Durham Region Kids is a blog and free resource site for parents, including local business, product and website reviews, a frequent newsletter and regular contests.
Advertising rates are targeted to small and new business and Durham Region Kids is a great way to reach parents in Durham, and the Greater Toronto Area.
I have advertised with Durham Region Kids a few times and I’m always thrilled when the calls start coming in soon after its release. It has been a very predictable way to boost business within a short time frame for our very specific target market. I would recommend them as a very cost-effective way to market to parents in the Durham Region. For months after advertising my website report consistently shows Durham Region Kids as one of the top referral sites I am connected with. Worth the advertising budget every time!
-Stefanie Antunes, Discover BirthI am so glad when I launched Wee Rascals last fall that Carly at Durham Region Kids was one of the first people I called. By signing up for a product review and giveaway I received several repeat customers and continue to get many hits from by sidebar ad. The pricing is very reasonable for a new business and I believe both Carly and her readers are committed to shopping locally. She also gives great advice for free!
-Rebecca Crawford, Wee RascalsCarly is an indispensable resource for me…advertising with her has really helped my small business grow and get my name out there. She is super easy to communicate with, wrote a stellar review of my product and answers all my questions in no time!
-Siobhan Messina, For the Love of Cupcakes
The story
In 2006, as a young, internet-savvy new Mom — part of what I feel is a new generation of parents who seek advice and connection online — I found it frustrating trying to find local information on the web.
Having my first daughter changed my life. Suddenly, I had less time, but more and different needs than ever before. I wanted to learn everything about this strange, wailing, pooping being: where to go, who to talk to, what to buy, when and how to do it all.
My doctor and family were incredibly supportive, but only so much help. The real gems of information lay with the other parents I met, and I found connecting with them online incredibly rewarding.
So, here we are.
My goal: a fun, personal, interactive local resource for this new breed of parents. With some reviews of products I love and love to hate, along with neat websites and community events such as baby shows.
This is a continuation of the Pregnancy Adventures (while pregnant) and Life with Lucy (our first year together) blog I started in September, 2005 as a reporter with the local Metroland group of community newspapers. From 2003-March 2010 it was known as Durham Region Baby. It has now grown into Durham Region Kids to encompass my growing daughters and readers’ interests.
Five years since I started, I’ve moved into my forever home, and given birth to my second and final baby. I have met the most wonderful women here. It is ingrained in my life in ways I never imagined, and the comments from other parents make my heart sing. It’s worth every second.
In November, 2009, I co-launched a company called Sweet World Media with business partner Kirsty Kernohan. We publish a community magazine — Uxbridge Town Talk — in north Durham Region, write and maintain Durham Region Kids, as well as offer graphic/web design, logo creation/branding, marketing materials and social media consulting for small business from our offices in Uxbridge, Ontario.
