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
![From Music to Perfume: How did your background as a music teacher influence your transition into perfumery, and how do you incorporate your musical sensibilities into creating fragrances? I’ve always thought in terms of metaphors, and music has many that can be related to perfumery! Beyond just thinking in terms of top, middle and base notes [soprano/alto/tenor in choir], I approach each fragrant idea as a composition. When documenting my ideas, song structures often come to mind. As the scent brief is visited, I meditate on what the fragrance should convey - do I want to create an accord or a “chord” of fragrance note combinations? Do I want an a capella soloist (a particular ingredient to stand out more than others?) Many of my thoughts regarding song composition transfers to my scent formulation process, with me treating each note as an intentional soliloquy at some point.
Brand Origin: What inspired you to start Pink MahogHany in 2005, and how has your vision for the brand evolved since its inception?
An avid lover of all things pleasantly scented (with slight modesty), looking back in retrospect, it’s no huge surprise that I’ve created an indie perfume house with just an idea to provide unique options for those who may be sensitive to unnecessary pungency. Initially, I just wanted to evaluate various blends to note their aroma profiles when “played” together…it wasn’t until I had friends and family asking if I knew of brands that catered to those who may be on the more olfactory sensitive side, that I really began to take my research more seriously. In the almost 20 years that Pink MahogHany has been in existence, our micro visions for the brand have evolved to larger territory. Where Pink MahogHany used to only be a personal brand, we are now also a bespoke formulation service provider to other indie brands seeking unique fragrance offerings for their products. These products range from (but are not limited to) perfumes, candles, body butters and lip balms. Ingredient Transparency: You emphasize transparency and the use of desirable ingredients in your products. How do you select your ingredients, and what challenges have you faced in maintaining this standard?
Being an indie brand often comes with a set of assumptions and misconceptions - one of them being more negative than positive as it relates to ingredients used. There is a lot of “fluff” in the industry with labeling falsification. Because fragrance formulas are a trade secret, not every molecular breakdown of a material has to be noted on the ingredient label (it would be incredibly long), but we at Pink MahogHany™️ adhere strongly to the IFRA [International Fragrance Regulatory Association] regulations that state for common and potential allergens to be listed on our ingredient label. We’ve taken this a step further to also include these ingredients listed on our website to promote further transparency, all while protecting our intellectual property. Unfortunately, we’ve had companies to unethically sell lesser expensive “dupes” of our artisan perfumes, so as a way to create a better authenticity stamp, we make it our duty to be honest about our claims. If our perfume says “Rose Bulgaria”, it is in fact just that and not a component of rose being passed off as the source material. Collaborations and Custom Scents: Can you share more about your work with private label clients? What excites you most about creating custom scent solutions for other indie brands? I could easily sum this up in one word and say “Funding.” True, there is money out there, but I’m always thinking outside the box. Having a program that has an “Each One Fund One” mentality doesn’t exist (that I’ve been made aware of). Bootstrapping can be quite the challenge, even when you’ve reached the 6-figure mark annually. Competition to be seen and set apart is extremely high, so having quality packaging and branding is a must. There are lots of factors to consider, though when desiring to make upgrades. If there were a unique, tier-geared funding operation available, it would help perfume brands offset packaging and bulk material costs in the beginning stages.
Industry Challenges: What are some of the biggest challenges you've faced as an independent fragrance house, and how have you overcome them to grow your brand? As the brand continues on the path of organic growth, I would like to expand our reach into schools, offering perfumery as an arts elective for middle and high school. I’d love to partner with botanists, farmers and horticulturists directly to grow and source raw materials for the students to work with in the creation of tinctures. My passion is getting back to nature as best as possible, as nature was my first “scent experience” as a child. We would also love to witness our fragrance creations being used to scent model homes, our focus diffuser blends being used in automobile dealerships as well as partner with Air Bnb and boutique hotels that specialize in highlighting minority, indie brands. Personal Journey: How has your personal experience, particularly as a divorced mother and someone who has experienced the loss of a child, shaped your approach to life and your work in perfumery?
Because I homeschool my twin sons, we are together a lot more than most, so one thing we all do is have moments of sharing where a neutral “floor” is laid to converse about anything. Though they are quite communicative by nature, I realize that sometimes I can be in work mode so much that it spills over into what should be our quality time. My sons see the authentic me and learn how to communicate through seeing authenticity. I’ve learned not to feel as if I have to be the epitome of perfection but allow them to see my imperfections vulnerably but with discernment. Having had two traumatic experiences pretty close together has taught me how to truly slow down and enjoy the simplicities of life - igniting a spiritual aspect that I’ve always carried but never fully explored…until Kenji’s sudden passing (2018.) Grief has a way of catapulting us into a quest for more meaningfulness in both life and business. After Kenji’s passing and my processing through the initial stages of grief, I was able to incorporate our spiritual bond into Pink MahogHany by way of essential oil diffuser blends for both focus and sleep and most recently aromatic perfume elixirs. It’s been quite the process channeling the void of his physical presence, but I also have peace knowing he can be honored in a great way through scent. I noticed once I began to be more open and receptive to spiritual signs, synchs and “winks”, more ideas began to flow. It’s been this way since his transition. Emotional Expression: Fragrance is often tied to memories and emotions. How does your personal life influence the fragrances you create, and do you have a particular scent that holds special meaning to you? My creative process is much more alchemic now, and I include Kenji by talking out loud to him, believe it or not. I’m a firm believer that when our loved ones transition from the physical plane, they are still present - just in another form. I choose to keep his memory alive by not pretending he never existed (even if for a brief period of time). I am working (slowly) on a book and accompanying fragrance, but I know it will require me to revisit some memories I’m not quite ready for, so until then, his big brothers will launch their debut fragrance, The Peaceful Tiger (they chose the name.) I’ve learned that even in what we consider “small things”, our transitioned loved ones want to be recognized and acknowledged. When the twins and I designed their fragrance label (with a designer out of the country that didn’t know anything about me personally), we had issues with the graphic - so much so that the designer asked if they could rework the design. When they sent the proof for approval, the Tiger was not only younger but sleeping, with an uncanny, angelic resemblance to baby Kenji! Becoming more aware and being more sensitive to my intention for launching a fragrance has definitely made room for more divine situations like these to occur. Healing Through Scent: In what ways has creating fragrances been a form of healing or expression for you, especially after the loss of your son, Kenji Mwamba? I know my sons may not necessarily want to be perfumers, but they definitely have an entrepreneurial heart. My desire is that whatever they decide to pursue (acting, script-writing, music or architecture), they know that anything is possible with the right amount of determination, grit, belief and immersion. One reason I chose to homeschool is so they could enjoy learning without restraint and have ample time to devote to their own separate passions and it still be fun. They know Pink MahogHany is theirs if they want it (many, many years from now - lol), and we are already discussing business structures for whatever they choose their role to be once I retire. Work-Life Balance: How do you find balance between your professional responsibilities and personal well-being, and what self-care practices do you prioritize? I’m not just a perfumer; I’m also a consumer, and self-care is huge for me. I often take salt baths to reset my energy and clear my mind after being around large groups of people or free a long day. I’m a habitual perfume sampler, and I have so many to choose from to wear as my “nightcap.” Even if just for 10-15 minutes, I cherish each moment I’m able to have some “me-time.” When time and co-parenting schedules permit, I’m definitely on a flight somewhere to indulge in some delicious food and mouth-watering mocktails!](https://www.womenontopp.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/IMG_3812-1200x720.jpeg)
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