New Blog Review?

I'd add some sort of incentive to get them onto your newsletter. Maybe an eBook with the 7 biggest mistakes for __________. There isn't a big "what's in it for me?" answer for signing up as of now.

Your off to a good start, I would suggest doing some keyword research, and start writing (*or purchasing) some quality content (*articles) that your future visitors can appreciate, and relate to. *Keep the information specific to your niche, which appears to focus on 'parenting' from the theme you have.

There too, when thinking content, include things that solve problems, for example;

-5 Tips on Dealing With Teething
-How to Remedy a Colicky Baby
-Home Remedies for Diaper Rash

The bold words being your 'keywords'. You can use FREE tools such as Google's keyword tool, or Traffic Travis to find keywords relative to your niche.

Be sure to look at the other [exact] matches, and "phrases" that these free tools offer relative to your keywords. Doing this will give you ideas for content. First create your rich content, then look for relative products or affiliate programs to promote.

Thus, concentrate on "content' before plastering affiliate links, AdSense, or an Amazon store on your site.

AS far as the theme goes, I guess it's alright being I am a man, and least likely to stay on your site for more than 5 seconds, lol.

With that being said, you may want to think more neutral, as Father's need parenting advice to, and your theme pretty much eliminated 50% of your potential audience in the parenting dept.

Absolutely. There's no need to purchase physical items to 'bribe' your visitors to opt into your list. The real objective is to provide content on your website that your readers can relate to -and/or- provides guidance in getting them to the information and/or products they may be seeking.

*When you sign-up for AWeber, which I suggest you wait (to become a paid user) until your content is sufficiently built up on your website... remember this; it takes some time to understand how list building & email marketing works.

There too, it requires some technical skills involving the assembly of a web form, entering the code into your website, collecting the subscribers, loading your emails to be sent out automatically, and most importantly; knowing how to keep your email subscribers (*your list) interested, and especially getting them to entrust your expertise enough to buy products based on your referral or suggestion.

While ClickBank is a great affiliate platform to get you started, there are several platforms available, whereby, you can find innumerable products to promote as an affiliate. Finding products to promote can be as simple as writing down a list of the 'must have' things that you yourself could not do without as a Mother... a Parent, etc...

Such as a book you read, a baby monitor you use(d), a nanny cam you bought to spy on a babysitter, or whatever.

Nearly each of these 'must have' items likely has an affiliate program willing to provide you with advertising tools for free, and will pay you commissions for every sale produced by your efforts to direct potential buyers to said product.

RESEARCH!

If you are building a site with the intent to monetize it (make money from it) - the easiest is (IMHO) to promote downloadable information products, like ebooks, training videos, and membership sites that charge monthly, whereby, you send new members to join, and earn commissions. *Many membership sites that charge monthly fees, offer affiliates (*You) recurring commissions for the life of the member you referred to them.

Again, I don't want to overwhelm you. You first need to conduct your RESEARCH. *And NEVER spend money before doing so.

Obviously, there is a demand for anything concerning parenting, so you've chosen your niche, which is good.

You have started your site, which means you are taking action.

You are a Warrior member, which is where all the answers you seek can be found... or at least most of them, lol.

Finally, you need to refine your business plan.

Research your niche. Do keyword research. Write articles utilizing the keywords people search for online. When you know what keywords people are searching... write content utilizing those keywords.

Then, research products offering decent commissions that you can promote, but firstly, make sure the products you choose to promote are of good quality, and correlate with your niche's content, or are at least are relative to said niche.

All the Best,

Art