My first blog posts were very “emo.” I’ve blogged since junior high, though it was mostly a journal of what was going on in my life and SO MANY FEELINGS from my teenage self. I continued that through to college, and being a public relations major, blogging came along with the skills I needed to develop. It slowly evolved from a download of my feelings to things I was learning and my travels.
While the first blog post here went up in 2009, I didn’t start posting regularly until 2012, encouraged by Twitter friends and the Bloggers in Sin City Conference. I think that’s around the time this URL came into existence also. That means FIVE YEARS of constant blogging in my spare time, especially in the last two or three years when I kicked it up a notch. Countless experiences shared, opportunities taken, conferences and media events attended, and friends made. All because I wanted to create a digital scrapbook of my life and share my tips with others.
Some days I wanted to quit because it is time-consuming, I wasn’t sure if there was any value to it, and figuring out how to make the website function properly was stressful. (I’m sure a lot of bloggers have felt this way!) Sometimes I’m still hearing the “hello?” echo on the internet. Somewhere along the way, this blog went from something I do in my spare time to me accepting that “I am a blogger.” I recognized its importance to me and committed to the work. It helps that people are more accepting of the role also. I created and grew this blog, and I’m proud of it. That’s when you know you’re passionate about something. Writing posts and creating content takes a lot of time and effort, but I’m so thankful to have this little space on the internet.
I’m also glad you’re here. Whether you’ve been reading from the beginning or randomly found this post, I hope this blog inspires you to live a fearless life and find things that captivate you. THANK YOU for being a part of it.
Blogger Q&A
Now for the fun part! Here are some answers to my most frequently asked questions.
1. What does Fearless Captivations mean? How did you come up with it?
Way back when I came up with my blog name, I didn’t think too much about long-term branding or how long the name is. (HA!) Fearless has always been an important word to me. It’s a mindset and goal inspiring me to go beyond my comfort zone. I made up Captivations because I loved the word captivated. Together it means being unashamed and proud of the things you’re passionate about in life and striving for your best life, whatever that looks like for you.
2. Do you blog full-time?
Nope! My full-time job is in hospitality marketing. I blog (write, take photos, edit photos, market, etc.) in my free time on weeknights and weekends! It’s almost like a second full-time job. I’ve thought blogging full-time would be way too stressful for me (no steady paycheck and healthcare) but the positives of working for myself are enticing.
3. Do you eat a lot of free food? How much do you spend eating out?
My bank account would love it if there was more free food. I go to maybe one or two complimentary tastings a month (it is usually noted that it was free) and the rest of the time I enjoy eating out on my own dime. Thankfully, I have a lot of foodies in my life, so I never have trouble finding an eating companion. (Eating companions are great for trying more food!)
4. Do you make money from your blog?
No. With the costs of maintaining a website and creating content (eating out, throwing parties, etc.), I probably lose money! I’m very picky with any paid partnerships that are offered, I don’t pitch brands often, and I don’t like the look of display ads on my blog. Making money is a goal, but for now, the primary goal is providing content that is inspiring and helpful.
5. Where do you find inspiration for your posts?
Everywhere! From restaurants I go to, places I travel, my life and habits, and things I care about. For better or worse, being a lifestyle blog allows me to write about a wide range of subjects. My blog focuses on food, travel, and celebrations/parties, but I’ve also written about life, creativity, adventure, and wellness. I think the blog is a continuous, slow evolution of what I experience and learn, and that’s a great thing!
6. How do you organize your blog content?
I have an editorial calendar with blog posts planned out about five months in advance and eight to ten posts per month, so I know what posts I need to be preparing. The calendar is flexible, so sometimes the content moves around (or in other words, I run out of time to prepare it properly) but it’s very helpful to keep on track. It also moves around if an opportunity with a brand pops up or if I’m inspired to write something. I’m usually drafting up to 10 posts at one time.
7. How long does it take to publish a blog post?
At the least, one to two hours and at the most, I would guess up to six hours. To me, publishing a blog post means writing the post, taking the photos, editing the photos, putting the post together on the back-end of the site, meticulously copyediting the post, and then promoting the post after publishing. I’ve never timed the process before but I think the average time is about three hours per post.
8. What’s in the future of Fearless Captivations?
Bigger and better things, of course! There will always be content related to food, travel, and celebrations. That means trying new restaurants, traveling to new places, and throwing parties. While I’ll continue to have recommendation lists and tips, I also want to share more stories.
9. What are your dream brands to partner with?
Any brand that I use regularly or would use regularly. I don’t have specific brands in mind. I could see me partnering with workout studios in Austin, food brands (especially organic foods), or travel destinations and companies. So, if there are any companies that want to sponsor my round-the-world trip, I’m all ears! 😉
10. What is your favorite content to post?
Is this like asking which child is your favorite? I think it’s easy to determine the level of enthusiasm and passion when you read a post from any blog. That’s why I strive to post things I love. Travel posts usually take the most time and research but they also usually involve a fun trip. Party posts involve a lot of planning too but those posts are the results of gathering friends for a fun time. My monthly Captivations posts seem to be my most energized posts lately. So, yes, they are all my favorite posts. 😉
Here’s to many more years of blogging!
Have more questions? Leave me a comment below or send me a message!
P.S. Want to know the truth about bloggers and blog content? Check out this post.
P.P.S. I still feel this way about social media.
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