20 Questions with Tammerly Robinson of Spoilt

 

Name:  Tammerly Robinson
Blog:  Spoilt
Location:  Sydney, Australia
Twitter handle:  @spoiltblog
What is your blog about:  Spoilt is a women’s lifestyle blog which focuses on fashion and beauty.
Date Started Blogging:  My blog launched in January 2010.
Day Job:  Makeup Artist & Marketing Coordinator
Why did you decide to start a blog?  As a makeup artist I was obsessed with trialing every beauty product and started sharing hundreds of reviews on other beauty websites until I thought, hang on a minute, why don’t I create my own place on the web where readers can visit to read up on my reviews? And this is how the blog came about in 2010. Two years on Spoilt now has 6 trial team members who help me put products through their paces.
How did you choose your blog’s title?  Originally the blog was called Pink Diva Beauty but as the blog evolved, I realized I was just as passionate about fashion as I am about beauty and I noticed beauty and fashion go hand-in-hand. Therefore we re-launched on 1^st January 2012 as Spoilt.  I chose Spoilt because I want readers from all walks of life to jump online and feel Spoilt. You might have had a bad day a work or be a busy at home mum but at Spoilt you can read up on the latest beauty and fashion news, fall in love with stunning images and indulge. It is a fun, feel-good blog and we don’t take ourselves too seriously.
What do you like about blogging:  What don’t I like about blogging! Ha ha. I live, dream, breathe, eat and sleep blogging! I originally studied a Bach of Communications and Media in hope of becoming a Beauty Editor for a glossy magazine but in Australia there are hundreds of women competing for a mere 10-15 places so I turned my attention to blogging instead. Spoilt is my virtual baby, I find it empowering to be able to reach out to women and make them feel good whilst introducing myself to new brands and products.
Which blogging platform do you use? Why?  I started the blog using Blogger and I have stayed with Blogger because it is easy to use, however I find that bloggers who use WordPress seem to have nicer layouts. While I have considered making the change, I don’t want to risk destroying what I have achieved so far.
Biggest challenge when it comes to blogging:  The competition – I love to network with other bloggers but with hundreds of new blogs popping up daily, I do find it hard to stand out from the rest. I want Spoilt to grow and expand but at times beginner bloggers who are in it for the ‘freebies’ can sometimes give the rest of us a bad name.  Another challenge I recently faced was negative feedback from a well-known global beauty brand who told me they were unhappy with my honest reviews which are constructive, encouraging but never derogatory. I was really disappointed that bloggers are still not allowed to voice their honesty. Unlike Beauty Editors we are not paid to rave about every product which lands on our desk and at Spoilt we pride ourselves on honesty and integrity to readers.
Do you monetize your blog?  I do host advertising on Spoilt however this is kept to a bare minimal.
Biggest blogging achievements?  I was chosen as a 2011 Clinique Australia It Girl and have met with various influential names such as Jennifer Hawkins, Napoleon Perdis, Rae Morris, Gail Elliott, Claudia Navone, Terry Biviano and Ruby Rose. To be featured in iFabbo’s e-newsletter is a huge achievement also!
Worst blogging mistake you ever made?  I believe that blog comments should always be responded to because your readers are making an effort to interact with you and this should be treated like gold. Originally I did not respond to readers but now I always make sure to.  I also try and avoid hosting a competition when I know 10 other blogs are running the same competition – every blog should pride themselves on being unique!
What are your favorite blogs?  I love fashion and beauty blogs with pretty layouts, unique articles and gorgeous images. There are too many to mention!
What type of camera do you use?  I originally used a basic digital camera but purchased a Nikon D3000 earlier this year and have never looked back. I feel like I can finally be taken seriously now, ha ha!
Something most people don’t know about you:  I am a real girly girl and kid at heart. I have a sarcastic sense of humor and tend to laugh at things that many wouldn’t even find funny! I just like to laugh and make others smile.
Biggest talent:  I am a very creative person and extremely organized … to the point where I sound like a bossy-boots because when I envision something, it has to be carried out exactly as I see it. Creating beautiful makeup looks and self-improving is what makes me happiest.
Who is the one person you’d like to meet?  The person I always wanted to meet was Michael Jackson – he has influenced me to become the creative person I am.