Good evening and welcome back to a new Wise Words Wednesday post, this week featuring Rachel from My Crazy Brood.
As well as her busy blog Rachel is also super busy as a mum of 5 (plus the pets too!) so her blogging is a great way for her to share their family adventures and lives with her readers.
Time to hand over to Rachel –
Tell us a little bit about you & your blog:
My daughter came up with the name of my blog. We were at a fun day and she was chosen by the entertainer to take part in a game. When asked who she was with she replied “That crazy family over there” since My Crazy Family was already taken I thought My Crazy Brood was fitting for us all. I’m a mum of 5 (6 if you count hubby) and things can be chaotic and crazy! Especially with 4 daughters and my eldest and only son. Not to mention our dog and 4 guinea pigs and the fact we all have names beginning with R!
My blog can be seen at www.mycrazybrood.com
Facebook – www.facebook.com/mycrazybrood
Instagram – www.instagram.com/mycrazybrood
Twitter – www.twitter.com/mycrzybrood
Youtube – www.youtube.com/rubyrybeckable
What inspired you to start blogging?
Last year my teenager tried to commit suicide. I don’t think he really planned to take his life and it was just a cry for help. He has suffered from anxiety and behavioural issues and it wasn’t until he started secondary school did we start getting any help. He was diagnosed with anxiety when he was 12 although I suspect he has an ASD as well. After a year with CAMHS he was discharged but by the end of the year he was in a very low place and this is when his suicide attempt took place. He’s back under CAMHS now and I wanted somewhere I could write my thoughts and feelings about the challenges of dealing with an anxious teenager. Knowing I’m not alone in dealing with it is a big help and I wanted to help share with others that they’re not alone.
What has been your highlight of blogging?
I’ve only been blogging since January this year but I was excited to be chosen as a Favourite Blogger by MyBump2Baby and a Newbie Blogger by Britmums.
Is there anything you have learnt about blogging which you wish you knew when you started out?
I’m still a fairly new blogger so I’m learning as I go along. I’ve been trying to concentrate on my SEO. I did buy my own domain and hosting quite early on which is a big help and would recommend to anyone starting out. At first, I bought a personal account with WordPress.com, which was a mistake as I couldn’t download any plugins so I had to cancel this to go self-hosting so I could use wordpress.org. Luckily I was able to get a full refund from wordpress.com which was a relief.
Bloggers sometimes get a lot of stick however many work really hard and are reaping the rewards, what has been the most rewarding part of blogging for you?
Just knowing someone has read my blog. I had someone contact me after reading my post about Marriage Allowance as she hadn’t heard about it and thanks to my advice she had received a tax refund of £900. It was lovely to hear that I had helped someone out.
What would be the 1 tip you would give all new bloggers starting out?
Go self-hosting and buy your domain as soon as you can. Much easier than trying to move an established blog later on. Having your own domain and hosting means you have more control over your blog. Think about your name and when trying to find one, remember to check social media accounts as well so you can use the same name over all accounts to help create your brand. Avoid being tempted to join in follow/unfollow games, you want genuine followers who engage with you.
Who do you find inspiring to read/watch in the blogging world?
I like looking on Twitter at some of the posts and if I like them I subscribe and comment to let people know I enjoyed it. It’s always rewarding to know that someone has enjoyed your blog. I have a friend in real-life who blogs as Missing Sleep, she’s been a big help with getting started.
Lastly – do you have any big plans/dreams for your blog in the next 12 months?
I’d love to make some money from my blog, who wouldn’t! But I’m not too bothered if I don’t. I blog for enjoyment, not profit. We’re going away next week for 2 weeks so my plans are around a diary and posts about canal boat holidays.
