Living the bloggers’ dream / Pink Pear Bear

Today I’m back with another interview from the lovely blogger, Louise from family travel and parenting blog: Pink Pear Bear.

Genuine and down-to-earth, Louise is one of the goodies in the blogosphere. She’s done well for herself too! With 27.9k followers on insta, I’d say she knows a thing or two. Her blog has grown from strength to strength to the point where she’s being gifted holidays and treats for her family. She’s living the blogging dream! Read on to to find out about her new business venture plus tips on how she stays organised.

1. How did Pink Pear Bear come about?

I started blogging as a hobby but it just grew and grew into a business. My friend and fellow blogger Emma Bradley and I started putting on events for other bloggers, which has been so fun and we created a new company together called Maven Connex. Together we now teach businesses how to increase their online presence using blogging and social media, and also manage campaigns for brands as the go between, matching them with suitable bloggers. I also write a column in the Local Answer.

2. I love the fact that you’ve turned your success into helping others achieve too. So how long has your business been running?

I’ve now been blogging for four and a half years and Maven Connex was set up earlier this year.

3. And how do you find it fits into family life? Does it ever affect it?

On the one hand it’s brilliant because I am always around if they are ill or need picking up for things, but on the other there are often long hours involved and I can find myself distracted as I know I have a deadline or email to reply to. I think a job where you are out of the house might be easier as you don’t see all the things that need doing. My family are very supportive as blogging brings them so many fabulous opportunities, and they can see how quickly our new business is growing and how proud this makes me.

4. It’s great that your family are so supportive. How about the best and worst thing about working from home?

Best thing, I don’t have to answer to anyone. Worst thing, the household jobs often nag away at me so I feel guilty!

5. Aha, I know what you mean! Tips for other mums who work from home?

A few days a week, try to work somewhere else for a change of scenery if you find you get very distracted at home. I’m much more productive if I go to a cafe or a co-working space.

6. Great idea! So are there certain hours that you can work in the day?

When my children are at school, but I often have other errands to run in that, surprisingly short, time! I get up an hour or so earlier than them to post on instagram/check my social media etc and then I often do things in the evening too.

7. Everyone needs a break every now and then – what’s your preferred drink/snack and thing to do to switch off?

Tea! Always tea. I’m terrible at giving myself breaks. I generally just switch from my laptop to my phone as I wait for the kettle to boil etc. For a proper break, I’ll take Hendrix our Labrador for a run or walk, or arrange to meet a friend for lunch as I can’t really work during that time!

8. It shows through your success! Do you have a particular moment that stands out during your career so far?

I said to myself at New Year, that this year I would like to achieve a trip abroad through the blog. Later on in the same month, I managed to arrange a holiday to Greece reviewing a hotel. I was so proud of myself that all my hard work was paying off and I can treat my family to something lovely through my work, despite it not being conventional. I also had a lovely trip to Italy with some fellow bloggers and I just loved that my little square of the internet had brought such lovely people into my life.

9. That’s the ultimate dream! Any big projects coming up that you can or can’t talk about?

The holiday I mentioned to Greece is coming up very soon! We also have two brand new events for Maven Connex coming up. One in London in October (already gone now at time of posting) and our huge Christmas one at Tortworth Court Hotel at the end of November. There will be wreath-making, talks about podcasting, monetising your blog, photography workshops and food and drink all day.

10. I so wish I could make it to the Christmas event! It sounds amazing! And lastly, you must have some tips on organisation to be able to achieve all this??

That is something I’m yet to manage! Outsourcing where I can, and writing everything down physically in my diary and on my wall calendar, and also on my phone, helps. Although I constantly feel like I’m about to drop a ball or forget to pick a child up from school!

Thank you so much Louise for this fantastic insight into your business! If you would like to attend the wonderful workshop being held at Tortworth Court Hotel this Sunday, then head over to Maven Connex to buy tickets.