INTERVIEW: Michelle Rivera with Erica Diamond, Editor-In-Chief of ‘Women On The Fence’

It’s usually me doing the interviewing. But a few weeks ago I had the pleasure of being interviewed by Emmy Award-Winning TV Host, Michelle Rivera. I have since seen the social media feedback as very positive, which led me to believe that perhaps my readers would want to read it. I decided to post it on the blog, especially for the new and upcoming bloggers looking for tips.

1. Erica, there are several accomplishments you have achieved that I would like to congratulate you on, but one of the most recent and significant ones was having Women On the Fence named as Forbes Top 100 Websites For Women in 2011.  There are many aspiring women bloggers who want to know how you were able to achieve this and what did it feel like to find out that you had?

I think my readers have identified with my authenticity, candidness and honesty, and they have lovingly and non-judgementally come along with me through my struggles. I’m never afraid to let it all hang out, and my readers know I deliver the good, the bad, and the ugly- unfiltered. I think women also identified with the concept of just being stuck and on the fence at different points in their lives, all needing a little inspiration to get off that fence and make a move.

How does it feel? Well, hell yeah, it feels goooood. But it’s because of you that I’m still doing what I love.

2. You wear many hats as an author, spokesperson, Reality TV show writer, Radio Correspondent, mentor, wife, mom, and the list goes on and on. What made you decide to add Founder & Editor-In-Chief of ‘Women On The Fence’ to this already lengthy and impressive list of business ventures?

I am the founder of this brand and Editor-In-Chief of the site, and if it’s not broken, don’t fix it.  I have kept myself as the Editor-In-Chief since Day 1 and therefore I have the last word and final touch in all content.  If I don’t like something or if I don’t think it’s a good fit for my audience, it doesn’t get published.

It’s as simple as that.

3. A big challenge to many bloggers is keeping up their blogs, how do you find the time to do this with your hectic schedule?

Honestly, it’s a struggle, but one I still adore. Who can be fresh and creative 365 days a year?  So if I have nothing to say, we don’t publish. That may be wrong, but I’ve always been about quality and never about quantity. We blog about 3 to 5 days a week. That’s all. That has been our model since the beginning and we have never strayed.

4.  How do you manage family life and business life?  What challenges do you face in balancing both worlds?

Working from home is both fabulous, and the tough part.  I can let this beast called social media rule my life and my family 24/7 if I let it.  So blurred lines between business and personal is the challenge I always face.  I try and unplug whenever possible (I’m a self confessed Tweetaholic), but once my family is home, they take #1 priority.  So far the juggle isn’t always easy, but to be near my kids is what life is about for me.

5.  Erica, you just announced that you have teamed up with ICE to unveil a new jewelry line, called ‘The Erica Diamond Collection.’  What inspired you to do this?

I have been working on Ice for a while. Their team is brilliant and I have always loved simple, classy, but fun jewelry to wear in my versatile life as mom, working woman, and friend.  Ice is a very marketing savvy company (which I love), and they’ve been a pleasure to partner with.  I love my collection and look forward to changing it with the seasons. It’s all about fabulous looking jewelry at the perfect price.

6.  Your schedule seems so crazy that I have to ask, do you sleep?

Oh I need my beauty rest. That’s my one big thing- I rarely get less than 8 hrs shut-eye time a night. Honestly! I’m hard on myself with this as I know I require good sleep to function at this pace.  I go to bed early, and wake up early and that’s how I like it.

7. What kind of mentoring advice can you give an aspiring woman blogger?

Write from the heart. Always be authentic. Never try and “keep up with the Joneses” but rather focus on your own journey.  If you love what you’re doing, and bust your ass for it, you will become successful.

Team up, align yourself, and collaborate with other successful bloggers to help get the word out.  Comment– both to your own readers and on other blogs. Engage everywhere you can, share great content, guest blog, keep content relevant to your audience, and HAVE FUN.

Every day won’t be rosy, but it’s a wonderful gift to share thoughts and ideas with the world.  I have found it to be life-changing.

Thank you Michelle for the interview. To read more interviews, visit http://MommyhoodToHollywood.com/

Happy Labor Day Weekend readers, from me to you. ;))

xoxEDxox