The Road to Becoming A Successful Lifestyle Blogger

  • Photos by:
    Macy Mariano
  • Published on:
    October 4, 2018
  • Reading time by:
    4 minutes

Macy Mariano

Blogger’s Life

In a world full of bloggers nowadays, how does one get to be a unique blogger? Is there still a chance for you to become a blogger too? Well, here are some fun facts! Did you know that only 2% bloggers make more than $150K per year? 6.7 million people blog on blogging sites and 12 million people blog via social networks (Barnraisersllc)? Blogs are the most valuable type of content, according to more than ⅓rd of today’s marketers (Content Plus )? According to 78% of chief marketing officers, custom content will be the champion of marketing tactics in the future (HanleyWood)?

Originally blogs were known as “weblogs”, primarily as places for people to write about their day-to-day activities. Their everyday tasks became fodder for their mini sites, where they would record their opinions, stories, photos, and videos. Some of these mini sites gained a following and the hobby of blogging was born. Today people write about far more interesting topics, and blogs have gained more recognition and merit. Just like Macy’s blog, who has an 80,000+ followers on her IG. Let’s get to know more about what a blogger really thinks and how a blogger started!

Hi Macy Mariano, tell us something about yourself!

Hi guys! My name is Macy and I specialize in travel + style content. I was born in Charlotte, NC but raised in Miami, FL. I truly love what I do because it allows me to express what I like and what I believe in. I love to travel and discover unknown places while at the same time, curating fashion and lifestyle into my creations. My blog is young, as I launched it back in July 2018. It incorporates products that I organically love and also has posts of the places I have been to thoroughly. I have so many places on the bucket list to post about! You can check it out at wanderwithmacy.com

What inspired you to start your blog?

I started out not wanting to have a blog, because I didn’t have anything to go in depth about. Also, I viewed my Instagram as a picture blog, where people can just view my interests instead of reading about them. At the time, I wasn’t traveling or finding anything to spark my interest to write about. Once my social platforms started growing, I found the need to travel more and collaborate with brands. It became a business! It also gave me the privilege to travel to places I only dreamt about; I am very appreciative of that! From, where I traveled and created content which I loved. Once I got the ball rolling, I found the motivation to start a website and to write. It’s mostly about the places I traveled to, with some favorite products here and there. I don’t know why I didn’t start writing earlier because of it’s one of my favorite things to do!

Can you tell me some of your strengths that really helped you in blogging?

A strength that really helped me with my website and blogging is just my content overall. I have transitioned from different styles and editin, and molded into how I like to present my images. I think finding your own taste in how you create is a big strength, because no one is you and that is what makes you unique!

Who has impacted you most in blogging and how?

So, I have something what I call my “Top 3”. I have three bloggers/content creators that are my favorite. They are: @tezzamb, @debiflue, and @travel_inhershoes. They inspire me everyday to do something different but at the same time to be myself, real, and authentic. I go to Aggie for her travels and incredible experiences, Debi for her lifestyle and endless edits, & Tezza for fashion and outfit inspo! I, of course, love many more pages that catch my eye, but these women have me hooked.

What was the most challenging moment in your blogging journey so far?

Well, the Instagram algorithm has changed countless times over the course of a year. With that being said, it had me adjust to it many times on different levels. Sometime I get it and sometimes I don’t. So adjusting to constant change is my most challenging moment right now.

What do you find the most frustrating aspect of blogging?

As a blogger and content creator, I find the most frustrating thing is to NOT be too repetitive. I get ‘creator’s block’ probably one time every two months or so. I find myself stumped on how to take the image, where to go for backgrounds, and what to work with. So I try to look for new and fun spots to shoot to keep my feed and imagery different.

Do you think lifestyle bloggers are giving young girls a fake image of life?

Absolutely not! I think they give much inspiration to go explore new places, try new products, embrace your own style or be influenced to try another. That is why I got into the industry. However, it also depends who you follow and who you look up to in order to get a straight answer. There are many people with different niches, that I think you have to pick and choose with a good mindset. I think in 2018, people are engaging more, leading to new friends and partnerships. Captions are not so fake with style and life more involved in the imagery. Although, anyone should know that Instagram is not real life. Behind the photos that are posted, doesn’t matter who you are, everyone has their own journey that they are living!

What do you think is the best social media strategy for getting more visitors to a blog?

For me, it depends where I am and what I post. I have recently discovered that traveling is my biggest strength with putting up a blog post. People what to know as much of the ‘unknown’ as they can. So, I think providing information that people have not done or have not seen really makes an impact on conquering and gaining more of an audience.

A lot of people think that blogging is an easy way to make money online. Do you have some tips for those people who are interested in making money from the blog?

Well for one, it may be a simple way, but it takes A LOT of hard work. People underestimate the work of a blogger or content creator. For turning your social platforms into a business, I really recommend making a media kit! I say this to everyone. I do countless emails all day, and when brands or companies ask to see a form of my work, I send my media kit through. It perceives to be even more professional and ups your chances on working with a cool brand or label! Just having something to share to call your own I think makes a big impact in creating potential partnerships.

Who takes the majority of your photos?

Believe it or not, I am the creative director of my images, but I partner up with other creators in my area! I also think its a great way to collaborate and meet new influencers that love to do the same thing as you. Meeting people with a similar mindset and are goal oriented, motivates me even more. I only partner up with two photographers here and there (@thevaldezphoto & @aliemariep) if its a special project. They are amazing.

What would you say that is the greatest satisfaction of being a fashion blogger?

Anyone loves free new stuff! However, the greatest satisfaction for me, being a content creator, it accomplishing a project with the client’s satisfaction. That means I did a good job, and then I am proud of myself and my work. When that happens, it keeps be going and doing what I love. Then again, I do love the PR events too.

Seeing a lot of bloggers out there, does it ever feel like a competition? How can one be as unique as possible?

For me, never a competition. I cannot succeed if is a competition, maybe no one can. I would rather be it a collaboration, to work together. It’s a better chance to succeed in this business. Thats why when I shoot, I partner up with others, help them, ask questions, get to know them genuinely. When you coordinate things like that, it wont ever have be a competition. This industry is tough as-is and I think the best way to go up is together!

 

Check out Macy’s Blog via
Instagram.com

Wanderwithmacy.com

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