Jun 26

Fuellers, bloggers, readers have you met Doll yet on the Fuelmyblog community? No? Then read on and find out more about this doll slightly out of the ordinary…

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–>What’s your name?

My name is Doll.

–>What’s the name of your blog?

Doll in New York City

–>What’s the URL of your blog?

http://dollnyc.blogspot.com/

–>How old is your blog?

I had the idea for a blog even before computers were invented, back in the fifties. My tiny hands make it difficult to type and upload images, so I hired an assistant in the spring of 2008 to help me put it all together.

–>If you’re willing to share, how many visitors per day do you have to your blog?

Some days it can be as many as two or three, and other days no one visits me. It hurts my feelings but those are the days that inspire and fuel my creative spirit. I grab my camera and tell the girl to record that Oprah program and watch it later.  I insist we go shoot on those days, even if the weather is bad. I can do five, six, seven shoots in a single day and still have energy for more. My assistant is one who gets tired and cranky.

–>How much time do you spend blogging every week?

I like to say that I am working on the blog 24/7. Unfortunately, due to my small stature I rely on the assistance of others, who may not share my same dedication and drive.

–>Is it the creative process or the editing process which take you longest when writing a post?

As you know from your research, I am a former model and am quite comfortable in front of the camera. I take great pride in setting up the shot, or as I call it, “the scene”. This requires intense effort and concentration on my part.

–>What inspired you to first start writing a blog?

I would have to say that the inspiration for the blog is my deep desire to help others, similar to what drives Angelina. Many have written to me asking for advice, and I am considering an “Ask Doll” feature in the near future, where I will offer advice on hair, make-up, and fashion. You may have noticed my perfectly coiffed hair and fashionable frock?

–>What do you do to get inspired to write?

Usually I am not at a loss for words, but if I am I march straight into the kitchen and whip up a nice Tarte Tatin!

–>How do you market your blog?

Funny you should ask! I inquired at the market about my blog and they didn’t have the faintest idea of what I was talking about! I asked to speak to the manager but they told me he was in a meeting. I am going back tomorrow.

–>What are the blogging tools you cannot do without?

The one thing I must have on the set is my compact powder. It can get quite hot under those lights and a shiny forehead is never acceptable! I would also have to say that unlike other celebrities, I have never gone under the knife.  I had lunch with Joan the other day, and needless to say, she did not believe me! She even pretended to look for the scars around my ears!  We had a good laugh about that!

–>Is there anything that you simply refuse to blog about?

My predilection for wearing slacks around the house.

–>If you went for a job interview and were told that you’d have to close your blog in order to get the job, how would you react/feel about it?

Fortunately my late husband Edward was very smart about investing and what not, so I will never have to worry about such things.

–>Do you talk about your blog with your relatives and friends or do you avoid mentioning it?

Generally it is considered poor taste to refer to oneself in conversation. When visiting friends and relatives, I look around rather inauspiciously and locate the main computer. Later in the evening I excuse myself to the powder room, sidle up to the computer – quick! like a bunny- and change their homepage to point to my blog.

–>What is the biggest mistake you made when starting your blog?

Mistake?

–>Any tips for aspiring bloggers?

If you are on a tight budget and have to bring something to a dinner party, ask to bring dessert. Everybody loves dessert, and it’s almost invariably the least expensive course on the menu.

–>Who are the bloggers that you look up to the most?

I was not actually aware that there are other blogs.

–>Do you still see yourself blogging in 5 years time?

Oh, yes! 5,10,15, 20! As long as I am alive I will be blogging! When will this interview be on television?

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May 29

Time to find out a bit more about the bloggers on the Fuelmyblog community. This week I am pleased to share with you the interview of serial blogger Amanda Morrow Jensen.
Find out how Amanda blogs, the blogging tools she uses, which blogs she enjoys reading and what blogging means to her.
To take part join Fuelmyblog and simply send us an email on [help(at)fuelmyblog.com].

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What’s your name?

Amanda Morrow Jensen.

What’s the name of your blog?

Yikes. I have four. In order of hours-of-my-life-they-consume-each-week they are Extra (Hour)dinary Parenting: Unique Insights Into Pregnancy, Parenting, and Grandparenting, Yield to Pedestrian: A Blog About Books, Astronomy, and Marine Biology, Pics Remix: Taking You Behind the Travel Photography, and Custom Registries: Personalized Baby Registries for Expecting Moms. How is that for eclectic?

How old is your blog?

I started Yield to Pedestrian: A Blog About Books, Astronomy, and Marine Biology in February 2008. Extra (Hour)dinary Parenting: Unique Insights Into Pregnancy, Parenting, and Grandparenting followed in July 2008. The rest fell into place a few months ago.

If you’re willing to share, how many visitors per day do you have to your blog?

Yield to Pedestrian gets between 50 and 150, for no reason I can actually ascertain. Extra (Hour)dinary Parenting gets around 50. The others are too new to really have a following.

How much time do you spend blogging every week?

Well, writing the copy for the blogs takes about four hours a week. Adding new features, monthly updates, interacting with readers, and other coding/design work takes about 15 hours a week.

Is it the creative process or the editing process which take you longest when writing a post?

I can do a 500-word post start to finish in about 30 minutes. What takes me a long time is when I try to add complex buttons, widgets, and other graphics.

What inspired you to first start writing a blog?

I have always liked writing, and I wanted to try my hand at writing short, amusing stories based on my former career as a U.S. diplomat. It kind of grew from there.

What do you do to get inspired to write?

I let my mind wander in the shower. I do my best thinking there and come up with my most unique and useful ideas. I am, consequently, always very clean.

How do you market your blog?

I spend a lot of time on forums, commenting on other blogs, seeking guest posts, and writing guests posts. Nothing earth-shattering there.

What are the blogging tools you cannot do without?

Wordpress, Thesis Theme, and Firebug.

Is there anything that you simply refuse to blog about?

I try to respect my family’s privacy, and draw from their experiences rather than blog about them. I also do not blog much on terribly controversial topics because I do not like contributing to the screed. I aim for topics that are out there at a pitch just below screed.

If you went for a job interview and were told that you’d have to close your blog in order to get the job, how would you react/feel about it?

I would probably turn down the job. I am pretty attached to these blogs and what I am trying to do with them. I love the connections, the friendships, and the opportunities to help people out who I would otherwise have never have met.

Do you talk about your blog with your relatives and friends or do you avoid mentioning it?

I talk about it with my relatives, who often help me out with great ideas. I talk about it with old friends from childhood and high school, who are also very supportive. I do not talk about it as much with current friends or acquaintances. It is a lot to explain in one short conversation.

What is the biggest mistake you made when starting your blog?

At first, I had a hard time getting into commenting and forums. I did not know what to say. Twitter broke me of that shyness. It is a great way to dip your toe into online dialogue without being overwhelmed by it.

Any tips for aspiring bloggers?

I hated learning this one, but just keep in mind that your first blog may not end up being your “real” or “big” blog. Your blogging will evolve as you learn the trade. I still have a crush on my first blog, Yield to Pedestrian, even though its black background is the blogworld equivalent of 80s hair.

Who are the bloggers that you look up to the most?

For blogging and design tips, the guy behind Build a Niche Store Blog has some incredible technical insights. Amazing.
I greatly admire
Suzanne Franco’s determination and honesty.
I get hungry reading my buddy Kerin’s food blog, My Kugelhopf.
And I think the ladies at 5 Minutes for Mom and Mom Fuse are wonderful.

Do you still see yourself blogging in 5 years time?

Absolutely. I love how blogging is really three professions in one: graphic design, web design, and writing. Each of these activities requires a different frame of mind, and by that I really mean a different level of emotional trauma. For me, coding a little box to perform just so in CSS and HTML makes writing seem positively painless. How could I not love an activity that makes writing something new and exciting every day fun?

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May 14

We Are Fuelmyblog is a series of interviews dedicated to the bloggers part of  our social community for bloggers – Fuelmyblog. A  great opportunity to talk about your blog and share useful insights on blogging. Discover the person behind the blog, this week we are talking to kate behind Are You Modest. Check out last week’s interview with blogger Lynne Murphy!

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What’s your name?

Kate Drago

What’s the name of your blog?

Are You Modest

What’s the url of your blog?

http://www.areyoumodest.com

How old is your blog?

almost 4 months old! still just a little babe.

If you’re willing to share, how many visitors per day do you have to your blog?

About 150 on a good day – but i’m still just learning the basics!

How much time do you spend blogging every week?

I spend a couple hours every weekday blogging. Probably about 10-15 hours weekly.

Is it the creative process or the editing process which take you longest when writing a post?

The creative process takes me longer than the editing process at this point. My posts are mostly visual, so it’s more about coming up with content rather than writing and editing.

What inspired you to first start writing a blog?

After becoming an avid blog reader, I started to ask myself why I wasn’t writing a blog myself. So I did.

What do you do to get inspired to write?

Again, I don’t write much in my posts – but to get inspired for visual blogs mostly requires just searching the internet, reading design magazines, doing some research at the library.

How do you market your blog?

I’ve just started blogging, so thus far to market my blog I have tried to utilize social bookmarking sites such as facebook, twitter, and delicious.

How do you market your blog?

Blogging tools I cant live without – so far the Akismet plugin for weeding through spam comments, as well as the Statpress plugin for giving me information on each of my visitors.

Is there anything that you simply refuse to blog about?

I don’t refuse to blog about anything – as long as it’s regarding art, design, or some sort of visual inspiration.

If you went for a job interview and were told that you’d have to close your blog in order to get the job, how would you react/feel about it?

If I went on a job interview and they asked me to close my blog in order to get the job, I would only consider it if I were interviewing for my absolute dream job. Otherwise, “I don’t think I’m a good fit for your company” would suffice.

Do you talk about your blog with your relatives and friends or do you avoid mentioning it?

I occasionally talk about Are You Modest with friends and relatives.

What is the biggest mistake you made when starting your blog?

I am still in the process of starting my blog, so I’m not entirely sure what the biggest mistake I’ve made is. Maybe choosing a domain name which didn’t include the keyword “design”.

Any tips for aspiring bloggers?

The only tip I can give is – don’t give up! Sometimes I’m really sleepy and I get home from work and just want to hop in bed – but it’s important to update daily with fresh content.

Who are the bloggers that you look up to the most?

The blogger I look up to the most is probably Tina Roth Eisenberg of SwissMiss. She’s a graphic designer just like me, and her blog started out small but is now reaching an average of 350K visitors per month.

Do you still see yourself blogging in 5 years time?

I certainly see myself blogging in 5 years time. It’s something that I really hope to stick with.

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Apr 24

Fuelmyblog is talking to Paul the author behind Work/life fusion – Paul joined Fuel in December 08 under the user name of didsbury, his blog has just reached a year and is going strong, add him as a friend and check out his blog!

What’s your name?

Paul

What’s the name of your blog?

work/life fusion

What’s the URL of your blog?

http://worklifefusion.blogspot.com

How old is your blog?

1 year old on 22 April 2009

If you’re willing to share, how many visitors per day do you have to your blog?

Iʼm not so hot on stats any more but I reckon the average is about 30 people a day

How much time do you spend blogging every week?

Around 10 hours a week on average

Is it the creative process or the editing process which take you longest when writing a post?

It depends. Sometimes the posts write themselves and other times the writing takes longer. That said, Iʼm spending more time on editing now than at any time before.

What inspired you to first start writing a blog?

A good friend of mine is a web & communica-tions genius. He went on at me for ages about starting a blog. I finally gave in and have never looked back. You have reminded me to thank him again for his efforts!

What do you do to get inspired to write?

I think about people and their relationship with work and it never fails to inspire me. There is so much potential for our work to make us happy and fulfilled and so many ways that work/life success can be improved.

How do you market your blog?

Iʼm a bit of a novice when it comes to marketing. I think I would still be talking mainly to myself if it werenʼt for great websites like FMB! (creep)

What are the blogging tools you cannot do without?

FeedBurner is probably the one thing I would miss the most.

Is there anything that you simply refuse to blog about?

I try not to get into politics because itʼs a ready made argument

If you went for a job interview and were told that you’d have to close your blog in order to get the job, how would you react/feel about it?

I would want to ask them why they thought my blog would detract from my per-formance as an employee. It would also make me worry about the size of their egos ;)

Do you talk about your blog with your relatives and friends or do you avoid mentioning it?

With the exception of my heroic wife, I never mentioned it to any-one at the start because I was sure it would fail and that people would laugh. It comes up in conversations every now and then but I now have one or two supporters amongst family and friends who genuinely share my interest :)

What is the biggest mistake you made when starting your blog?

My biggest mistake was get-ting hung up on reader numbers. The longer you look at them, the slower the counter goes up. People only started coming to my blog when I forgot about the stats and let the content do the talking.

Any tips for aspiring bloggers?

If you believe in it and you genuinely write for other people, they will come!

Who are the bloggers that you look up to the most?

Wow, there are so many. For no-nonsense business I like Marshall Goldsmith. For fun I love the failBlog. Jason Alba at jib-berJobber is a legend who has helped so many people. Eilleen on Consumption Rebellionalways makes me think. The list goes on

Do you still see yourself blogging in 5 years time?

I really hope I am because I have learned so much from the experience!

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