WeBlogNorth Featured Content Creator of the Week - Sunshine Sarah
This is a space that showcases all of you awesome WeBloggers in the North and gives everyone a chance to get to know each other, as well as raise your profile (and your DA!). This week we're chatting with Sarah - Based in Harrogate, she shares positive lifestyle content, including food, travel and personal insights, on her blog Sunshine Sarah.
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Name Sarah Dickinson
Location Harrogate, North Yorkshire
Blog URL www.sunshinesarahxo.com
Twitter followers 4,061
Instagram followers 643
Try not to get too hooked up on the numbers, they'll come the more you pour yourself into your passion.
How long have you been blogging/vlogging/creating content?
I have been blogging since 2012, long before anyone really knew what blogs were!! I for sure didn't! It was a place where I thought I would be able to share the outfits from this online fashion game I was playing called 'Fantasy Shopper' - I never did get around to that though!
I went through various phases at first, thinking I wanted to be a fashion blogger, then a beauty blogger and finally a lifestyle blogger! I am happier now I have changed my blog's domain and layout, I feel it's so much more 'me' and where I can finally share everything I love - whether that be a new-found recipe or a new skincare addiction! I have had so many compliments on my new look blog and it definitely encourages me to blog more!
Why did you decide to start your blog/vlog?
I decided to start because I was bored mainly! I had finished university and had begun my own pet-sitting and dog-walking business - even though I loved it I recognise now that I was sliding into depression because my spending habits were out of control and I would spend hours online uploading my latest haul.
I would also be heavily influenced by what other people/bloggers were buying and would be totally sucked into buying the latest beauty/skincare release - the Soap & Glory Skincare Set being a particular favourite!
After running my business for 7 years I went to Australia for 22 months and totally abandoned my blog - harsh but it gave me a fresh perspective when I returned 22 months later!
Do you see this becoming a career or part of your career?
No definitely not! I am not good at blogging at the best of times and can get quite stressed out when I have lots of posts to write! I admire anyone who does though because it must be so stressful and high maintenance!
What do you hope to achieve for your content in 2018 and what’s your big-picture goal?
Ooh, interesting question! Well, I'd love to do more sponsored posts (already this year I've done 2 and have another 2 lined up!) as I always enjoy creating new content for clients and coming up with ideas for their posts. I would also love to do more small business features as I really enjoyed doing them last year and made some really lovely connections with loads of small business owners; the posts always did really well and I enjoyed creating them!
As for the big-picture goal, I suppose I'd love for my blog to be a bit more well known and to work with more brands but I suppose that's what all bloggers want isn't it?! I guess I'd just love my pageviews to go up and more people to read the content I'm producing! That would be wonderful!
What is your favourite social media channel & why?
I suppose I love Twitter because it allows me to interact more directly with my followers, business owners, brands and PRs. It's almost always instant and allows me to see a great deal of content in a relatively short space of time. I'm an absolute Twitter addict and am always on the app!
What is your favourite tool or app that helps in your content creation?
I don't really use any! The only picture editing software I have ever used is iPiccy and even then it's limited because I have absolutely no idea how to properly edit my pictures!
Who is your blogging/vlogging/content inspiration and why?
I am always inspired by my beautiful friends and of course other bloggers, seeing what content they're producing always inspires me to produce my own.
Plus whenever I attend blogging events or get a sponsored post, the fires within me are always burning to create new content!
What do you like to do on weekends? Where can we find you hanging out?
Ahhh weekends, when I'm supposed to be having a lie in, lazily brunching with friends, creating content and taking photographs! Haha! Ahh that's the dream, isn't it?! Unfortunately, I am always working and have precisely zero time to take photos, create content and brunch with friends!! LOL!
If you could go anywhere in the world or experience any one thing, what would it be?
Well, I've already been to Australia but would love to go back and experience 'Jungle Surfing', 'Dune Surfing', take a trip on The Ghan Railway, scuba dive in the Whitsundays, go horse riding on the beach and find more hidden bars in Melbourne! =)
What're your tips for staying motivated and/or organised in your work?
Pfft! I am usually the least motivated person around when it comes to blogging...! I am either really into it or not at all there's no in-between!
But I find that if I have sponsored posts to write then I am more likely to be working then if I'm just creating an organic post. I have found recently that this is the best way to get me motivated! I'm not sure it works for everyone but it does for me!
What is the one piece of advice you’d give other content creators & aspiring bloggers/vloggers?
Oooh, maybe try not to be like everyone else and just write about what interests you the most because you can always tell when a blogger is truly interested in what they're writing about, it really comes through the page.
Try not to get too hooked up on the numbers, they'll come the more you pour yourself into your passion.
Fun/Random fact about you (go on, surprise us!):
Okay here's one for you, I used to collect rubbers when I was younger! Wherever I went I would always buy a new rubber! I had quite a big collection at one point!!
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