The BritMums Blog

Guest post: Why I quit blogging*

Her blog, Scribbling Mum, won awards, fans and oodles of traffic – plus offers of tv and radio appearances. So why the heck did Caroline Black give it all up?  

Like many of us I’m sure, I didn't set out to become a mummy blogger. I just wanted to see if I could write. No master plan, no strategy.

When a colleague suggested it, I didn’t know what a blog was but he help me set up Scribbling Mum and within weeks I was immersed in the online world. Clicking on links, ending up in new blogs, reading, commenting - the hours flew by. Oh yes I thought, this is fun, I could do this. 

The cocktail bloggers you HAVE to read

While we love reading all BritMums’ blogs, there are some that are some that stand out as so funny, so outrageous, so honest that you have to read them with a cocktail to hand... or at the least, a very strong cup of tea and a HobNob. So, grab your poison, put your feed up and enjoy some of the best cocktail bloggers from the BritMums network. 

Motherventing

Fran from Motherventing blogs to let her creative energies out, and talks about her experiences as a mum and the physical, mental and emotional challenges it brings. But if this sounds like a run-of-the-mill parenting blog, take a look at the strapline for a clue to the gems inside: “taking all the fluffy aspects of parenting and totally sh**ting all over them”.

BritMums Big Sis Mentoring Programme

Take a walk with us. A walk down Memory Lane. Back to the early days of blogging. Back to when you FIRST started blogging and didn't know your SEO from your USP. Back to when you didn't know what Twitter was much less who to follow or re-tweet. Back to when you were blogging to your parents and one or two friends. Remember?

For many of us, those early weeks and months were possibly frustrating and confusing. It would have been really lovely if someone could have taken us by the virtual hand and let us in on a few trade secrets, helped us to see where we could improve, suggested a slightly different blog layout or design and maybe introduced us to a few of their friends along the way.

A buggy ban at Heathrow airport? Really?

We all know how very important buggies are to our children and for maintaining our sanity as parents, particularly when our precious children begin to toddle and need containment and security. Heathrow Airport has recently been reaching out to a group of Mummy Bloggers to see how much more family friendly they can make parent's flying experience.

Imagine our surprise after reading the following story in The Evening Standard yesterday. At Terminal 1, thanks to the decisions of someone at Menzies Aviation, their baggage handlers will no longer be permitted to handle buggies due to "health and safety" regulations. What this means for parents is that, upon check-in at Terminal 1 at Heathrow Airport, you will no longer be permitted to take your buggy into the terminal and up to the departure gate. You will need to check-in your buggy along with your luggage and will not be reunited with your buggy until you arrive at baggage claim at your destination. No more meeting you at the ramp to the plane! You'll have to negotiate lengthy airport walks on either side without the convenience of your buggy.

10 talented food bloggers to watch – they’re mums too!

At BritMums we’re bursting at the seams with brilliant foodie bloggers who share recipes, reviews, ideas and mouth-watering pictures day in, day out. Recently our friend Nick Coffer, aka My Daddy Cooks, has received a flurry of coverage both online and off. It seemed like high time to shine the light on some of our favourite parent food bloggers. Check out this handful diet-wrecking divas (in no particular order). 

BritMums Blog Prompt of the Week

Well, we am pleased to report that our little BritMums Blogging Prompt of the Week seems to be gaining in popularity! This makes us very happy at BritMums HQ. So happy that we might need to break out the cake! Want some?

On the first blogging prompt of the week we had a "blogging" theme (If I could start my blog over, what would I do differently?) and last week we tackled "I cannot live without..." which was a personal prompt. We thought we would push the boat out this week and give you TWO options for the Blogging Prompt of the Week. A "blogging" prompt and a "personal" prompt. You're welcome to do one or the other or BOTH if you're really an over-achiever! I hope this will inspire you and get you writing from the heart. Drum roll please...

• Blogging Prompt: The best blog advice I have ever received is__________.
• Personal Prompt: If I wouldn't be judged harshly, I would say ________ out loud.

There you have it! Now let your imagination take over, have a good think and let your words flow through your fingers onto the keyboard. Link up your post below to share it with the blogosphere and be sure to Tweet us (@BritMums) so we can support you as well. We'll be visiting all of the posts throughout the week as well so tidy up and have some tea ready for us!

Ready, steady, blog...

 

Linkys: What's it all for?

Linkys. What the heck is a Linky? And why would I want to join one? And how in the heck do I actually join one? Are you confused about this blogging phenomenon? BritMums is here for you with a simple explanation of what linkys are and some input from BritMums members themselves. You see, we are here to hold your hand and get you involved in one of the big blogging trends at the moment.

A "linky" is simply a method of linking up your blog url or a specific post url through a third-party programme which, when clicked on by a reader, will take that reader to your blog and/or post. A linky within a post and/or blog can be in the form of a "blog hop", a meme, a weekly challenge, a blog carnival or your everyday one-off post. It's a way of putting posts together (generally centered around one theme) which then gives readers one platform to come to and visit a variety of blogs. Examples of some popular and current linkys are: The Gallery, Blow Your Own Blog Horn and the BritMums Blogging Prompt of the Week.

#BritMumsSTC: BritMums are blogging for a better world

Blogger Christine Mosler’s trip to Mozambique with Save the Children opened her eyes to the grave situation facing millions of people around the world who have no access to healthcare. 

Determined to make a difference, Christine and Save the Children's Liz Scarff are currently at the UN General Assembly in New York to try to persuade governments to provide healthcare to help save lives in East Africa and they have been asking fellow bloggers to help. 

On Saturday, Save the Children held a bloggers’ conference to reach out to the thousands of bloggers and encourage them to send people to sign the No Child Born To Die petition which will be sent to David Cameron. 

To inspire other bloggers to share Save the Children’s message and highlight good causes through their blogs, Christine joined BritMums for a Twitter party this lunchtime.

Guest post: Living with Postnatal Depression

Angeline Brunel  has only been blogging for a few months, but her honest accounts of living with Postnatal Depression have provided a refreshingly supportive mirror to other sufferers – and their loved ones. 

Here, she recounts those darkest days and how much lighter her life is now. 

I was delighted that I was given the opportunity to talk about Postnatal Depression (PND) becauseI have experienced this and know it like a mole on my skin. Ever present, big and dark. 

Ladies who lunchbox

Our video bloggers are an industrious bunch and their latest topic for your delectation is the humble school lunchbox. From making meals go further to baking an easy apricot loaf to ingenious use of the freezer...

“After a busy day at the office, I love nothing more than setting about in the kitchen making delicious nutritious snacks for their packed lunches the next day ...” jokes Catherine from babygenie.wordpress.com. 

The reality, is something far more recognisable – but you’ll have to watch the video to find out. 

BritMums Blog Prompt of the Week

Week two of our Blog Prompt of the Week is ready. We saw 12 of you take on our first blogging prompt (If I could start my blog again, what would I do differently?) which was fabulous. There were some really great thoughts on what, if anything, you might change about your blog. Many of the bloggers who took up the challenge found that they really wouldn't change much of anything which is comforting!

This week, we thought we'd delve into your personal lives for some inspiration. This week's prompt then is:

I cannot live without...

It could be a thing, a person, a place, a routine...anything. Have a good old think and try to come up with just ONE thing that you simply could not live without! All you have to do to take part in the BritMums Blogging Prompt challenge is use the prompt, write a post and publish it on your own blog and then pop back to this post to add your post url to the Linky below. Then visit some of the other bloggers who will be joining in as well and gain some valuable insight into your fellow bloggers. Have fun and happy blogging!

 

Guest post: Using @PeerIndex to increase your influence

Your blog stats page or perhaps analytics software will tell you which of your entries are the most popular and your comments page shows which posts get the best responses - but how do you know the more subtle effects of your online behaviour? 

Amy Gardner is a communities specialist at PeerIndex. She has a background in television and journalism, and has a particular interest in using online platforms to build and connect with niche communities. Here she explains how PeerIndex can help you understand your online status and impact across social media. 

Become a Mum Blogger Video Series Part 3: Links, images and types of posts

The lovely Erica Douglas continues her Become a Mum Blogger video series. This installation, the third in the series, shows you how to create good links (yes, not all links are created equally!), how to insert images and gives a summary of the different types of posts you can create. If you are new or beginning blogger, this series is a MUST. You can see the other videos here.

 

 

BritMums Blog Prompt of the Week

At BritMums we like to help out where we can. We know how stressful your lives can be -- with the school run, working (either in the home or out), maintaining your household, cooking, cleaning, ironing (what is that anyway), finding the time to blog can be a challenge to say the least.

Do you ever find, when you finally acquire that precious "me" time to sit at the laptop or computer that you end up staring at the screen with full-on bloggers block? Well, BritMums is here for you. Starting this week we will kick off the week with a Blog Prompt. It is a bit of inspiration for you should that "Bloggers Block" kick in when you next sit down to write. We'll give you the week to have a go at the prompt. Once you've written your post, pop back and link it up below to share it with the BritMums community! Simples!

BritMums blogger nominated for Website of the Year 2011

Some very happy news today, we learned that ReallyKidFriendly.com is in the running to receive the accolade Website of the Year 2011 from the Good Web Guide.

Janis Curry, who runs the site, is also one of our fabulous video bloggers. Check out her recent video blog below on the world's largest zumba class. 

Judges in the Website of the Year competition are looking for as much feedback on the shortlist as possible, so please do support a fellow Brit Mum and visit http://www.thegoodwebguide.co.uk/leave-your-feedback/11975 to tell the panel why you think ReallyKidFriendly.com is brilliant! 

 

Guest post: Using your blog skills for profit

While most of us blog because we love it, there is another possible benefit besides pure enjoyment: making a little money. 

Erica Douglas, author of The Mum Blogger eCourse and A Guide to Successful Blogging has some advice for anyone wanting to turn visitors into cash. 

Blogging to make money is an attractive option for stay at home mums who want to make a little extra for treats and holidays. I’m often asked, “can I make money from my mum blog?”. My answer is yes, but if you’re really serious a much better option is to take your blogging skills and apply them to a different niche.

Become a Mum Blogger Video Series Part 2: Creating posts and pages

BritMums have joined up with Erica and Antonia from BAM: Become a Mumpreneur to bring you a fabulous video series on How To Become A Mum Blogger. Here's the second video in the series, it's all about how to create posts and pages.

You can check out the first video here, which is all about how to start a blog.

Enjoy!

 

BritMums on football hits frontpage of Huff Post

After our first column was picked up by none other than the world-famous Washington Post, our follow-up discussing football for girls has been promoted on the front page of the Huffington Post. 
 
Written by Susanna Scott, ‘Football is cool, and it’s for girls too’ details a chance encounter between Susanna and Brandi Chastain, the female footballer who gained celebrity status overnight when she ripped off her top upon kicking the winning goal against China in the 1999 World Cup.

Houston we have lift off! Introducing the new @BritMums site!

It’s here! We’ve been working on a new, updated BritMums site for the past six months and today we’re unveiling it at last!

We can’t wait to hear what you think. It’s a huge leap forward with the social networking tools that allow you to get involved with your fellow parent bloggers, and it also helps you promote yourself and your blog easily and more effectively. (DON'T USE THE OLD SITE ON NING - nothing will get transferred over and we'll be turning it off soon.)

First things first:

• Go to BritMums.com and choose your new password (so everything’s nice and secure)
• Then sign in with your email and your new password

 You’re in!

Next, go to your Profile page – the link is in the top right-hand corner of the site – and input your blog description, your Twitter and Klout information. Now you’re ready to start using the site.

An introduction to video blogging with @geekmummy

So you want to be a video blogger? Ruth from GeekMummy gives us some tips on how to start off...