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Welcome!  Before getting to know our Influencer of the Week, take a minute to submit your Email address over there on the right and subscribe to SverveBlog.  When you do, you’ll be treated to an eBook authored by today’s guest called The Basics of Building a Profitable Blog.  It’s priceless…but free to our subscribers.

You know our Influencer of the Week…even if you haven’t “met” her yet.  She masterminded the transformation of SverveBlog from its humble beginnings into what you see now.  She is a self-proclaimed “SEO Demystifier,” and with good reason. She conducted a webinar for us last year that helped our community at large improve their websites  (view it here).  Known as The Strategic Mama, she is truly dedicated to taking the guesswork out of intelligent blog design.  The four kiddos at her house call her mom, and we at Sverve call her Vanita.

When and Why did You Start Blogging?

May 5th, 2010. I remember because it was 2 days before Mothers’ Day. I was online searching for potty training tips and came across a post from a mom blogger and then snooped around her blog for more tips. (It had been 10 years since I had little ones and really needed help.) Her most recent post mentioned “linking up” for a Mother’s Day series from another blogger and so I followed that link and realized that I’d stumbled upon a community of moms – who could save me. When I read that anyone could join the link up, I created a blogger account and spent the whole night hooking it up and writing my first post and figuring out the whole linking up thing. It was one of the best decisions I ever made.

You are a wealth of blog/tech/SEO knowledge.  Where did you learn it all?

Right out of college until 7  years ago, I was very fortunate to work for startups willing to invest in whatever training I needed to expand their businesses and increase their competitiveness. Along with increasing my technical expertise my last employer invested heavily in advanced marketing and sales training for those of us in management.  The economy started to sour around the time I was pregnant with my 3rd child (who turns 5 this week), and I realized we’d need some extra cash and I may need something to fall back on if the market became worse. So I put the word out and asked friends to keep me in mind for design gigs. After a few projects, a friend recommended me to an associate named Jack for a design project. Jack ran an internet marketing firm for small businesses out of his home. After I designed a few sites for him he hired me to maintain all of his client’s websites and taught me about SEO so I could assist in optimizing new websites. It’s been two years since I launched my own business but I haven’t stopped learning.

Any tips for balancing with with family life and kids?

I have four kids now. Best advice I can give: Teach everyone to clean up after himself or herself. (Pay for it if you have to/if you can.) 

My little ones put their plates in the sink, their dirty clothes in the hamper and their toys away. 

My teens do chores in exchange for their allowance.

My teens make extra cash for cleaning the bathroom on Saturdays.

When you have a family of 6, housework can really eat up your time, so I delegate and it gets things done and keeps the kids too busy to be in my hair. I also purposely burn dinner a couple of nights a week so hubby will cook to avoid eating my “cooking”.  Try that one at your own risk.

Tell us three of your passions that don’t include blogging.

Being a role model for my daughters, entrepreneurship, and designing.

Why and how do you use Sverve?

Sverve makes it super easy to find great content and expand my network. I’ve met some truly awesome bloggers thanks to Sverve.

Basics Of Building A Profitable Blog-1

Leave Vanita a kind word here, pay The Strategic Mama a visit for some words of wisdom…and don’t forget your eBook!

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{ 16 comments… add one }

  • Kim Miller August 13, 2013, 10:00 am

    Congratulations on being Influencer of the Week Vanita! Awesome post!
    Kim Miller recently posted…5 Ways to Help Your Children Be Law-Abiding CitizensMy Profile

    Reply
    • vanita August 13, 2013, 11:18 am

      Hi Kim!
      Thanks so much. Pretty darn cool, isn’t it?
      Vanita
      vanita recently posted…How To Increase Blog TrafficMy Profile

      Reply
  • Sue - The Spin Cycle August 13, 2013, 11:14 am

    Girl, you know I love you. Your mad skillz have done wonders for my Alexa ranking…thank you, and congrats!
    Sue – The Spin Cycle recently posted…Keeping it Simple: A Philips Headphones GiveawayMy Profile

    Reply
    • vanita August 13, 2013, 11:19 am

      Of course you love me, i’m all sorts of awesomeness. Thanks for having me.
      vanita recently posted…How To Increase Blog TrafficMy Profile

      Reply
  • Alicia Kanouse August 13, 2013, 11:35 am

    I enjoyed your profile and I am really looking forward to reading my E-book! Thank you for sharing your knowledge.
    Alicia Kanouse recently posted…Foods You Can Share with Your DogMy Profile

    Reply
    • vanita August 13, 2013, 7:49 pm

      Alicia it’s nice to meet you and thanks for reading. I hope you enjoy the ebook. vanita
      vanita recently posted…How To Increase Blog TrafficMy Profile

      Reply
  • Alisha August 13, 2013, 12:28 pm

    Love this and now I feel like I know you even better! Now I need to be like Susie Q and work on my Alexa ranking and other things to bring my blog where I know it can be. Can’t wait to check out the ebook!
    Alisha recently posted…MANICure Monday | And the winner is….My Profile

    Reply
  • Vidya Sury August 13, 2013, 1:07 pm

    So lovely to see you here, Vanita. And I enjoyed reading your interview! You are amazing. Yes. I love you!
    Vidya Sury recently posted…Dishing Out HappinessMy Profile

    Reply
    • vanita August 13, 2013, 7:50 pm

      thanks for stopping by sweeti, love u bunches too!
      vanita recently posted…How To Increase Blog TrafficMy Profile

      Reply
  • Roshni August 13, 2013, 3:55 pm

    Thanks so much for featuring Vanita! She’s amazing!!
    Roshni recently posted…Pay it forwardMy Profile

    Reply
    • vanita August 13, 2013, 7:50 pm

      Roshni! I keep misplacing you girl! hugs to you. thanks you so much. you’re pretty darn amazing yourself woman.
      vanita recently posted…How To Increase Blog TrafficMy Profile

      Reply
  • Kim August 14, 2013, 12:54 am

    Congrats Vanita! I can’t decide what I love more…your awesome blogging tips or your dinner burning strategy! Awesome! ;)
    Kim recently posted…Cottage Style ~ Morning Glory In BloomMy Profile

    Reply
  • Alison August 14, 2013, 5:15 am

    My love and respect for Vanita goes beyond mere words. She’s my go-to for not just everything WP and SEO, she’s my coach and my guide. Most of all, she’s a wonderful friend. All the accolades and good words here, and everywhere else, she deserves fully.
    Alison recently posted…Old School Blogging: The Fridge Edition aka ACK!My Profile

    Reply
  • Shana Norris August 14, 2013, 9:46 am

    Congrats, Vanita. You are an inspiration. I really appreciate the fact that you’re always willing to help and give advice.
    Shana Norris recently posted…The August Break :: HomeMy Profile

    Reply
  • Tammy Graham August 15, 2013, 10:49 am

    I enjoyed this article. I am new to Sverve and I am learning a lot. I have a day planned that is “Vanita Day” and I am going to sit and go through some of your posts and try to learn some things. I know there are so many things to learn and that I need to change and I am open to all that. I am so looking forward to my “Vanita Day…..a day of learning!”
    Tammy Graham recently posted…Frecklebox Personalized Gifts For Kids #Giveaway ~ Ends 9/16My Profile

    Reply
  • Kayla October 15, 2013, 5:47 pm

    Congratulations V for being Influencer of the Week! Very good choice on Sverve’s part in my opinion ;)

    I’ve been following Vanita for several years now and she’s given me so much to enhance my blogging and entrepreneurial careers as well as becoming a wonderful and cherished friend in the process :)
    Kayla recently posted…A Lunch Date at NIU Student Run Bahama Breeze RestaurantMy Profile

    Reply

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