Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Jana Tingom. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hi Jana, thanks for joining us today. Can you walk us through some of the key steps that allowed you move beyond an idea and actually launch?

Phoenix With Kids was actually started by my husband, Chris! Families would ask us to where to go with their kids, and we’d give them a list of 10 ideas. That list grew to 20 ideas, then 50 ideas. Chris decided to start the website in September 2013, featuring the main list by city, adding to it as new ideas came along. He’d write reviews of the places we visited in short but informative blog posts. Shortly after second child was born in 2014, Chris suggested I write the reviews since I was the one mainly going out with the kids! I slowly dived in to the world of blogging, and added social media outlets in 2016 for an even more fun way to reach families. Today, our website is a top ranking page for hundreds of local terms, and has over 1 million page views a year. It’s humbling to realize that what started as a simple resource has grown to be inspiration for families across Phoenix, Arizona, and beyond.

Jana, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

Phoenix With Kids strives to publish honest and helpful reviews of kid friendly places around Phoenix and Arizona. We have help from some amazing other moms who contribute their thoughts too. It’s really a community for families – by families! I personally love how diverse Arizona is. Coming from the Midwest, where there are four distinct seasons, I first thought Arizona was all desert and honestly kinda boring. But the more I traveled, even in Phoenix, and experienced the various areas from the high desert of Page to the southern plains of Willcox, I realized that Arizona really has something for everyone. I’m happy to share our adventures and hopefully present them in a way that families find accessible.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

The mission of Phoenix With Kids is to offer reviews on anything kid friendly so parents, caregivers, and grandparents can make informed decisions in planning their own adventures. We love traveling and we love Arizona, so combining those interests and sharing our finds is what we love to do most!

How did you build your audience on social media?

Be yourself! Be you, be honest, be fun and people who align with your interests will want to follow you. Social media can be frustrating, but sticking with it for the long run will pay off. Also, follow others in your niche and support them with comments, likes, and shares.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.phoenixwithkids.net
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/phoenixwithkids
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/phoenixwithkids
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@phoenixwithkids