Before we get to this week’s interview, I have to tell everyone how excited I am to feature humor blogger, Kelcey Kintner from the Mama Bird Diaries!
If you’re not familiar with Kelcey and her blog, it is a must-read mommy blog filled with laughter and honesty – do check it out if you need a good chuckle!
Do you work from home?
Yes, I basically do all my writing during nap time and at night. It’s really eaten into my TV time but somehow I still manage to stay current on “Gossip Girl” and “90210.” A girl can’t sacrifice her teen dramas.
How do you manage five kids, two blogs, and being a contributor to other publications?
Oh, it’s easy! I just ignore my kids. No, truthfully, sometimes I get very stressed out. I’ve learned to write much more quickly and to be less of a perfectionist. As Wendi Aarons says, they’re not all gems, which means every post is not going to be brilliant. But I try to bring humor and honesty to every piece.
Did you ever expect to be a blogging guru?
Well, I definitely don’t consider myself a blogging guru. I feel like I still have so much more to learn. It took me like a year before I even realized that I should be commenting on other blogs to bring traffic to my own site! I never expected to be so involved in the blogging universe. I was a former TV reporter and wanted a creative outlet while I stayed home with my kids. I thought about writing a book but that seemed terribly long and difficult. Blogging seemed like the perfect way to do more writing while getting immediate feedback from readers.
What kind of growth has The Mama Bird Diaries seen since it launched?
What kind of growth has The Mama Bird Diaries seen since it launched?I’ve been really happy with the growth except in August when readership plummets because everyone’s at the beach. Wouldn’t you all rather be inside with the air conditioning reading The Mama Bird Diaries or The Mouthy Housewives?
What has been your biggest business struggle?
Accepting that my blog might not make me a millionaire. And that there will never be enough time in the day.
What are your 3 favorite websites/blogs?
I have so many favorite blogs that I really can’t pick just three. But I will highlight my partners at The Mouthy Housewives because these girls are REALLY funny.
What advice would you give to a new entrepreneur?
Talk to people already in the business. I’ve learned so much from seasoned bloggers. You can avoid a lot of mistakes by talking to experts. If you’re a blogger, carefully edit your posts. Typos and misspellings are ugly. Oh, and don’t name your blog “The Mama Bird Diaries” unless you really dig birds, because the bird lovers will stalk you.
Thanks, Kelcey for sharing your story!
Oops. Somehow I screwed that up. Anyway, my blog site is called This Old Momma and it’s about older moms, transracial families, adoption and the ability to laugh at all of it. http://www.thisoldmomma.com. Because there’s a lot to learn when you learn you are NOT expecting. But wish you were.
Thanks for the opportunity.
Kathleen Dennehy