So, as a part of my little series about blogging where I wrote about being productive, the life of a social media pariah, and ask marzipan: blogging 101, I bring you this wonderful and informative interview with Mary from A Merry Life about her life as a blogger and author of a BRAND SPANKIN’ NEW EBOOK about creating a better health blog.
Why did you start blogging? Did A Merry Life’s origin correspond with your current weight loss attempt?
I started blogging in high school when some of my friends were doing it. I spent a few years on sites like LiveJournal and Xanga before creating my own blogs in college. I actually started out with a life/photography blog but it slowly morphed into a health blog as becoming healthy became more important to me. Since it changed I felt the need to change my domain name to reflect what the blog was about. I chose “A Merry Life” because of my name (Mary) and because that was my goal. I didn’t want to have a blog that associated with being fat or unhealthy. I wanted a blog that would be about the life I was working toward and already living.
You started with one blog, and now have three! And an ebook! What to attribute your blog success to? Was it difficult at first to get the momentum going and gain blog visibility?
To be honest I have more than three blogs. There are three that are public and I tell people about and then I have a few more that aren’t attached to my name. I attribute my blog success to a few things like being a good writer and being active in the blogging community, but really the secret to my success is time. No one starts out with an audience. I didn’t. It took time to build a community around my blog. The fact that I stuck with my blog instead of giving up is a large part of why it has been successful.
You’re so productive! What inspires you and gets you up in the morning?
I’m inspired and productive because I love what I do. I spent a year out after college working at a marketing job that I hated. I realized that I didn’t want to waste any more years doing that so I quit. At that point my blog was still pretty small but I knew it had potential. I started working on it and other internet pursuits full time and since then it’s grown massively and I’ve learned that I LOVE this. I love blogging and I love helping people become better bloggers.
How has being a part of a wider blogging community helped your success as a blogger and also personally with your weight loss attempts?
Being part of the blogging community has helped me tremendously. When I’ve had questions I’ve approached blogging friends and always found answers. But more importantly than that, it’s nice to be connected to people who do the same thing that I do. Blogging is a solitary endeavor and none of my friends blog. Being connected with other bloggers gives you a sense of community and support even though you are blogging on your own.
As far as my weight loss efforts, the blogging community has been crucial to my success. I’m still not to my goal weight but the blogging community continues to push and inspire me to get there. When I need encouragement I can find it.
Do you have any tips for social media networking and building real relationships with people over email/FB/twitter?
Two things: First, don’t be afraid to reach out. A lot of people seem to think they can’t talk to bigger bloggers with popular blogs. That’s silly! It might take longer for some people to get back to you, but they most likely still will. I’ve yet to meet a mean blogger in the healthy living niche. And second, give it time. It takes time to build relationships in the real world and the online world is no different. Interact with people and grow a relationship with them over time. Real relationships can be created online – my boyfriend and some of my best friends are people I met through social media and then built relationships with over time.
Do you anticipate turning A Merry Life and all of your subsequent blogging ventures into a full time job? Is it feasible to do so?
I am currently trying to turn my blogging ventures into a full time job. I expect by the end of the year I will be making a full time salary from my blogs. It’s not something that can happen overnight but I do believe it is possible. Since I enjoy what I’m doing and see the potential to become a full time blogger, I am taking a leap of faith to make that happen.
What can readers expect from scooping up your ebook?
Is it wrong to say pure awesomeness? Basically the ebook is a guide to creating a better blog in the health niche. It covers blogging, marketing, social media, SEO, and more. I’ve taken some of the topics that I regularly receive questions about and explained them in a non-technical way for people who want a successful blog but don’t have months to sort through the technical speak. I know that many bloggers in the niche are mystified by things like SEO. After reading my ebook they won’t be. The ebook explains all the things I wish I had known when I started my own blogs a few years ago.
Click on either the icon or this link: to buy this ebook because it is FAB-0 and and changed my life/blog, and b) check out her sites as well because she is well worth it.
xoxox.
