Building Your Brand from the Ground Up: A Stay-at-Home Parent’s Guide to Brand Domination!
- Jessica Murphy
- Jul 2
- 8 min read
Hello, you fabulous stay-at-home superheroes! Balancing snack prep, laundry, and the occasional toddler tantrum while nurturing your side hustle can feel like juggling flaming torches while riding a unicycle—blindfolded. But guess what? Building a brand from scratch is totally doable! So grab your coffee (or that sugary energy drink we pretend doesn’t exist), put the baby down for a nap or throw on their favorite brain break (we love Coach Corey Martin or Cosmic Yoga on YouTube!), and let’s dive into how to create a brand that screams “This is me!” from the rooftops.
Find Your Unique Flavor
First things first: what makes you, *you*? In the branding world, this means discovering your unique selling proposition (USP). The thing that makes you stand out in a crowded market is essential. Are you the master of lunchtime hacks? The funny mom who teaches parents how to fold a fitted sheet with minimal tears? Pinpoint your passion and strengths, and let that be the heart of your brand. The easiest way to do this is to write down all the things you love and find common ground between them. I prefer the old pen and paper because I'm old school (what can I say, my millennial is showing). Don't take this part too seriously - you may find that you love telling dad jokes or are a master of household management. Its ok to combine things but make sure the flavor is uniquely you.
*Pro tip: If you can combine parenting tips with a side of absurd humor, you’ve hit the jackpot! Just imagine your audience laughing while they learn how to hide their clutter from the next Zoom call.*
Define Your Audience
If you think everyone will be your customer, think again! Is your ideal customer a frazzled mom of three who hasn’t showered in days? Or perhaps a dad looking for simple meal prep ideas that won’t make him cry? Understanding your target audience will help you tailor your brand to their needs, dreams, and even their Netflix binge-watching habits. They say the riches are in the niches and it is so true! Pinpointing who your audience truly is will bring in the type of tribe that will build your own personal village. Some people will scroll past your content, that just means they are not your target audience. Narrowing down who you want to be in your community is how you build a strong base of loyal online friends.
*Bonus: Create a customer persona! Give them a name, a backstory, and a pet hamster. You’d be surprised how helpful this can be in crafting your messaging!*
Craft Your Brand Identity
Your brand is more than just a logo; it’s your personality, voice, and aesthetics all rolled into one delightful package. Start by choosing your brand colors, typefaces, and logo that reflect the essence of your vibe. Are you a whimsical, pastel-loving parent, or a bold and vibrant entrepreneur ready to conquer snack time chaos? Your visual identity should resonate with your audience and feel authentic. Make your palette cohesive and consistent throughout all platforms (we'll get to those in a second) so when a new client is looking for you specifically and they see your colors/logo/font they stop and go "Oh! There they are!"
*Pro tip: If your “brand colors” turn out to be toddler crayon scribbles, embrace it! It’s all part of your unique charm!*
Build an Online Presence (The Digital Playground)
Let’s be real: a robust online presence is crucial for modern brands. Start with a website that’s easy to navigate and uncluttered—much like the ideal playroom (not that any of us have those). Use blogging to your advantage! Share your insights, tips, and personal stories, and sprinkle in some SEO magic so people can find you on Google faster than they can say “nap time.” Starting a website is a heck of a lot easier than you would believe, I mean just look at this one right here! I built this myself. Its nothing fancy but hi, here you are and I'm so glad you are. I personally love Wix for site building, it is straightforward, easy to set up and manage but do your own research and find the platform that works best for you. The point is to have a landing spot for new followers to come check you out and get a feel for who you are and what you offer.
*Pro tip: Ensure your website is mobile-friendly. After all, 80% of your audience is probably browsing while pretending to be on a conference call.*
Social Media: Your Brand’s Extroverted Buddy
Time to unleash your inner social butterfly! Choose the platforms that best serve your target audience—Instagram for visuals, Facebook for community building, or TikTok for those quick, humorous snippets that can go viral faster than a kid can yell “I’m hungry!” Consistent posting and engaging with your audience will keep your brand fresh and relatable. What's the saying - the squeaky wheel gets oiled? In this case, the "loudest" person gets seen the most. Now I'm not saying to spam all platform(s) every 10 seconds; a few posts every few days (heck, when its a super busy season in my life, it may only be a few posts every week) can dramatically change your life. Be consistent and show up online. Utilize some free scheduling tools for when you have that burst of creativity but don't want to inundate your platform(s) all at once. Space out your presence but always be on people's mind. You want your audience to think "I wonder what knowledge nugget I'll get today" versus "I have to mute this channel, its just too much." Above all, be YOU not who you think people want to see. Be real. Be authentic. Be quirky. The audience can see through a façade and can tell when you are being ingenuine. You could have the most interesting things to say/products to offer but nothing will tank a brand faster than a emotionless spam-bot.
*Pro tip: Use Instagram Stories to give a behind-the-scenes look at your life. “Watch me fold laundry while explaining how to create a budget!” They’ll love the authenticity!*
Create Consistent Content
Content is king (or queen or royal to keep it gender-neutral for all parents alike). Consistency is key, so plan a content calendar to keep your posts organized and relevant. Try a blend of educational, entertaining, and promotional content. Remember, people want to see the real you—bonus points for showcasing your chaos alongside valuable information! As I mentioned before, you DO NOT have to post every single day multiple times a day. The motto here is quality over quantity. Offer value - think to yourself, how is this serving my audience? If the answer is to provide information, to make them laugh/cry/feel an emotion or something along those lines, proceed with posting. If you are just thinking "this is going to make me a butt load of money".... well, maybe let's address this. WHY should someone want to purchase your product or use your service? What need are you fulfilling? Leading with dollar signs in your eyes is self-fulfilling and will likely repel more than attract. Flies to honey, right?
*Bonus: Use fun formats like polls and quizzes in your Stories to get your audience engaged, and don’t hesitate to throw in a funny meme or two! This can also work to give you insight on what your community is looking for in terms of future content.*
Network Like a Boss
You are not alone in your parenting hustle! Connecting with fellow entrepreneurs can lead to collaboration opportunities, brainstorming sessions, or just a good old-fashioned rant about the joys of toddler tantrums. Engage in Facebook groups, attend local networking events, or participate in online webinars to rub elbows with other impressive parents in similar boats. Never underestimate the power of networking and always lead with your heart. We have two ears and one mouth for a reason, listen more than you speak. Make true connections. You just never know who you will meet along the way that could impact your life in ways you couldn't believe. Personal story time - back in 2015, I joined an MLM after going to one of their "parties". It just fit in with my lifestyle and I loved the products...Anyhooooo My recruiter's mother was also my director and had been a speech pathologist prior to joining this MLM. Now for close to 10 years, I always had one toe in the business and one toe out but I remained faithful in the biz and every so often I would be contacted by my director to see how she could best support me in the journey. Now A LOT happened in 10 years - I got married, bought a house, had 2 kids and was a full time SAHM struggling to get my youngest to speak at almost 3 years old. With my son starting Pre-K a few days before he turned 3, I was desperate to get him to say something... anything. It was in the middle of this that I got one of my check-in's from my director. As we were speaking about the biz, my son came into the room and signed "more" I had no idea what kind of "more" he wanted - food? drink? playtime? My director noticed this and started asking all the right questions. Questions that his pediatrician seemed to just glaze over. Long story short, she helped me devise a plan to help him communicate with us more effectively, steps to help him at home and I am happy to announce that my little guy is finally using full sentences! All this to say, had I not made that initial connection ten years ago, I may not have had someone to help guide me through and understand his struggles. Never underestimate the power of networking. You never know where someone may fit into your life.
*Pro tip: Don’t just connect for the sake of it; reach out genuinely and offer your help. You never know when someone might need your expertise—or a good laugh!*
Gather Feedback and Adapt
Hey, nobody’s perfect—especially when it comes to parenting or building a business! Gather feedback from your audience and be ready to pivot when necessary. If they want more of your hilarious homeschool survival tips instead of your meal prep ideas, listen to them...with a grain of salt. Your ultimate goal is to create content and products they adore, and that may shift over time. Your audience will guide where you can take your brand but be careful not to fall into desperation pit. Stay true to who you are. Someone may love your cooking videos and will only follow those videos while skipping over the rest. As long as your content makes you happy, that's what is most important. Your love for your content will shine through and invite the people you want in your community.
*Pro tip: Create a simple feedback form or run polls on social media. Just make sure you promise not to turn it into a lengthy term paper—no one has time for that!*
Conclusion: Brand Badassery Awaits You!
Building a brand from the ground up while managing a household certainly isn’t for the faint of heart, but it can be a joyous—and occasionally hilarious—journey. By finding your unique flavor, connecting authentically with your audience, and staying adaptable, you’ll create a brand that resonates not just with your target market but with you as well.
Now, go forth and brandish your newfound knowledge like a stylized, superhero cape! Remember, laughter and authenticity will guide you as you take those monumental steps in building a solid foundation for your business. Just don’t forget to reward yourself with a well-deserved treat (or two) at the end of each milestone—because you’ve earned it, superstar!
Stay Hustling Warriors!
Jessica Murphy
Your Side Hustle Coach and Stay at Home Parent Advocate
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