On the blog: Some tips

I have started receiving more and more emails asking for tips with regards to starting blogging, reviews and so forth.  It comes as quite a surprise as I am a relative novice myself being at it for a short nine weeks today!

Its lovely to hear from followers but time is sadly stretched in the Missing Sleep household, so I thought it would be helpful to create a tips post to steer you towards.

1. Join love all blogs - here you can interact with other bloggers, make some new friends and if you have a spot of bloggers block you can have a look at the blog hops and memes to get some inspiration!

2. If you’re a parenting blog definitely join Tots 100 it’s a bit like being back in school getting graded but it’s a great place to learn valuable tips and read interesting discussions like “How important are comments to a blog?”

3. If you want to start reviewing but have yet to build much of a follower base.  Join Mummy News  then keep an eye on their facebook page and forums when items come up for review.  Another place to try is the baby website.com product-testing panel; you have to pay £5 a year for administration.  You can read the forums first and see if you think it is worth it.  I have given it a gamble as you get your £5 back if you do not receive products to that value in the year.

4. Host a competition – buy some little prizes and try and encourage followers to your blog.  Make a facebook page, tweet away and slowly and steadily bring people to your blog (or comment away like a manic crazed busy beaver for the same result... hopefully!)

Good luck with your blogging journey, wherever it may take you!