Hi Dana! What’s the name of your blog.
Where are you from?
Grand Rapids, Michigan.
Tell us a little bit more about you and your blog, House of Navy.
House of Navy is your guide to preppy fashion, coastal travel, & nautical home decor. I’m a boy mama to Leo Emerson & Warren James, lover of everything navy & white, Michigan based but passport ready, and searching for our 3rd home to flip.
Give us your best tip to staying on top of the blog/work/life balance?
Schedule it out, and take advantage of creative spurts! When you’re in a rut, look back at past posts that have done well for inspiration or brainstorm with a friend.
Fill in the blank. What people don’t realize about blogging is….
The amount of effort that goes into code, writing, and editing!
What are three things you wish you knew about blogging before you started?
SEO, Image Optimization, and the best ways to progress.
What skills and qualities do you think are necessary for a successful and professional blogger?
Being true to yourself and your brand! Its the best way to be honest with your friends and followers and best for your brand. Learning code, editing, networking, and knowing how to write a pitch and post are key as well!
What has blogging taught you/given you that no other career or job has before?
The power of community.
What’s one piece of advice you would give to someone just starting out in the blog world?
Do your research first-on building your website, your content, your partnerships, etc.
What topic do you most enjoy writing about?
Preppy fashion, coastal travel, nautical home decor.
What makes your blog different from others?
I’m an open book-from deep and sentimental to current fashion to before and afters and more.
What would your dream partnership look like? From the brand, the content, all of it! Dream up your perfect collaboration.
I would love to work with Serena and Lily to design the perfect Airbnb I manage as our rental!
What does a typical work day for you look like? Whether you’re a full time blogger or not, we’d love to learn what your schedule looks like and how you manage it all.
I work full time and also have two baby boys, so my blogging is a hustle after bedtime and on weekends right now! Being organized and scheduled out is the only way to go.
What is one thing in the blogging industry that frustrates you that you wish you could change?
Not ever Instagrammer is a blogger. A blogger is so much more! From building a website and learning all the back end, to writing and editing, and everything in between, it isn’t easy or glamorous all the time.
