Monday Mumpreneur with Sarah Arrow

Every Monday we feature a mumpreneur who’s ready and willing to open up their lives to us.  They share with us their motivation, challenges and proudest moments in business and they also tell us how they take time to nurture themselves. It’s lovely to have them here at Mums Got A Business and we hope you enjoy connecting with them too.

If you're a blogger (and if you're not, why not?) you'll want to be following this week's featured mum.

She's not only one of the hottest mummy bloggers around, but her passion is to help other mummy bloggers be the best they can be.

She's the 'Go To' person for blogging tips, marketing tips, social media tips and if you've got an e-book you want to get out of your head and up for sale, she can help you to do it in just 7 days.

Your name: Sarah Arrow

Your website: www.SarahArrow.co.uk

Brief description: Where I talk about the business of blogging, share helpful blogging advice and tips and techniques to further your blogging skills

How many children do you have? Jessica 16, Kira 7, Jasmine 6

Where do you live? Stanford le Hope in Essex, 12 miles from London

PC or Mac? PC

Tell us about your business

I work in a same day courier company orchestrating their social media campaigns and that includes writing a business related blog. Some of the articles I write are not suited to the courier space, so in 2009 I got my personal site and that grew into a coaching business, coaching other bloggers, helping them get unstuck and helping them get more from their business blogging activities. That in turn has lead to 2 books Zero to Blogger (in it's final stages) and Zero to Ebook, as well as speaking at events and seminars / workshops. One recent attendee at a workshop said they had learned more in 30 minutes with me than in 4 years of reading other people! It's great to hear feedback like that, it makes my work seem worthwhile.

What motivated you to become a mumpreneur?

Boredom. I love my daughters dearly and treasure them but motherhood wasn't enough and didn't stretch my mind the way it was used to. Working and being a parent was the only option. I went back to work when my eldest was 3 days old. I took more time with the younger too, but was working within weeks of their birth.

What’s been your biggest challenge in business?

My biggest challenge in business has been differentiating myself in a crowded market, everyone is a blogger these days, a problogger and a blog coach. Everyone thinks they can do what I do but very few have the track record that I do.

How have you overcome it?

In my favour is the fact that I am not just another social media business. The fact that I am a working mum, understand the pressures and have the courier business as well means that my clients know that I am not out to muck about. I want to get results in the fastest way possible for a person's skillset. My assessment and training background comes in handy here. Also I am in a position that is very enviable, I can choose who I work with. If a potential client isn't disciplined enough to make their blogging work then I won't take their money and waste their time, I'll tell them no. It's that exclusivity that can't be faked and I have a waiting list as well of clients who have got themselves ready and are now waiting for me to have a slot for them.

What’s been your proudest business moment?

Launching the EU Cookie Law Plugin. Lots of bloggers are in the position of being illegal with their sites due to the EU Cookie law that came into play earlier this year. I have developed a plugin and have priced it at £10 per WordPress blog. That means compliance isn't out of the realms of Mummy bloggers (and other parenting bloggers), they won't have to delete their content and they won't have to pay hundreds of pound per year per site. A multi site license is just £25. I was thrilled to develop this so that people can carry on blogging as a hobby without breaking their bank balance.

What’s your catchphrase or favourite quote?

“Formal education will make you a living; self education will make you a fortune.” by Jim Rohn

What do you do to relax or nurture yourself?

I love reading, I am currently reading the Game of Thrones series by George RR Martin. I love being with my girls and we dance to music and trampoline together - it's fab being the mother of daughters.

What was the last treat you bought for yourself?  Headway WordPress theme 🙂

Favourite colour: Red

Favourite flowers: Poppies

What one piece of advice would you like to give to a new mumpreneur?

Keep at it. Be careful who you listen too and remember your independence may one day rest upon your business skills - no one has a job for life any more.

Fancy featuring as one of our amazing mumpreneurs? Drop me an email over on the contact page - and I’ll be in touch.   Or let me know in a comment below.  And remember to drop by every Monday to welcome our latest profiled mum.