Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. Please consider clicking through them if you choose to make a purchase; this helps support my ability to run this blog. Thank you! All reviews are based on my honest opinion.

When Carley Milligan, the Baltimore Business Journal’s digital editor, reached out for a story on local influencers, I was humbled and excited to contribute to the story. Here are 10 questions she asked that didn’t make the final cut.

You can check out the full article (subscriber content) online here – Follow me: How social media is creating a new breed of Baltimore entrepreneurs.

1. How would you describe the focus of your blog? What are you seeking to accomplish or have the blog provide to readers?

My blog is a place to share the things and experiences I love with the world. I’m passionate about travel, textiles, and design, so my posts are usually framed around those themes. Right now I’m really having fun collaborating with photographers to conceive, style, and produce editorial shoots.

2. When and how did you first get into the blogging/social media influencer space?

I started my blog at the end of last October – it’s almost been a full year! I knew I needed a strong Instagram presence to help it get traction, so I really made an effort to connect with other local bloggers, photographers, events, and businesses. It helped me grow my presence from about 500 to now more than 5,000 Instagram followers, and I’ve met a ton of fantastic people along the way.

3. What drew you to want to do something like this?

Last June my term as president of the AIGA Baltimore board ended and I gained back a ton of free time. I almost didn’t know what to do with myself! I had briefly tried to get a blog started before grad school but it fizzled. I almost went to school for fashion – it’s always been a strong interest of mine – so I felt like it was something I had to try again or I would always regret it.

4. Does your career and your work as a blogger ever cross paths? What is the relationship between the two/how do you balance them and find time for both?

Even though my day job is in marketing, it’s focused in the healthcare sector, so I don’t experience direct overlap in that respect. But skills-wise they’re definitely related. At the core of my skill-set is the ability to communicate effectively and tell a compelling story, whether it’s through a marketing campaign, blog post, styled shoot, or Instagram story. I love being on the go and working on diverse projects that challenge me creatively.

5. Many people are mystified by the idea of influencers and bloggers, especially when it comes to how people make money off it and really turn it into a side job. Can you talk a little bit about when you started to turn that corner with your blog?

I like to think of it as commission on word-of-mouth. We’re all constantly telling people about the things, places, and experiences that delight us – being an “influencer” is just doing that on a larger, more intentional scale. I’ve politely declined many opportunities to represent products or businesses that I wasn’t enthusiastic about, because like any brand, I know if I’m not authentic and selective I’m not going to sustain an engaged audience in the long run.

6. How does it feel to know that as a blogger with a large group of followers that you can actually influence trends or people’s purchasing decisions?

I really don’t like being pushy so I take the mindset of sharing what I love about a product or experience, but leaving it open for people to make up their own mind about it in the end.

7. Do you ever get messages from people outside of the area asking about Baltimore, in regard to the negative perceptions some people might have of the city? How do you respond to that?

There are definitely people in the greater Maryland/DC area who hesitate when I invite them to visit me in the city. I want to do my part to showcase Baltimore’s resiliency, thriving creative community, and all the reasons it’s a great place to live.

8. So many influencers and bloggers, especially in the fashion and lifestyle world, are based in NYC or LA. How do you compete with that from Baltimore?

Baltimore is one-of-a-kind and I’m proud to represent it in the blogging universe. Living here, there’s a unique story to tell.

9. The influencer and blogger world is a whole new branch of entrepreneurship – why do you think it’s a job that appeals to people, but especially young people?

I see a lot of young people looking for self-actualization in their work; having a side-hustle like blogging is a way to achieve that. But in general, I think people of all ages are starting to look beyond a single career path or source of income.

10. Why do you love blogging and what keeps you going every day?

I love the opportunity to meet and collaborate with new people, whether they’re entrepreneurs, designers,  photographers, or another kind of maker. There’s something very exciting about saying, “let’s create something awesome together.”

If you enjoyed this post, you might also like:

How to Grow Your Following on Instagram (and IRL)

The Primpy Sheep: One Year Anniversary!