What does it take to be a paid blogger in Charlotte?
I’ve gotten really into blogs lately. Ever since I applied to be at CharlotteFive, I’ve been trying to revive my own concept of a blog. For me, that just means making writing a habit, keeping the ideas flowing, feeling more constantly creative.
Which means I’ve been following more local blogs, to see what’s out there, what matters to other writers and really just to see how other people do it better. A few favorites so far that have other purposes:
– Peanut Butter Runner. Jen DeCurtins, a fitness/yoga guru, is my almost-daily source of inspiration for Charlotte-centric fitness and an overall active lifestyle.
A post shared by Jen | Peanut Butter Runner (@jen_pbrunner) on Oct 15, 2015 at 8:19am PDT
– Ink & Fork. If I had any idea how to write about food I would write it the way Keia Mastrianni does. She somehow gives her food experiences in the area a celestial effect.
Sharing a slice with @rachelmartindesign this afternoon. Muscadine pie with rye crust. #loveispie
A post shared by Keia Mastrianni (@keiaishungry) on Oct 1, 2015 at 10:33am PDT
– Freckled Italian. Megan Flynn Peterson’s blog posts caught my eye because of their intensity despite brevity, and their infusion of gorgeous photos, near and far. There’s always something to ponder here.
– Cornbread+Pumps. Ally Frazier keeps the reader up-to-date on her city adventures, with a focus on fashion but in a way that’s accessible — even I, the fashion-blind, can glean deeper insights from her posts.
But what does it take to be a paid blogger in Charlotte? How do you keep up the blog when you have a primary job, and how do you keep up the blog when it is your job? I decided to get a couple of perspectives.
Meet Megan Flynn Peterson, who left a small software company to take Freckled Italian full-time in 2013, where she posts three to five times each week.
Her beat: lifestyle. “I blog about my life and relationships, I write recipes and other food stuff, share personal style posts, and am getting a little more into entertaining and DIY.”
Where the money is: Sponsored posts. “I work with a couple brands regularly, and then others will email to work on one or two posts together.”
Measure of success: Page views, partially. “But what really matters to me is engagement: are people commenting, liking, and emailing me about a post?”
How she grew her audience: “By advertising on other blogs for a while, and then being consistent with everything I do: posting, responding to comments, etc.”
Typical day involves: Emails, working out, recipe development, photography, writing posts, social media and the occasional Netflix binge.
The best part: “I love connecting with people online–whenever I share something personal that makes me a little nervous, I always hear from other people out there who are going through the same thing. It’s amazing.”
Working on: A podcast. People interested in being guest hosts can shoot her an email.
And meet Ally Frazier, who added Cornbread+Pumps (and one or two posts a week) onto her full 8-5 job. “I realized that Charlotte makers and small business owners in the fashion arena were being sorely overlooked.” She hopes it becomes “a full-time party.”
Her beat: local fashion. The pick was based on her “passion for creating handmade work, working alongside other designers and being ingrained in the Charlotte community.”
Where the money is: sponsored posts and advertising.
Measure of success: Number of views. But, “the real measure of success to me is the feedback that I get back from my community.”
How she grew her audience: “Growing my audience has mostly consisted of interacting with my community. Whether it’s tweeting with local boutiques, pushing out an article about a local designer.”
Typical day involves: The full-time job, social media, writing and editing in Microsoft Office, sending proofs to friends, staring at her computer screen, wine. More editing.
The best part: “I love the fact that I get to tell people stories. We are driven by narratives … Also, I love clothes. I can talk your ear off about anything fashion-related.”
Photos: Katie Toussaint, Twitter, Freckled Italian, Cornbread+Pumps
This story was originally published November 4, 2015 at 12:00 AM with the headline "What does it take to be a paid blogger in Charlotte?."