5 Ways Writing a Blog Post Is a Lot Like Parenting

I used to have two jobs: writing business-facing blog posts and raising two kids. I thought that I lived in two separate worlds: one that required me to think a lot, wear real pants and interact with other adults, and one that – generally speaking – did not.

However, one day, as I struggled through a blog post at work, I started to think about how my struggles there were not so different than those I had (and still have) at home as a parent.

• I don’t always know what I’m talking about

• Someone else will always have an opinion about it

• I get bored saying the same thing over and over again

• Sometimes I feel like it doesn’t matter what I say anyway

The more I thought about it, the more I realized that writing an effective blog post requires the same tactics as talking to my young children.

1. The Headline Is the Most Important Thing

When blog writing, the headline is the most important element. It has to be short and to the point, all while eliciting curiosity, engaging the reader and getting them to click through to read more.

When parenting, you also have one shot at getting your kids’ attention, making your point and enticing them to hear more. If you don’t get it right, you’ll lose your audience too soon. If they immediately glaze over, you need to rework your “headline” and try again.

2. Use Tricks to Appear More Approachable

Bloggers use visual tricks to break up the text, make it seem less overwhelming and more approachable. This could include:

• Graphics

• Photos

• Subheads

• Bullets

• Pull-out quotes

• Bold type

While I’m not necessarily drawing a picture every time I want to make a point with my girls (though that works sometimes, too), I do have a style for making my message more approachable and easier to digest.

I emphasize the most important things with a higher pitch, more excitement and sometimes even clapping or jumping. I sometimes make up short songs or rhyme instructions. I yell when I need their immediate attention. The point is, break up the conversation into interesting tidbits, and emphasize what you want them to hear.

3. Lists Always Work

How many articles have you read because they promise “5 Easy Ways” to make your life better? The same is true for kids. When my five-year old wants something like TV time, I’m usually pretty quick to list out the two or three things she needs to do first, like put away the toys, go potty and wash her hands. It works, but keep it to three or less items.

4. Word Count Counts

There are differing opinions on the correct word count for an effective blog article, but the experts all agree that there is no reason to use more words than necessary to get your point across. This couldn’t be truer when talking to little kids! Keep it to the point and don’t over-explain something they’ve already digested.

5. Be Clear on Goals

When writing a blog, you have to know your goals before starting. Do you want the reader to sign up for something, purchase something, learn more or read more? In marketing, this usually points to your “call to action,” or what you ultimately are asking your reader to do.

When talking to your kids, it’s much of the same. Know your endgame and point conversations and actions that direction. Decide in advance if your goal is short term (i.e. eat your vegetables now) or long term (i.e. sometimes foods vs healthy foods) when trying to make a point so you stay focused on the right goal and lead your listener there with the right words.

One thing will always be true for both blog writing and parenting: While a lot of people make it look really easy, it’s not. People often see the end product, not the struggles and failed attempts that lead to it. So keep practicing and keep self-editing – your message will get through.