This week, we have Lianne from Mrs Mummy Harris 86 taking part in the Blogger Spotlight interview.
If you would like to take part, and your blog is under six months old, or has been re-launched in the last six months, please email me randommusings29@gmail.com
1 Firstly, tell us a little bit about yourself
Hi guys! I am Lianne Harris, about to hit the big 3-0 and live in Essex, UK.
I have been married for 18 months, and have two cats and a five-month old son Benjamin.
I work in London as a legal costs negotiator for a large international law firm but deep down I have always wanted to be a backing dancer for cheesy pop bands!
2 What is your blog’s name and what is it about?
My Blogs name is “MrsMummyHarris86” It sums up four major facts of my life; I’m married, a mother, my name and age. Not very interesting but I suppose a tag line would be the best thing to make it more “quirky” but I guess that’s to put in once I have defined what my blog will be specifically.
My blog is about my life as a parent, the highs and lows and any good advice I’ve received that could be passed on. It is a work in progress and will follow my journey into the unknown life of parenthood!
3 Why did you decide to start a blog?
I have always loved writing. I used to think I was quite good at it, however I failed to show anyone my work.
Having suffered with depression and anxiety most of my life and now suffering from Post-Natal Depression I thought writing could be an outlet and having initially put the feelers out on Instagram, I found there are several people out there in my situation and mostly what I am going through is normal for a parent.
4 Do you have any goals for your blog?
My goal is simple; be successful.
Success is all in the eye of the beholder therefore at the moment, for me I would love for brands to approach me for reviews and to have a four figure following. I think if you set an achievable, realistic goal then you won’t be disappointed. Maybe set goals in stages?
I’ve actually been approached by a well-known brand already which was AMAZING to have, but this could be a one off so to have it on a regular basis would be super.
I am on the back end of a three figure following and considering I started little over a month ago, I say give it to 2017 and fingers crossed my second goal will have been achieved!
5 Tell us one random fact about you
As a child I was on tele pretty regularly. I was the face of Wimpy at one point. I did several adverts (once we were on holiday and we received a call to go to Disneyland but my mum said no – actually still devastated about this!).
I did a lot of extra work in The Bill and Eastenders (when Michelle got shot) and I had an episode of The Bill based around me being savaged by a dog (I just laid in a hospital bed and napped – easy money for a kid!).
My big claim to fame is that I was in all three series’ of a CBBC programme called “Out of Tune” about a village choir who couldn’t sing. It hit number one in the kids TV ratings, beating Art Attack. It had some pretty huge names in it (pre-fame obviously) with James Cordon in the first series, Jane Danson (Leanne from Corrie) Charlie Brooks (Janine from Eastenders). We worked right opposite the Top of the Pops studio so I have seen Oasis, Martine McCutcheon and of course all of the Eastenders cast from 20 years ago (Patsy Palmer told me I was a mini her).
6 What is the best piece of blog related advice you have received so far?
“The more you write, the more you’ll find your own voice.” This is definitely true.
In my work, all my emails are professional and based around law to support arguments therefore they are very eloquent and filled with big words, however my blog is very colloquial, and I want it to be like I’m chatting to a friend in person.
Reading back over my first blogs, I can definitely see the difference already and a year down the line I am sure that my voice will definitely be the voice I want to be heard.
7 What is your favourite thing about blogging?
I love the community. When I started a different blog last year (pregnancy made it hard to keep up as I was very new to it) I thought blogging was all about competition but I was wrong. Through research and experience, I have learnt that it is all about support.
If you support each other and encourage and praise each other it sends a message out to others. Positivity goes a long way!
8 Is there anything you would do differently if you were starting over knowing what you know now?
Maybe write a fair few posts before going live so there is a back log. I’m only writing two posts a week and I am considering going up to three, but when I am tired or Ben is being needy it makes it hard to successfully network and write posts as well. Having a backlog makes life easier as there are some posts ready for when it is a bad day and I can’t write a post, let alone eat something other than left over baby food.
9 Anything else you’d like to share with us?
Just a thank you really. Thank you to anyone who reads my posts, comments or such. When I was in a really low point, people’s encouragement and support gave me a reason to get out of bed, other than needing to get Ben a bottle or to change his bum!
10 Where can we find you? (blog link and links to any social media)
My Instagram is: www.instagram.com/mrsmummyharris86/
My Twitter handle is: @mummyharris86
Blog: www.mrsmummyharris86.wordpress.com/
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