Too often I come across business owners who have "lost" access to their domain (aka www.businessname.com).  Here is how the story goes:

"My ________ bought the domain for me because I had no idea what I was doing.  Now s/he is ignoring my calls and emails and texts.  Now what?"

You can fill in the  ______ with: boyfriend, programmer, husband, good friend, girlfriend, wife, son, daughter, etc.

If they are ignoring you and basically holding your domain hostage you need to kiss that domain good-bye.  To get it back (assuming the other party does not want to give it back) would mean bringing them to court.

Because stories like this are so common I NEVER EVER will buy a domain for someone.  I simply send them these instructions: 

1. Go here http://www.godaddy.com/gdshop/redirect/go.asp?isc=cjcdplink and enter the domain you want.
2. Hit Select (make sure you are picking the right one and not another option that GoDaddy throws at you).
3. Hit Continue to Cart.
4. Now GoDaddy is going to try to sell you the WORLD! Say NO to everything.
5. They are going to try to get you to buy even more stuff on the shopping cart page, ignore it all. 
6. If they want you to buy more than 1 year, change it to 1 or 2 years (your choice).
7. Now, open a NEW window and GOOGLE around for a coupon code! There is ALWAYS a coupon code out there. Find a good code and enter it BEFORE you check out, on the Shopping Cart Page.
8. If your total is not around $12 or less make sure GoDaddy didn't sneak something into the cart.

More Tips:

• GoDaddy will ask for a physical address. Know that this information will be public so either pay for the privacy OR use your PO Box (or a friend's). You can always add privacy later so no worries if you want to run out and buy a PO box. For YEARS I did not hide my address and nothing bad ever happened.
• Buy a .com  Do not buy a .org or a .guru or a .info.  Make it a .com.
• If this is your first time creating a GoDaddy account make sure you use a REAL email and phone number.  You will need to verify things.
• After you buy it, set up an alarm in your phone and on your calendar (yes, two alarms) to go off 1 month BEFORE your domain will expire.  So if you paid for 1 year set it to go off at 11 months.  You will want to make sure you RENEW that domain. If you forget to renew there are companies out there who will buy your domain and then ask you to pay them hundreds of dollars to get it back.

The link I posted above is an affiliate link. That means I get a kickback if you buy a domain through GoDaddy.  But kickback or not, I strongly recommend GoDaddy. They are HUGE, so I know the company is not going to disappear. Their customer service is the BEST I've seen.  You can call them up and get real help. Sometimes they even call you just to make sure everything is OK or to remind you your domain is about to expire. Really, I love them. The only reason not to love GoDaddy is (as you saw) they try to upsell you on services.

Now that you've bought your own domain you know it is safe (just do not lose the password) :)

In my webinar on The 5 Pages Your Website Must Have, I talk about how head shots are mandatory!  

The Birth Workers featured in this blog, offered up their head shots for the world to see. As you may notice, they are setting the industry standard and YOU need to keep up. 

I also want you to take note that MANY of them paid NOTHING for their photo.  Some had friends take their picture and others traded their services.

Do YOU want a free head shot too?  In my Launch with Laura class I go over how to get a head shot and what to do during the shoot.  I also talk about my rookie mistake (knowing it will save you time and money.

A huge thanks to everyone who participated!

If you watched my webinar on The 5 Pages Your Website Must Have, then you know that I believe everyone should have an active blog.

In a nutshell, here’s what blogging will do for you.

• Blogging at least 2x a month will show potential customers that your website and your business has life. 
  
• Blogging will allow you to present yourself as an expert.
  
• Blogging will help with your SEO (the google gods will love you more).
  
• Blogging will allow you to form or strengthen relationships with your customers or future customers (they’ll get to you know, you’ll get to know them when they comment, etc).
  

I wanted to INSPIRE non-bloggers, or those struggling to blog, so I reached out to the Birth Worker Community and asked them to share their most popular blogs with me. 

The topics are varied but all have ONE thing in common. All of these blogs are written FOR CLIENTS (moms, pregnant moms, soon to be pregnant moms, and dads too!).  Remember that your peers (fellow birth workers) are not who your blog is for.

So let's take a look at these talented, professional, women who are leading the pack in the BW blogging world!

In no particular order:

#1. 'Twas the Night Before Labor 
Author: Ali Fallis
Link: http://www.lifeslightdoula.com/blog/twas-the-night-before-labor
Laura’s Notes: The Huffington Post picked up this blog!  

#2. A day at home with your postpartum doula
Author: Devon Clement
Link: http://mamasbestfriend.com/day-home-postpartum-doula/
Laura’s Notes: I personally share this blog with everyone who thinks they need a “baby nurse”.  What they really mean is they need a PPD! 

#3. I Left My Infant In The Car
Author: Amber Mohr
Link: http://brentwooddoula.com/2015/08/i-left-my-infant-in-the-car/
Laura’s Notes: I love how this made Amber very real and human.  Any parent who made a mistake  (um, all of them) can relate to this blog.  

#4. Our Birth Story
Author: Tenaj Ikner
Link: http://sojourningthru.com/2013/07/01/our-birth-story/
Laura’s Notes: Everyone loves a good story.  Every mom loves a good birth story even more!

#5. Too Bad You Had to Switch To Formula
Author: Lindsey Harman
Link: http://www.arrivalarts.com/arrival-blog/2015/8/5/she-doesnt-care-about-her-baby-so-she-gave-it-formula
Laura’s Notes:  This blog hit 3000 views on Facebook alone! Not too shabby. By the way, I teared up a little reading this.

#6. Isn’t my Husband my Doula?
Author: Amanda Mason
Link: http://www.brownwooddoula.com/blog/isnt-my-husband-my-doula
Laura’s Notes: EXCELLENT informational piece that could help a lot first time moms (and dads).

#7. The Authentic Truth of Breastfeeding with Poland Syndrome (Part 1 and 2)
Author: Sarah Case
Link: https://www.tinysparrowphotography.com/2015/08/poland-syndrome-breastfeeding-photos/
Laura’s Notes: Another great story! Are you starting to see that you (and others) love reading stories?

#8. 5 Reasons Chico is a Great Place to Have a Baby
Author: Sarah Tingy Gordon
Link: http://www.chicobirthservices.com/blog/5-reasons-chico-is-a-great-place-to-have-a-baby-by-a-chico-doula
Laura’s Notes: Everyone loves a good list! When she sent this to me I didn’t even know where (or what) Chico was but her title made me want to click. Clearly this blog is great for those who may be doing a google search for ‘chico doula’. Actually, just an FYI for Sarah, I just did a google search and Chico Birth Services is 1st page, 3rd website down!

#9. Beautiful is Your Postpartum Body
Author: Eizabeth Luke
Link: http://firstcoastdoulas.com/2015/07/beautiful-is-your-postpartum-body/
Laura’s Notes: Yup, Elizabeth proves you can given turn your poem into a blog.  This blog got about 1000 views.

#10. 15 Reasons you Need a Doula
Author: Maria Pokluda
Link: http://greatexpectationsbirth.com/2015/03/15/15-reasons-you-want-a-doula-at-your-birth/
Laura’s Notes: Another great list that educates.  This blog gets 700 views PER MONTH!

#11. Top Ten Tips for Writing a Birth Plan
Author: Bethany Sawhill
Link: http://phoenixfamilybirth.com/birth-plan-tips/
Laura’s Notes: Not only is there great info, Bethany even gives away a worksheet at the end of this blog (genius).

#12. Why you won’t hear me suggest galactogogues
Author: Tipper Gallagher
Link: http://theboobgeek.com/blog/why-you-wont-hear-me-suggest-galactogogues.html
Laura’s Notes: This blog received 31,000+ views. She published it June 2013 and August 2015 people are STILL commenting on it! Need I say more?  

#13. Birth Partner No No’s
Author: Justine Geberdt
Link: http://www.allaboutbirthboutique.ca/blog/birth-partner-no-nos/
Laura’s Notes: Justine pulled off serious and funny at the same time. Plus this blog has gotten 7k+ views. 

#14. I love TEA!! Safe herbal teas for Pregnancy and Breastfeeding
Author: Ashley Shea
Link: http://yoginimomma.com/2013/12/07/i-love-tea-safe-herbal-teas-for-pregnancy-and-breastfeeding/
Laura’s Notes: This blog has gotten 10k views so far!  Think of how many moms google “safe tea pregnancy”.

#15. Attack Formula Companies--Not Formula Feeders
Author: Christy Jo Hendricks
Link: http://birthingandbreastfeeding.blogspot.com/2014/10/attack-formula-companies-not-formula.html
Laura’s Notes: 37,758 views so far on this one. Christy Jo's blog is for professionals because that is who your clients are.  If you are a birth worker who trains other birth workers your blog should be for peers as well.
 
#16. You’re Not Allowed to Not Allow Me
Author: Cristen Pascucci
Link: http://birthmonopoly.com/allowed/
Laura’s Notes: 76k likes, 250,000 views (that’s not a typo).

#17. 13 Myths About VBAC
Author: Jen Kamel
Link: http://vbacfacts.com/13myths/
Laura’s Notes: 128,000 views.  This was the only VBAC blog submitted to me, which is surprising because it is a popular topic among moms in Facebook groups. More VBAC blogs from others please :)

#18. Cervical Scar Tissue – A Cause of Preventable C-Sections
Author: Dawn Thompson
Link: http://improvingbirth.org/2012/07/cervical-scar-tissue-a-cause-of-unnecessary-c-sections/
Laura’s Notes: Great facts may get you 1 MILLION views! Wow.

#19. Denying the Pain of Labour is Like Denying the Pain of Life
Author: Nadia Raafat
Link: http://nadiaraafat.com/index.php/blog/49-denying-the-pain-of-labour-is-like-denying-the-pain-of-lifehi
Laura’s Notes: Another blog that was published in the Huffington Post.

#20. Early Labor: What Your Doctor Won’t Tell You
Author: Kate Novotny
Link: http://taprootdoula.com/2015/07/23/early-labor-what-your-doctor-wont-tell-you/
Laura’s Notes: This blog has another irresistible title.  I challenge a first time pregnant mom to read that title and NOT click it.

#21. 5 Awesome Things About Oxytocin You Probably Don’t Know
Author: Emily Fontes
Link: http://www.serenedoulas.com/5-awesome-things-about-oxytocin-you-probably-dont-know/
Laura’s Notes: Another great list that is easy to absorb. 

When I first started out I used an @hotmail.com address for my business.  This was in 2004 before @gmail.com was public.  But after I few years I knew it was time for an @MyDomain.com email address.  By then I had a gmail account and I loved the ease of it so signing up with Google Apps was a no-brainer.

Your Google Apps email looks just like gmail but the address will be @YourDomain.com instead of @gmail.com. The cost is $5 a month per user or $50 a year.

To save some money go here (affiliate link) and give this promo code a try. It is first come, first served so it may or may not work.

• 9LRQNKTJGANMHQ

Starting on 4.21.15 Google began ranking Mobile Friendly websites HIGHER in the search results.

What this means?
If someone searches for "San Diego Doula" the websites that are mobile friendly will show up higher on the search page. A non-mobile website may not show up at all.

Is your website mobile friendly?
There is a quick way to find out. Just go here and enter your URL.

Did your website fail the test?
Then you need to upgrade right away! If you are using Wix, Weebly, SquareSpace then contact their customer service to see what your options are.

If your website needs a full upgrade, then check out my Launch with Laura Class where I will teach a group of birth workers how to build a Weebly website.