Hey, What’s your blog name?
Hi, I’m Julie and I write the blog, Hello South! And you can follow me on Instagram here.
Where do you live?
I’m based out of Bradenton, Florida.
Tell us more about you and your blog?
I am a retired hairstylist who loves to share tips & trips, loves to be organized and I have a passion for coastal décor. While on my journey I noticed other women struggling with aging and self-confidence just like I am. I have found that too many people are scared to talk about it. So I have started to tackle a few of the topics! I like to call it aging gratefully!
How long have you been blogging for?
I’ve been blogging for two years.
What people don’t realize about blogging is…
It takes a lot of hard work, being organized, and not giving up!
Give us your best tip for maintaining a blog work/life balance.
Staying organized. Without being organized you will always feel behind and never on top of things.
What are 3 things you wish you knew about blogging before you started?
- It is not an instant reward. It takes years of commitment and work to make your blog successful.
- It can get lonely at times since you work at home for the most part. So you need to make an effort to find a supportive community.
- Even though it can be difficult it is also fun and you might be surprised by what you learn about yourself through the years.
What does a typical work day look like for you?
I work my blog full-time. I try to start my day from my home office around 9:30 or 10:00 AM and will take small breaks throughout the day to work on home cleaning or projects. But I work consistently until 4:30 or 5:00 PM.
We love a good plugin, what’s your favorite one and how has it helped your business?
Regenerate Thumbnails – It has helped to condense my photos to the proper size which in turn helps with loading speed.
What skills and qualities do you think are necessary for a successful and professional influencer?
I think it is important for a successful blogger to be able to have good attention to detail. The little things sometimes make a big difference. Also, being organized and of course patience!
What has blogging taught you that no other career or job has before?
I have always wanted to be my “own boss” and this has allowed me that. It has taught me that it is difficult but so worth all of the hard work that goes into it. You can work from wherever you need to, so if you need to travel you can take your work with you.
If there’s one piece of advice you would give to someone just starting out, what would it be?
Be patient. Try to learn as much information as possible to make your blog work the way you want it to. You don’t need to be like everyone else. The world has enough of the “same” so it’s okay to be different and yourself. Just never stop learning!
Give us the inside scoop, is there an app or tool that you swear by?
Canva, I love Canva!
While you cover a few topics on your blog, which do you enjoy the most to write about and why?
I love giving “tips” to my readers. Whether that’s hair, skin, organizing, or southern living. Anything that can help them in their everyday life.
Let’s daydream. What would your ultimate DREAM partnership look like?
I love to organize and decorate my home so any partnership that has to do with organizing or coastal décor would have my heart! I love the show The Home Edit. I love being able to help others get their mess under control!
Celebrating the wins, even if they’re little ones, is important. What’s your most recent win with your blog?
I was approached to be featured in an online magazine, Canvas Rebel. That was fun.
What’s one thing in the industry that frustrates you that you wish you could change?
The stigma is that having a blog isn’t a “real job” and doesn’t have a real purpose. I think you have the opportunity to help a lot of people which is why I like doing it.
What’s been your best blogging highlight to date?
Switching from Wix over to WordPress.org. It is so much more user-friendly and has more options available. It has helped with my growth also.
Okay, we’re grabbing a Starbucks for a coffee date, what are you ordering?
Strawberry Refresher, I am not a coffee lover!
