The Digital Mom Handbook or “How to Blog, Vlog, Tweet, and Facebook Your Way to a Dream Career at Home”

Definitely a comprehensive guide for bloggers

The Digital Mom Handbook by Audrey McClelland and Colleen Padilla recently caught my eye at our local library.

The Digital Mom is a relatively new release so it was in the two week loan section, which is good since I’ve read it quickly and found a lot of useful information in there for anyone interested in working at home as a blogger, mom, dad or otherwise.

It contains some great information about blogging, and you don’t have to be a ‘mommy blogger’ to benefit from the contents.

If you have Problogger on your shelf then you’ll definitely want The Digital Mom Handbook too

Problogger – Secrets for Blogging Your Way to a Six-Figure Income by Darren Rowse and Chris Garrett

I’ve only been blogging for a year or so but learned so much on the journey so far!  Initially I started writing to learn more about WordPress and building websites, partly for the intellectual challenge but also from the perspective of keeping my technical skills current whilst being a home mom shuttling my kids to school and back.

I’ve worked in business in the past where I’ve been on the road a lot, and since my husband currently takes that role, I’m the person that needs to be around for our children.  Blogging and writing (and plans for online workshops…dare I say even writing a book) seem to fit the bill for me perfectly – and that is how I’m becoming a Digital Mom!

Then there was this ‘logical’ aspect to learning to blog, to grow a small business where I could practice from home some of the time.  And then there was the emotional and spiritual aspect of the journey.  The Digital Mom Handbook pays credence to all these aspects of blogging, whilst remaining a very practical and grounding read.

Blogging has helped me to grieve my mum’s passing, whilst also sharing her message.  Big surprise to me how therapeutic this writing journey is, especially when I get to share wellness tips (one of my passions) and help other people along the way.

I believe that many Digital Moms start this blogging journey for many different reasons – so a handbook is a great help!

Audrey and Colleen’s The Digital Mom Handbook will definitely help you along on your journey if you find yourself deciding to go deeper into

• networking with other bloggers – (finding your ‘tribe’ – like minded people who are willing to give AND receive in order to help circulate your message and theirs)
• thinking about getting paid for writing reviews
• thinking about making blogging a side-business or a full-time business
• wondering where Facebook, Twitter and ‘all that’ fits in
• working with brands and PR companies/people
• finding good websites that will help you along the way
• should you blog, vlog (video log) or something else too, like attending conferences as a speaker or becoming a brand representative?

…and more besides.  The stories in the Digital Mom Handbook are direct from active (and successful) bloggers and are an excellent resource.  This book will help you think through what is a good fit for you and how hard you really want to work on this type of career.

Good to know before you put a whole lot of time and energy into something that may not pay off unless you’re well-informed.

The Digital Mom Handbook makes 7 excellent recommendations and successfully delves into the ‘how tos’

1. Find your passion
2. Hang a Digital ‘shingle’ and start typing
3. Find your tribe
4. Make opportunity knock and learn how to answer that door
5. Manage the Benjamins (money!)
6. Don’t forget the children!
7. Live happily ever after by living your values.

As I’m returning The Digital Mom Handbook to the library…

By Danny Iny, co-founder of Firepole Marketing

How to Create Killer Blogs, Podcasts, Videos, Ebooks, Webinars

…I’m thinking I’ll just need to buy a copy!  Also have a couple of other books I’m starting to work through which look great to for the beginning to intermediate blogger (again, digital mom or otherwise).

I’ve listed them here for reference – have only worked through both of them partially so far, but wanted to share – all part of networking, as I’m learning!

OK, back to helping the girls with their homework this afternoon.