Heather Hernandez, founder of freebies4mom.com
After digging up great offers online, Heather Hernandez uses her blog freebies4mom.com to share exciting discoveries with other moms.
Freebies began when Hernandez was trying to find ways to supplement the family’s single income. To help out, the mother of two went online in search of ways to save and possibly make some extra money.
She found forums filled with free samples, coupons and other great offers. Choosing her favorites, she began sharing her finds with friends.
“I started emailing my friends what I found,” she says, “my email list grew from a few friends into hundreds. I was in danger of losing my email account.”
When an acquaintance suggested she turn her emails into a blog, Hernandez was immediately drawn in. The blog format was similar to the emails she was already sending, and although she “barely knew what a blog was,” she quickly saw the potential.
Hernandez created freebies4mom.com in 2007, but never expected it to become a full-time job. Before she launched her blogging career she was a civil engineer.
“I’m an engineer turned blogger,” she laughs.
“Anyone can teach themselves to build a blog. Just take it one thing at a time.”
The key is to find something you are passionate about. It can be a hobby, your family, your career – but you have to want to write about it on a regular basis, she says.
“I have a theory. If I’m excited about it, then other moms will be too.”
Hernandez uses both advertising and affiliate programs (like amazon.com) on her blog.
Though she earns a “good income” now, it took some time before she saw results.
“It takes thousands of visitors to make money,” she cautions.
“Right now I have ten thousand visits each (business) day.”
31,000 people subscribe to her blog through feed readers – a tool which monitors selected blogs or pages for new content and notifies a user.
Hernandez monitors her traffic through Google Analytics and similar programs. She was shocked to discover that her number#1 source for incoming traffic was Facebook.
“I didn’t start my Facebook page until just recently. But after I saw it take off, I realized it was a really effective way to share content with readers,” she says.
“For my type of blog Facebook has been wonderful.”
Hernandez also uses Twitter, but says readers have to be logged on right when the message is posted, and it’s harder to measure the results.
Both are great tools for promoting a blog, particularly if it is new.
New bloggers need to focus on products they like, otherwise the sincerity and authenticity won’t be there – and readers will go elsewhere, she says.
“I won’t blog about something I wouldn’t do [or use] myself.”
With a burgeoning blogging career and active family life Hernandez says she crams a “full time job blogging into part-time hours.”
“Blogging is so flexible you can do it from anywhere,” she says laughing.
“Even when you’re on vacation.”
As of December 1, 2009 the Federal Trade Commission has regulations regarding blog posts and the promotion of products. A quick overview of the rules can be found at www.avivadirectory.com/blogger-law/or on the Federal Trade Commission’s website.
4 Comments
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It's so great to hear Heather's success story. What a fantastic job she is doing.
Thanks for sharing a blogger success story. I'd like to get into doing something like this after I finish school. It's encouraging to hear about others doing something creative like this, succeeding and having fun!
Thanks for sharing a blogger success story. I’d like to get into doing something like this after I finish school. It’s encouraging to hear about others doing something creative like this, succeeding and having fun!