'I used to be self-conscious about saying I was a blogger, but now I’ll shout it from the rooftops'
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Version 0 of 1. I do occasionally smile at the opinions that some people have about “mummy bloggers”. It’s a term I’m not really keen on – I’m so much more than that. I think we’re often seen to be lolling around in our pyjamas, typing on our laptops all day while our children are left to run wild. Either this, or desperately blagging free stuff and worming our way into all sorts of events with the promise of writing about it on blogs that nobody reads. I also think that people generally see it as a hobby, not as a serious form of employment, and I’ve actually been accused of trying to “steal jobs from real journalists.” I started my blog, englishmum.com, in 2006. We moved to Dublin for my husband’s job, I was at home with two young children and didn’t know a soul. At first it was an easy way to tell my friends and family at home about my new life without having to write lots of individual emails, but I soon began using it more as an online diary, to record recipes and write about experiences that I’d had. Now there are thousands of blogs, but back then there weren’t many and I started to read and comment on other blogs and to receive comments myself. I formed some really close relationships with other bloggers, and some of those are still dear friends now. In 2009, I was invited on a trip to Walt Disney World with six other bloggers and after that it really began to change. We moved back home soon after the trip and my readership really started to increase. I also began to receive offers from companies wishing to advertise on the site. I think it was around then that I realised that I could actually make a living from my blog and began to treat it more like a job. Now, englishmum.com is pretty much a full time job. If I’m at home, I get the school run and dog walk done in the morning, then settle down at the dining room table to answer emails and deal with my advertising customers as well as talking to brands and planning trips. I do get offered items for review, but I generally don’t ask for anything unless it’s for a specific project. I concentrate on food, travel and lifestyle and make sure I update it two or three times a week with new material. I have an idea in my head of a reader that I’m writing for (I have about 50,000 regular visitors a month). Like me, she’s a mum whose home and family are really important to her. She loves to cook, travels with her family, and loves to shop. I also write blogs for brands. If I’m not writing, I’m in the kitchen developing and photographing recipes. It’s crucial for me to keep all my social media channels up to date, so I’ll be tweeting during the day, as well as updating Facebook, Pinterest and Instagram. Over the years, it’s become more and more important that the site looks good, and I take a lot of care producing really good quality photography. I also have a web designer who looks after the “under the bonnet” stuff on the site and keeps me on track with SEO. Every so often, we’ll give the site a facelift to keep it fresh, and he also does all the coding and technical stuff which I’m really bad at. After nearly nine years, I take up rather a lot of server space, so I’m a pretty high maintenance customer – he’s always very patient with me, even when I break things and he has to put them right. I travel abroad at least once every couple of months. I’m lucky enough to be invited on press trips quite often. Family travel reviews are popular on the blog and I also write regularly for travel magazine Cruise International as well as other travel and food publications. It’s often difficult to juggle home life with travel, but my husband Jim and sons Charlie, 17 and Sam, 20 are really flexible and supportive, plus they often get to travel with me, which they love. My career seems to be constantly evolving and I’m perpetually surprised at the fabulous opportunities I’m offered. In January I appeared in a TV advert for Sainsbury’s. Since then I’ve done a few other bits of filming, although I’m not a natural and don’t have any aspirations to become a TV cook or YouTuber. I often get invited to speak at conferences and workshops, which I find really fulfilling. I feel really fortunate to be able to earn a living from doing what I enjoy. I love writing, I get to travel the world and I’m my own boss. Sometimes I’ll work all day, cook the dinner, then carry on working late into the evening, especially if I’m running a big competition, but it’s really important to me that my sons see me working hard, running a successful business. I used to be a bit self-conscious about saying I was a blogger, but now I’ll shout it from the rooftops. I can’t believe how far I’ve come, all because I was lonely all those years ago in Dublin. Fed up of the stereotypes surrounding your industry and want to set the record straight? Tweet us @gdnwomenleaders |