Parenting and Lifestyle blogger Emma O’Leary, started her blogging journey with ‘Life With Tiny Humans’ in October 2017.
A qualified Speech and Language Therapist, Emma is a mother to three little boys Luke, Olly and Andy, and regularly explores various topics including parenting, motherhood, food and interiors on her blog.
Awarded Silver in the 'Best Parenting Blog' category at the Irish Blog Awards 2018, Emma offers brands and businesses reviews, Instagram/Facebook posts, features on Instagram stories and her blog, as well as hosting take overs. She has worked with various brands in a range of sectors including Johnson & Johnson, Mrs.Wordsmith, Stokke Haakkaa Ireland, MooGoo Ireland, InHealth.ie and Optimal Print to name a few.
In a recent conversation with Emma, she let us in on some blogger insights.
How did you first get into blogging, and how would you describe your blogging style?
I originally started blogging as a means of sharing recipes and cake designs with friends and family. As time passed and my life stage evolved to pregnancy, kids and family life, so too did my content. At that point, I made the decision to make a fresh start and created my current blog. My style is honest and relatable content that makes parents feel empowered and connected. There are so many common experiences in parenthood - and I like to discuss them openly, sometimes with a humorous twist.
What do you think is the best strategy that worked well for you to get more traffic to your blog?
In order to drive traffic to my blog, I have had to work incredibly hard at my social media engagement. Engaged followers who get to know you and what you are about are far more likely to go to the effort of reading your blog. Hard graft, growing numbers and consistent posting is key.
What inspired you to start your blog?
A love for writing. An inherent need to connect to others. The sense of community that goes with blogging.
How active are you on a weekly basis? How often do you communicate with your followers?
I communicate actively on Instagram throughout my day - I usually set aside periods in the day where I spend 15 minutes responding to messages, queries and questions. Additionally, I record story content and post it regularly throughout my day. I consistently post at least once within a 24 hour period.
What is your biggest challenge?
Finding enough hours in the day to keep up engagement, produce quality content and still find time to switch off. Instagram is a big commitment that requires a lot of work in terms of building a name, presence and engaged following. It's also about the quality of followers, not quantity - 5 engaged and interested followers are far more valuable than 100 followers who aren't interested or engaged in your content.
What’s your best advice for handling criticism on social media?
Think before you type! To date, I have received very little negativity or criticism within my corner of the internet, but when I have, I've made sure to respond in a collected way, not fuelled by emotion or hurt feelings. At the end of the day, once you are happy in yourself and decisions, you can be rational with yourself when you receive negativity.
Have you ever worked with any brands/businesses through your blog?
Yes, I have worked with numerous brands and businesses since establishing Life With Tiny Humans in October 2017. I am currently a brand Ambassador for Johnson's baby and have collaborated with other large brands including Stokke, Haakaa, Johnstone's Paint, Orchard Toys, Kelkin and Sealife to name a few.
What is important to you when working with brands?
For me, it's important that the brand fits into what I am about. I think authenticity is important, and when working with a brand, I need to make sure it's something I use, believe in or enjoy myself. Trying to work with or promote a product not related to your niche can come across as pushy and insincere, which isn't ideal. When working with brands, I like there to be good lines of communication, and realistic expectations from both parties. Discussing payment, the brief and timeline of posts from the outset make the whole process run a lot smoother. It's important to remember that influencers may be working with a number of brands and companies. In order to get the most out of your campaign, they need to schedule and organise content accordingly.
What advice would you give to a brand/business who wants to work with an influencer?
I think allowing an influencer the scope to be creative in how they incorporate a product into their feed is important in order to make it interesting and relatable to their followers. Good communication, and laying out expectations from both parties is also really important. Ask the influencer for a media kit and some stats so that you know their experience, type of audience and potential engagement for your product. Remember to consider the figures carefully. A large number of followers doesn't necessarily equate to a high level of engagement. Also, don't underestimate the power of Instagram stories and the number of daily views. I have a very engaged audience on my story. Sometimes people like to see the 'reality' or behind the scenes footage, not just a beautiful image on a grid.
What social media site do you feel is best for you to reach your target audience?
With regards my niche - Parenting, Motherhood & Family Lifestyle, Instagram is by far the most engaged platform to share and interact with my audience. There is an incredible sense of community, and I love to share the parental experience and relate to others who are in the same boat.
To read more from Emma, make sure you check out her Facebook and Instagram pages.