• About
  • Contact
  • Motherhood
  • Personal
  • Work with Me
  • Guest Post
  • Privacy Policy
  • Disclaimer

Leaf and Steel

motherhood - growth - living

Why You Need to Start Accepting Guest Posts

June 7, 2022

Do you accept guest posts on your blog? If not, you seriously might want to start.

Guest posting is a tried-and-true way to elevate your blog. I started accepting guest posts in 2022 and I can’t believe that I waited this long to try it! I honestly didn’t even think of it as an option for my style of blog. I also didn’t realize how many people out there would want to post on my blog!

Keep reading to see why you need to start including guest posts today.

What is a guest post?

A guest post is exactly what it sounds like – it’s a post on your blog written by a “guest”, typically another blogger. It’s different from an article written by a freelancer or ghost writer because it usually serves as a mutual promotion for both parties.

How do I find writers to guest post on my blog?

The simplest way to find people to guest post on your blog is to ask your readers! 

Ask them in a blog post or on social media! I was surprised when I posted a call for writers on my Instagram (with a very meager following). There were so many people wanting to write for my blog in exchange for promotion or just to exercise their freelance skills.

Be sure to include a Guest Post FAQ page on your blog with details on what kind of posts you’re looking for.

Here are some examples of what you might want to include in a guest post FAQ:

  • Suggested word count
  • Suggested topics
  • Banned topics
  • Banned language or themes
  • Where the post will be promoted
  • If you charge or pay for guest posts

Some blogs charge to feature guest posts. This is fine if you’re willing to provide stats to prove that the price is worth it.

It’s important that you aren’t just slapping up any old post from any old writer.

I ALWAYS check out the writer’s blog, social media, and I’m not afraid to give them a quick Google to make sure nothing controversial shows up. It’s my due diligence as a blog owner to make sure that the content I’m putting out is responsible, inclusive, and safe.

A social media search and hashtag scan can tell you a lot about someone’s beliefs. Make sure you know who’s writing for you and their reputation.

How do I guest post on a blog in 2022?

Start with your favorite blogs that are in line with your niche! Check to see if they have guest posting information on their contact or about page. If not, there is no harm in asking! Sending a friendly email with a request to send over your work might lead somewhere.

You can also simply do a Google search for guest posting opportunities in your selected niche. I would check out a few of the site’s articles to make sure that it’s somewhere you would be proud to be associated with.

How often should I feature guest posts?

You get to set the rules here.

It also largely depends on how often you post.

Here are some guest post scheduling ideas:
  • A guest post the first/last week of the month
  • A guest post every Monday
  • Guest posts for one whole week or one whole month
  • Guest posts with different perspectives on the same topic
  • Guest post themes (like recipes, book reviews, etc.)

Experiment and find what works for you!

Why you need to start accepting guest posts today:

The benefits of guest posts are endless, but here are some of my favorites:

You’ll make new friends

I have connected with so many interesting and insightful women through guest posting. It’s allowed me to “meet” people from different cultures and at so many different stages of life.

You get a writing “break”

Unless this is your full time job, you probably have other things you need to be doing during the day.

I know I have many days where I don’t even open my laptop, let alone write. That’s where guest posting can be helpful. I can post those articles on the days or weeks where I know I won’t be able to put my own work up.

This helps me stay consistent with my posting schedule and keeps my readers engaged.

If you also have annual word count goals or a posting schedule, this can be really helpful.

Increased traffic

Well written guest posts drive traffic, plain and simple.

Think of it like gaining a temporary second audience. Your post will (hopefully) be shared on different social media accounts or reposted to the guest posters blog. This will lead to an increased amount of eyes on your posts- and some of those readers might stick around for more.

You’ll support other bloggers

Guest posting is an excellent way to support other long form content creators. Both sites get extra sets of eyes on their posts and it’s always good to give a little love to other bloggers!

You might learn something new

It’s true! You might learn a new skill, recipe, or way of thinking. This is one of my favorite reasons to feature guest posts.

This is why guest posting is so great – you can get an expert to write on a topic that you do not fully understand or have the desire to research.


Some of Leaf and Steel’s most recent guest posts:

Keeping the Focus on You

Give the Gift of Reading

How to Be a More Self-Confident Mother and Enhance Your Life


Do you currently accept guest posts? Have you ever guest posted on another site?

Would you be interested in guest posting on Leaf and Steel?

Let me know below!
O.

More from Leaf and Steel:
  • Bunny Decor for Under $20 to Decorate with This Spring
  • How I Get Over Writer’s Block
  • Gift Guide for the Tired Mama in Your Life
  • Lessons from Stay-at-Home Moms
  • How to Take Care of Your Baby When You’re Sick
  • Little Things I Do To Make my Baby Feel Loved

Filed in: blogging, Uncategorized • by Olivia • 3 Comments

The Best Books about Bugs for Babies

April 6, 2022

Whether your kid is the one playing with words in the garden or screams when they see a spider, they’re sure to love these bug themed books!

This post contains affiliate links. This means that I may make a small commission off of products that are purchased through these links, at no cost to you. You can read more about this process here.

Spring is the best time to introduce these bug books.

Insects and bugs make excellent preschool topics for spring!

I know when I was a preschool teacher, I loved teaching my kids about the parts of an ant. They enjoyed learning about silly spiders and sweet lady bugs too!

Another fun idea for spring is to read these books outside and then go on a bug hunt in the garden!

The Best Butterfly Books for Babies

Why should you read to your baby everyday?

Read to your little one every day. The easiest way to do this is to tack on reading to another routine, like reading before bed, before mealtimes, or after a nap.

See this answer from Zero to Three (click for reference):

Reading together when babies are as young as 4 months old increases the chances that parents continue reading to babies as they get older. Beginning early is important because the roots of language are developing in a baby’s brain even before he can talk! The more words your baby hears over time, the more words he learns.

Zero to Three, “Read Early and Often“

Should you read to your baby when pregnant?

Yes! I began reading to my daughter when I was pregnant, even though I felt pretty silly doing it.

See this explanation from the Cleveland Public Library (click for reference):

Additional research suggests that third-trimester babies not only pick up on language patterns, but after birth, they can recognize words they first heard in the womb. Though the extent to which babies in utero can learn has yet to be determined, prenatal reading is nonetheless a wonderful way to kick-start healthy brain development.   

Cleveland Public Library, “Born to Read: Reading to Your Baby in the Womb”

Ten Little Ladybugs by Melanie Gerth

The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle

Little Love Bug: Finger Puppet Book by Chronicle Books

Hello, Bugs! (Black and White Sparklers) by Smriti Prasadam

Some Bugs by Angela DiTerlizzi

Walter’s Wonderful Web: A First Book About Shapes by Tim Hopgood

Backyard Bugs – Touch and Feel Board Book by Little Hippo Books

Hello, Garden Bugs: A High-Contrast Book by Julissa Mora

Mrs. Peanuckle’s Bug Alphabet by Jessie Ford

The Honeybee by Kirsten Hall

You’re My Little Cuddle Bug by Nicola Edwards


Do you read to your baby everyday?

Do you know any of the books on this list?

Let me know below!

O.

More from Leaf and Steel:
  • How to Create a Home Learning Corner for Your One-Year-Old
  • Sunday Night Routine for a Successful Week
  • 7 Things I Do Every Day as a Stay at Home Mom
  • How to Survive Your 1-Year-Old’s First Blood Test
  • Bunny Decor for Under $20 to Decorate with This Spring

Filed in: Uncategorized • by Olivia • Leave a Comment

10 More Mom Influencers to Follow for Inspiration

December 15, 2021

If you’ve read my other posts on Instagram mommy bloggers, you’ll know that I love to follow fellow moms for inspiration!

Every woman on this list shows that they are dedicated to their children and capturing the true essence of motherhood through their posts.

Social media lets us see what hacks and recommendations mothers across the country or across the globe have.

Source: @cmcoving Instagram

I know I have learned a thing or two off of the personal experiences of parents that I don’t know.

I have gathered so much good information from my friends and family, but nothing compares to the wide expanse that the internet gives us when it comes to advice.

I couldn’t find anyone in my personal life that had experienced morning sickness to the degree that I did while pregnant. It was only when I looked online that I felt comfort in knowing that I wasn’t alone, as well as endless tips and tricks on how to cope.

That’s the beauty of online spaces that allow us to share the little details of our life, if we so choose.

So, here are ten more more influencers to follow for inspiration!

  1. Brittani Boren Leach (@brittaniborenleach)
  2. Miss Enocha (@missenocha)
  3. Julia Berolzheimer (@juliaberolzheimer)
  4. Meg Hall (@meghall)
  5. Brittney Payton (@brittneypayton)
  6. Angela Braniff (@thisgatherednest)
  7. Erin (@cottonstem)
  8. Caitlin Covington (@cmcoving)
  9. Quigley Goode (@officiallyquigley)
  10. Hannah Neeleman (@ballerinafarm)
Source: @missenocha Instagram

Out of this list, I’ve learned the most from following @ballerinafarm. She’s a farm owner, ballerina, mother of six, and Miss Utah. I love watching her stories about making homemade bread – one of my favorite hobbies as well!

While I have no desire to own a huge working farm in Utah, it’s cool to see how someone else is doing it.

Source: @ballerinafarm Instagram

That’s one of the (very) few things I like about social media – you get to peer into lives that are so much different than your own.

Check out my posts on 10 Mom-Influencers I Follow for Inspiration and 10 Baby and Toddler Advice Accounts You Should Follow on Instagram.


Do you have Instagram? Do you follow anyone on this list?

Let me know below!

O.

More from Leaf and Steel:
  • 10 Mom-Influencers I Follow for Inspiration
  • How to Survive Your 1-Year-Old’s First Blood Test
  • 7 Things I Do Every Day as a Stay at Home Mom
  • How to Build a Portable Breastfeeding Bin

Filed in: Uncategorized • by Olivia • 4 Comments

10 Mom-Influencers I Follow for Inspiration

December 7, 2021

If your Instagram feed has become dull and boring, try following some of these mom influencers for inspiration!

Have you ever heard the saying “you are what you eat“? Well, the saying can apply to anything we can consume – especially social media.

I limit my Instagram use to maybe 10 minutes a day, if that. That’s 10 minutes a day of looking at other people’s lives (and inadvertently comparing myself to others).

For me, having social media on my laptop and not installed on my phone drastically cut down on how much I was on the site.

I used to have the app on my phone and would scroll constantly until I realized that it just didn’t make me feel good. All the “connecting” and peering into friends or strangers lives felt really weird.

It’s still super weird, if you think about it! We post carefully curated pictures of our lives in hopes that others will literally “like” us.


A few months ago I had that revelation that social media wasn’t doing it for me. I would much rather be here, blogging and being honest, than posting photos trying to make other people feel some type of way.

Especially since becoming a mom, I felt like there was so much comparing on the app. Everyone had expensive baby gear or was down to their pre-pregnancy weight after like two days and it just didn’t make me feel good.

Worse, my baby hit some milestones later than other babies, so then I was comparing my baby to other babies on social media.

I hate to admit that, but it’s true.

I wasn’t feeling connected or inspired, which I consider the point of Instagram.

It was making me feel like a worse mother, wife, and woman.

That’s when I knew I needed a change.

One of the best things I did was a massive unfollow of any account that did not feed me.

More important than who I kept on my feed was who I left behind. I wrote about my experience with the dark world of baby sleep pages below. I’m so glad that I was able to see what was going on with me when I was constantly viewing those pages.

Your Baby Doesn’t Need to Sleep Through the Night

So, I did this massive unfollow and I muted dozens of friends or acquaintances that weren’t bringing me joy.

My feed is pretty sparse now, and I like it that way.

There are a few influencers I did end up keeping.

And I’ll tell you why.

I was craving honesty after my baby was born. I had such a great group of friends who gently told me hard truths of parenting. I wanted more. I wanted to see other moms who didn’t have their life together, ones that didn’t have it all figured out yet. I wanted to see other people standing up for what they believed in when it came to motherhood, not just women desperate to make a quick buck off of exploiting their kids or dragging out a gender reveal (what even are those) for a week in a half to boost engagement.

The mothers on this list aren’t constantly shilling unethical companies or just trying on clothes in front of a mirror. They are honestly sharing their stories of motherhood or doing so with style and letting you in on the behind the scenes of those perfect photo shoots.

They aren’t doing the most snarkable influencer move – making you feel inadequate so that you spend money and they get rich.

I wanted to see pictures of authentic motherhood without bounds.

I hope you check out the following accounts and let me know what you think! I think we could all use some inspiration and connection in these cold winter months!

Here are 10 mom-influencers that you can follow for some carefree parenting inspiration!

  1. Amber Fillerup Clark (@amberfillerup)
  2. Bekah Martinez (@bekah)
  3. Juila Dzafic (@lemonstripes)
  4. Steffy (@steffy)
  5. Kristen Lemmon (@kristen.lemmon)
  6. Taylor Giavasis (@g1avasis)
  7. Marissa the Milk Mom (@marissathemilkmom)
  8. Krystal Duhaney (@krystalduhaney)
  9. Aspyn Ovard Ferris (@aspynovard)
  10. Ashley Stock (@littlemissmomma)

Do you have social media? Who do you follow for inspiration? Are you familiar with any o f the accounts above?

Let me know below!

O.

More from Leaf and Steel:
  • 10 Baby and Toddlers Advice Accounts You Should Follow on Instagram
  • Zero Waste Laundry with Kind Laundry
  • How to Survive Your 1-Year-Old’s First Blood Test
  • Mommy and Baby Day Off Schedule
  • Your Baby Doesn’t Need to Sleep Through the Night

Filed in: Uncategorized • by Olivia • 3 Comments

Hi there!

Leaf and Steel is a collective on all things motherhood, growth, and living. Read More…

Instagram

Embrace the autumnal magic! 🍂 Discover heartwarming traditions to kick off the season in our latest blog post. From family volunteering to nature walks, these cherished moments will create memories that last a lifetime. 🍁🍃 #FallTraditions #FamilyTime #AutumnMagic
🎈 Playfulness: Infuse joy into interactions. Play and laughter are bridges to understanding. Engage in games, be silly, and share giggles to build trust and warmth.⁣⁣⁣ ⁣⁣⁣
Never have truer words been spoken…
Up on the Blog: Here’s Why Christmas Season is the Best
Not ready for the pumpkins to be gone 🎃🫤
Blogtober is almost here! #blogtober is a writing challenge where writers publish one post a day for the month of October. I did it last year and it was definitely…a challenge! 🎃

Recent Posts

  • 30 Things to Do with Toddlers on a Rainy Day
  • 5 Reasons Why You Should Wake Up Before Your Kids
  • Halloween Sensory Activities for Toddlers
  • 30 Thanksgiving Themed Blog Prompts
  • 31 October Themed Blog Prompts

Copyright © 2023 · Theme by Blog Pixie

Copyright © 2023 · Coffee & Sundays Theme on Genesis Framework · Blog at WordPress.com. · Log in

 

Loading Comments...