Today we’d like to introduce you to Natalie Rickerson.
Hi Natalie, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstories.
Eight years ago, I was staying home with my 3-year-old and one-year-old boys. I had left the financial corporate world when I gave birth to my first son in 2010. Out of my friends, I was one of the first to start having a family. At that time, it was very popular to have a personal blog about your family so you could share it with family and friends.
Through the online community, I “online” met many moms in the same place as myself. We followed our children’s milestones and birthdays and created our own little space to share about motherhood. One of the moms I met online had just started the New Orleans Moms Blog, and she suggested I start one in my city to connect with moms locally.
It was an overwhelming concept at the time with two little ones so I declined when she first approached me. She reached back out in about 6 months, and after some deliberation, I decided to go for it. In November 2013, I launched Knoxville Moms Blog (now known as Knoxville Moms) with 9 writers by my side. I had no idea the business and community I would create over the years. We’ve held over 50 events from playgroups, family events, and mom’s night outs for the community.
In 2021, we have grown to a writing team of 47 talented women with a robust social media following and the go-to resource for parents in Knoxville and East Tennessee. In 2016, I expanded and launched Chattanooga Moms for families in the Chattanooga area, and in June 2021 I became co-owner of Atlanta Mom.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Running an online community and business for 8 years has definitely had its challenges. The landscape is always changing with these platforms, and the needs of our families and local businesses we work with over the years are constantly evolving. I try my best to adapt to change and try to meet the needs of our audience and partners.
Balancing motherhood and working from home also comes with its own set of obstacles to finding a healthy family and work life.
As you know, we’re big fans of Knoxville Moms. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
Knoxville Moms is the go-to online parenting resource website for families in Knoxville and East Tennessee since 2013. We are a collaborative local website written by and for local moms with daily posts on things to do around town, parenting solutions, personal essays from local moms, local business spotlights, giveaways, and more. We work with local businesses as partners to connect to our audience with relevant information.
We strive to provide our readers with local guides that help them navigate all the fun things to do in the city for families. I’m very proud of the community we have created and the local resources we have cultivated for our readers. It’s not easy to keep up with all the changes that happen every year with local businesses and events, but we try our best to provide our readers with helpful information.
The Knoxville Moms team is not only a writing team, but we are also a close-knit group that has formed strong friendships over the bond of motherhood. Over the past 8 years, I’ve been blessed to form friendships with some of the most caring and smart women in the community.
What would you say have been one of the most important lessons you’ve learned?
I’ve learned that nothing stays the same. Online platforms are very fluid, and so many things change from when I launched 8 years ago. The needs of our viewers and local businesses change, so we have to learn to adapt when necessary. My writing team has also changed over the years as their season of life changes for them with their family.
Contact Info:
- Email: info@knoxvillemoms.com
- Website: https://knoxvillemoms.com/
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/KnoxvilleMoms/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KnoxvilleMoms
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/Knoxville_Moms
- Other: https://knoxvillemoms.com/subscribe-to-us/
Image Credits
Knoxville Moms Team Photos: Karen Stone Photography, Natalie Family Photo: Katherine Birkbeck Photography, and Natalie Headshot: Brianna Leigh Turner Photography
