Blogger Spotlight Interview: Not Quite Fairy-Tales

Welcome to the Blogger Spotlight Interview. This week we have Elle from Not Quite Fairy-Tales taking part in the Blogger Spotlight interview.

If you would like to take part, and your blog is under six months old, or has been re-launched in the last six months, please email me randommusings29@gmail.com

1 Firstly, tell us a little bit about yourself

Hello there – my pseudonym is Elle Beau, I live in the UK with my partner, James. There isn’t too much else I can reveal, alas. I have decided to remain anonymous in my blogging, as I know how much vitriol whistle blowers like us can get – my alter-ego is more than capable of handling the flack, my real self can be a sensitive soul.

2 What is your blog’s name and what is it about?

It’s called Not Quite Fairy-Tales – its intention is to give an honest review of things that may have an unpopular opinion.

At this moment in time, its main focus is on my personal experience of multi-level marketing (MLM) companies – think Younique, Juice Plus, Forever Living etc. I am taking the reader on a journey as to how I got reeled in, the things I observed during my time as a Younique rep, and the moment when the penny began to drop that I had made a big mistake and got the hell out.

3 Why did you decide to start a blog?

Basically, it seems that MLM is becoming increasingly widespread, like a plague – everyone knows someone who is running their own Younique or Juice Plus “business” and looking for others to “join their team”.

I am tired of seeing stay-at-home-parents targeted especially – they’re sold a story of “spending more time with the kids, setting their own hours, earning great income” etc. and actually finding this is not the case.

Unfortunately, there only seem to be a few “winners” in this game, and it certainly isn’t the little people at the bottom of the pyramid (yes, I said pyramid 😉).

It’s all very well telling people “don’t get involved with these things”, but that doesn’t always go down well. I figured that by sharing my real-life experience of MLM and telling them everything I know, they can make their own deductions and see just how deceptive these “reps” are prepared to be.

4 Do you have any goals for your blog?

Well, I’d love to know that I’ve stopped at least one person, parent or otherwise, from going down the MLM route…or even better, to know that I’ve helped someone who’s already embroiled in MLM to get out. It would be great to get it out there, spreading information is important.

There’s so many lies told by reps of MLM companies; how much they are earning, how fabulous their life is, how they are going on cruises and other nonsense. I want to reveal that all that glitters is not gold – there are reasons they tell these lies. Obviously, to recruit more unsuspecting flies into their web!

5 Tell us one random fact about you

My name isn’t really Elle Beau 😉

6 What is the best piece of blog related advice you have received so far?

Keep it interesting, keep it regular, keep it concise, and especially keep your readers interested and looking forward to the next instalment.

7 What is your favourite thing about blogging?

I love the creative freedom – how I can share my thoughts with a wider audience, and knowing that they are enjoying the tale and want to hear more. It does make me happy and gives me a great purpose, knowing I am part of the fight against MLM scams.

8 Is there anything you would do differently if you were starting over knowing what you know now?

Apart from getting involved in a pyramid scheme? Haha, I have to be grateful to that time in my life, as its obviously given me some fantastic writing material to share on Not Quite Fairy-Tales.

The main thing I can think of is keeping to a stricter writing schedule – readers get excited for the next instalment; if you keep them waiting too long between chapters, they could potentially lose interest. Difficult when you have fibromyalgia, but I keep interacting with any followers and assure them the next chapter is on the way.

9 Anything else you’d like to share with us?

I have joined forces with several other users who are working to expose the truth about MLM companies. If you, or anyone you know, are tempted by joining a rep’s “team”, please, PLEASE take a look through our blogs and social media feeds first. You will see links to them via my blog and Twitter feed. Share our posts, share the information we are trying to get out there with your friends – you could stop someone from gaining a whole bunch of stress and losing a whole bunch of money.

10 Where can we find you? (Blog link and links to any social media)

You can find my blog on www.notquitefairytalesblog.wordpress.com, and you can also follow me on Twitter: www.twitter.com/ElleBeauBlog.