9 Tips for Writing Informative Birth Blogs
Tips for creating interesting and informational blogs about birth and the topics that matter most to expecting families!
9 Tips for SEO, Design, and Content writing
Sharing the knowledge you already have about birth and turning it into easily digestible info for those who are new to the birth and parenting world
Blogging can be overwhelming, I totally hear you! I like to imagine it less as a content-sharing tool and more as a way to streamline the info I already give away freely. This can be writing about everything from the birth experience in your local hospital to guiding new parents on what they ACTUALLY need in the first weeks of parenting but at its core, it’s simply maximizing all the tips and wisdom you have gained in your years as a birth enthusiast, parent or birth worker.
So let’s get started…
#1
Locating your audience
For every blog, you write you want to be sure to answer the question of “where is my audience located?”
Are you talking to your local community or are you aiming at a broader more universal audience?
Both groups can benefit your business and maximize your blog’s reach.
If you are talking to your local community it’s likely the traffic to your site will be lower but more specific to booking families or connecting to your local birth community. Be sure to use keywords and be as specific as possible with your information ie. hospital names, birth workers in your community, areas of interest that an expecting family might search for.
If you are talking to the more general population you will likely see a larger reach of traffic and this can be a great time to maximize your Pinterest and Instagram accounts since they tend to be less localized as far as followers go. You should use keywords that are more universally birth-related or parenting-related. The key to using keywords is to be as natural as possible while still packing each paragraph with words that will be very likely searched for.
2.
Identifying your reader
For every blog you write you want to have an ideal reader in mind, this can be in association with your ideal birth client but it doesn’t always have to be. Think about the season your reader is in, what types of information they would be seeking or wanting to read a blog about.
For me, I find the easiest way to write a birth blog is to start with my ideal reader being a first-time mom just starting her journey…
This opens up a host of different topics she might be interested in from local birthing locations I’ve loved working at to essential things to pack in their hospital bag. The possibilities are endless and can bring more and more people to your website even if your service is only photography or postpartum doula, you can still be a credible expert when it comes to birth and sharing your wisdom in blog form.
3.
Use your blog as an opportunity to connect with your birth community
If you are not already in your local birth groups on Facebook it’s probably time. Hearing what actual birthing families are searching for, asking about and needing can be a great way to make your blog the answer to their questions.
If I’m ever wondering what to write about I head to my favorite birth groups to just get a sense of what they are asking, it’s usually knowledge I have already stored up in my head but need to just put into writing. Then every time I see that question pop up again in my birth groups I just link my blog, simple as that! This can be a great way to start a touchpoint with potential families. They may have never considered birth photography or hiring a doula but bringing them to my website and offering them info they already wanted can be an awesome way to connect!
It also saves you time from having to write out a response to help expecting families.
4.
Use content you’ve already written or talked about in other contexts
This is such a time saver and life hack. It can be as simple as a reading list you sent your best friend who is pregnant and wondering about her birth options, or a list of questions you’ve already answered for a past client. You can expand even the most basic information or personalized into a great and informative blog.
As a doula, you learn so much educational and birth-related information that many people will never learn unless they actually hired a doula so offering a blog that provides not only information but relatability can be an awesome connection opportunity.
Tips for Designing your Informative Birth Blog
5.
Entertain with your text and photos
DON’T JUST WRITE A PARAGRAPH AND STICK A PHOTO AT THE TOP
This may work for the keyword side of blogging but seriously this can be the least attractive way to get people actually reading and visiting your website. Treat your audience like they have short attention spans and try to entertain with your layout, headings, and how you deliver the digestible info. It doesn’t have to be long wordy sentences just aim for concise and meaningful information.
6.
Use bullet points
The easiest way to write a blog and deliver concise information is through bullet points or numbers. Think in lists and tips when writing a new blog. And include catchy words like 13 top… or 20 tips to… in your h1 blog title These types of titles catch the eye of an interested reader while letting them know that the info will be easy to digest and skim if they are looking for something specific.
7.
Write short paragraphs packed with easily digestible and interesting content
Imagine you are searching for a book to read or prepare you for birth. It’s rare that I want to read a huge paragraph about the book before buying but I do want straight-to-the-point content to tell me if I’m interested in buying the book in the first place. This usually looks like 2-3 informative and glowing sentences that hit on the diverse things someone might search for and/or be surprised by.
8.
Consider SEO while blogging
I know SEO can feel overwhelming but the 4 main things you want to consider are …
That’s really not a crazy amount when you think in bullet point form or storytelling.
Title every image with 3-4 descriptive words, your business name, location and service EX.
home-birth-mother-Hanna Hill Photography- Durham-England-birth-photographer
Link to resources used, places to buy the product you mention and to other information you’ve discussed or simply your “about me” page to show the face behind the blog.
Write as natural as possible but when possible include the local terms and topic terms that will be most searchable and catch the eye of potential readers.
9.
Add a Call to action
At the end of every blog give them something to do. Sign up for your email list, follow you on Instagram or Facebook. Offer a product or guide you’ve created that goes into more depth. Just something that will keep them watching for future blogs written BY YOU.
All of these tips should help you pull together a really helpful blog to connect with future clients in the birth world! What tip feels the hardest for you?
I’d love to connect with you more if you need any support writing blogs!
