Blogspot Banter: Diary of an Indy Grrrl

This month's Blogspot Banter turns its collective head toward all things indie. That's right, friends. The Diary of an Indy Grrrl blog has been slowly, yet surely, making a splash within the Blogspot world as of late, having been named a "Blog Of Note" and accumulating nearly 1,500 followers. Luckily for us, we were recently able to share a few e-mails with the site's mastermind, Brandy.

In addition to loving "Dexter" (a move that earned her an infinite amount of awesome points in our eyes), she was quick to point out that this particular blog is only an extension of her regular Web site, IndyGrrrl.com, a site that has even more goodies for you wonderful readers to check out, should you enjoy happening across her blog, a blog, which, by the way, you can access here.

Below, you will find the answers to her questions regarding how much she values her blog (quite a bit, like a good blogger should), her desire to bake, and how much of a dream being a "Blog of Note" truly was to her (and having never been selected for such a thing ourselves, we can confidently say that we can totally relate to how excited we would be. Besides, her response, as you will see, is as priceless and cute as a button!). Naturally, we commend her blog to you, and suggest that if you happen to follow us, you ought to follow her as well. Or, at the very least, meander over to find out what she has to offer (if for no other reason, because she likes "Dexter" for goodness gracious' sake!).

So without any further adieu, we present to you Brandy, the wonderfully nice individual behind Diary of an Indy Grrrl. Enjoy.

Q: How long have you had the Diary of an Indy Grrrl blog? Can you explain what the main focus of your blog is and what inspired you to begin this particular blog? It seems to showcase things that interest you, your life, etc., but is there a particular audience you are trying to reach with the topics you cover on your blog?

A: I started my blog in 2007 as an extension of my website: www.indygrrrl.com. I originally planned to keep the focus on the accessories I make, but that was a bit boring. I then decided to make Indy Grrrl like a diary of sorts where you can find various topics to read about. I don’t have a particular audience in mind. I’ve found that all types of people enjoy reading my blog, but it is primarily women that make up my readership.

Q: Diary of an Indy Grrrl was recently named a "Blog of Note" by Blogspot. How did it feel to be recognized like that? Did you ever know or think it was coming? What can you attribute to obtaining such status within the Blogspot world?

A: I was shocked and thrilled to be a "Blog of Note." It felt wonderful to be singled out, and I’m still riding off the buzz. I wanted to be noticed as noteworthy since I joined Blogspot years ago. I dreamt about it, and kept a note on my desk stating it would happen, and it did! Never underestimate the power of thinking.

Q: Your blog has over 1,400 followers, and your profile says it has been viewed over 6,000 times. Those are pretty good numbers. What advice would you give to a blogger starting out in regards to how to gain readership? Were there any struggles you had to begin with, and how did you overcome them?

A: You must stay true to your own writing style, and offer something real to your readers. Pictures help, and getting slightly personal is also something that pulls readers in. It’s still a struggle to find topics others are interested in. When I write something, and receive ample feedback, I keep that in mind as I’m thinking of new topics to discuss. You have to test the waters, and grab onto what works.

Q: It also states in your profile that you writer, crafter and baker. How do you find time to blog around your professional career? Would you like to make a career around your blog and/or blogging if you haven’t already, or is Diary of an Indy Grrrl something you plan to make a career out of?

A: I would love to make my blog a career, and I’m working on that each day. I want to write books, and I’m hoping a publishing company will approach me to make The Diary of an Indy Grrrl a book. It may be tricky, but I think it needs to be done. Baking is something I do for fun as a hobby, but writing is what I’ll have my degree in a few months from now, so I’m on the writing path.

Q: How important is the comments section/readership numbers to you? Is this blog up and running for fun, and your own personal enjoyment, or is this something that you only find gratification in when you know other people are reading? That said, have you become discouraged and have you ever considered giving up your blog because you thought no one cared/read? If so, how did you overcome those feelings?

A: I have felt like giving up a bunch of times when comments are low, but I know people are still reading, so I continue. Even though I’ve been discouraged at times, I love to write in a social sphere, so I could never walk away from it. I enjoy it too much.

Q: How important do you think a name can be when beginning one’s own blog? You have done such a good job at designing and playing off the name you chose for your blog. Did you have design-minded ideas when you came up with the name of your blog, or was it something that all fell together in place? That said, how important do you think a blog’s design is? Is the use of things such as videos and photos essential to the success of a blog, or do you believe good writing is the key?

A: Honestly, I play around with ideas as I go. I put my style out there and hope that it translates well. I think the name and design is important, but not crucial to success. The important thing is to make sure your design is clear, eye-catching and unique. I am turned off by awkward pages that are not aligned, and blogs that have too much information to read. Pictures are crucial to posts, but they should be clear and big enough to see. Everyone loves imagery, but good writing is definitely the key to gaining an audience.

QUICK 5:
Q: What’s your favorite movie?
A: "Dead Poets Society"
Q: Favorite food?
A: Pizza
Q: Favorite television show?
A: "Dexter"
Q: When you are not working or blogging, what do you enjoy doing the most?
A: Shopping, trying new restaurants, watching movies and road trips.
Q: What’s your favorite blog?
A: That is Priceless