In today’s Confessions of a Blogger we say a hello to the lovely Clerissa, from Fancy Pants Blog. Lets find out a bit more about Clerissa, what she blogs about and what keeps her motivated!
A fancy hello! I’m Clerissa, a 25 year old born and bred Pretoria Poppie! I have been living in the lovely Joburg for 7 years now and I have a quaint little home in Morningside which I share with Gucci & Chanel. My cat daughters. I’m addicted to cappuccinos, passionate about animals and have a slight shopping problem. I love fancy things, hence Fancy Pants, but I also believe in the little things… because in the end all you need is love!
- When did you start your journey as a blogger and why? I started writing down my thoughts about 4 years ago on a personal blog of mine. It wasn’t really for the public eye; it was my private outlet where I could express my thoughts and document my feelings. Sometimes writing down how you feel is the perfect remedy for dealing with life’s issues. At the time I was still studying and starting my transition from student to career woman and we all know how scary and daunting that can be. And I needed to write. It was my therapy. Fancy Pants was always at the back of my mind, a when-I-grow up-kind-of-thing. And I was all grown up in January of this year and Fancy Pants was born.
- Do you blog full-time or do you have a regular 9-5 as well? I do indeed have a full-time job. I’m part of a Digital Team at a PR Agency and I do all things social media. I love what I do. I’ve always wanted to work in social media and then it just happened. I studied Marketing but I always knew that my creative mind was meant for something else and then this opportunity came around and I was ecstatic. That is why I am a firm believer that dreams do come true.
- Tell us a little about your space on the interweb and what you blog about? Fancy Pants is a Lifestyle blog with my main focus on Travel, Beauty and Fitness. I love discovering new places whether it’s a cute Coffee Shop, Hipster Market or a hidden Getaway spot. If it impresses me I blog about it (and it has to be fancy :)). Skincare is also a passion of mine as I take great effort in caring for my skin, which I hope all ladies do! If I find a product that I love then you will read about it. And then I’m also on a fitness journey because I believe a healthy body hosts a healthy mind. My goal is to get into the best shape I can this year and blogging about it keeps me motivated.
- Being a blogger is not always easy – what motivates you and keeps you going? Fortunately I am in love with the Digital world. When something is your passion it makes it easier. But of course there are days where working and blogging can get challenging. On those days I make a cup of coffee or pour a glass of wine and say tomorrow is another day, this too shall pass.
- How important do you think it is to have a niche blog? I think it is very important. By having a niche you can differentiate your blog from others. It also helps you being better targeted by Companies for review opportunities. A Company would rather choose a niche blog that focuses on specific categories and perhaps are more advanced and educated within those categories than a blog that just covers everything. I f you can establish your niche and have decent quality content then you have the potential to do well.
- What have your biggest blogging challenges been? WordPress. Oh my word. Look I know my social media stuff and all but when it comes to the technical side of setting up a blog and creating tabs and widgets I want to lose my mind! I do not like to utilise the left side of my brain, it is only there to look pretty. Only me and the right side play nice together.
- What do you love most about being a blogger? Learning. By reading a million blogs and blog posts a day I get to learn a lot about a lot. Each day you discover a new blogger, a new story, a new product, a new trend or a new place. I like to know things and being a blogger helps with my little curiosity problem.
- If you had to choose a favourite social media platform, what would it be and why? Tough one but I would have to say Instagram. I love pretty pictures. Its food for my soul and Instagram has got LOTS of soul food!
- What has your journey as a blogger taught you {about yourself or in general}? Has it changed your life in any way? It has definitely taught me how to multi-task and how to be more committed. Working and blogging is tricky because we all know blogging takes time plus you still have to have a life. So I have learned if you really want to make something a success you will find the time or make the time. Commitment is key and Fancy Pants has taught me how much I actually enjoy writing and how much I love being a blogger.
- If you had to give a newbie blogger any advice, what words of wisdom would you impart? Be resilient. Write what you believe and be authentic. Don’t be scared of taking chances and most importantly, don’t be afraid to start! We all have start somewhere, someday.
Thanks Clerissa for sharing a bit more about your life and blogging journey with us! You can find out more about Clerissa and connect with her here:
Blog link: http://missfancypantsblog.wordpress.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Fancy-Pants/181255988594464
Twitter: @missfancy_panty – https://twitter.com/missfancy_panty
Instagram: @missfancy_pants – http://instagram.com/missfancy_pants
If you would like to be featured on Confessions of a Blogger, then please email Fiona or leave a comment below.
Image Source: Clerissa From Fancy Pants Blog
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