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For this installment of our Meet the Blogger series, we talked with Nedra McDaniel from Adventure Mom, who is also a Verizon customer. Nedra is no ordinary blogger (is there any ordinary blogger?) She is a wife and mother of two who likes to blog about her experiences with different things and places all the time. As a busy woman with two other jobs, we wanted to ask her what a day in the life of a blogger is like.
What was the first blog you followed?
Probably 365 Cincinnati. I remember looking for ideas for things to do in Cincinnati when my kids were little and the blog inspired me to challenge myself to live like a tourist in my own backyard.
Who showed you the ropes about becoming a blogger?
There have been so many people who have helped me on this journey. Kelly McCausey from Solo Smarts is a personal friend and was able to quit her day job because her online business had grown so much. She was there at the very beginning to guide me when I told her my idea before it was a reality. And Dana O'Dell made my aesthetic vision of the site come to life and helped me with the back-end technical side, as well.
When I lived in Grand Rapids, MI, Melody from GrKids gave me opportunities to guest post on her site and always offered advice.
I was introduced to Bridgett from 365 Cincinnati by a mutual friend. She was so generous with inviting me to Cincinnati media events. Shannan Boyer from Family Friendly Cincinnati also has been a great mentor and friend. I respect Shannan and Bridgett so much for their sites and I still use them to get ideas for adventures. I will always be so grateful to them for sharing opportunities with me, which opened many doors. My list now could go on and on because we have a great community of bloggers in Cincinnati who share information and also support each other. I’ve also learned a lot from travel blogging groups that I belong to on Facebook.
What aspect about blogging did you not anticipate?
The business side of things - trying to balance opportunities, while making sure the offer is a win-win for both parties and reminding myself that my time is valuable. I also have a running tab of blog posts that I could write about and it can be difficult to just sit down to write them because I’m already onto the next adventure.
What about blogging makes you a better leader within your family?
My blog is all about sharing experiences, so hopefully my kids will understand later in life that I worked really hard to create opportunities for us to enjoy together.
Which five words best describe the blogging community?
Creative, community building, caring, constant, and courageous.
What does a typical day look like as a blogger?
I don’t think I ever have a real routine because it varies from day to day as I juggle my part-time jobs. I make sure that I post several times a day on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. I also share blog posts on Google+ and Pinterest. I have to go through a lot of emails with pitches, press releases and other opportunities. I try to work a little bit on a post each day. Some days I can crank them out quickly, especially if I have a deadline for an event. Other times it can be hard to stay focused due to time constraints, so I try to get as much done as possible.
Is blogging ever overwhelming?
Yes! All the time, because my mind is constantly going in a million different directions and I’m constantly trying to keep all my social media platforms engaging, as well. There is always room for improvement, and sometimes it feels like my list will never end. But I enjoy it, so I find time to take a break and live in the moment, appreciating all I have and my family around me.
What have you learned from blogging?
That I can pursue living my dreams. My blog has been the vehicle to give me opportunities that I would have never dreamed of. I’ve learned that I can do hard things, that I have a voice, that I can encourage others and that facing my fears and stepping out of my comfort zone has led me to incredible experiences that have made me a better person and have given me a greater appreciation of life and how variety is a good thing. People are fascinating, and we can learn so much if we just take the time to get to know each other.
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