~~Are you just dying to know how to channel 50,000 visitors a month to your blog? Don’t you want others to relish what you write because your content is so damn profound, witty, amusing, and intuitive? I mean, sometimes it takes blood, sweat, and tears to get those words out of our brains, traveling down our fingers, and onto the computer.
You know what I’m takin’ about, Sistahs.
Sometimes we desire more than our family, who typically think we are amazzzzing and brilliant, to read our stuff.
Well, don’t we?
I wanted to know why some blogs get massive hits and others don’t; why some people have 80 responses and others have nada; why readers gravitate to one site and not another. What are the secrets to becoming a successful blogger?
I had to know. TODAY.
So I contacted Brittany Gibbons (aka; “Barefootfoodie,”) who is ranked number 7 in the 50 most Influential Bloggers Online… and number 9 in the Top 50 Mom Blogs of 2008. She is also featured on various local and national news and online media sites.
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K.–What inspired you to begin Barefootfoodie? I like the unique title.
Brittany– When I first started blogging, I was a food blogger. And pregnant. Again. Hence, the barefoot reference (barefoot and pregnant, get it?) Anyways, I sucked. Hard.
K.–Why do you think your site receives over, 50,000 hits a month while other sites get a measly 500?
Brittany– I am not entirely sure. I really work on putting good content out there. I am involved in social media, and I attend conferences. I think that stuff is important; people want to know you and relate to you on more than one level.
K.–Why do your readers keep coming back? As Doctor Phil often asks…”What are you offering people that is satisfying and fulfilling?
Brittany–I am a humorist, irreverent, and brutally honest, and I think people enjoy that. They read my work and relate to it on some crude level. If you ask my husband, he would have no answer for you. He knows I am a total nut job. What’s that saying? People love a train wreck? Is that a saying? I think I just made that up.
K.–If you say yes to this question, I shall become the most envious woman in the Universe: Are you making enough money from Barefootfoodie to quit your day job?
Brittany–Barefoot Foodie is my day job. And night job. And 3am when I wake up with some crazy ass idea about sex with Tom Selleck job. But, it’s the best job I ever had.
K.–Do your advertisers seek you out or do you seek them out?
Brittany–A little of both. I am lucky to have worked and be working with amazing advertisers and sponsors. I am extremely picky when it comes to working products into my brand, and I respect my readers too much to overload them with PR pitches I don’t believe in. I think companies can respect me for that.
K.–Why do you think Mommy Bloggers thrive in this business? I mean, look at Dooce! What the hell; I just watched her on Oprah and she admits she earns about $40,000 a month (A MONTH!!!!) Talk about a freaking dream job.
Brittany–Well, I think bloggers are the new influencers. Even my Grandpa is online, and he thinks when people leave him messages on his answering machine, it’s a ghost, so my point it, being online? Everybody’s doing it, and corporations and advertisers see this, and they want in on it. The more influence you have, the more money you will see.
K.–Tell us a secret.
Brittany–Sometimes when I am waiting to back out of a parking spot because someone is walking behind me, I imagine backing over them with my car. I don’t know what that says about me.
K.–How often do you add material, essays, blogs, and insight on your site?
Brittany–Ummm…not as often as I should. Ideally I try to post twice a week. It takes me a long time to publish a post. I write it all out at 2am, sleep on it, and then wake up and edit out 50% of the offensive shit and curse words. I obviously need a better system.
K.–What makes Barefootfoodie influential and interesting?
Brittany–I have no idea. I think I am the weirdest person ever, so I am endlessly excited when people admit, publicly, to reading me.
K.– One last question: If you could say one thing to women bloggers out there, what would you say?
Brittany–Know your worth as a writer, your content has value and influence, don’t give it away for free.
~~Experience the hilarious, insightful, and interesting Brittany, here and now. Believe me; I’ll be contributing to her thousands of hits…even though I’m envious as hell.
Brittany Gibbons IS the Barefootfoodie.
One last thing, Brittany……”Train Wreck” has just taken on an entirely new meaning.
