We see it happen all the time.
Prospective adoptive parents will spend hours writing and fine-tuning their adoption profile until they’re finally satisfied with it.
Then they’ll post it online, either on a stand-alone platform or on our adoption profiles page, and sit back and wait until a prospective birthmother contacts them.
Don’t get us wrong. This strategy often works.
But if you really want to boost your odds of grabbing the attention of expectant parents with an adoption plan, you’ll need to go the extra mile and find other ways to promote your online profile.
So how do you do it? How do you cut through the noise and get you noticed?
Advertising is one option. But with so many other waiting parents fighting to be seen online, you’re going need some pretty deep pockets to make your mark. And even then it’s not a sure bet.
The good news is there are other ways to increase your visibility on the web. And, best of all, they don’t cost a single cent.
Here are 6 ways to promote your online adoption profile to expectant parents without breaking the bank.
1. Start a blog
Creating a blog is a great way to document your adoption journey, process your emotions, and keep your family and friends up to date.
But it’s also an awesome way to connect with others, including prospective birthparents.
By writing about your journey or other adoption issues, you can reach a segment of the web that you wouldn’t be able to connect with otherwise.
The key is to write about issues that appeal to prospective birthparents.
There is no shortage of topics to choose from: You could write about why expectant parents choose open adoption or what not to say to an expectant mother with an adoption plan.
Not only would this give you insights into expectant mothers that could help you with your own journey.
It would also be a way to get yourself on the radar of people who may be looking for a prospective parent just like you.
2. Write a guest blog
Keeping up a blog can be challenging, especially if you don’t like to write.
Writing one post is a lot more manageable. And you can get a lot more mileage out of it if you publish it on an established website that caters to expectant parents. (Full disclosure: we’re always looking for interesting stories to share with our readers!).
“How-to” pieces and “listicles” (e,g, “10 Things An Expectant Parent Looking for Adoptive Parents Wants You To Know“) are especially popular and could potentially generate a lot of views.
Just make sure that your post includes a bio and a photo of you, along with a link back to your profile or website.
3. Share your story with your local paper
Many waiting parents go online because they want to reach as many people as possible.
The thing is, not every expectant parent is looking for an adoptive parent who lives on the other side of the country.
In fact, many are looking for a local match, someone they can visit without having to jump on an plane.
One way that other waiting parents have raised their online profile is to get featured in their local paper.
Local media outlets are always looking for interesting content. So why not share your story with them the way this Canada Adopts! couple did, either as a first-person piece or as an interview for a larger story?
For instance, during Adoption Month use your story to show how adoption has changed over the years. Not only will you educate people about what adoption is like today, but you never know who will see the story and hopefully contact you about it.
4. Create a Facebook account
Actually, any social media platform will do. It’s just that Facebook is by far the most successful one when it comes to creating connections.
But again, don’t expect results overnight. Creating a page is only the beginning. You still need to keep your page updated by posting interesting, relevant content on a regular basis.
This includes sharing stories that will increase your engagement, but also topics such as unplanned pregnancy and open adoption that will be of interest to expectant parents.
5. Add a link to your Email signature
When it comes to communicating with others online, email is still one of the most popular tools available.
Take advantage of that by including a short message or call to action under your email signature.
It doesn’t have to be elaborate or too self-promotional. In fact, the simpler it is the better.
All you need to do is include a line that you’re hoping to adopt, with a link to your profile.
You don’t have to say anything else. If the recipient of your email is curious or wants to learn more, she will click on the link. If she isn’t, she won’t.
6. Join an adoption forum
Admittedly adoption forums aren’t what they used to be. There was a time when everyone was on them.
Nowadays, with the rise of social media, most people tend to spend their time on sites like Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram.
But don’t rule forums out just yet. They still show up prominently on search engines, especially for specific issues that expectant parents are interested in such as “how do I avoid getting my open adoption closed” or “how do I find the perfect adoptive parents.”
As with your social media posts, make sure that you have something to say when you post your comment and that you’re not just spamming.
Many forums will allow you to include a signature with a link back to your website or profile, which is another proven way to drive users back to you and hopefully make a good impression.
With internet traffic at an all-time eye, getting noticed is harder than ever for prospective adoptive parents. By following through on any of these profile promotion tips, you can cut through the noise and potentially connect with an expectant family free of charge.
Are you looking to promote your adoption profile? Check out our parent profile plans.
Help us remove the stigma surrounding open adoption. Like us on Facebook.