My Blog Turns One!

I can’t believe that it’s been exactly ONE year since I’ve launched The Mama Queen! It’s also crazy to think that I started my blog pregnant with Landon and now I’m celebrating one year as a preggo again… Lol. Being a blogger has been so much fun but it definitely takes a lot of time and effort. You really need to love it otherwise you’ll give up half way through once you realize all that goes into having a blog and actually trying to grow it. Don’t expect to make an income out of it right away either, that will come after months and maybe a couple years of growing your blog and social media.

Here are frequently asked questions that people ask me about being a blogger:

What made you start a blog?

I wanted to start a blog because I followed other bloggers on Instagram and it just looked so fun! Being someone that already loves taking pictures, I thought it would be perfect. I also wanted to have a creative outlet where I could still be myself and show other women that it’s still important to do you while being the best mother and wife you can be. Being able to document my life is awesome since I can always look back at it in the future. All the brand collaborations are a plus too!

What platform do you use for your blog?

I use WordPress.com. It took awhile to figure out but then I got the hang of it. Hopefully in a couple of months, I’ll switch over to WordPress.org.

Is a having a blog expensive?

It doesn’t have to be. It’s really up to you what you want to spend on. I bought my website domain (yearly fee) and a camera. I think it’s definitely worth it to get your own domain and a professional camera to start! After awhile when you know you’re really serious about blogging, you can spend on a nicer web design, advertisement… etc.

What camera do you use for your pictures?

I use a Canon Rebel T6i that I splurged on a few months into blogging. After consistently blogging for a good amount of time, my husband was finally convinced that I was actually serious about it. I don’t blame him, I’ve gone through different phases where I start something and then realize that it wasn’t really for me haha. I just love this camera! The more quality pictures you post, the more chances of you getting reposted on IG are higher. Oh and I use my iPhone camera too!

How do you grow your Instagram following?

By consistently posting good, quality photos and using appropriate hash tags. IG lets you use 30 hash tags per post… take advantage and use all 30! Tag accounts that do reposts on your photo. “Like” and comment on other people’s photos that are within your blog niche. Since I’m a mommy blogger, I find mommy hash tags that are popular, click on them, and “like” and sometimes comment on pictures. This takes a awhile so be patient, especially when you are trying to grow organically and get real followers. Seriously, growing an Instagram should be a full-time job haha.

Being a full-time working mom of 2, how do you find the time to blog?

Honestly, it’s tough. I did majority of my blogging during my maternity leave. Now that I’ve been back at work. I try to blog when I can or when a collaboration with a brand is due. I’ve definitely seen a decline in blog views. I’m still working to find a schedule that gives me time to do it all. Lately, when I know that I can’t blog that much, I focus more on growing my Instagram. What also helps though, is having a super hands-on husband who helps so much with the kids and who also supports me and my blog.

If you’re thinking about blogging… just do it! It doesn’t hurt to try it out but do your research. There’s definitely times where I’m like “what did I get myself into?!” but I truly enjoy it. It’s been amazing seeing where I started and where I’m at now (even though I’m still a little mommy blogger out of the thousands out there). Knowing what this past year of blogging entailed, I would totally do it all over again!