Annabel is one of my favorite bloggers. I found her only recently. She is so friendly and a warm person. And, not to mention, a successful blogger and entrepreneur. She offers awesome and useful stuff at her blog Get In The Hot Spot. I bought her EBook - Successful Blogging in 12 Simple Steps and my blogging has changed a lot since I read it.

I was so lucky to get her speak for Find All Answers. Here is what she says

Jane: Would you like to introduce yourself?

Annabel: I’ve been writing copy for the web and designing websites since 1995 and currently run a small Internet marketing company called Mucho. I write a blog called Get In the Hot Spot and wrote Successful Blogging in 12 Simple Steps to help more people get into blogging and enjoy the many benefits and opportunities it offers. I’m travel mad and was born in the UK but also have a Kiwi passport. I’ve lived in France, Laos, Zimbabwe, the USA, New Zealand and Costa Rica but currently live in Australia with my husband and our three kids.

Jane: How did you end up blogging?

Annabel: When we lived in Costa Rica we spent 18 months with no Internet. It was a great break from work but on arrival in Australia I was keen to get back into it. I wanted to learn about blogging and also have a creative outlet for my writing. As my blog evolved and grew it seemed as if people were interested in learning more about online marketing so I started to focus on that. The blog has changed a lot over the 18 months since I started it and I’m sure it will contine to evolve.

Jane: How do you manage time? Do you find the right balance between blogging and family?

Annabel: I’ve worked very hard for the last 18 months building up my blog and web design business. Any new business takes up a lot of time in the beginning but I’ve now grown my blog to a stage where I can do less promoting and post less but enjoy the benefits. It’s helped me get new web design and copywriting work from around the world which is great because I live in quite a remote area and am definitely not interested in city life. Balancing work and family is always hard and any working mum knows there’s always guilt for one reason or another! Last year was the first year when all three of my kids were at school so that made it much easier for me to find time for writing. I’m very lucky that I can sneak off to help the kids at school, take them to the beach or go for a walk anytime because I work for myself and I make the most of it.

Jane: How important is guest posting for a blogger?

Annabel: I’ve learnt to stop thinking of guest posting as giving away my best work and start thinking of it as free prime time advertising. My writing has been featured on some of the biggest blogs on the Internet like Problogger, Copyblogger and Zen Habit and that’s helped me grow my blog more than anything else I’ve done. It’s been an excellent way for me to connect with new readers and raise my profile.

Jane: How do you promote your blog articles?

Annabel: Many people subscribe by email or RSS feed so they automatically find out when there’s a new post. I update my Twitter and Facebook profile with new blog posts and also use a plug-in called Wisestamp to promote my lastest blog post at the end of every email I send.

Jane: How important is investing in web design?

Annabel: First impressions count on the Internet. You have about five seconds to convince a casual visitor to your blog or website that it’s worth spending more time on so the design is crucial. If people can’t find the information they’re looking for, aren’t sure what your blog’s about or can’t read your content easily they won’t stick around long and they certainly won’t be back. If you can actually make your website or blog look appealing as well as being user-friendly your readers will appreciate it and that’s when they’ll start doing some of the promotional work for you by tweeting your blog posts or sharing them on Facebook or by email.

Jane: What is your personal motive behind supporting Kiva?

Annabel: I’ve spent a lot of time working in developing countries like Zimbabwe and Laos and know how hard life is there, particularly for women. I’ve been blessed with a good education and stable family life and I’m keen to help other women set up their own businesses so they can support themselves and their families. I decided to get started by lending money to a woman in Kenya which is a country I know quite well having travelled there with my husband who was born there. The business owner is a widow with two children and I know that this will really make a difference to their lives. I’d love to keep helping them if they need it. I think we in the developed world have a real responsibility to help others who are less fortunate than ourselves and the Kiva model of lending money to business people so that they can become independent makes sense.

Jane: What is the biggest thing you would like to achieve through blogging?

Annabel: I started blogging as an outlet for my travel writing but then started writing more about business and online marketing. I’d still love to write more travel stories and get those published one day. It’s a crazy dream but I’m working on it.

Jane: Your piece of advice to bloggers?

Annabel: Success in any area depends on perseverance more than anything else, so I’d say keep at it. Don’t expect to see any results for a year but promise yourself that you’ll keep updating your blog at least weekly. Blogging’s an art, not a science. Stick with it and have fun, hopefully in time you’ll start to see the results you’re looking for.