Interview With Local Niche Blogger Terri Chadick

At Performancing we love doing interviews with bloggers, especially when we find people who are doing something truly different and unique. That's why I was thrilled when I came upon Terri Chadick's Life+Kids blog that focuses on the local niche of Northwest Arkansas.

The cool thing about Terri's blog is that it's not just a regional blog, but it's a regional blog specifically targeted at kids (and their parents). In my view, the "local web" is where the next major online revolution will occur (when, and how, I don't know). So it's great to see a blogger like Terri taking the pioneer steps to build and flesh out the local web.

My hope is that Google and the other search engines will really dig in and help to usher in a strong local web, while rewarding sites like this (rather than all the empty, spammy directory sites from major corporations).

Enough of my ranting though! Terri has some great things to say about local niche blogging.

Could you tell us a little about how you got started with your blog? What inspired you to start it?

When my oldest child started kindergarten, I became friends with a group of moms with children a few years older than mine. I would listen to them talk about various things they were doing and places they were going with their kids and wonder “how do they know about all these things?”

I realized that people rely heavily on word of mouth, event fliers and various general print publications, but there was no central place where parents could go to know about local kid friendly events and activities in Northwest Arkansas. I felt it was difficult for busy parents (especially ones new to the area) to stay in the know. So, I decided to create an online resource focused on living in Northwest Arkansas with kids.

What do you see as the advantages and disadvantages of running a geographically localized blog?

Clearly, a geographically localized blog limits your readership. As much as I love the area, no one in New York or LA is going to be interested in my blog unless they are considering moving to or traveling to Northwest Arkansas.

However, my readership is very targeted. The vast majority of my search engine traffic comes from people who are searching for Northwest Arkansas businesses and events, and my subscribers are almost all local families. I believe this targeted traffic could be very valuable to local businesses who advertise on my site.

What are some long term goals you'd like to realize with this blog?

My biggest goal this year is to complete the Life+Kids Guide to Kid Friendly Northwest Arkansas. I am building it page by page after gathering recommendations from readers and friends about the best local stores, restaurants, and activities. I have completed the guide to shopping for maternity clothes and children’s clothes, and other sections are in the works, including one on local restaurants where kids eat free.

Of course, I would also like to increase my local readership. The more readers I have “in the trenches” providing me tips on local events and activities, the more comprehensive my site will be.

Do you have any plans to add video or podcasts featuring interviews or local events?

Not at this time, but possibly in the future.

Are there any tips that you have for someone who wants to develop a local niche blog?

Find offline ways to publicize your site. If readers are not used to going online to find information about your topic, make sure they can find your site by traditional methods. I have created business cards with my logo and site information. I leave these at the library, in coffee shops, on counters of kid related stores -- all places where people browse for local information.

Search around the internet for blogs and websites similar to yours in other cities. I receive lots of ideas from sites like goCityKids the Berkeley Parents Network, and Peach Head Families.

How did you choose the scope of your blog? Obviously you could have gone more narrow by focusing on a single town or city.

I live in Fayetteville, where the University of Arkansas is located. Fayetteville is a college town with many cultural and entertainment offerings. About 30 miles up the road is Bentonville, headquarters of Walmart and a base for all the Walmart suppliers. Bentonville and neighboring Rogers have experienced a huge population growth and are now seeing new retail and restaurants and museums. Both areas have a lot to offer, and parents will travel 30 miles for a great event, store, or restaurant. So, I wanted to be sure I covered the entire region.

Do you run any other blogs or are you involved in any other online communities?

I do not run any other blogs and am not really involved in other online communities.

While I keep up with almost 200 blogs on Bloglines, I am not a regular commenter on any of them. One of my goals should probably be to participate more. But, there are so many great blogs and so little time!

For those of us who are just starting our families (with kids), what do you recommend as the three best online resources for kids and their parents?

1. www.babycenter.com -- I consulted this site daily after my first child was born. Is he supposed to be . . . ? What do I do if . . .? How do I . . .?
2. www.parenthacks.com -- I never leave the site without saying “why didn’t I think of that?!?!?”
3. www.babycheapskate.blogspot.com -- Great deals on baby items
4. www.familyfun.com -- every mother I know consults this site for planning birthday parties or class parties.

Sorry -- I know you said 3.

Performancing has neglected local niche blogging in the past, are there any issues you've encountered so far that you'd like for us to cover in the future?

SEO and link building tips for the local blog. I have found several good articles on SEO and link building for local sites, but those seem to be focused on a brick and mortar business' website rather than a local blog.

Any tips for local blogs on competing in the search engines against the sites that do local nationally like Yahoo Local, Discover Our Town, Switchboard, etc.?

Monetization options for a local blog. Are there any creative options or options especially well suited to a local blog?

Thanks for the opportunity to be interviewed on Performancing!