Hello and a couple of questions

[northlondonmums]

Hello fellow bloggers. We have just joined the bloggers network and wanted to say hello and ask some questions.
Firstly to introduce ourselves - we are Deborah and Lisa, two mums who met through our antenatal group some years ago. I've been a MNer for a long time so excited to be part of the network.

We started our blog about 5 months ago to help other parents find out what's going on locally and share some of our experiences of being parents in our area.
So far it's going really well and we are enjoying it a lot.

We just wanted to check if other people have had lots of traffic to their blog from mumsnet as so far we've had none .

Also, although we know a lot of people visit our blog, we don't get a lot of comments and this also makes us feel so wondered if anyone had tips on how to get more comment love as that definitely encourages you to plod on with the blogging. Check out our blog - www.northlondonmums.com if you have time and let us know what you think. We'd appreciate any feedback.

Thanks

Hello

As a fellow north london mum, this sounds like a site I'd love! First thing is to post a proper link to it - I had to copy and paste - it's v straightforward, the directions on how to post a link are just below the comment box. www.northlondonmums.com.

I'm a total blogging newbie (I blog at Low Impact Parenting but have been accepted by MN Bloggers Network and have seen some traffic. I think mainly because I've started sharing my posts on the weekly posts thread. I'm also on Twitter (@lowimpactmama) and am following & being followed back by some MN bloggers, which has also driven some traffic. I couldn't see from your site whether you're on twitter or not? (I only had a quick look as am work but will check it out properly later). If you are on Twitter let me know and I'll follow you.

You could also try posting in the MN Local sections. For instance, our Stroud Green NCT area group has a thread in MN Haringey, as a place to see tips on stay & plays, childrens' centres, activity ideas etc. You could link to posts like the soft play round up you have.

Not sure on the comment love - am too new to know! But, from the sorts of posts I comment on, it's often where there's something open-ended that invites comment, eg what's your experience/opinion?

Hi! Welcome!

First thing is to post on our weekly blog post thread, that always generates traffic: www.mumsnet.com/Talk/bloggers/1351955-New-blog-posts-27th-Nov-to-3rd-Dec-the-Advent-edition.

Also, you should start using Twitter and FB if you aren't already as they also generate traffic.

The best way to get comments is to leave comments so start reading and commenting on other people's blogs!

Good luck.

The best way to get traffic, IMO, is to get on Twitter & FB, comment on other blogs and forums etc., link to other blogs so they get pingbacks and, more than anything else write good content. It really is the only way. If you write good stuff, then people share it. Make it easy to share by having sharing buttons and being on FB & Twitter so you can make connections with the people who share it and they both add another way people can keep up to date with the changes on your blog.

That said, your blog is a very niche area. Mine is just about parenting, but mine is applicable to parents all over the Western world. I have followers in the US & Australia, as well as all over Europe. But I only get a handful of comments on the posts that inspire any at all.

So don't be too downhearted if you're not getting comments - just get your name out there. Link to other local parenting/baby businesses etc. and network, and write bloody good blog posts!

ps. Lowimpactmama - How on earth have I missed you! Your blog is right up my street!

Following you now on all networks I can

Hi Deborah and Lisa,

I get virtually no traffic from MNBloggers and from conversations I've had with other bloggers it's pretty common. I think it is because readers aren't using the platform to browse for new blogs.

In terms of commenting certainly reaching out and commenting is a way to get comments. I would say though, that as your blog is more about information that comments aren't an important part of the mix. I get more comments on my personal blog than the one I write for with 100k unique users per month. Regular readers take time to connect on twitter and facebook more so than in the comments. What I'm trying to say is don't get hung up on commenting, work on building useful content and use social media to connect personally with your readers.

Kat { Housewife Confidential }

Flamingo thanks! Am following you back on Twitter. Am also now following you on Facebook (just set up a FB page as Low Impact Parenting - gulp!)

Wow! Thanks for all the comments and so many useful ones as well. Yes, we are on twitter @northlondonmums and we are following you now lowimpactmama.
We do comment on a lot of blogs and I suspect that you are right superkat that it is because a lot of our posts are information driven that we don't get comments. I think because of this some people think it is a professional site and don't realise that we are just too time poor mums slogging away at this in the evening on top of all the other things we do!
Will work on asking more questions and will link to the weekly post - thanks SanTeeClause
Anyway, good to connect with other bloggers even if only to explore your experiences and learn from more experienced people.

I am now following you both I can be found here reallymissingsleep.blogspot.com x

I've had a few visits through MN, more than I get from any other single site. Though I don't get a lot of traffic anyway, most of it comes from google and is from people looking at my reviews.

I tend to get a little flurry of visitors when I publish a new post and it appears on the front page of the blogger's network.

I also use twitter and facebook, though I tend to forget about the former half the time.

Comments are hard to come by. Most of them have been on my silent sunday and wordless wednesday posts. So I suggest you post lots of photos of cute kiddies. :D

Becky
mummynotes

Hi,
Follow-up question! I tend to share to facebook, but I think my blog is only then shared with my personal close friends. Is it advisable to set up a new facebook account to support the blog specifically? If so, can you share to 'all facebookers' or just those you are friends with?

Though I love writing, some of the technical side is a little confusing to me (I am of an age that still remembers the invention of VHS !)

www.yummymummyreally.blogspot.com

Not sure I can really add anything new here, but I too have been wondering the same thing as you asked northlondonmums. I was hoping to get more comments and regular readers through MN, and I also started using twitter more than occasionally, though I've used FB lots for a long time (but thinking I should set a fan page up just for the blog... when I get time...).

I'd say twitter has definitely helped in the past couple of weeks, and the weekly post share thread on here is good. I found you lowimpactmama through the weekly post thread, and then followed you on twitter. Also superkat I commented the other day on fishcakes (yummy! even made some last night in the end). I'll follow you too northlondonmums, though not sure I'm really in your market, as I don't live in London. I'll also have a look at the other blogs mentioned above, and follow :)

I'm at mixed bag of all sorts if anyone here is interested - does what it says on the tin - various bits and bobs about life as me.

Just had a look at your blog cos I used to live in North London - looks pretty good so far. I think the lack of comments is at least partly down to the fact that it all feels very anonymous - no names given in the 'about us' section, no pictures of you or your kids. So I don't get the feeling that there's a human being behind all of this that I as a reader could connect with or start a conversation with.

To get more connections with readers, put more of yourselves in there - take your own, unique pictures, sign off with your names (doesn't have to be your real names, you could easily use a pseudonym for you & your kids and keep children's identity disguised in pics). I think that people really look for authenticity in blogs, so if two mums slogging away is what you are, then don't be afraid to put that out there.