1.When did you start blogging?
I started blogging in 2010 after the birth of my first daughter. I was spending a lot of my time at home with nothing to keep my entertained so I started blogging as a hobby. Now I love it and it’s more of a full time thing.
2.Do you make money from your blog?
Yes, I do now. At first, it was more for just fun and I didn’t see any money but now that I’ve expanded my social reach and started stepping out of my comfort zone, I actually see some compensation. It’s not much but it’s nice to see that people actually want my outlook.
3.What is one tip new bloggers could benefit from?
Research! Never stop learning about new topics. Even if you think you already know everything. And to step out of your comfort zone. It took me a long time but I’ve started doing things that a few years ago I never would have had the courage to do.
4.What has been your best form of marketing for your blog?
Reaching out to brands. If you just sit and wait for them to reach out to you, you wont see much happening. But once you tat reaching out with your email and social networks, it really get’s your name out there.
5.Do you consider your blog a “job”?
Yes, I do. But not in a bad way. It keeps me busy. It’s fun. And it’s never boring. Honestly, it’s the best “job” I’ve ever had. It’s always something new ad challenging.
6.How do you keep yourself motivated?
That’s probably the most difficult part of being a blogger. I’ve seen many bloggers talk about staying motivated. Some days it’s really tough. But then I see an email from a company that wants to work with me and it just makes me feel like I’m actually getting my name out there. I stay motivated by knowing that I’m finally getting noticed and if I stop, even for a small break, I might loose my reach.
7.What is one personal achievement you’re proud of?
Learning to speak my mind and voice my opinion. That alone has helped me tremendously in my personal life and my blogging life. A big part of being a blogger is voicing your opinion. Even if some people might disagree with your take on things.
8.What advice would you share with yourself when you were 18 years old?
Stop being so afraid of the world. I’ve spent a big chunk of my life being scared to say anything for the fear of rejection. After a few years of blogging, I learned that the worst thing that can happen is someone says, “No”. I wish I was as confident then as I am now.
9.Anything else you’d like to add?
For anyone thinking about blogging, my advice is to keep at it. Most bloggers give up within the first year. I almost did because I thought things would happen a lot faster for me. But I kept at it and even though it took me a long time to get where I am now, it never would have happened if I gave up. Just keep at it. Don’t give up.
Follow Amber at http://www.txmommyssavings.com/