Q&A with Denise Hoyle of Shopper Strategy

Dealspotr’s network of influencers includes notable bloggers and social media personalities across a wide range of topics and interests, but all with a focus on frugal living and saving money. In our weekly Influencer Spotlight, we invite one influencer to share their experiences and success stories with the rest of our community. If you’d like to be featured, send me a message via Dealspotr. 

Denise Hoyle spends a lot of her time online. When she isn't busy being a mom to her five children, she's juggling one of her three jobs - all based on the web. From Teaching online college courses to working for the Navy, Denise has found a way to blend her career with her passions. Now, she's sharing with us the most successful posts from her blog, Shopper Strategy, tips for making them so, and what she loves most about blogging in this week's Influencer Spotlight Q&A. 

INTRODUCE YOURSELF! FIRST NAME, WHERE YOU'RE FROM, YOUR "DAY JOB," AND ANY OTHER FUN FACTS YOU'D LIKE US TO KNOW.

Hi, I’m Denise Hoyle! I’m a single mom of five with three jobs – I have a digital publishing company that includes my blog, Shopper Strategy. I also teach college online and my day job is working for Navy eLearning. My oldest son is 12 and I have 11 year old BBGG (2 boys and 2 girls) quadruplets, they’re my “free” entertainment.

DESCRIBE YOUR BLOG. WHAT IS ITS MAIN FOCUS?

I’ve got a tight budget but I like nice things, for myself and for the kids, so I believe in saving where I can so I can spend where I want and that’s what the blog is about, plus some favorite recipes, product reviews and tips.

HOW DID YOU GET INTO BLOGGING? WHEN DID YOU START?

I developed my first website in 1997, but didn’t start blogging until 2009 when I started ShopperStrategy.com.

What was your best-performing blog post in the past year? What do you think made it successful?

By far my best performing post is for my Scrumptious Butter Pecan Pound Cake Recipe and I think the reason it’s so successful (besides being delicious!) is because the post was very “pinworthy” and has been a hit on Pinterest.

WHAT'S THE ONE WAY YOUR BLOG IS UNIQUE OR DISTINCT FROM OTHER BLOGS IN YOUR NICHE?

There are lots of great “deal” blogs out there but I think my blog is different because I don’t just focus on deals, but rather I consider mine a lifestyle blog with lots of great stuff about the kids thrown in the mix.

What's one thing you love about Dealspotr? Has Dealspotr helped your blog out in any way?

One of my favorite money savings tips is to ALWAYS look for online coupons at sites like Dealspotr before making any purchases. It’s amazing how much money you can save this way!

If you could identify the one thing (okay, or multiple things) responsible for your blog's success, what would that be?

Persistence I think. Shopper Strategy is nine years old now and has definitely evolved over the years, but I’ve always tried to give my readers what they want while being true to my family and our lifestyle.

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO SOMEONE LOOKING TO START A BLOG?

Don’t give up! Even when you think your mom is the only one reading your posts, all you have to do is write about what you love and interact with others online who share the same interests.

Is there a useful tool or resource you've used that you'd recommend to other bloggers? Maybe something other bloggers might not know about? 

One of my favorite tools that I don’t think many people use yet is Grum – I use it to schedule my Instagram posts and I love how simple it is to use.

Tell us about the most exhilarating moment you've experienced as a blogger.

I’ve been able to meet lots of famous people at blogging conferences and it’s always interesting to find out which are actually nice in person.

Which major blogger or influencer do you most admire and why?

I absolutely love The Bloggess for her snarky wit on topics nobody else would dare cover, and because I also got to meet her once, in the bathroom at a blogging conference when she wouldn’t come out due to her anxiety disorder. It’s so cool that she’s also willing to blog about topics like that!

Have you ever experienced a moment when you wanted to quit blogging? How did you overcome it?

Yes, there have been times when life has gotten in the way and I’ve wanted to give up, but I’ve never even taken a break from it because I absolutely love to blog and the social interaction that it brings.

WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE TV SHOW?

"The Walking Dead" or "Game of Thrones" depending on what season it is ;)

WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE SNACK?

Anything chocolate!

If you could have dinner with anyone, living or dead, who would it be? 

Chris Pine, just because I think he’s hot and I’m a sci fi geek.

 You can read Denise's blog at ShopperStrategy.com. You can also follow her on Dealspotr, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest. 

Are you a blogger or social media influencer who loves sharing advice on saving money? Dealspotr is a rapidly growing community of deal hunters and savvy shoppers - join our Influencer Network to gain visibility, earn perks, take on paid gigs, and help people save money.