The Blogger’s Corner series is an interview series featuring advice and experience from bloggers whose blogs are older than six months.
If you would like to take part, you can find all of the details here.
This week, we have the lovely Sassy from Thinking Out Loud.
1 Introduce yourself
Hey, I’m Sassy. I’m 26 and live with my fiancé Gary and Guide Dog Ida just outside of London.
2 Tell us a little bit about your blog
My blog is focused on disability. I have a number of disabilities – I’m practically a walking doctor’s dictionary so you’ll read about my life living with those disabilities.
3 What can your readers learn from your blog?
I challenge stereotypes of what it is to look, act and be a disabled person, which I try and do with humour. I also invite others with a disability, or carers of a person with a disability, to share their story to help raise awareness.
4 What’s your favourite thing about blogging?
Oh it’s definitely the community. I’ve met so many wonderful people on and offline because of my blog. I’ve made friends for life, and always have somewhere to turn when I have a blogging related question or triumph.
5 And your least favourite thing about blogging?
I’m not a fan of the technical side, SEO and the stats mostly. It can get you down if you write something you are really proud of but your SEO isn’t on point, or you don’t get as many views as you hoped.
6 Tell us one random fact about you
Most children are taller than me… I am depressingly only 4″9.
7 If you could only blog about one thing for the rest of your life, what would it be and why?
Disability awareness. It’s the reason I started my blog.
I want to educate the public on being a person with a disability in the 21st century, and campaign that there is still a long way to go before we have the support and equality we deserve.
8 What was the hardest part of starting your blog and why?
The technical aspects of starting a blog and using a screen reader has been tricky. My partner Gary set up my blog, and still to this day helps with photography, editing and troubleshooting.
A screen reader is software for blind and visually impaired people to navigate their way on a phone, tablet, or laptop. It talks and tells you what is on the screen.
However, if the developers do not code it properly, accessibility becomes an issue. And this is where I need sighted assistance.
9 If you could give new bloggers one piece of advice, what would it be?
I’m going to be a pain, because I have 2…
1) Stay true to yourself and why you started blogging in the first place, it’s your creative space and don’t let anyone influence you otherwise.
2) Alt text:
From a blind person’s perspective this is the most important thing. Alt text is for adding text to your photos/ images, that gives screen readers a description of what your image is of. E.G. Black Lab lying down.
This is NOT for keyword and blog title stuffing.
Please write image descriptions, it’s equality and it means I can appreciate your photos like your sighted readers.
10 Is there anything you know now that you wish you’d known in the beginning?
I’m no blogging expert and I certainly never will be because of the accessibility issues.
Adding images to writing helps break up the text and keeps sighted readers engaged.
There are so many free stock photo websites that you can use. No need to take photos of your own if you don’t have the time or inclination.
11 Do you have any long term goals for your blog?
Without sounding like I’m in it for the fame and fortune, I’d love to be recognised as an industry leader, helping to make the world a more inclusive and disability confident place.
I won’t be getting there any time soon haha.
12 Who’s your blogging hero?
Katie from Mummy in A Tutu.
We met virtually at the beginning of her blogging journey, she has become a self-employed single parent in such a short space of time, and is so honest and open on her blog.
I’m forever asking her questions and she always makes time to answer and support me in anyways she can.
She also created Tribal Chat, and it’s where I’ve met and made friends for life. I don’t know where I’d be without her and the beautiful tribe.
13 What’s your favourite social media network and why?
Twitter – it’s where I’ve met and made friends. It’s so fast paced you’re never bored or stuck for something to read.
Plus, it’s where all my blog traffic comes from.
14 Anything else you want to share with us?
The blogging world is massive but the most supportive community out there. Don’t be afraid to introduce yourself and say hello.
Debbie is one of the first bloggers I ever followed and she has been a fountain of knowledge and also writes amazing books!
15 Where can we find you? (blog link and links to any social media)
My blog, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Thank you for sharing.
What a great series and a lovely story!
That was such a good to know tip about using the alt text area for visually impaired readers, will definitely be more aware from now on, thanks.
I had no idea until Sass explained it to me – I use the alt text properly now (I hope!)