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You probably recognize Lisa as one of the team members here at Easy Wahm Websites, she’s our resident social media gal. If you’ve got questions about Twitter or promoting blog contests etc… she’s the one you want to contact.

Lisa’s “mommy blog” is My Thoughts Ideas and Ramblings. She started blogging in April of 2006, as a means of keeping in touch with long-distance family and friends. After experiencing some personal issues in July of the same year, she learned she could help others with her experiences…through blogging.

Lisa Martin is a native of Wisconsin but now resides in the Chicago area with her husband and two children ages 5 and 2. She is a work-at-home mom who uses her skills and talents for freelance jobs. At any given time, she’s usually tied-up with three or four projects in addition to her full-time blogging.

1. How did you come to have your “mommy blog”? Was it planned that way or did it just accidentally sort of happen?

For me, it was more of an accident. I really started it to keep in touch with friends and family. I never expected strangers to take interest in our lives.

2. Do you work outside the home or work from home? What are you currently working on?

I work from home. I do a lot of freelance work. I currently am a social media manager for a small PR firm also.

3. Do you accept advertising and sponsorship on this blog? Why or why not?

I accept advertising and sponsorships on all my blogs. It’s a great way to make extra money.

4. Do you have a blog publishing schedule or do you just spontaneously blog as the mood strikes you?

Spontaneous.

5. Do you consider your blog a business venture or just a mommy outlet for getting thoughts out of your head? Is it both?

Both.

6. How do you feel about paid blogging and it’s impact on the mommy blogger community?

I think it’s a wonderful thing. Blogging has opened so many doors and friendships for me that I wouldn’t trade it in for anything. For me, making money was an added bonus.

7. Do you talk about your family in any depth of detail on your blog? Do they know about it and do they read your blog?

I do blog about my family. My parents and my husband don’t read my blogs. However, I know my sister and others in the family do read them.

8. Do you use real names and include pictures of your children on your blog? What brought you to that decision?

Yes, I use their real names and their pictures. This is basically because this blog was suppose to help me keep in touch with my family. If I changed now, I lose the whole reason why I started this.

9. What really inspires you to blog?

Everything.

10. Has a comment on your blog ever made you cry?

The mean ones tend too. I like to pretend they don’t bother me but they do.

11. Do you read and comment on other mommy blogs frequently? Do those bloggers visit your blog and comment as well?

Yes and yes. I’ve made many friendships just by visiting and commenting on others blogs.

12. Name one thing about your lifestyle that blogging has changed or impacted?

My free time. I spend a lot of time reviewing things and writing. My kids and husband now even go “are you blogging that?”

13. Has blogging led to other things online for you? (such as business ventures, job offers, additional blogs etc….)

I started with one personal blog and niched it out to a total of 4 blogs. It has definitely opened doors.

14. What mommy blogger myth or misconception annoys you the most? What do you want to say to those people, even if you bite your tongue?

That my life is just my kids. It’s something that happens in the real world too. I happen to be a woman with kids. I learned through my blogging to get part of my life back. I’m able to have adult conversations about adult things. Just because I had kids doesn’t mean my brain doesn’t function anymore.

15. Have you been contacted by media or PR reps because of your blog? Is that something you’re interested in and enjoy, or not so much?

Yes. I’ve done several interviews for the local papers. I also get contacting my PR reps daily.

16. Were the technical aspects of getting started a hurdle for you?

Not at all.

17. What blogging platform do you use and why did you choose that platform? (Wordpress, Typepad, Blogger, etc…)

Wordpress. I choose it because it was easy, and there is a ton of support for it. You can easily google search and even ask on twitter and most likely you will find an answer to any question or problem you have with it.

18. What three things do you *need* to have for your blog? (Plugins, tools, etc…)

iConnect toolbar plugin, statcounter, and Askimet plugin

19. What is your favorite thing about blogging?

The connections I have made.

20. What advice do you have for someone that wants to break into blogging and has never done anything online before?

What is your goal? This isn’t something that is going to make you rich overnight. However, if you work at it, you may be able to turn a small profit to help pay for the extras in your life.

Remember you can subscribe to Lisa’s blog at My Thoughts Ideas and Ramblings and you can follow her on Twitter at @blm03. If you want some social media help, you can also contact Lisa here about her freelance services.

Happy Blogging!

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