Last week, I was honored to be one of the panelists at Culinary Clicks in Durham. I have often found myself hesitant to share blog tips on here because I certainly do not feel like an expert. But, I do get frequent emails about blogging, so I decided to share my responses to some of the questions that we had at Culinary Clicks. Here are Blogging FAQs Part 1 of 3.
- How did you get started in blogging?
- I started blogging in 2010 as a journal (on Tumblr) to keep in touch with my friend, Andrea. A company offered to send me a pair of pantyhose in 2012, and I thought I had hit the lottery. I switched over to Blogger under the name Champagne & Suburbs, and I was so embarrassed to tell people that was my blog name. I felt that I was hindering my own growth as a result, but also, I was creating content that did not feel good. When I finally decided to rebrand, I made a commitment to creating only content that felt good and authentic to my interests and brand. It has made my creative process so much better, and while I get burned out at times, it is so much easier for me to create content now than it was before.
- What does the word “influence” mean to you and why do you think micro-influencers are becoming so important – not just the blogging/social media world – but the business community?
- For me, using my blog as a platform and a voice is incredibly important to me. You may notice that I do not use profanity on my blog or social media channels. I take my influence very seriously, and I also take my digital footprint very seriously. I also recognize how important having a voice is, especially during a tumultuous political time. So, I aspire to use my voice for good because I know the importance of ending up on the right side of history, even if it is unpopular in the moment. I believe micro-influencers are making waves because of the impact that they are having on every day events and products. It seems attainable when everyday folks are experiencing and purchasing things that otherwise seemed out of reach.
- What is your content creation process for blogging and writing?
- I keep a notebook with me at all times to jot down ideas for blog posts and continuations I can make to previous campaigns and posts. I also keep a calendar with blog post titles well in advance. I’ll write posts or add photos when I can so that I am not scrambling at the last minute. Also, in my notebook, I include any locations, products, contacts, photo shoot locations, outfit ideas, recipes, or restaurant orders that I want to remember for blog posts as well.
- How do you stay inspired with fresh content and stay up-to-date with trends?
- I love Offline Media for recommendations, plus Our State Magazine & Southern Living Magazine. I also look to Instagram and use the save feature for ideas.
- What is your best photography tip for both food photos and candid lifestyle shots?
- My best photography tip is to outsource your photography to experts while learning the craft. I love having Glory come with me because she takes beautiful photos and edits them for me so that’s one less thing I have to worry about. However, I do take my own photos, and this camera and this attachment + lens are really helpful. I use Pinterest for photography tips, and this post from Amanda. Practice makes perfect and I still find myself trying new techniques, lighting, and editing. I definitely recommend getting the Lightroom app to help with photos on the go. But, always using bright light is my best tip!
- How does working with local brands help your brand and interest your readership and/or followers?
- Honestly, supporting local businesses is one of the major reasons why I rebranded my blog in 2016. I wanted to share my love of North Carolina and all of the small towns and businesses that make it unique. So, local brands really impact my blog, both from the collaborations I do and my following. My travel content is definitely one that is impacted by my social media channels, and probably the thing I get questioned about the most. What’s awesome about that is that when people ask me about travel, I get to pull in where to eat and shop as well as where to stay and what to do.
- How do you know when a company’s brand is the “right fit” for you and your blog brand?
- Y’all, I had some blog posts where I sold out. I am not proud of it, and I hate to admit it, but in the early part of my blogging career, I definitely sold out a couple of times. It felt dirty and not authentic, mainly because it wasn’t. So, I won’t do that again. I don’t mind passing up a paying campaign if it doesn’t feel right, because I would rather have my readers see my authenticity than to feel like I’m just trying to sell them something. I also make sure that the company has the right intentions with me, and that we have mutual respect for each other. I especially like working with businesses that understand that I, too, am a small business.
- What is your selection process of pitching or choosing to work with brands?
- I pitch brands that fit my brand and ones that I want to work with for my content. I generally look for similarities in my interests and theirs and I look for ways to provide something new to my readers. Here are some of my favorites from this year:
Brewery Bhavana | Two Roosters | Hummingbird | Raleigh Oyster Crawl
- I pitch brands that fit my brand and ones that I want to work with for my content. I generally look for similarities in my interests and theirs and I look for ways to provide something new to my readers. Here are some of my favorites from this year:
- Let’s talk about the channels & new ways of blogging (or vlogging!). Do you still find value in blogging on a website and do you think this trend will hold steady OR do you think there will be more folks purely using Instagram or YouTube for example, to streamline all their content?
- I certainly hope that my followers see that I value my website. I make a point to thoughtfully plan out my content and recognize the value of my photography, either what I outsource or take myself (or that David takes). I will even hire photographers while we are out of town to makes sure that I capture quality images. While I think Instagram is great, my blog is what brought me to the creative field, and it’s the one thing I hope to continue. I find more success on Pinterest and Facebook than I necessarily do on Instagram.
- Growing your audience. What are some of the most successful strategies you’ve used to build your readership and social following?
- Well, I’ll be honest and say I’m not entirely sure that I know how I grew my audience other than through consistent posting and engaging with folks. However, I think having a niche helps and the posts that get great engagement are ones about North Carolina (like this one or this one) or ones that are relatively personal.
Looking for other blogging tips? Here are some of my favorites:
17 Most Popular Posts of 2017 | How to Create an Editorial Calendar
3 Helpful Scheduling Tools for Bloggers | 5 Things I’ve Learned about Blogging
How I Use BeFunky for Blogging
Shop the Blogging FAQs Part 1 Post
I loved this post so much! Thank you for sharing and being so candid about your blogging journey!