Please welcome Becky, our latest MomDot Feature Blogger and the force behind Creative Blog Designs. Let’s learn more about this mommy’s business and then we can tell you about how to win a design for your own blog.
1. Becky, please start off by telling us a little about your blog designs and how you got started with your business.
I guess you could say it started long, long ago, when I was in high school and I was introduced to web designing. I fell in love with it and made dozens of different web pages. When I got introduced to blogging, I would make a different design for my own blog about every week. So, I thought instead of changing mine constantly, I would see if other people would like my designs. They did! My blog designs are always custom made to each persons preferences. In fact, one client told me that she thinks I climbed inside her head and took a picture of her idea. I’m so happy when I can get it just how you imagined.
2. Of which blog designs are you most proud to have created?
It seems like every new design seems better than the last. I get new ideas, and practice makes perfect, right? But one of my favorites would have to be the design for my own recipe blog. I saw the color scheme on my bottle of shampoo and thought those colors would look really cute for a blog!
Here are a couple more of my favorites.
3. From where does most of your business come? Is it from advertising, word of mouth, or something else?
Most of it comes from advertising, but I have had a few clients just stumble onto my website! And I always tell my clients to “tell a friend.”
4. How many blogs do you have? Do you have any tips on how to juggle running a business, maintaining multiple blogs, and taking care of your family?
Okay, I seriously don’t know how many I have. Let me go count, hold on…okay I’m back and yikes- I have 10 total. Some of them I am just a contributor for, and a couple of them are where I create my trial blog designs before I show them to a client. My main ones are my personal blog, my blog design website, and my recipe blog.
I try to be very organized when it comes to juggling my business, blogs and family. Of course, family takes #1 priority over everything else. I try to make sure that I only work during naptime and after the kids are in bed. But when I get an idea, I try and write it down so I won’t forget. When I am done with work, I focus on my blogging. Good thing my kids sleep a lot!
5. Do you have any advice to other creative mom bloggers who would like to start a blog design business of their own?
You know how when you walk into a salon, and there’s a stylist with really cute hair, and one with…not so cute hair? You always want the one with cute hair to do your hair, right? Well, make sure your website has a really nice design so people will want you to design theirs. Okay, but SERIOUSLY!! The only advice I can think to give is to just put yourself out there. At first, I was really scared that people wouldn’t like my designs, but I was pleasantly surprised at their feedback. So just don’t be afraid to show off what you got!
Thank you for taking the time to share the details of your business with our readers.
Interview by Contributing Writer Karen
Now let’s tell you about the prize that Becky has so generously provided. Becky knows that MomDot is about the BLOGGER! So she wanted to give a full on, decked out, blogger design for a blogger on here! So what we want you to do is let us know why you want a new blog design and leave your link in Mr. Linky. We are going to pick the person we feel is in the biggest desperate need to get a rehaul. I mean, your blog is like your house, right? If you are here, I’m going to go with yes. I have a feeling you are a Blogaholic. So show us your worst and we are going to give you a chance to clean your house up…the maid is coming over ladies!
Contest ends on Monday the 6th!
| 1. Trish 2. Sarah at themommylogues 3. AJ 4. Amy @ Thoughts from the Mrs. 5. Danielle 6. Pamela Vest 7. Sarah at Ohana Mama 8. Kritta22 9. Angie @ Angie Rambles | 10. savvysuzie 11. Nan 12. Sarah @ The Bowl! 13. Danielle G 14. Allison 15. Diana 16. Andrea 17. Saph @ Walk With Me 18. Erin | 19. Lindsay 20. Leslie 21. karen 22. Mrs. M 23. Toni Saussele 24. Libby at WelcomeToLibbyland (for my Mom) 25. Melissa 26. You're next! |
To add your link to the list, enter your name and URL in the form below and press Enter.
And have you read about Mister Linky's new features?
I totally had a makeover done by her!! Awesome!
I have been trying to make my blog look fresh and fun, and also trying to find ways to generate revenue to supplement my income, but I am not being succesful. As a single mom of twins who both have special needs, I don’t have a lot of time to devote to it, but I could really use the extra income from a well put together blog!
Ok, so I’m not sure this is totally “legal”, but I’m going to enter my Mom’s blog in the drawing in place of mine. I’m a graphic designer, so I’m pretty happy with my current blog design. But my Mom just started blogging and I think she TOTALLY deserves a kick-ass design because c’mon, how many MOMS of moms on MomDot blog???
Rock on, Mom!!!
I am so new to blogging. I love it! I started a blog and it is so primitive. I am so clueless as to what to do so I could only pick one of their templates, yuck, lol! I am so in need of a design. My life, site and blog revolve around my all 5 of my kids. I can’t afford to pay for a new design as I was laid-ff from my job after having my son and I have not been feeling well. So no money for things like a great design. Please help a newbie
Thanks!
I would LOVE to win this. I just started my blog and this is what I’ll be staying with through my journey of TTC. I’d like to bring my baby in with style
I have the absolute cutest son! So it’s possible that any blog design would pale in comparison…but what we’ve got now definitely does. When I first started blogging, I’d change the background all the time, because I was constantly growing tired of it. Now that my little one’s a toddler, I spend more time chasing him and less time on the computer. He needs a cute background to show off all his adorable photos and stories!
I just have to say I love your black and white and pink header! I think that is my favorite of all you have done!
I have been dying for something like this!
PLEASE pick me!!!
My blog could use a makeover
Thanks!
~ Jodi
I forgot to say that my BFF is Lindsay!
I actually put my BFF’s name down. She was just complaining to me that her blog is sooo plain jane. Mine isn’t all that either, but I am a giver. So I would love to give her the prize if I win!
I did my own design at My Brute Squad. I think it came across well. Different and boyish. But it was my first try and I would love a 3 column template that is even more “boy-centric”.
Mine is a cookie cutter design so I would love to have one designed for me.
I have tried to make my blog look nice and neat, but have failed miserably! So I have resorted to using a standard template. Not that there is anything wrong with that I just really want something more personal. I desperately need a makeover!!
Well, I just deleted my first blog and have started anew. The problem is, I don’t have a clue how to design a blog. I can barely get pictures to post on it! LOL. As you can see, it’s pretty darn pitiful! I love bright pink and green, and all things girly. Of course, the only thing I can get my blog to do is pink!!
Thanks for considering me!!!
My life and blog revolves around my princesses and I would love a design that fit it! The design would be all for them! My oldest would love it, and the baby would be able to tell you in a few years!
I am currently using one of Blogger’s templates because I have no clue how to make my own and Blogging for Dummies did not help.
I don’t need a blog RE-design, I need a blog design!
As an avid blog reader, I decided to put my own blog idea to work just two weeks ago and start my own blog. I set up a template and started trying to “make it my own”, but there’s only so much you can do with a template! A computer techie, I am NOT! I am learning all the computer lingo, codes and such as I go along. While I am a creative, artistic person, I have no idea how to translate those ideas to a computer!
I’d love to start out my blog with a great, professional design, but unfortunatly I can not invest money into that right now. My blog is a contest blog that will rely on sponsors, so the design needs to be inviting. Right now the blog design and content is still in the works, but not very creative:
http://www.foodiesforcharities.com
Please- help me to get a great start with a great design!!
You wanna know why? I’ll tell you why! Because Becky did the Zoo and it looks so awesome that The Bowl really does look like a porta john now! Come on! I have a Blogger template for The Bowl when Becky already sooped up the Zoo? That’s just wrong on so many levels!! I love Becky! She is incredible! If you haven’t read my review of the job she did on the Zoo go back to my archives and check it out. She’s fast, she’s fun, and she has an incredible ability to get into your head and personalize it. I’ve been saving my pennies to get the Bowl a makeover but if I win this I’ll pass off my pennies to someone else.
I soooo need help! I just started up again after a few failed attempts. I thought I was pretty techi because I could change my Blogger template without a problem (woo hoo!). But 2 weeks ago, I tried to change it again, decided to go flashy pink & orange! Well, it wouldn’t work. Every template I tried DID NOT WORK. So now I’m back to a b-o-r-i-n-g Blogger template. I even tried to splash it up with pinks & greens. Doesn’t work. Help. I’ve smartly realized I’m not a techi – it took me 2 tries to paste the url to enter this contest!
Top 5 reasons I need an Extreme Blog Makeover:
5. I have less artistic talent than my 19 month old.
4. My HTML skills are HTMLAME
3. Adobe Photoshop actually laughs when I try to open the program.
2. I’m not afraid to bribe with brownies.
And the #1 reason I NEED this makeover:
1. I have a really cool vision for my blog and absolutely no way to execute it.
Oh gosh, I can’t tell you how bad I need a Blogger re-do LOL! I have had the same blogger template since I first started my blog. It’s a personal blog and I would much rather it show my personality or at least get an “ahhh” or “ohhh” from someone who visits instead of “eww look at that ugly blog” ha ha.
A fun, new design might also give me the inspiration to blog more too.
Thanks for the chance to enter.
I need a blog makeover because I can’t find the right design to fit our family. I am not sure what exactly we need but we need someone different. I would also love to have a cool little button to give out!!
While I do think my blog design is cute, I’d love to make it a bit more feminine and fun, with headings and all. I got this one on the fly when I was first starting out and I’d love to evolve it to be even cuter and user friendly!
I am a design dummy. I have been trying to find a good design and am at the mercy of basic stuff. I need help with my site so bad.
This is soooo crazy because I was just looking at the Creative Blog Designs site a couple days ago, and had started to try to talk dh into letting me purchase a blog overhaul! He said no, of course, and now here’s this great giveaway! Thanks for the glimmer of hope! I LOVE your designs Becky!
Oh, Man! I need this!
I’ve been looking into a blog makeover but I promised my hubster that I wouldn’t spend money on my blog until I make money from it.
(That was stupid of me to promise, I know.)
So, now my blog has white, white walls. A pathetic header that I put together myself. (i know it’s not the best)
There are no cutesy, fun buttons to click for different areas of my blog.
I can’t figure out how to make a link to the reviews I’ve posted for potential, new reviews.
Don’t get me started on my “ad space”. It’s hideous and needs a hug.
I just feel like my blog design doesn’t resemble me, the blogger, and doesn’t look professional. I’ll never make a dime from my blog the way it looks right now.
Someone, please……help a momma out!
I would love to have a maid come over… ohhhh…. you’re not talking about my house. A Blog re-design would be great. I need something to show ME! The design I have isn’t really me and I’m just to lazy to go to all the trouble of changing it again. Thanks for the great giveway!
I have made some sad, sad attempts to make my design myself. My teal box at the top is not inside the brown one. Colors don’t match exactly. I’ve been meaning to make more of an effort, but just can’t find the time. Help me!!!!!
Well, I kind of got into blog design, but making it scrapbooky looking. I tend to overdo it though, and just haven’t had time to redo my personal blog. I fixed my other blogs, but this one has kind of taken a backseat, and I would love to get a rehaul of it! Thanks for the chance! aparkerfam.blogspot.com