Archive for: Media Database

Hungry Healthy Happy was created in 2011 by Dannii Martin as a place to share delicious and healthy recipes as she embarked on her weight loss journey. Recently ranked as the number one food blog (once again), Hungry Healthy Happy is also a top recipe book alongside an expanding library of books by Dannii.

We caught up with Dannii to find out about the growth of food blogging, the joy of avocado and how she likes to work with brands.

How do you describe what you do to other people?
I create recipes that show healthy food doesn’t have to boring and how to sneak in extra veg, then share those recipes on the internet. I also write books.

How does social media feed into your blog – are any channels more important?
Social media makes me feel connected to our audience. It’s a great way to communicate with them, hear what they like and want to see more of, and get feedback. We use it as a way to show the behind-the-scenes of the blog too. Instagram stories are our favourite, as there is a great community there.

What’s your favourite ingredient and why?
Avocado! I have a bit of a reputation for being avocado obsessed. But in terms of an ingredient to make recipes with, then maybe Greek yoghurt. It’s such a great healthier substitute in creamy sauces.

Can you tell the difference between a food fad and a genuine culture shift?
Yes, and I think there has been a massive culture shift recently. Everyone has left ‘clean eating’ behind and there is much more interest and focus on a healthy balanced diet without cutting anything out and we love that.

What’s the best course in a meal?
The main course. It’s the main for a reason.

Food & Drink was revealed as a supersector in the UK Bloggers Survey – how do you feel it fits in to the broader blogosphere?
The food and drink blogger category is huge now and pretty over saturated. Anyone that can cook and write can set up a food blog and that’s definitely not a bad thing. But very few people stand out. You have to be offering something other people aren’t.

The survey revealed that bloggers post less frequently, is that your experience?
Yes, because SO much more work goes in to a blog post now. SEO is (or should be) the main focus of a blogger now and gone are the days of being able to write and publish a blog post in 30 minutes. It takes a day or two to create one post now – to create professional quality photos, edit, write and then all the keyword research that goes alongside it. We try to post twice a week and then really dedicate time to each post – it’s only fair to the brands we work with to.

Do you accept PR press releases?
Yes, however it would be helpful if they also said what they were looking for. Like, do they want to collaborate or are they just looking for free advertising?

How do you choose which PRs and brands to work with?
The brand has to be a good fit for our audience – that is the most important thing for us. Our readers trust us and trust that the products we promote are only things we really believe in and would use ourselves. We have some great relationships with PRs that we have worked with many times over the past few years, which is great because they know how we work and we know what they are looking for.

What are the best collaborations you’ve worked on?
I don’t think it would be fair to single out one brand, but the best collaborations for us is when there is a clear brief from the beginning. So, there is not going backwards and forwards with drafts and re-dos for weeks because the brief has changed. We appreciate that sometimes things do change but making it as clear as can be from the start helps.

Also, it helps to know if brands want licensing from the beginning, rather than that being sprung on us after the post has gone live and we have to change the fee.

Ultimately, the best collaborations are ones that are a little bit different too. That allows us to have some creative freedom to do something we know will be popular with our readers.

What other blogs do you read?
I read a lot of American blogs, because blogging over there is way ahead of the UK in terms of brand collaborations and professionalism. Don’t get me wrong, there are some amazing UK blogs, but there are a lot of inspiring US blogs like Pinch of Yum and Half Baked Harvest.

Sarah Anguish is the mummy blogger behind Boo Roo and Tigger Too, which was recently ranked in the Top 10 UK Mummy Blogs. Sarah told us about focusing on the bigger picture, the best thing about being a mum and working with brands and PRs in an honest and open way.

How has your blog changed in the last year?
Towards the end of last year, I found myself feeling somewhat overwhelmed by attempting to juggle too many plates. Saying yes to things for the fear of saying no and never getting future opportunities with that brand or PR. I took some time off over Christmas and New Year to reassess things and have adopted a better work/life balance this year. I’ve also focused on different topic areas to bring out regular content, such as parenting, family travel and fun recipe ideas for families.
 
How does social media feed into your blog – are any channels more important?
While I was away over the festive break last year I decided to take a look at my social media channels. In an ideal work I would be able to rock them all and engage with followers on each platform, but that isn’t something that I am able to manage at the moment. So, I opted to see which platforms give me the most enjoyment and work from there. Instagram has been the platform I have been giving the most focus to this year. And instead of trying to copycat others or play the follow/unfollow game, I am adding a micro post alongside a snapshot each day. Sometimes I’m chatting about a family day out that we’ve enjoyed or grumbling that it’s Monday again.

What’s the perfect Mother’s Day?
Mother’s Day isn’t about the gifts for me, it’s about the children recognising all the things that I do for them throughout the year. From playing mum taxi, juggling 101 after school activities, ensuring they have all the supplies they need for school/clubs etc. Alongside the everyday tasks as cooking, cleaning, washing etc. Knowing that they are thankful for this is priceless.

What’s the best thing about being a mum?
Unlimited cuddles, no matter whether it is one to offer them support or comfort. The ones at the school gates that they don’t really want to do in front of their friends. Or the ones that caught you by surprise because they just wanted to give you a cuddle.

What advice would you give new mothers?
Take each moment as it comes, rather than focusing on the bigger picture. There will be trying times ahead but try not to dwell on how long it has taken to get your little one to fall asleep, feed or the fact that you are still wearing the same pyjamas from three days ago. Focusing on that task at hand, changing a nappy, bath time or running to the toilet uninterrupted will give you lots of tiny wins throughout the day.

The UK Bloggers Survey revealed Parenting as a supersector – how do you feel parenting fits into the broader blogosphere?
The parent blogging community has grown so much since I started blogging almost eight years ago. Parent bloggers are able to offer support and advice to parents (new or seasoned ones) that they might not have in real-life or are not willing to ask their friends and loved ones.

The Survey also revealed that bloggers post less frequently – is this your experience?
I think that just as in life, blogging and bloggers have peaks and troughs when it comes to producing content. There will always be times when there are lots of things to share and times when life gets in the way and you aren’t able to post as frequently as you’d like.

Do you accept PR press releases?
I receive a number of press releases each week and while they might not be relevant to me or to my blog, they can be intriguing to read. It’s a very privileged position to be able to find out details of new products, events and activities ahead of time.

How do you choose which PRs and brands to work with?
I always look to see whether that brand, product or event would work for our family and something that would interest my readers. There are some amazing brands and PRs out there who value bloggers honesty in saying, ‘Thank you, unfortunately, this campaign isn’t suitable for me because of XYZ’, rather than accepting something because you want to work with that brand/PR and it not really being relevant to you or audience.

What are the best collaborations you’ve worked on?
A few years ago we were selected as the family to represent the UK at the Disneyland Paris 25th anniversary celebrations; a surreal weekend of discovering all that Disneyland Paris has to offer families. We enjoyed the celebrations and standing in front of the iconic Sleeping Beauty’s castle with Mickey Mouse.

What other blogs do you read?
I’m an old-fashioned blog reader, still missing the days of Google Reader where I was able to scroll through the list of posts published that day from across the blogging community. Thankfully, my Bloglovin app allows me to continue to do this and I like to scroll through to see what catches my eye as well as keeping up-to-date with some of the bloggers who have now become firm friends.

Clare Nicholas is the author of Emmy’s Mummy and Harry’s Too! a Top 10 UK Mummy Blog. A former nanny, Clare covers life with her two children and posts reviews, activities and competitions on her blog. We caught up with Clare to find out what’s best about being a mum, setting up a YouTube channel for her daughter and working with brands and PRs.

How has your blog changed in the last year?
It’s continued to grow from strength to strength, although I have also launched a second blog to start getting back to writing for me again. Starting from scratch again was a little daunting though and I certainly need to add more hours into my day.

How does social media feed into your blog – are any channels more important?
This year I’ve taken more of a focus on growing and improving my Instagram content and followers. I’ve dipped my toes into IG stories and love interacting with my followers over there. My goal for this year is to hit 10k and gain that much wanted swipe up.

I have turned YouTube over to my daughter. Emmy has been desperate for her own channel and has a love of watching Vlogs. She now has her own channel and she’s working hard (with my help) on adding content over there.

What’s the perfect Mother’s Day?
I’ve actually just written about this one and as much as I adore and love my kids, a day to myself would be amazing. No cooking, cleaning or breaking up fights.

What’s the best thing about being a mum?
It’s a dream come true for me, there were years when I didn’t actually think it would happen for me, but I didn’t give up that dream and it was fourth time lucky.

I love everything about being a mum, but the best times are those sleepy times when they sneak into my bed and all they want is a cuddle with mum.

What advice would you give new mothers?
Take any help offered and there is no right or wrong way to do things. Work out what works for you and trust your instincts.

The UK Bloggers Survey revealed Parenting as a supersector – how do you feel parenting fits in to the broader blogosphere?
While it may be the largest sector, many start out as parenting bloggers to document their children’s milestones (which is what I did) before finding their niche and moving onto with something completely different or combining it with crafts, travel or even cooking alongside.

Parenting blogs can help others from feeling alone, they help to show other parents that their problems are normal, that we all get stressed and can help to relieve the boredom of a 3am feed. They can be a mix of factual and humorous and make for more entertaining reading than a textbook in those lonelier times.

The Survey also revealed that bloggers post less frequently – is this your experience?
I guess it depends on the age of their children. Those with young babies may find it harder to find the time to post but as my children are older I post more frequently than I ever have done. I struggled with posting when the kids were home and young and could only do so in the evenings, but now they are in full time school I’ve no excuse not to find the time.

Do you accept PR press releases?
I do and I try my hardest to reply to all of them, posting which are relevant and forming a relationship with the PRs at the same time. Not all fit our family but it takes two minutes to reply and say why it’s not a good fit and by doing so it helps to build an ongoing relationship for future work.

How do you choose which PRs and brands to work with?
They have to be something we would use or the kids enjoy, gone are the days of saying yes to every review that was pitched to me.

They need to be in keeping with our family feel so gambling is a no-no and payday loans etc won’t feature.

I’m open to suggestions on many topics and can easily turn my hand to writing within my own style to fit what the brand wants if the price is right.

What are the best collaborations you’ve worked on?
Attending the red-carpet premiere of the BFG remains my all-time favourite event. Of course, we love working with various travel companies on holiday reviews, the press launch of the Royal Caribbean Independence of the Seas was amazing and working with Merlin Annual Pass was possibly the kids’ favourite.

What other blogs do you read?
I struggle to find time to read many any more sadly but The Oliver’s Madhouse, written by my good friend Jaime, hits my inbox weekly as I don’t see enough of her and her lovely boys,

Whinge Whinge Wine also gets my vote. Written by the lovely Fran, every post has me giggling out loud.

Emily Higgins is behind Twin Mummy and Daddy, the mummy blog that recently joined the Top 10 UK Mummy Blogs for the first time. One half of a parent-blogging power couple (the other being DIY Daddy’s Nige), Emily writes about life with her two twins, from the IVF journey to everyday adventures.

We caught up with Emily to find out about the different social channels she uses, the perfect’s Mother’s Day and getting to know your kids.

How has your blog changed in the last year?
I don’t think my blog has changed much in the last year. So much has happened in my personal life from redundancy, my husband’s ill health, starting a new business, and now starting a new job, that I’ve just continued to plough on as normal with my blog. I have so many things I’d love to change in terms of blog layout and design, but I just haven’t had the time to do any of it.

How does social media feed into your blog – are any channels more important?
Social media is important in terms of my blog as it’s where most of my audience comes from, particularly Twitter and Facebook. I share all of my blog posts across social media so naturally it’s where most of my readers find my content.

What’s the perfect Mother’s Day?
A day spent with my children and husband doing pretty much anything together would be perfect. I’m not one for presents, flowers or chocolates etc. A homemade card, cuddles and time spent with my family is all I need.

What’s the best thing about being a mum?
Watching my children grow up into wonderful people. I think it’s amazing how they’ve grown from two tiny, premature babies into two strong, intelligent girls. They amaze me with their passion for learning, exploring the world we live in and just making the best out of any situation.

What advice would you give new mothers?
I think it’s so important for new mums and dads to allow themselves time to bond with their new baby. I know friends and family will be eager to meet the new arrival, but it can be very overwhelming to see your new born being passed around so soon after birth. My best advice would be to give it a day or two, so you can get to know your little one and then let your family and friends meet them too. You won’t ever get back those first few days so make the most of them!

The UK Bloggers Survey revealed Parenting as a supersector – how do you feel parenting fits in to the broader blogosphere?
I think a lot of parents turn to blogs for advice because it’s real. I guess parenting blogs are kind of like Google for parents. If you want tips for weaning, teething or any other aspect of being a parent, you’re pretty much guaranteed to find something about it written on someone’s parenting blog somewhere.

The Survey also revealed that bloggers post less frequently – is this your experience?
Yes! When I first started blogging, I would occasionally publish new content. I had no schedule, I just wrote and published content as and when I wanted. As my blog grew, I found that in order to keep my current readers coming back to my blog, and gain new readers, I’d need to publish content on a more regular basis. As such I always made sure that I had a new post published on my blog every day. Almost seven years later, I’m a lot more laid back! I publish one new blog post every Monday-Wednesday, and then have a feature every Thursday called The Brilliant Mum Feature, and then a Linky for bloggers every Friday. I don’t publish anything over the weekend. It takes the pressure off and means that I can spend time with my family instead of worrying about having to write something.

Do you accept PR press releases?
Yes, as long as they’re in keeping with the content of my blog.

How do you choose which PRs and brands to work with?
I like working with PRs and brands who are up front about what they’re looking for from the beginning. A good first email that addresses me by name, sets out what the campaign is and what the PR or brand would like to achieve from it, in addition to their expectations of what they want from me. I really dislike impersonal emails that either don’t address me by name, get my blog name wrong, approach me with something that has nothing to do with my blog, and worst of all, those who have done no research about me or my blog at all.

What are the best collaborations you’ve worked on?
I really enjoyed working with Argos over the summer and Christmas. They’re a great brand to work with, friendly and have great communication. I also really enjoy working with Mecca Bingo. They’re another company who pitch to bloggers really well, plus they’re super friendly and easy to work with!

Some of my favourite collaborations have also been with smaller, independent businesses who have no PRs or big budgets. I love discovering new businesses with great ethics and if I can help promote them then I’m all for it!

What other blogs do you read?
Naturally, I read my husband’s blog, www.diydaddyblog.com. He’s currently number four dad blogger on the top 10 Daddy Blogs Vuelio list. I really admire his honesty in the things he writes about. Some of the subjects he covers such as depression and male suicide raise important questions and great awareness. My husband, Nigel, talks from his own experiences and I think a lot of people learn a lot from him.

I also enjoy reading Vicky’s blog, Miss Tilly and Me. I’ve never met Vicky, but she feels like a friend and her blog posts are always interesting and easy to read.

There are so many other blogs that I enjoy reading such as Five Little Doves, Dad Blog UK, Mummy’s Diary, Run Jump Scrap, Cardiff Mummy Says and so many more!

Jo Middleton is the multi-award-winning blogger behind Slummy Single Mummy. The current holder of Mummy Blog of the Year from the Vuelio Blog Awards 2018, and the number one ranked blog in the Top 10 Mummy Blogs, Slummy Single Mummy has followed parenting and family life as Jo’s children grow up. Among Jo’s many achievements, she has just published her first novel, Playgroups and Prosecco.

Soon to be a grandmother, Jo will have a whole new generation and perspective from which to write about parenting and motherhood.  

How has your blog changed in the last year?
Quite a lot actually, as the last year has been a really exciting one for me! About 10 months ago I was approached by a publisher about writing a novel, so that took up quite a lot of time over the summer and forced me to blog less frequently. Then just before Christmas I found out I was going to be a granny, so it’s set to come full circle soon and hopefully have a lot more baby related content!

How does social media feed into your blog – are any channels more important?
Social media is massively important for my blog, more so than ever before. In fact, I’d say there are a lot more people now who know me JUST through social media. I use it to promote new blog posts, but more and more brands now are wanting standalone social content, especially on Instagram.

What’s the perfect Mother’s Day?
This Mother’s Day we are going out for a massive family roast dinner at a lovely country pub, which is pretty perfect I’d say! Because my children are older now I don’t get to enjoy a lie-in as a luxury any more – it’s more about trying to get them OUT of bed than to stay in it.

What’s the best thing about being a mum?
You become a parent, so you have someone to hang out with at Christmas when you get old right?? Apart from that… I’m really enjoying having older children and getting to see how my parenting has shaped them into young adults.

What advice would you give new mothers?
Everyone says it but trust your instincts – no one knows your baby better than you and no amount of well-meaning advice can replace your own understanding and connection with your baby. Also, there’s no right or wrong answer, no ‘perfect’ way to parent, so just do your best. They’ll probably only remember the stuff you mess up on anyway!

The UK Bloggers Survey revealed Parenting as a supersector – how do you feel parenting fits in to the broader blogosphere?
I think parenting is a massively important category, because it spans so many different things. I can write about money or food or travel and it can all have a family angle to it.

The Survey also revealed that blogger post less frequently – is this your experience?
Yes definitely. As I said, I’ve found social channels becoming more important as standalone methods of communication and I think this is reflected in people reading blogs less frequently and bloggers posting less on their main blog.

Do you accept PR press releases?
I don’t tend to read generic press releases, but always happy to read ideas for creative content.

How do you choose which PRs and brands to work with?
It’s a combination of factors, but I like a personal, creative approach and of course it has to be for a product or service that I genuinely feel I would enjoy or find useful.

What are the best collaborations you’ve worked on?
Gosh, there have been so many! Anything that gives me a ‘behind the scenes’ look at something is always fun, but lately I’ve been really enjoying food related stuff, as creating recipes really gets me thinking creatively, and I love the process of making something, photographing it, and presenting it – it’s a fun journey.

What other blogs do you read?
Backing up the whole blog/social shift I don’t actually read many other blogs – I’m really into watching other people’s Instagram stories at the moment instead.