Happy Saturday! It’s time for another Saturday Spotlight! Woo hoo!!! Next up in our feature is…

Esther from Discovering The Me In Mommy!

After almost 10 years of an educational career, Esther needed to rediscover myself in the new roles she had. Her blog, about a year old, is a look into those discoveries, and any interesting and helpful information to better your life!

Hello again! It’s time to feature yet another one of our fab B2B bloggers. Today, we have…

Tales from the Nursery!

Darcy is a married stay-at-home mother of one entertaining baby girl.  She’s been blogging on and off for several years.  While the genre and topics may change, her passion has not.  Her current passion is writing about parenting, breastfeeding, cloth diapering, and family-friendly products at Tales From the Nursery.

Tell us how you started your blog and site. What was your inspiration?

Happy Saturday! Next up in the spotlight is…

Victoria’s Voice!

Vickie Cook is a former Air Force gal and a married full time working mom of two older young men, ages 21 and 17. Her blog provides honest reviews on products and companies so that her readers and followers are able to use her opinion to help make decisions on their purchases.

Vickie prides herself on blogging with integrity and making sure that her followers/readers are taken care of especially when they have entered one of her giveaways. Her readers are her “customers” and if it weren’t for them, Victoria’s Voice would not exist.  Her blog motto: “This Blog’s For You!”

Tell us how you started your blog and site. What was your inspiration?

I started my blog 7 months ago, and to tell you the truth I really had no clue as to which direction it would go. I kept asking myself “what do I have to offer that others would be interested in?” I started with just small posts and would find coupons or deals going on that I would post about or I would put up a recipe. With no followers to read the posts I just couldn’t find my niche. One day a co-worker and fellow blogger introduced me to product and and company reviews. That is all it took. This was something that I was already doing by commenting on company websites about their customer service or the products I was using. I was hooked and I started receiving followers and to my surprise people were actually reading my posts. Along with the giveaways and reviews I also try to make sure that I have a wide variety of content to appeal to all of my readers not just giveaways and reviews. What inspires me and keeps me going is when I receive a comment from someone telling me that they like my blog or just when they simply comment on a post.

What is the best resource you’ve found to locate giveaway and review opportunities?

That is simple – other bloggers! I find that most are very helpful and willing to share their contacts. Especially starting out, I did not have access to some of the other great sites such as Business 2 Blogger and Pitch it to me. Once my blog started picking up, other bloggers started steering me to sites such as Business 2 Blogger, Pitch it to me, Family Review Network, Mom Bloggers Club, and some other great sites that help bloggers and PR representatives connect. I also have learned to use the company websites themselves to cold pitch. Although this is much harder, it is truly rewarding when a company accepts my pitch to review a product.

Tell us one tech tool, application, or resource that is crucial to your success.

Social media by far is the best tool I have found to be crucial to my blog’s success. I receive a good bit of my traffic from Twitter. When I signed up for Twitter, I really didn’t expect it to take off the way it has and I have met lots of fantastic people and contacts through this source. Facebook is also a wonderful tool whereas it enables me to interact with my followers daily. Both resources help to get out the word on my giveaways and contests.

If you had $1000 to spend on your blog, what would you do with it?

$1,000 seems like a lot to spend on a blog, but if I had it to spend, I think the first thing I would like to do is to move over to my own domain and host. The rest would go towards a good WordPress setup with custom theme and logo.

Look into the future. Where/what do you hope your blog is a year from now?

Great question! Goodness, I haven’t looked beyond the day-to-day aspects of my blog. At times it is like a roller coaster ride. Some days you can almost hear the crickets chirping and other days it is traffic non-stop. I guess if I took a step back to look a year down the road, I would hope that Victoria’s Voice is a blog that has gained respect from not only my followers and readers, but the companies I deal with as well. I would love to be able to offer bigger contests to my readers and to possibly start a PR hosting network of my own.

You can catch up with Victoria by following her on Twitter at @vickcook01 or on her Victoria’s Voice Facebook page.

Hello, hello! Let’s get right to it today. We’ve got another great blogger lined up for you to meet.

We’re going off the beaten path to meet a young blogger who’s engaged to be married today. Our spotlight blogger is:

Berrak from DC Princess Q!

I love her badge, BTW!

You have an unusual blog name and tagline (The World Is My Jester). Share the deets on how you came up with both.

Princess Q. was a nickname I was given a few years ago when my  URL was “QuelloNascosto” on Myspace. (Back when Myspace was actually full of quality blogging.)  Quello became my handle, and it just escalated from there.  I’m often called PQ by friends, even if they’re my bridesmaids.  The ‘DC’ part is because I’m a D.C. native & I love it.  My tagline: The World Is My Jester is something that I came up with in the last year because as a April Fool Baby, I always find something to make me laugh on a daily basis.

You have a lot of cool freelance writing jobs. Tell us about them!

I’m currently a Community Management Associate on Brazen Careerist, where I write blogs related to Gen-Y, job hunting & being a student.  It’s a great community and I love being a part of it.  I also recently began reviewing Android Apps for Appolicious, which is a ton of fun.  I get to try out new apps, and share their pros & cons with the community.

Tell us one tech tool, application, or resource that is crucial to you.

My Android-powered phone.  It helps me stay connected on the go, and with the apps that I use, it also helps me stay organized as I juggle being a freelancer & a student.

Talk to us about what sorts of blogs you love to read and what makes a great blog to you.

I read everything from lifestyle blogs like my own to industry related blogs.  Since I’m now planning a wedding, my reader is starting to get filled with wedding-related blogs, specifically ones with inspiration boards & DIY tips.  I like being able to relate to the author, and be inspired at the same time, whether they’re sharing a personal story or their insight on being a professional.

Do you ever get blogger’s block, and how do you overcome it?

I’ve been blogging since 2003 and blogger’s block happens all the time.  Sometimes I get to the point where I feel like my life is boring, or there is nothing new to report, which happened a lot when I was unemployed. Depending on my mood, I may completely step away from blogging for a few days or I free-write to see what comes out.  Once I start writing, it usually begins flowing.  The best way to overcome blogger’s block is removing the pressure the best way you can.

Thanks to Berrak for giving us a fresh perspective on blogging today.  Connect with DC Princess Q on Twitter, or say hello to her over on Facebook.

Good Saturday morning and happy last day of April. Can you believe it?

For today’s spotlight, we pow-wowed with one of our neighbors to the north. I think you’ll enjoy this feature because it gives you blogging perspective from a Canadian blogger. Our spotlight today turns to…

Maple Leaf Mommy!

Deanna of Maple Leaf Mommy is a stay at home mom to two little girls and lives in Windsor, Ontario, Canada. She started her blog in September of 2010 as a way of connecting with other stay at home moms.

Tell us how you started your blog and site. What was your inspiration?

My inspiration, the blog that put me over the edge from reader to writer, was Mom vs the Boys. She is a fellow Canadian blogger.  At the time she was hosting this massive Delta faucet giveaway, and she was in Canada, and her blog was only a little over half a year old.  I thought “Wow, maybe I could do this!”  Of course, as you fellow bloggers know, it is WAY more work then I could ever have anticipated, but I am loving it.

You’re from Canada. Talk to us a bit about the community of Canadian mom bloggers. Is it as active and diverse as in the U.S.?

The mom-blogger community in Canada is just as multi-faceted and just as active as its US counterpart.  There are several great Canada Blogger communities such Canada Moms Online and Follow Me I’m Canadian that I am proud to be part of.  There has been a lot of buzz lately around the upcoming Blissdom Canada blogging conference. Tickets to the event sold out in under 90 minutes!  Which I think proves that there are plenty of Canadians out there in the blogosphere, looking to connect and learn more.

Tell us one tech tool, application, or resource that is crucial to your success.

So hard to chose just one resource.  Right now I am in love with Stumble Tumble Tuesday hop. I have been seeing large amounts of traffic via my Stumbled posts. More than Twitter and Facebook combined, which is just nuts.  When I first got into it I had no idea it would pay off in such a big way.

What would be your DREAM brand to work with and why?

My dream brand?  I would love to work with Delta faucets, as their work with bloggers is what inspired me to finally take the leap and start writing.

You provide a lot of localized content, information and giveaways. How much of your readership is local to your area? Can you share with us some of your tips on how you located readers that live in your immediate area?

I have never been a closet blogger.  When I started out my readership grew through my family and friends, and through acquaintances on Facebook, which means that the majority of them were local to me.  As my blog has grown larger I’ve started to wonder whether or not I should be offering local content.  I am actually planning on launching a readership survey over the next little while to see what percentage of my followers are local, and if there is still interest in that type of content.

Thanks, Deanna!

Interested in connecting with Maple Leaf Mommy? Give her a follow on Twitter, or stop by the Maple Leaf Mommy Facebook fan page.

When I got pregnant with my older daughter, I realized how much I didn’t know about the breadth of baby products that are available. And my friends and family with children had very different lifestyles and parenting philosophies than me. So, I had to research topics that were important to me and my values on my own. I did so much research that I decided to start Happy Mothering to share my knowledge with other moms who have similar interests to me. It wasn’t until after I started blogging that I realized how many other moms were also blogging!

Staying engaged and getting on and interacting with your fans every day is key. It’s important to share information that’s of value and interest to your fans. I share not only my recent blog posts, but links to articles around the web that would be relevant to their interests. This includes sharing links that my friends have posted on facebook as well. It’s also nice to share little tidbits about your day or your thoughts that don’t have links to anything at all—this helps your fans connect with you as a person.

Because I run multiple blogs, facebook pages and Twitter accounts, HootSuite has been an invaluable tool in helping me to manage the flow of communications to these mediums. You can link to as many Twitter and facebook accounts as you want, and make updates all in one place. It’s a really time saver.

Content is key. Inspiration comes in waves, so write as much as you can when you feel inspired. Every time you think of a new topic, make a note of it so the days when your creativity is running dry, you have something to draw from.

Stay true to yourself and your values. You may get offers from companies early on that don’t really jive with your vision for your blog, and it can be tempting to accept them “because you have to start somewhere.” Don’t compromise your values because it will diminish your opportunities in the future. If you keep at it, the right advertisers and sponsors will come along.

I love Chrystal’s advice…especially about content and working with brands. I plow through as many posts as I can when I feel inspired. And saying no to brands? Can be tough early on, but the right opportunities DO come along. Thanks so much to Chrystal for sharing her wisdom with us!

Happy weekend! We’re back with another special blogger in our Saturday Spotlight. Today we have a very versatile blogger to introduce to you! It’s Kelly from Mom Got Blog!

Kelly is a wife, mom of 2 teenagers, and has recently re-entered the full-time work force. When not running here or there for after-school activities, she can be found running or cycling the roads, speed skating on the ice or working on finishing her latest book. Kelly is the author of Mom Got Blog, a unique place on the web, sharing her passion for writing, family, and the quirky-ins-and-outs of daily life. You will also find she has a passion for food, writing great family recipes and kitchen tips on her Mom Got Food section and the latest on sports and fitness on her Mom Got Game section.

Tell us how you started your blog. What was your inspiration?

I started Mom Got Blog in 2009 after being laid off from my event planning position. Not one to just sit around, I began researching careers that I could do from home and found myself reading up on blogs. I thought it would be a good place to fine tune my writing skills with hopes to gain some freelance writing work. In fact, what kick-started that dream, was of all things, a magazine I was reading in a waiting room. The name of my site was inspired by a “Got Milk?” ad!

Not knowing one thing about blogging, other than what I researched, I created a site and basically limped my way through the next few months. What I discovered in that time was I really enjoyed writing a blog! Two years later and on a new platform, I am excited with the growth and direction that my site is taking.    

If someone gave you $1,000 to spend on your blog, what would you put it towards?

Well, I just went through a major re-design, so I guess that is off the table! I would probably have to choose between two things: 1. Invest in a new camera. I think the photos I have on the site are good, but I want them to be great. 2. I would put it towards attending a conference. The planner in me knows how important that networking connection is, and I would love to learn as much as I can to improve my blog for those who take the time to visit.

Tell us one tech tool, application or resource that is crucial to your success.

I would have to say that Twitter, more specifically Tweet Deck is an application I use every single day. If you asked me a year ago if Twitter would be a part of my daily life, I would have laughed. Out loud. I did not “get it” and barely knew how to use it. That changed when I became a semi-finalist in a Microsoft Olympic Blogging contest. We had to tweet for votes every day and to be honest; I typed the bit.ly link manually every single time! Talk about a newbie. Now, I can’t stay off it! I really like the connection that one can make on Twitter and I am always learning something new there.

What has surprised you about blogging?

Well, it is more time consuming than I thought it would be. To write quality content, one has to take the time to do some research and have well thought out ideas. I always strive to have the best content possible, because readers deserve the best I can do each and every time.

Also- the connections I have made through the blog. I have met the most amazing and supportive group of people who have been incredibly gracious with their kind words and willingness to help a fellow blogger. Even those on the “outside” who come up to me to share they enjoyed a particular post, or made a recipe they saw on my site. That still blows me away.

You blog about food, you do fiction writing and you write about life in general too. Which category of your blog do you enjoy writing the most and why?

I don’t know if I have a favorite per se. I think it depends on what I am writing about on a particular day. I absolutely love to cook and share favorite recipes. With the food section of the site, I have been challenging myself to take the best pictures possible for two reasons. 1.) I am a visual learner and I like to see that I am preparing the recipe correctly and 2.) If the picture looks delicious, then the food must taste the same, right?!

The fiction writing is also a passion of mine. I’ve always been told “You are such a good writer,” but I never really took stock in those compliments. I can’t tell you how many crumpled up paper balls were shot at a waste basket. Yet, I continued to day dream that the stories that did have staying power in my notebook or had a safe place filed in the mind would someday be bound and placed in print for the world to read. I have recently joined a writing community which has been a huge confidence builder. I think having my dream come to fruition is closer than I realize. It is just a matter of allowing it to bloom.

The life in general part? Well, I like that too, because it involves my family, my love of sports and all the little bits and pieces that make up the rest of me. So, it is hard to pinpoint what I like to write most, because it all brings me joy!

Thanks to Kelly for a fun and personal interview today. Be sure to follow Kelly on Twitter @kpugs, and you can check out the Mom Got Blog Facebook page, too!

Welcome to Saturday Spotlight, where you get a chance to meet and greet a fellow B2Ber! This week, our featured blogger is….Angi of Tim and Angi’s Blog!

Angi is wife to Tim, mom to Little T (7) and Drama King(6). They live in a small country town in southern New Mexico. When Angi’s not blogging, she’s a web and print designer. Tim works from home as a technical support agent. Their blog is ‘a little bit of this and a little bit of that.’ They do product reviews and giveaways. They share  homeschool activities. They talk about day to day life. They share favorite recipes. And sometimes, they talk about current events. It really is a little bit of this and that.

Tell us how you started your blog and site. What was your inspiration?

Speaking of Facebook and Twitter, you can follow Angi @amboutwe, Tim @nonparity and on Facebook at Tim and Angi.