The internet has forever changed private adoption in the United States. With so many options available to adoptive parents, families are choosing to market themselves and expand their outreach via social media, custom websites, blogging platforms, and video sites like Youtube. Online advertising and connect sites are also growing in popularity each year. But having more options doesn’t guarantee success.
Being informed and tech-savvy is only part of your formula for future success. It is vital to create a budget and perform long-term planning so that your family is prepared for any and all challenges along the way. And even with proper planning, mental fatigue, budget constraints, scams, and repeated failures can all take their toll. Having the proper attitude - balancing optimism with caution - is key.
Choosing the right services and outreach methods for your adoption journey is another challenge. Are you a do-it-yourselfer, ready to build and advertise your own web or social site? If you decide to pay for a connect service, be sure to learn what it can do for your total online outreach including social media and paid advertising. And if / when the time comes, how will your service respond to the question, “What else can we do?”
Being able to pivot and adapt may become the key to your longevity and eventual success. Before moving on from a particular method, be sure to self-reflect and ask yourself honestly if you took advantage of every feature and tool available to you. So much of your journey relies on chance and luck. You’ll want to make sure you do everything you can to increase your chances for success, leaving no stone unturned and no regrets about the decisions you have made on your journey.