SocialSpark Influencer of the Month
1. What originally attracted you to the IZEA/SocialSpark community and how did you find out about it?
I found out about SocialSpark through word of mouth from other bloggers. What I love about SocialSpark is the ease of accepting, negotiating, and writing a campaign. I also love being offered a variety of topics. I enjoy the creativity in composing a great post.
2. Describe your blog in 140 characters or less…
Full of Personality, humor, & fun served with a smile. Refreshing and relaxing…where life is a beach!
3. What inspires you to blog?
I get inspiration in every day life. I may be having a conversation and a thought pops in my mind, “Hey, that would make a good blog post”. My children inspire me with their innocent humor and proud accomplishments. I love the creativity in blogging, and sharing it with others.
4. Do you ever get stumped for what to write? How do you overcome this?
Yes all the time, one day I can have 10 ideas and the next not even one. When this happens I usually blog less or spend my time doing other activities other then writing to give my mind a break and a recharge so inspiration will strike again. Inspiration is usually around the corner in a funny comment from a co-worker, a thought quote seen online, or a current event in my life.
5. If you were President for a day what would be your first order of business?
I personally feel as Americans our life revolves around work. Work dictates the time we have to spend with family, we work to live and rarely get a chance to live. I would love to bring society’s focus back to family. Where people do not have to worry about asking for time off to watch their child in a play, where we don’t work 60+ hours just to make ends meet. I could go on but the basic idea is family first.
6. We all know maintaining a quality blog can be quite time consuming. How do you balance keeping up your blog and being a wife and mother?
I also have a full time job on top of being a wife, mother, and blogger. Kudos goes to my family who are supportive of my blogging efforts. My husband especially. He enjoys the perks and sees that I get enjoyment out of blogging so he picks up the slack around the house. My children are a little older and more self sufficient. When I do something with my husband and family I turn off “the blog” the “emails” and enjoy my time with them. I do most of my blogging in the evening when everyone is relaxing for the night, and many times in the wee hours of the morning when everyone is a sleep.
7. What has been your favorite SocialSpark campaign?
I have two favorites Slim Fast and Miracle Gro. With the Slim Fast I was re-introduced to a product that I would not have otherwise tried. I found that I loved the shakes and bars and now continue to keep these on hand for days when I’m on the go or want to start my morning off on the right track. The Miracle Gro inspired me to plant some flowers with my daughter after seeing “The Lorax” (a prefect tie in) and she loved watching her flowers bloom.
8. How do you actively stay engaged with your audience?
I try to answer comments, pose questions to engage my readers on my social media and blog, and visit and comment on other blogs. I believe that answering comments and social media are a major part of a successful blog. I am also myself 100% of the time.
9. What’s one word of advice you’d give to bloggers who are looking to increase the quality of their content?
Do not listen to everyone else and blog about what you want. I believe a blog is personal and can be what you want it to be. Blog about things you know about and are passionate about. If you are trying to blog about facts or giving advice or information do your research so your post is accurate. If you want to put your blog into a specific niche then work at writing posts that go with that niche. It is always good to check out other blogs that you admire, see how they do things. DO NOT copy their content but see what works to give you inspiration.
10. Complete this thought: If I could, I would…
quit work and blog full time. Live on a beach where I can blog from a patio over looking the ocean. I would blog while my children were in school and put it away when they were home. I would be a soccer mom and doting wife. When it comes to cooking and cleaning, I prefer to get a maid and chef LOL!
Congratulations, Colleen! Read her blog Shibley Smiles.
