Interview with Heather Reinhard of ThetaMom

Heather Reinhard is the owner, founder and editor of Theta Mom, a successful and well established leading blog that began in 2009. She writes passionately about the reality of parenthood in the midst of redefining the role of motherhood.  She continuously supports women in business by strategizing and consulting for small start-ups to large established companies. Heather is married with two children and resides just outside of New York City. Connect with her on Twitter @ThetaMom.

Tell us about Theta Mom. Why did you start your blog?

Although my blog is not affiliated with Greek life, I think the sisterhood of motherhood definitely applies here. I was a full-time teacher before I made the decision to stay home with my kids and I began working from home. However, it wasn’t long before I experienced tons of self-doubt and loneliness as a WAHM.

Although I was still working hard and contributing to the family income, I still felt caught between two different worlds; somewhere between the steadfast career that I left behind and the woman trying to find herself with this new role of mother added to her resume.  I knew there had to be other women experiencing the same things that I was going through, especially the secret world of this “sisterhood.” 

What do you feel differentiates Theta Mom from other mom blogs out there?

In a massive sea of mommy bloggers, I’m not convinced that compelling content is enough anymore to sustain a successful blog and maintain a vast readership. In addition to publishing excellent content on a consistent basis, readers are looking for connection and the ability to really relate to the author, so this needs to be displayed through every post. 

You originally expanded your blog by adding the Theta Mom Community (TMC). What were your goals when you launched, and where are you now with TMC?

Starting out as a new blogger, there were many blogging communities I initially joined that allowed me to meet some fabulous other bloggers. But it was a challenge on many of these sites to decipher who and where the bloggers were that I really wanted to connect with. This was the moment TMC  was born. I wanted TMC to be a place in which bloggers could meet other bloggers that shared similar interests as well as an area to connect, network and support one another.

I recently revamped the TMC Network, which is a fantastic extension of TMC, serving as a resourceful forum to assist bloggers in answering their questions, and helping them to meet their own blogging goals. The Network is a tool used by bloggers to make connections but it’s also a space dedicated to helping bloggers learn from one another. I recently added a Guest Post section where bloggers can write for Theta Mom relating to specific blogging topics.

You recently completed a redesign of Theta Mom and added a “marketplace” concept. What’s the marketplace about?

Since I began blogging and working in social media, I’ve been introduced to so many amazing women who started their very own companies. These women, like many bloggers, work extremely hard every day and follow their passion. Therefore, I wanted to create a space on my own platform to feature talented women who are doing exactly that – inspiring other women, especially those in business.

 The Marketplace  at Theta Mom is dedicated to developing and establishing an online presence for women in business by supporting and promoting entrepreneurs from small start-ups to large corporations. I’m committed to working with women-owned brands to provide useful information that generates excitement and exposure surrounding the product and/or service which in turn, allows readers the opportunity to “meet” these brands and support the women behind the business.

What advice would you give newer bloggers about coming up with creative ways to monetize their blog or work with brands?

Monetizing your blog doesn’t have to necessarily mean ad space produced right from your blog. Monetizing can come in the form of various affiliate programs, brand ambassadorships and freelance writing gigs, which are opportunities that are initially generated from your blog.

 I always tell bloggers who want to work with brands to network, network, network. Twitter is an excellent way to begin a relationship, especially with some PR folks. I would encourage bloggers to begin a conversation and start following the brands that they would like to work with and talk to them. Put yourself out there and engage in conversation.

But I think it’s also important to have realistic goals and expectations, especially for new bloggers that want to monetize and/or work with brands. You have to build your own following first before you begin the process of working with or representing other brands. So my advice is to work hard and continue to build and establish your own brand – which will give other brands a reason to work with you.