In over a year since I have been blogging, I have come across some awesome people. When I didn’t know much about blogging, I still was able to meet some great people along the way to help, inspire and teach me what it means to network. Each week I want to feature men and women in the Blogger Spotlight that has inspired, taught and supported both myself and other bloggers. Introduce Yourself to Allie Irish:  Please comment, visit Allie and keep the support flowing to every blogger you know!

Please introduce yourself and tell us about your blog?

Hello everyone! My name is Allie or some refer to me as AllieRambles.  I squeak out posts and a meager income over at Ramblings of a WAHM. What is Ramblings of a WAHM you ask?  It is journey blog with tidbits of knowledge I have acquired since 2010.  It is me learning and earning online income and then sharing what I know with you.  And there is some blogging, SEO and social media thrown in the mix.

What most influenced you to launch your business?

My blog and business started out of a drive to be my own boss. I also want to be home when my kids leave and come home from school. I was a stay-at-home mom for over 12 years but was getting a little anxious to get out and work. So I did. Yet soon realized that I didn’t like worrying about my kids being home without me (they are of age to be home alone). What the heck were they up to?  And they shouldn’t get away with it, lol.  I know what kids do when parents aren’t around, even the good kids. (I was the good kid that still got into mischief when mom was at work.) Anyway, I thought I would give them the gift of mom always being home.  Honestly, I just like to be home when they are, plain and simple. I also have this drive to work whenever I please.  If I want to work at 3 am, I can.  Someone in the world is up, right?  But I do mostly work from around 8 am to 3 pm PST weekdays.

What is the biggest challenge you have faced so far with your blog?

I find it difficult to be unique enough to get traffic to stick around.  Readers have a lot of choices and I want my blog to be the one they open first when they open their Internet browser or check in their reader.

What role do social media play in your blogging life?

Social media has been a huge player in making my blog more popular, or should I say, me more popular.  I explain more below in the other social media question. But for me, social media includes commenting on blogs.  I guess we can call that social networking.  I love using the comment sections on blogs to connect with people and hopefully attract them back to my blog.  Be aware other bloggers, I am stealing your readers. LOL.  Just kidding.  We can share.

How has blogging affected your career?

Blogging has opened new doors for me.  How? I have met people from all over the world, with different viewpoints and so much to say.  I have forged new personal and business relationships.

What advice would you give to aspiring bloggers?

Blogging and every aspect that surrounds it is not hard, there is just too much. Focus on what you want and don’t waver from your goals with every new and shiny tool or network.  Make goals and focus on them until you are very proficient in that field.  Then try something new again.  That is the beauty of blogging; there is always something new to do or someone new to meet.

What aspect of social media has helped your business?

Social media makes people real.  I like that on Facebook I can get to know my readers and have the possibility of become closer, whether in a business or personal relationships. Social media is built in a way that the more you divulge about yourself and your business, the more people like to hear and read.  A great blogger and social networker can harness this power and become rather popular.  This is the aspect that helps my blog.  The more I socialize on social media, the more my readers get to know me, and thus the more interaction I get on my blog.

What would you say is the single biggest reason for your success?

In terms of earning a good living and gathering mass amounts of traffic to my blog, I have not achieved that success yet.  But I do know how to get there.  And I am working hard to achieve it. I would say determination is a huge reason for success.  Determination to not stop.  And the determination to not let naysayers get the best of me when they believe what I do online is a scam or unrealistic.

If you could step back in time to when you were just starting out, what advice would you give yourself knowing what you know now?

Network dummy.  Get out of your bloggy comfort zone and talk to others.  Email them, Skype them or simply send a quick message via Facebook.  Tell other bloggers they are doing great.  Ask if they would like to guest post for you.  See if they would like to join a group or work together to share knowledge and advance together. A lone blogger will eventually have a dead blog.

Do you have any big projects in the works?

I wish I did.  I am still growing my blog and analyzing what type of project best suits my audience.  I need to cater to their needs.  If they want an eBook, I’ll create that.  A podcast, I can work on that also. I am in the beginning stages of working on my big project. But if I were to mention one, the biggest project I have going outside my blog is my videos.  I am working hard on creating videos that compliment my blog.  You can see them on my You Tube Channel: AllieRambles on You Tube

What websites to you visit most?

I visit so many that I am going to simply list the ones that have taught me the most. Smart Passive Income.  Pat Flynn is a mastermind at making online income and a genuinely great guy. Traffic Generation Café.  Ana Hoffman has taught me all I know about SEO and more.  She also is a very likable person behind the blog, always there to lend a hand or have smart words of advice. The Bloggess.  Blogging doesn’t always have to be so serious.

What is the best way for our readers to learn more about you or contact you for more information?

I have an about me section and an about RWAHM section. The best way to catch my attention is to email me at Allie at RamblingsofaWAHM.com And just as effective is to simply comment on my site, I try to answer every comment. You can also catch me on Facebook, Twitter and Google Plus.  Thank you so much Sonia for this opportunity to speak on your blog and meet your readers. Thank You Allie! Hey Everyone, please say hello here and visit Allie over at her blog too! She would love to meet you too!