#BloggerLife Interview with "Motherhood Through My Eyes" Blogger, Tima
At the time, Tima was just looking for something to do while she was on maternity leave exploring her new title of “MOM”. Now five years and two more children later, the lifestyle and parenting blog owner of Motherhood Through My Eyes (MTME) has been able to develop a following of over 95K on Instagram and has collaborated with many brands including Best Buy, Burt’s Bees, OshKosh, Honda and Sesame Street. When asked, Tima gracefully accepted to provide us with some insight into her world as Influencing The Influencer kick’s off it’s first installment of #BloggerLife.
What inspired you to start a blog?
“I started Motherhood Through My Eyes in August 2013. I had my firstborn a month before and I had been thinking of what to do during my maternity leave.
Although I’ve always enjoyed blogging and writing in general, it wasn’t my idea to start the blog. It was actually a male colleagues’. He told me it would be a fun idea to document being a mom. I thought it was a silly idea. Little did I know it would benefit me and the rest of my family to take on his idea.”
What continues to motivate/inspire you?
“I’m inspired by everyday life with my family and the interactions I have with other parents. A lot of my conversations with moms turn into blog post ideas. I get asked for advice on things a lot, so writing about these topics makes it easier to refer them to a blog post than to have the same conversation more than once.”
What is the deciding factor as to why you choose to work with a brand?
“A brand has to have a clear message I can share with my readers. Sometimes it doesn’t stand out in the initial email. I comb through collaboration request emails often and ask to clarify things when I’m not sure whether the brand would be a fit for my audience. If it’s not something my readers would be interested in, I happily pass on the request to another blogger.”
What is your impression when brands reach out to you with only product/samples (instead of payment)?
“Personally, this is how I started my blog. I accepted a lot of free items and didn’t think about how this would affect me come tax season. Some bloggers only report the collaborations they get paid for, but forget to mention the products as well. Companies write this off when they send you products to try. It needs to be something I’d genuinely enjoy reviewing with my family and the brand’s message needs to coincide with the story my blog tells daily. The parenting struggles, and how we get through it together.”
What is one thing that you appreciate that a brand did that maybe another brand didn't?
“I pitched myself on Twitter to a brand and they had mentioned they would add me to their media list. Within a couple of months to a year, I received an email about a collaboration. They were willing to work on my terms and offered gift cards as well as payment. It came in handy since my husband had been switching jobs. We had a story to tell about the brand, and why we loved their products and services.”
What besides money, would you like brands to start offering influencers they work with?
“More experiences. Products and payment are great, but I think the experience is worth more than the things we collect from brands. Also, maybe throw in experiences we can gift to someone else. I love experiencing sponsored/hosted events with my family, but I’d like to be able to take a friend or offer family and friends the same experience as well.”
What is the most challenging thing about being an influencer?
“One of the most challenging aspects of being an influencer is finding the time to do everything — plan, post, promote, etc. A lot of the times I wonder if I need an assistant or just to cut back on somethings.”
What is the most rewarding thing about being an influencer?
“The most rewarding thing about being an influencer is having my family a part of all this. They’re always excited about unboxing items, the kids love having extra cash to experience life. This June, we’re going on a hosted trip to Legoland for my 30th. Is it for me or for the kids? Who cares, it’s Legoland, right? We’re going to all experience something exciting from a brand we all love.”
What is something you would like brands to know about you (or influencers in general)?
“Influencers are creative, but a lot of the times, brands already have an idea they’d like to have the influencer portray. I think it’s fun to branch out and do something different. Unfortunately, not a lot of brands allow that flexibility.”
What is something you would like your fans/followers to know about you?
“I get excited about others’ ideas and successes. I’m the person telling you to take that leap, and cheers you on when you do. Fail or succeed. I wouldn’t be where I am today if I didn’t support others as much as I support my own dreams.”
What are the next steps for you?
“I’m working on a virtual summit and will be hosting the inaugural event for Moms in Marketing in May 2020. You can learn more on http://momsinmarketing.org”
