Q&A with Kenda Smith of MomSkoop

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. 

From the visual side of the web to the world of online content, Kenda Smith has done it all. After starting her own web & graphic design company, she turned over to blogging full-time four years ago. Since then, she's experienced both the highs and lows of blogging - from drawing with Disney animators to never wanting to sit in front of a computer again. Hear how Kenda keeps herself motivated to write for her blog, MomSkoop, 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.

I’m Kenda Smith -  I grew up in Florida and then moved to Massachusetts with my husband and two sons – 7 and 19. People always say “Wow! That’s quite a gap!” Trust me, I know. Dealing with puberty and potty training at the same time is interesting, to say the least! 
I’ve been blogging for 8 years now, and made it my full time job four years ago. Before that I had a web & graphic design company. I’ve been fortunate enough to work out of my home for over ten years now.

DESCRIBE YOUR BLOG. WHAT IS ITS MAIN FOCUS?

MomSkoop is for moms who enjoy both motherhood and “me time.” Favorite kids books along with tips to organize your home office, or parenting tricks one day and nail art tutorials the next. We’re more than macaroni art and PTA meetings, after all.

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

When I got pregnant with my second child, we lived in Los Angeles and I had several mom friends who went to glamorous mom blogger events and toy expos with their children. I saw their photos of swag and trips and thought, “Hey, I can do that!” 

Yeah, I admit it: I’m one of those bloggers who originally started a site for the “free stuff," but I quickly learned that it doesn’t work that way - at all. So I started writing about all things parenting, my experiences as a second time “new” mom. After a few years my blog was growing and I realized I didn’t have the time to concentrate on both my website and my design company. I had to choose one. Blogging won, and here I am.


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

That would be my home office makeover reveal. I had so much fun with that. I think it was popular because so many mothers are working from home now, creating their own brands and companies which means creating your own work space. Your home office becomes not only your getaway, but also the place where you make things happen - your power room. It’s the one space in the house that you can make uniquely your own… and not step on Legos.

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

Oh gosh, is there anything online that is truly unique anymore? I just love writing and I do it in my own way. The success of a blog - even with all of our tools and methods - still relies a lot on luck. Who will see your blog that day, and will they like what you posted? So far I’m doing something right. If I can keep doing it a little longer, I’ll be happy.

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

Dealspotr is the first reward site I’ve actually found useful. Yes, it’s great to get rewards for sharing deals. Love that. But, the part that actually hooked me is browsing for other deals. I hate advertisement emails. I never sign up for shopping newsletters which means I lost out on a lot of sales and promo codes. With Dealspotr, I can find all of those deals in one place. My inbox stays uncluttered and I can find exactly what I need without wasting time.

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

I always go that extra inch. Every time I create a post, I remind myself that it could be seen by a first time visitor. Is this conveying the right first impression? Is this something I can be proud of?
I’m not crafty, and I can barely ice a cupcake. So, I have to work a little harder to be creative and entertaining. It’s a challenge, but the good kind. If it ever becomes a hardship - game over.

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

Don’t do it unless you love it. For the first while (sometimes years) the only reward you’ll get is nice comments and a few shares. Other times, even after you’re established, there will be dry spells. If you don’t first love blogging just for the sake of blogging - you won’t make it through those times.

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? 

Learn Photoshop. I can’t stress this enough. Don’t be scared of it. Spend a few minutes each day and learn how to edit your photos and create your own graphics. Both your traffic and work offers will grow by leaps and bounds.

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

Drawing with Disney animators. I was able to attend a media trip for the release of Disney’s "Planes" and part of that was a tour of the animation studios - doing a voiceover and drawing at the table with the animators. I’ve been an artist since I could hold a crayon and my mother always said “She’ll draw for Disney one day." Drawing WITH Disney was close enough. A dream come true.

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

There are so many wonderful writers out there, but I try not to hold any one blogger on a pedestal. I can definitely tell you who has been the biggest help to me over the years though - Trisha of MomDot. I honestly don't even remember how I found her blogging group years ago, but I’m so glad I stumbled in. She loves teaching and helping other bloggers.

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

Only every 3 months LOL.  It gets to you once in a while. Sometimes you get bored or frustrated, sometimes social media drives you nuts, and other times you just get tired of being on a computer all day.  When that happens, I don’t fight it. I clear my schedule and I take a break for a few days or even a week. I always come back, ready to work again. If, one day, I don’t come back…well, then I’m not supposed to. 

WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE TV SHOW?

There’s no way I can pick just one. "House of Cards," "Vikings," "Walking Dead" …we don’t have time to list them all. Right now I’m binge-watching "West Wing."

WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE SNACK?

Boba tea and egg custard pies from Boston China Town.

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

Stephen King and Kealan Patrick Burke - my two favorite horror authors.

Anything else you'd like to add?

As much as I love writing, answering questions about myself is one of the hardest things in the world. 

You can read Kenda's blog at MomSkoop.com. You can also follow her on Dealspotr, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

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