Here at BlogOn we like nothing more than showcasing different bloggers and their wonderful blogs. This weeks blogger is Zoe from Mama Geek. If you fancy being featured on Meet the blogger then please email laura@blogonconference.com
Mama Geek
Name – Zoe Corkhill
Blog – Mama Geek
Blog Url: https://mamageek.co.uk
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mamageek
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zoecorkhill/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/zoecorkhill
How long have you been blogging and what made you start?
I’ve been blogging since I was around 15 or 16, so that’s over half my life now, which is frankly ridiculous. I’ve had around 5 or 6 blogs in that time, but Mama Geek has been going for over 6 years now, as I started it when I was home with a toddler Georgie and missing blogging after taking a break before she was born.
What do you wish you had known before you started?
Don’t stress the small stuff… I’ve been blogging a long time and a lot has changed over the years, but one thing that hasn’t particularly changed is people spending way too much time getting stressed out about things and forgetting why they started blogging in the first place.
What one tip would you give to a new blogger?
Don’t expect to get loads of views overnight, blogs take time to grow and not every new blog will get noticed straight away, even if it’s amazing. Keep at it, don’t be discouraged if you don’t jump up charts or get amazing opps straight away.
What is the most surprising thing you have learned since you started blogging?
That people think I know what I’m going on about! I’ve been making it up as I go along with WordPress for over a decade – I’m not especially clever, it’s just experience.
What is the best thing about blogging?
Definitely the blogging community, they can really rally around when someone is in need and it is totally heartwarming. There is a fair bit of drama in it too, but I like to concentrate on the positives!
What new skills have you learned since you started blogging?
My whole income is because I am a blogger. I wouldn’t be making commercial websites based on WordPress as a CMS if it hadn’t been for me mucking about with coding my first WordPress theme all those years ago, and teaching myself as I’ve gone along over the years. Now, I have a waiting list of jobs to do and a pretty constant stream of enquiries – without any advertising or formal training.
In addition to the technical side of things, because of blogging I have developed my photography and video skills, including editing of both – and my writing has improved over the years too. Or at least I hope it has!
What is the most unusual thing you have done/received because of blogging?
We’ve had a few weird and wonderful reviews since we started Mama Geek. One of the unusual reviews was a bouquet of flowers made completely out of balloons, and one of my most surreal moments was watching Georgie sit on Linda Barker’s lap and mess about with her like she would with any of my friends – after I grew up watching Linda on my TV.
What has been your proudest blogging achievement so far?
Being able to contribute to our household income without having to go back to a traditional job – my self employment is entirely because of me being a blogger, as I started out helping out bloggers who wanted to pay me to fix their problems, and it grew from there.
What is your blogging goal for the next year?
Try to blog more personal posts, I was so busy in 2017 and so much happened family-wise that I seemed to do not a lot more than the posts I was obligated to write for reviews and so on.
What will you be doing in 5 years time?
Hopefully pretty much the same as I am now, working from home while the girls are at school.
Will we see you at a BlogOn event this year?
Yes, I’ll be at BlogOnX and will be offering some one-on-one sessions for WordPress help and advice. I’ll be armed with a laptop so we can even log in and take a look at solving your problems there & then.
If Yes, What do you hope to learn more about at BlogOn?
I’m looking forward to Emma’s YouTube session! I really enjoy Emma’s videos.
If you enjoyed this why not check out last weeks Meet the Blogger Katy Kicker.