Hi Dana! What’s the name of your blog?
Where are you from?
Westover, MD.
Tell us a little bit more about you and your blog, Life Done Well.
I am a mid-life (52 year old) travel writer who bought a farm thus transitioning the main blog to lifestyle and starting a second on the farm and lodge. I also own a wine website. I have a love for my farm, gardens and all my animals. My readers and followers on IG stories (largest viewership daily 5-6K) follow my daily crazies. My audience is 35+ women looking for a healthy, well balanced and life done well. Life Done Well is in transition and we combined 2 of our other sites to it and just re-growing- it is exciting! I blog about travel, food, farm, garden and more. Life basically… Looking to niche down.
Give us your best tip to staying on top of the blog/work/life balance?
Work with people smarter than you in what they do. Be ready to pivot and always love what you do or do what you love.
Fill in the blank. What people don’t realize about blogging is….
It is a professional career that makes great money.
What are three things you wish you knew about blogging before you started?
- I wish I knew more technical stuff.
- That you can make money from this.
- That collaborating with others is a must.
What skills and qualities do you think are necessary for a successful and professional blogger?
Daily accounting, management (if you employ others), organization, drive and passion.
What has blogging taught you/given you that no other career or job has before?
It has given me resources around the world to work with and networks I love. It has also given me the confidence to do more and learn more on my own.
What’s one piece of advice you would give to someone just starting out in the blog world?
Listen to your audience- what you want may not be what others want.
What makes your blog, Life Done Well, different from others?
We are midlife bloggers talking about midlife reality. This is a focus for us right now to separate out our sites.
What topic do you most enjoy writing about?
Food and travel.
What would your dream partnership look like?
It would be a whole channel approach- heavy on IG stories. It would be a loving term partnership to best showcase the brand over time with a kitchen brand. Or a pet brand to work with my dogs that always generate lots of buzz.
What is a current blogging goal you are working on?
Re-Branding to niche sites down. Then increasing page views again. Plus launching the farm site.
What does a typical work day for you look like?
I have a fluid schedule from 5AM to 10PM between blog, social, farm, homestead, clients (I am trying to take less clients) and running our agrotourism business. Truly fluid except meetings. I prefer it that way.
What is one thing in the blogging industry that frustrates you that you wish you could change?
Professionalism! Be real and transparent people.
What’s your favorite guilty TV show?
Bravo!
What’s your favorite blogging memory or highlight?
Being on a farm in China learning about the ancient ways of farming that are still in place today. Or cruising and teaching social media – oh so many. I also love that I have taken on two young writers that both have launched into their journalism careers are free lancers working for major publications.
