A Cuppa With Becky Goddard-Hill

Today – A cuppa with Becky Goddard-Hill

If there’s one thing bloggers are great at it’s a good old natter over a cup of tea and a hobnob. Everyone has a different story of how they got started and what they have planned and we all love to share so we thought we’d make it a regular feature. Pull up a chair for a cuppa with…

Becky Goddard-Hill

Hi Becky Goddard-Hill, thanks for joining us. Why don’t you start by telling us a bit about your blogs?

I have 5 main blogs. Baby Budgeting and Family Budgeting cover budgeting, parenting and family life, Thrifty Home and A Beautiful Space cover interiors and Emotionally Healthy kids is a new venture for me getting back to my social work/psychotherapy roots supporting children with their emotional well being.

What first inspired you to start blogging?

In 2009 I had a book published by Random House  How to afford time off with your baby, part of the publishing deal was that I would begin a blog in order to raise my profile and support the book. I soon realised how much I loved blogging and that actually this could be an alternative career for me that fitted beautifully around maximising my time with my children. I have never looked back.

What have been the high points of your blogging journey so far?

I had my eyesight permanently fixed thanks to a blogging opportunity and we have had some amazing holidays including a lovely holiday in Portugal last year.

I won an award for best thrifty blog at the MADS in 2013 after 5 years of being a finalist and my best blogging buddy Chris Mosler presented it. That was a pretty fabulous moment.

I think the work I have done as an ambassador for SightSavers is what I am most proud of though. Supporting their campaigns through my blog makes me so happy.

My bloggy pals rock and have been an important highlight of my blogging journey.

What do you find hard about being a blogger?

Sometimes I find sitting in my kitchen writing on my own all day quite lonely, thank goodness for facebook groups! I also find it quite tricky not knowing what I am going to be earning form month to month which can make me a little anxious.

What are you excited about doing with your blog right now?

I have just opened an online shop on my A Beautiful Space blog selling stationery, books and homeware. I am so excited about it!

I have also just put on a new theme on all my blogs as they were looking a bit dated and it has helped me fall back in love with them. My plan over the next few months is to really focus on all those old posts that I never SEO-d properly (there are 100’s!) and they need sorting out. I finally feel I know what I am doing (well..most of the time).

I am also wondering about embracing youtube and making more vlogs. I feel I should but it all rather terrifies me. I am not very technical!

What is your top tip for a new blogger?

Ooh, can I give 3?

1)      Find a group of lovely supportive bloggers, whether through Tots100 or Britmums, facebook groups or via twitter. It can hugely help to have a virtual community to give you advice, feedback, listen and share opportunities with you. As well as making useful workmates blogging friendships are a wonderful thing. Some of my best friends are other bloggers – not many people in the ‘real world’ quite get what I do.

2)      Be the kind of blogger YOU want to be – If you want to make money or bare your soul, be informative or share your latest outfit, it really is okay. Your blog is your business don’t feel you have to fit in or follow the crowd or bow to popular opinion. Be you. This is your space.

3)      Be proactive –  Opportunities come to those who seek them. Ask questions, make connections, join linkies, make enquiries. You’ve got this and I wish you the best of luck with your blogging journey!

Thanks for taking part Becky, grab yourself a custard cream.

If you’d like to follow Becky Goddard-Hill, as well as her blogs you can also find her on Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram and Facebook.

Don’t forget to check out the other bloggers we’ve had over for a quick cuppa.