentioned. I haven’t heard of some of them. Oh, I believe SCM’s has closed down. Thanks for joining the 31DBBB!
Hi! I’m on Day 8 of 31DBBB and learning a lot too. It looks like you did your homework on those other blogs! I also fall into the What IS My Niche blogger, but that’s okay. I think there are many more of us than we realize.
One thing that I have started doing in the past few months is scheduling posts. I don’t use Blogger, so I can’t help you there… no idea how that works in Blogger, but I give you a little advice:
Capitalize on your blogging time, and when you are blogging, JUST WRITE. Don’t read other blogs or Twitter. Download LiveWriter, link it to your Blogger, and then you can write your blogs offline, easily add pictures, etc. I LOVE LiveWriter. Also, when you get a post idea, jump into LW, give it a possible title and sketch it out or just write “Add pool pic. and son’s comment” and save it as a draft and move on. Then when you HAVE blogging time, jump back into your draft files and write them up.