Hi! Lovely to have you and thank you so much for taking the time to answer a few questions. I love your blog, I love your messages and your content and that’s why I am so glad you agreed to this.
So, for anyone who’s not read your blog before, tell us what your blog is all about!
Hello there Rachael and thanks so much for having me on your blog! Hi everyone, I’m Sarah and I run the lifestyle blog SunshineSarahxo which I’ve been writing on for almost 10 years now! I can’t quite believe it but I have to say I absolutely love it and wouldn’t swap it for the world as I’ve met so many amazing people along the way.
My blog covers everything from mental health, veganism, fitness to Netflix recommendations and more! I like the flexibility to write about anything and everything and not be tied down to one particular niche, but saying that, I do try to stick to topics which are relevant to my audience.
What made you want to start blogging? What’s your inspiration!?
I started blogging in March of 2012 after I started playing an online fashion game called ‘Fantasy Shopper’. I naively thought I could share my outfits on this new platform but alas I never did! It went from being a fashion blog, to a beauty blog, to evolving into what it is today. I love how my blog has changed with me and I’ve been able to document my life over the years.
Do you blog full time or do you have another job too?
No I definitely do NOT blog full time but I have the utmost respect for those who do because it definitely isn’t easy!
Have you managed to monetise yet? If you have, how so!
Nope I haven’t monetised or really have plans to do so! Perhaps if I was more dedicated I could set up some sort of affiliate programme but alas I have not! Maybe I’ll get round to it one day…
Do you have any other creative paths – youtube, insta, podcasts, etc…
Nope, blogging is my only form of creative outlet!
What’s been your proudest moment since you started blogging?
My proudest blogging moment was probably when I got to go to Manchester for the day to share what you can do on a budget! It felt good because they’d found me via another piece of work I’d done on my blog, this made me feel really proud and I love the work I produced for them.
And what has been your lowest point?
I’d say my lowest point was probably when I worked with a company who bullied me into buying their clothes to share on my blog. Yeah, I shouldn’t have worked with them ,but this was early in my blogging journey and unfortunately I was naive and felt pressured to work with them.
Thankfully I’m much wiser now and only work with brands who are willing to pay me for my time or gift products to me with no strings attached!
What’s your favourite part of blogging? And what’s your least favourite part!?
My favourite part has to be content creation and my least favourite is definitely the technical side of things! I’m not so good with understanding html, coding or anything like that so I tend to outsource these kinds of jobs to people who do!
What’s your creative process?
(mine is write, procrastinate, cry, snack, repeat…)
Oh you know the usual, open laptop, wait 100 years for it to actually work, procrastinate on social media, get a snack, write a few sentences, go to look something up on my phone and end up down a social media rabbit hole, forget what i went on for, realise the time, shut laptop and go back on twitter to tell everyone about my ‘productive day!’ LOL!
What’s your ultimate goal???
I’m not quite sure really, perhaps to get more views on my blog I guess but then isn’t that everyone’s goal?
What’s your best piece of advice for someone who’s just starting a blog or thinking of starting one?
It would definitely be to blog for you and not for everyone else. One of my favourite quotes from Cyril Connolly is ‘it is better to write for yourself and have no public, than to write for the public and have no self’. It perfectly encapsulates how I want my writing to be and how everyone else should approach their blog, unless of course you ARE writing for other people, in which case go for it!
What’s been the biggest surprise since you started your blogging career?
That would be how welcoming the community is and how there’s room for everyone, no matter your niche or how ‘over capacitated’ people may say that the blogging world is right now! People are always looking for information and long form content isn’t going anywhere anytime soon, so put all your effort into your blog and you will be rewarded! Xo
Aawww thanks for interviewing me Rachel! 😊🤗💛