Featured Blog of the Week — ONE little MOMMA

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kilee
It’s another week and another awesome blogger for y’all to hear from and to learn from!

Today, I’m happy to introduce Kilee from the blog ONE little MOMMA and the wonderful Etsy shop ONE little BELT, where you can find adorable belts for your little ones, among other great products. One look at the 395+ reviews in her shop and you can see that she’s doing an amazing job! She’s also sporting a very well-designed blog and a fancy Google PageRank of 4! She also has a Facebook fan page with over 4400 fans!

I reached out to Kilee because she’s a dual threat: she has an awesome blog and one of the better stores on Etsy that I have seen from a blogger.

Below are the questions that I asked Kilee. As always, the entire thing is really great, but I have bolded the parts that really stood out to me.

How did you choose your url? What does it mean to you?
I started my blog as an extension of our small business, ONE little BELT which sells leather belts and more for babies and toddlers. I wanted to name my blog something that would connect it to OLB, but also represent what I blog about.  My husband frequently calls me “little momma” so one day it just came to me. My blog is part of our business, but also about our family, my style and me.

How long have you been blogging?
I have been blogging since July 2012.

What is your main blog niche?
My blog niche is tough to pinpoint. I think I am a lifestyle blogger, but I lean heavily to the personal style/fashion side. I love to share easy DIY’s, personal stories and our day to day activities as well as outfits and style advice.

Who designed your blog?
My blog design is from Miss Audrey Sue Designs. I chose my colors and designed my logo and my header, but Audrey did the rest. She has great style and is fab to work with.

How long did it take you to earn your first $100?
It took about a year. I was sent free product to review before then, but actually getting paid took a while. Part of that was difficulty getting Google Ads set up on my blog. I didn’t have any ads until probably six months in and they paid nothing for quite a while.

Kilee quote 1What is the most recent “aha” moment you have had about your blog?
This question is perfectly timed. Just last week I was struggling with how to deal with sponsors who wanted to send me product for reviews or put ads on my blog. While I want blogging to provide an income, that isn’t why I blog. I don’t want to jeopardize my relationship with my readers because I’m getting paid by a company to write. It is really hard to have an unbiased opinion when you are getting paid. A big theme on my blog is being real and authentic as a blogger so I have decided to change my sponsorship policies. I’ll be phasing out sponsored posts and do my best to only write what is true to me, my taste and who I am. I want to build a base of loyal readers who can trust me and I think that will work out for me in the end.

What do you give credit to for your great social media following numbers?
As much as readers hate giveaways, they are the biggest way that I have grown my FB and Twitter numbers. My Pinterest and Instagram numbers have grown on their own- I like to think because of my good content. I also contribute to two other blogs that are larger than mine. They have really helped to promote my blog on their social media channels.

What are some of the main ways that your blog helps your Etsy business?
1. My blog is one of the biggest traffic drivers to my Etsy shop.
2. I have formed relationships with other bloggers who have helped to promote my shop to their readers.
3. I personally love to buy from someone that I know. Having a blog has also helped me “make friends” with so many potential customers.

Kilee quote 2Would your business be where it is today if not for your blog?
I have no idea. I thought we were growing steadily and doing well before I started blogging, but since blogging things have grown so much more! Blogging has done more than I probably know for our shop.

What is one of your more successful posts (in terms of traffic numbers, income, comments, shares or whatever) on your blog and why do you think that is?
My most successful posts are all hair tutorials. This wavy hair tutorial is my most popular and I think that is because it was one of the first ones I wrote. (It has had time to make its way around Pinterest.) My hair is unique and one of the most popular topics on my blog. I think readers are drawn to bloggers with something unique that they can learn from.

What goals do you have for your blog?
My goals are obviously to grow my readership as well as our customer base. I would like to learn how to edit and create more videos and video tutorials on my site. Most of all I would like to stay true to myself and never come across as a sell-out.

Do you do it all yourself or do you have a Virtual Assistant? How many hours does your VA work?
I don’t, but I have started looking into it. I would love to have one to help me with 2-5 hours of work a week.

How many hours per week do you work on your blog?
As a SAHM it is hard to count up. I think about my blog all of the time, but usually sit down to work for 2-2.5 hours each night M-Sat. Then there is the time that it takes to photograph projects and outfits which might be an extra hour or two a week.

Do you try to keep set hours for yourself or do you just work until the work is done?
I try not to work on my blog on Sunday although I usually take outfit photos on that day because my husband is home to take them. I also try not to or just can’t get on the computer to work while my kids are awake. I can do a little during the day, but not much.

Kilee quote 3What advice do you have for someone who wants to start a blog (any blog)?
My advice is all over the place. I would recommend setting a schedule for yourself. Pick a topic that you will blog about for each day on your schedule. Be consistent with your posts no matter how often you decide to post. Write about what you enjoy and what you know about. Even if you don’t know much about it, if you enjoy it, you will learn SO much by blogging about it. Find a blogging mentor and connect with other bloggers. Go to a blog conference.

What is your favorite part about blogging?
I love connecting with readers and feeling like I have helped someone.

What is your #1 revenue source?
Google Adsense

What is your #1 traffic source?
Pinterest

Do you have another job, or is blogging your main source of income?
Blogging and my Etsy shop are my income sources. My husband works full time as an accountant.

How long did it take you to reach the level of income that you are at now with your blog?
A year and a half.

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Kilee said so many things that I agree with!
– No surprise that we’ve got another blogger who says it took at least a year to make $100. Hearing that answer will never get old to me. It’s not that I don’t want people to be successful, but I think they need to know that it TAKES TIME!
– I like what she said about sponsors. I recently put out a post on this blog and emphasized that you should NOT, under any circumstances promote or write about something that you do not support. Letting money get in the way of your blog’s content is a dangerous thing.
– Having good, unique content, and content that teaches will produce results. Kilee is an excellent example of this. Make it unique, make it YOU and leave your readers wanting to come back!
– Perhaps my favorite thing is how Kilee credits her blog with helping her connect with potential customers. I really feel that this is the essence of a blog tied to an Etsy shop. The blog puts a personality into the shop and can show the products in a different light. It is a great way to promote a shop!

A huge thank you to Kilee for taking the time to answer these questions. Let’s pay her back by showing her shop some love. Check it out here!

Check back next week for another awesome featured blogger!

Featured Blog of the Week — Living Chic on the Cheap

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living chic on the cheap
Well, it’s another week and another awesome blogger to feature! This week, you get to hear from Jessica of Living Chic on the Cheap. Jessica is here to make sure you remain stylish, while keeping your budget under wraps as well. If it’s a deal on something beauty or fashion related, there’s a good chance you’ll see it on Jessica’s site. Take some time browsing her wonderful sidebar which is full of links to her own featured posts about recipes, crafts and more.

I was interested in featuring Jessica for a number of reasons. One of them being that she went through a re-brand including moving to a new URL and I wanted to hear more about that. Talk about a big business decision! Jessica went from being primarily a coupons/deal site to a more fashion/beauty oriented site with a budget focus. Well, it definitely worked out for her. She now sports a Facebook fan page of over 9,000 followers and has over 8,000 Twitter followers. That’s quite a social profile if you ask me!

So let’s hear from Jessica!

How did you choose your url?  What does it mean to you?
I rebranded to Living Chic on the Cheap last year. I wanted a name that really reflected my site. Over the years my content became more focused in on fashion, beauty and home decor deals along with beauty reviews, recipes and DIY. My readers tend to gravitate towards name brands, but like me they do not want to pay retail. LCOTC shares really good deals on really nice things. I try to post offers that everyone can enjoy…from free eBooks to how to make fabric rings to a Coach handbag sale.

How long have you been blogging?
Since November 2009….so just over 4 years.

What is your main blog niche?
Lifestyle/Deals

Who designed your blog?
New Seasons Design

How long did it take you to earn your first $100?
Wow…hmmm….that is hard to remember. I would say 6 months in.

What is the best piece of advice you have received about blogging?
Get a support team. You need BLOGGER friends who understand what you do and support you. One, two, three people or a very small group of trusted bloggers. Friends you can bounce things off of each other and to help each other out in a jam. Also, to give a pep talk on bad days. I would have not made it without my blogging buds.

jessica quote 1
What is one thing that you wish you knew about blogging before you started?
I wish I would have really thought out a business plan. Since my blog started out as a hobby and turned into a business, the thought never crossed my mind. Plus, I had just had baby #2… so it was a crazy time. Blogging as a “job” was still relatively new 4 years ago. I mean, when I started NO ONE had Facebook fan pages. Twitter was brand new and there was no Pinterest. Blogging was something I just felt my way through in the beginning. I made a lot of mistakes.  There were not the resources for new bloggers there are now- no blogging Facebook groups or conferences (at least none that I knew of), so you had a small group of bloggers you bounced things off of but they were new too…so it was a bunch of trial and error.

You re-branded your site and started with a completely new URL.  What was the main reason behind it and what was the biggest challenge in re-branding?
Rebranding has been both a blessing and a curse. My previous blog name was Jessica’s Coupons. 3 years in I no longer couponed, nor did my readers. I would post a coupon and you would hear crickets chirping. I would post a shoe deal and I got fireworks.

The technical part of the rebranding was difficult. I hired it out, but we still ran into issues. A few months in I had some Google search issues…the content aspect of rebranding has been great. I feel the new name reflects my site.

jessica quote 2
What is the most recent “aha” moment you have had about your blog?
I would say when I decided to do my own thing…stop trying to keep up with the big dogs and just ENJOY my site. I will never be a site that posts 30 deals a day. I do not need to post every deal. I have really narrowed down what I blog about- I have specialized. You will not come to LCOTC and find a toilet paper deal. (Not that there is anything wrong with a toilet paper deal…I love cheap TP as much as the next gal, but is not LCOTC content.)  You will find really good deals on cute shoes or a mascara deal.

I post content that I like, that I think my readers will enjoy. I aim for quality content over quantity and I really try to make my blog a personal reflection of what I like.

What goals do you have for your blog?
I would like to grow. I don’t believe blogging is a zero sum game. There is a blog out there for everyone and a readership for every blog. I want to attract readers who dig what I dig. That connection makes it fun and fulfilling.

What concerns do you have, if any, about the future of your blog and its income?
Well, you never know what regulations or new taxation rules may come down the pike. Of course that is out of my control so I don’t waste my time worrying about it though in the back of my mind I know it is a possibility. Google will change it’s algorithm, social media changes are probably not going to be favorable for the blogger…but once again I can’t control it so I don’t waste my time worrying. I know blogging can end at any time and that would stink. My identity is not caught up in my blog. I would find something else to do and enjoy.

Do you do it all yourself or do you have a VA?  How many hours does your VA work?
One woman show here Zack. I do have a friend, Megan,  that does contribute about one guest post a month. She is really crafty. I always label which posts she writes. Also, I have to mention Brandon. He has been my IT guy for years and he is AWESOME.

How many hours per week do you work on your blog?
30ish.

Do you try to keep set hours for yourself or do you just work until the work is done?
I do have a routine because my youngest only attends pre-school 2 days a week. I like to get blog “stuff” knocked out in the morning…I usually spend 2-3 hours. I write and schedule up my day. I pop back on once in the afternoon for about 30 minutes and then in the evening for an hour or so. (This of course does not count the time I spend on Pinterest- the black hole of time management.)

On my FREE days (those I do not have the kids), I try to knock out as many evergreen posts as I can.

jessica quote 3
What advice do you have for someone who wants to start a blog (any blog)?
First, you have to commit- you must be consistent. Deal blogging requires daily posts, so it does require a level of discipline. I suppose non-deal blogs are more flexible since most of their content is probably not time sensitive. The reader needs to know what they can expect to see from you. Consistent traffic is essential if you want to be successful.
jessica quote 4
Imitation may be the sincerest form of flattery, but it is not a good business plan. You may really like a blog and want to emulate it, but you need to create your OWN thing to truly be successful.

You will not be an overnight success, so do not quit your job to blog full time. Some bloggers are never able to achieve a full time income. Do it because it is something you enjoy and if it becomes financially successful then that is just extra awesomeness.

Get your LLC and a good attorney. It is a crazy world.

Get a good designer. Personally, I can’t stand an ugly blog. I won’t even give it a second look and this is unfortunate because the content may be great. (boo- shame on me for being so shallow, but hey I am being honest. I like aesthetics.) I have a feeling in our Pinterest-y world, blog design is going to be more and more important.

Learn the rules. Other bloggers, especially seasoned bloggers will expect you to play by the rules. There is blogging etiquette. You can’t take someone else’s photos or content without permission and you must give proper credit. Join blogger groups and attend conferences and network. Get a small group of really great blogging buds to be your support. And once you are a seasoned blogger remember to show a little grace to other bloggers. We all make mistakes from time to time and always accept a sincere apology and appreciate when someone tries to make right a wrong. I have found most “issues” are done unintentionally.

What is your #1 revenue source?
Affiliate deals. I have about 10 affiliates that consistently produce for me.

What is your #1 traffic source?
Pinterest replaced Facebook and Google for me sometime back.

Do you have another job, or is blogging your main source of income?
 Nope, well I have a husband…he is my main income source.

How long did it take to start making an average of at least $1,000  per month from your blog?
At least a year in.
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Thanks for the great answers Jessica!

Jessica is absolutely correct in that you will want a blogger support system. It’s hard to relate to blogging if you are not in that world, so you might be frustrated about your inability to talk about it with other people in your life. Being able to interact with other bloggers and bounce issues/ideas off of them is all but essential.

I really like the part about setting up a business plan. Jessica is like so many of us blogger out there – we started this as a hobby and did not even consider a business plan. Well, I will say that if you are just starting out and would like to eventually make some money from your blog, NOW is the time to get a business plan together.

Jessica re-iterates what I say a lot about having to be unique with her quote about imitation being a form of flattery. It’s nice to like a blog and want to do what they do, but you have to find a way to be different. If you’re not unique, then why would anyone regularly visit your blog?!

I love how far Jessica took the concept of listening to her readers. She mentions that they were more interested in shoe deals that coupons, so she reacted accordingly, eventually leading to an entire re-brand. If people seem to like one part of your blog and not another, you need to adapt to that.

Another intriguing thing about Jessica is the fact that she spends about 30 hours a week on her blog and doesn’t have an assistant. I am sure in the beginning, she was spending a lot more than 30 hours per week, but it’s really cool to see someone having a successful blog while spending less than 35-40 hours/week on it.

By far my favorite line from Jessica is “Blogging is not a zero sum game”, meaning there IS room for every blog out there, and that anyone can succeed. Just because there are “a million” successful blogs out there does not mean there isn’t room for one more!

Featured Blog of the Week — GiGi Eats Celebrities

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gigi eats celebrities
I am thrilled to bring you one of the funniest and most entertaining bloggers I know – GiGi from GiGiEatsCelebrities.com. GiGi is a super hard-working blogger and vlogger who balances a bunch of other projects along with running a successful blog and YouTube channel. Her YouTube videos have garnered over 600,000 views. Cray.

She is super awesome and I am totally jealous of the amount of comments she gets on every single post. We actually also discussed that a little bit and we both agree that a good reason why she gets so many comments is that she takes the time to respond to every single comment she gets. This is a philosophy that I preach all the time so it is very refreshing to see someone who consistently gets 60-80 unique comments on each post actually respond to all of them. Too busy to respond to your 6 comments? I didn’t think so. In our discussion, she said something very quote-worthy about why she responds to every comment: “I want people to know that there is in fact a down to earth personality behind my blog!”

Great stuff there, people!

In between all of the hilariousness and occasional celebrity dish (even some cameos!), she actually shares legit healthy eating tips and some damn good-looking recipes too! She also regularly points out the ridiculousness of trendy diets and fitness routines and provides realistic alternatives. Overall, it’s just a healthy and hilariously fun time over at GiGi’s blog, so I recommend checking it out once you’re done reading all of the good stuff below.

Also, GiGi has a new bi-weekly (every other Wednesday) live Google hangout with her favorite partner in crime Whitney from To Live & Diet in L.A. where they will be doing a cook-along and will feature a different healthy-living or lifestyle brand each episode! If you’re wondering how one person can do so much stuff, you’re not alone. Maybe I should have asked her if she ever sleeps!

Below you can find the full interview that I did with GiGi. While the entire interview is really good stuff, I have bolded some of my favorite parts.

How did you choose your url? What does it mean?
Well, GiGi Eats Celebrities actually has quite the back story, but let me keep it brief! For my entire life I have wanted to be an entertainment reporter, but I have always been obsessed with nutrition/food/etc. I merged the two together and SHA-BAM – GiGi Eats Celebrities was born. Initially this blog/vlog started off as a place where I make fun of solely celebrity diet and fitness trends, however it has since expanded to include recipes, spoof videos, product spotlights, music videos, etc!

In one sentence, describe your blog.
A weekly food fight filled with ridiculous disgusting diet trends and fanatical fitness fads, all cleaned up, by the truth!

How long have you been blogging?
I have been blogging for ALMOST two years – February 20th is my two year anniversary.
(GiGi has posts before this date but doesn’t count them because she says she had no idea what she was doing. Fair enough!)

How long have you been doing YouTube videos?
February 20 will be my two year YouTube anniversary as well!

Ok, I did some research and it looks like you started blogging first. If so, what made you start doing videos?
Look at you doing your research ;) I actually started the blog because I knew I was going to start launching videos. I wanted to make a cozy home for my videos and thought that if I started blogging and building up a little “fan base” then maybe it would translate over into video views!

What would you call your blog niche?
My blog is somewhat of a one of a kind niche, it’s almost too much of a niche, ha! I throw it into the diet and fitness/healthy living categories, however it could also be a part of entertainment news and comedy as well.

Who designed your blog?
Blog Genie redesigned my blog a year ago, and she also switched me over to self-hosted. Oh my, if only you saw the monstrosity that was once my blog, you would have thought a celebrity vomited up one of those stupid green detox drinks all over my site! It was THAT BAD!

gigi quote 1How long did it take you to earn your first $100 from blogging?
When I was not self hosted, I did not make any money on my blog. I actually didn’t really know that I could. I only watched Jenna Marbles videos and heard that she makes millions per year just expressing her opinion, which led me to study up (constantly) on how to make a living/income from my blog! Now a day doesn’t go by where I am not researching how to better my blog in some fashion!

What is the best piece of advice you have received about blogging?
DO NOT LOOK AT THE NUMBERS! If you look at your traffic and comments and compare them to other bloggers, you’re only going to depress yourself. People fail to realize that the people they generally compare themselves to have been blogging for FAR LONGER than you, or perhaps they are some how connected to a public figure who can help them spread the word! Oh man, I used to do this the first year of blogging and I really got myself down! It’s like when someone dictates their mood based on whether or not they weight the amount they want to – I call it BLOG DISMORPHIA (as opposed to body dismorphia)! Don’t do it! LOVE what you post! Love blogging because it makes you feel good, helps you get things off your chest, makes you feel as if you’re entertaining or educating others. Don’t do it solely for the fact that you want to make money or feel accepted by a “mass” audience. THIS WILL inevitably lead to failure!

What is one thing that you wish you knew about blogging before you started?
The above pretty much sums it up. But I also wish I knew that blogging really is a full time job, whether you’re making money or not. And “success” should NOT be defined by numbers – stats and money.

gigi quote 3What is the most recent “aha” moment you have had about your blog?
That people ACTUALLY LIKE MY BLOG AND VIDEOS. The comments I receive on my blog most often truly make me feel as if I am doing something right! TRUST ME: it has taken quite some time to feel this way. That’s why I always tell new bloggers that they need to KEEP AT IT and PROMOTE, PROMOTE, PROMOTE! Don’t be SHY!

What goals do you have for your blog?
I am going to continue doing what I am doing! My blog has done so much for me already – writing jobs, video contracts, etc – so I am just going to keep on keeping on because you never know what offer/experience/etc might be around the corner!

Do you think your blog helps build your YouTube channel more or does your YouTube channel build your blog more?
I think my blog helped my YouTube channel honestly. With my blog, I am able to join a LOT of likeminded blog communities, and there I have made so many amazing friends who only support me in the most positive of ways! YouTube doesn’t have the same sort of support system and communities that blogging has. To be honest, YouTube confuses the heck out of me. I don’t have 100,000 subscribers… Heck, I don’t even have 5,000 – it’s taken me just about 2 years to get roughly 3500! So to see some YouTube channels having 1 million + subscribers is like seeing a unicorn riding a unicycle!

It looks like you publish once per week. Do you feel that doing so gives more “weight” to each post? Have you ever considered blogging more than once per week?
Honestly, I post once a week because that’s all my sanity can handle. If I think blogging is a full time job and I only post once a week, you can imagine how CRAZY I would be if I posted more than once! I honestly give those who post 2+ times a week SO MUCH CREDIT because so much brain power goes into each post, and then you have to promote and promoting can take HOURS! Every so often I feel the need to post on other days because companies, etc want me to post specific things on specific days, but in the end, I typically just stick with my Tuesdays. That being said, I might be posting something on Thursdays every so often, only because I recently inked a deal that requires me to do a follow up post the day after the “event”.

Do you do it all yourself or do you have a Virtual Assistant? How many hours does your VA work?
I do it ALL MYSELF. Let me tell you, not a day goes by where I don’t WISH I had an assistant because my life isn’t just my blog.

How many hours per week do you work on your blog and YouTube combined?
Oh my, too many to count. It’s rather embarrassing. Every free moment I get, I am working on my blog in some capacity. Is it weird that it is sort of relaxing to me? Coming home after a long day and unwinding by reading others blogs and studying blog web sites… Yep, that’s how I wind down! HA!

Do you try to keep set hours for yourself or do you just work until the work is done?
If I need to eat food. I stop what I am doing. I actually try and turn off all social media, etc for at least an hour or two a day. I have to. I need my quiet time. However… Sometimes this time does involve me watching TV or Netflix, ha ah ah ah! So I am not COMPLETELY disconnected, lol. But I am at least not talking to anyone!

gigi quote 2What advice do you have for someone who wants to start a blog or a YouTube channel?
START ALREADY! The sooner you start, the sooner you will be rewarded for your hard work! The YouTube and the Blogging world are HERE TO STAY and not getting any smaller so if you want to blog but are unsure – just RIP THE BAND-AID OFF and GO!

What is your #1 revenue source?
Gigs I book from my blog/vlog – jobs, freelance writing, campaigns. Then I would have to say ads and YouTube.

What is your #1 traffic source?
Google, Facebook & Twitter…. Oh and forums that have to do with my niche (food/healthy living/lifestyle).

Do you have another job, or is blogging/YouTube your main source of income?
I have so many jobs that I can barely count them on both hands! Not only am I a blogger and vlogger, but I am also a web/TV host, model, writer, student (studying for my nutrition communications certification from Tufts University), producer, video editor, nutrition consultant, and a friend — being a friend can be a job sometimes, because I really do love to help people and I tend to put my friends before me!

In general, do sponsors come to you or do you go to them?
Far more sponsors come to me, then I go to them! I think I have only reached out to two or three before but now they come to me, or I work with them through a campaign that is offered to me through one of the many blogging communities I belong to!

I followed up the sponsor question because I was surprised to hear that they come to her more often than not.
I definitely advise people to seek out sponsors and brands if they want to work with them! Don’t be scared, that’s for sure! I think what happened with me is my first three or so videos when I product placed without the brands knowing (before I knew I could even reach out to brands really) and shared the videos with the brands- from there other brands saw the videos and contacted me!

How long did it take to start making the income that you make now from your blog/YouTube?
Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm maybe about a year. YouTube was transitioning its advertising formula when I first started YouTube so you could only get paid if you were a partner. Now everyone can get paid, partner or not. I am actually not partnered with YouTube though, I am partnered with Full Screen. They help promote my content which is nice. That being said, in order to make the hundreds of thousands… You need about 100,000 + views per video!
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Once again a HUGE thank you to GiGi for taking the time to deliver such thoughtful answers to these questions.  

I love how her answers are seemingly in line with some of the MAJOR things that I am always preaching about here! Don’t obsess over numbers. Don’t compare yourself to other blogs. Don’t start a blog for the sole purpose of making money. Blog about what you love. GiGi is clearly someone doing it right.

I would also like to point out that it took her about a year to get to the income level she is at now. This is another reminder that blogging is not a get-rich-quick scheme.

Once again, thank you GiGi! Do me a favor and go check out her blog as a thank-you for sharing this awesome info with everyone!

Stay tuned each week for a new blogger feature! Also, join the More from Your Blog Facebook group to be a part of a community of like-minded bloggers who want to build each-other up!

Featured Blog of the Week — Mashup Mom

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rachel feature
This week I am featuring a blogger who is a big reason I am where I am today. Rachel from Mashup Mom was kinda like a blogger mentor to me when I first got started. As a 20-something (back then) guy in a blogging world full of coupons, moms and grocery shopping tips, I didn’t exactly fit in. Rachel was my go-to Q&A blogger, whether she liked it or not. I was only half as clueless as I should have been, thanks to her.

Today, Rachel runs one of the most successful coupon/deal blogs in the biz. She has a stronghold on the very large Chicago market of deal-seekers and she’s sharing some great stuff with us here today.

How did you choose your url? What does it mean to you?
I have always liked the term “Mashup,” which means taking two (or more!) different things and smushing them together to make something new. So, Mashup Mom works on multiple levels – I’m a Mashup Mom because I’m combining work at home strategies with saving strategies with my life as a mom to create something new. Mashup Mom shows readers how to “mash up” multiple savings strategies for the best deals, whether in the store or online. And, of course, “mashup” sounds similar to “matchup,” and I do a lot of those, too!
(Zack here: for those non deal bloggers, a matchup is a blog post where the blogger takes a grocery store weekly ad and matches up the deals with current coupons.)

How long have you been blogging?
My 5 year anniversary is 1/28/14!

What is your main blog niche?
Coupons and deals.

Who designed your blog?
Pixel Me Designs.

How long did it take you to earn your first $100?
I honestly have no idea at this point, but probably at least six months.

quote1What is the best piece of advice you have received about blogging?
Treat it like a business. A lot of us started doing this on the side, casually – but if you want to build your blog into a business, you need to start acting like it’s your business.

What is one thing that you wish you knew about blogging before you started?
That there was a whole community of support and wealth of knowledge out there that I never knew existed.

What is the most recent “aha” moment you have had about your blog? Or… What is one change you made recently to your blog that you are happy with?
I redesigned a few months ago, and after some tweaking I’m very happy with how it looks – it’s better organized and cleaner.

quote2What is something that you used to do on your blog that you don’t anymore? Why did you stop? This could be a link-up, or a weekly feature, or a social network, etc.
I’ve tried many things over the years – I had forums for a while, for instance, but no one used them, and I found my readers preferred to interact in comments. It’s all about what works for your audience and your readers, and it doesn’t hurt to try – you can always take something down if you find it doesn’t work.

I also used to have more obtrusive ads at the top, and took them down – again, it all comes back to readers, and I realized that the extra $ wasn’t worth the annoyance. If something would bother you as a reader, chances are it’s also bothering your visitors.

What goals do you have for your blog?
I’d like to add more evergreen content – deals are great and always fun to find, but I have a lot of less ephemeral content percolating in my head that I’d like to have time to share. I’d also like to expand my spinoff food and book blogs and see them grow this year, and will be working on food photography and more.
(Zack here – Rachel’s other sites are: Sunday Scratchups, 99CentCookbooks, 99CentMysteries and 99CentRomances.)

What concerns do you have, if any, about the future of your blog and its income?
Deal blogging is a very competitive niche – there are a lot of people doing it, so a lot of competition and pressure to develop your own voice and unique content. And, who knows what the future holds for this niche as the economy improves? It’s a field in which you constantly have to be evolving and improving.

Do you do it all yourself or do you have a VA? How many hours does your VA work?
I have two VAs. Each does a flat number of posts a week, rather than working hourly.

How many hours per week do you work on your blog?
60+.

Do you try to keep set hours for yourself or do you just work until the work is done?
The work is never done. ;) In this niche, and as a mom, it’s hard to work set hours – kids’ schedules differ, things ebb and flow seasonally. During the school year I tend to work much of the time the kids are in school, then set aside time after school to be with the kids until getting back online full tilt later in the evening, but it all depends.

quote 3What advice do you have for someone who wants to start a blog (any blog)?
Don’t expect to make money at it for quite a while. Find a niche, and develop a unique voice – why should people read you? Don’t post things just to make money, but think about what is right for your readers and a good fit for your site – otherwise it’ll come back and bite you in the long run.

What is your #1 revenue source?
Pretty well tied: Adsense, Advertising.com, Amazon, and Coupons.com.

What is your #1 traffic source?
Organic search pretty much tied with direct visitors.

Do you have another job, or is blogging your main source of income?
Blogging is my main source of income, although my husband also has a job.  :)

How long did it take to start making an average of at least $1,000 per month from your blog?
Probably at least 18 months?
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Another awesome set of answers!

One of my favorite parts is Rachel’s candidness about experimenting with more aggressive ad placement and how she decided that it was more beneficial in the long-run to remove some of them. Not everyone can recognize the need to forego the $100 dangling in front of their face for a better chance at the $1,000 that lies in the future.

I also really like her tip to treat your blog like a business. I completely agree. If you take a casual approach, you’ll get casual results. Take a serious approach and your results will follow suit. If you genuinely want to make money from your blog, it’s not all sunshine and roses – you’ve got to bust your butt.

I also like her bit about evergreen content. You may remember Josie’s feature mentioning that as a key part of her business going forward as well. These are some smart ladies who recognize that creating timeless content is very, very beneficial to their businesses.

If you couldn’t already tell, looking at the hours per week that Rachel works, you can see that deal blogging is not exactly passive income. Rachel is a testament to the fact that blogging can last. She’s been making a nice income from it for over 3 years. Even though it took her around 18 months to make $1,000/month (which is typical), the work and patience paid off for sure!

Once again, a big thank you to Rachel. If you’re interested in taking a look at what a successful blog looks like, or if you want to save yourself a bunch of money, head over to Mashup Mom today!