Hi Felicia! What’s the name of your blog.
Where are you from?
Dallas, Texas.
Tell us a little bit more about you and your blog, Hello Home, Girl!
I am a Dallas-based first-time home buyer who has massive dreams of renovation on a small budget. When I first began my home ownership journey, I was desperately seeking relatable advice on how to navigate such a huge responsibility. As a result, my blog is all about providing that advice and teaching the various budget-conscious DIY and decor projects that I tackle with my longtime partner.
Give us your best tip to staying on top of the blog/work/life balance?
Although I am still working this out, I’ve found that pre-planning content in advance has been a game changer. For example, I recently participated in the biannual One Room Challenge event to make over my guest bedroom. Weeks before the start of the event, I created an outline of tasks and blog topics that I would cover. Leveraging an online calendar, I planned the roll out of my blog posts, Instagram posts, and Instagram stories. I work a full-time job, so I have to do this to manage.
Fill in the blank. What people don’t realize about blogging is….
What people don’t realize about blogging is that it is hard to retain readership. Details are powerful. Typos can turn people off to reading. Lack of functionality in one part of your blog can turn people off. That means that you have to always read and test your site!
What are three things you wish you knew about blogging before you started?
First and foremost, I wish I knew to begin with Pinterest first to drive traffic to my blog. Also, I wish I understood the importance of an SSL certificate! Lastly, I wish I knew truly how much time it would take to maintain the blog. It is truly my baby!
What skills and qualities do you think are necessary for a successful and professional blogger?
A successful blogger needs an eye for detail. They also need tenacity as this is not for those seeking instant gratification!
What has blogging taught you/given you that no other career or job has before?
To be honest, I am unsure if blogging has taught me anything different than my main career. As a full-time teacher, I use all of my teacher skills to blog. For instance, I use pictures and record videos in my teaching all the time. I accommodate them with bite-sized steps to make sure they comprehend and engage them in questioning. I actually used Canva in my classroom before I began to blog! Therefore, blogging engages my skill set in a different manner. Instead of designing anchor charts to support student thinking, I am now making mood boards to help my readers visualize my decor.
What’s one piece of advice you would give to someone just starting out in the blog world?
I would advise folks to get to investing in Pinterest right away! Instagram content has such a short life cycle that requires a good amount of time to create. Use that time to pour into Pinterest — a more evergreen platform!
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.
In the morning, I post on social media and photograph my latest project in natural morning light. After that, I’m off to the races for everything school! I teach many classes in the morning, so by the time lunch rolls around, I’m itching to get outside and do what I call my brain-dump: I voice-to-text content I want to write about in a blog. After that, I maximize my time at school to bring as little work home as possible, as teaching can really steal your personal time. Each school day is hectic!!! When I get home, I decompress by doing a home project, filming along the way. Before bed, I work on at least one blog task. Sometimes it’s writing, other times it’s working on my Pinterest strategy.
What would your dream partnership look like? From the brand, the content, all of it! Dream up your perfect collaboration.
I have so many dreams! I would love to work with a hardware store — Home Depot or Lowe’s (or any hardware store with lumber) — to do a DIY kitchen renovation of my dreams! The project would be executed in the summer, or course, so that I could truly have time and fun building. If they would do a cross-collaboration decor project with Target or World Market, I’d be in heaven! I would love to advocate for some money in profits be given to overlooked charities. In dreams, anything is possible! 🙂
What is a current blogging goal you’re working on?
I am striving to double my site visits by Spring 2022.
What’s your most recent WIN with your blog?
Every subscriber is a win!
What is one thing in the blogging industry that frustrates you that you wish you could change?
I feel like there is a lot of secrecy around how folks are successful in blogging in their particular niche. That is why I’m happy to be a part of TBS! Thank you for peeling back the veil of secrecy.
How has your content changed since you first started blogging?
I’m not trying to make every post cornerstone content. Sometimes readers appreciate knowledge in smaller pieces.
