Our Attendee Spotlight is:
Jay Blessed who's blog is JAYBLESSED.com
What do you hope to experience at BWB 2013?
I was encouraged to attend Blogging While Brown 2013 by one of my fellow Caribbean bloggers, SocaMom. After researching more about BWB, plus the fact that it would be in my hometown of NYC, I was more than sold to the idea! I was inspired to invest in this opportunity of networking with other bloggers, expanding my knowledge on new technologies, traffic builders, maximizing SEO, in addition to, learning new platforms and processes for monetizing my website.
I want to reach my target audience, which not only consists of Caribbean nationals but lovers of Caribbean culture worldwide.
Why did you decide to start a blog?
In April 2011, I resigned from my full-time marketing job at a renowned law firm in NYC, after just one month of "test" blogging and decided to wholeheartedly invest my time and energy into my passion for media fusing the love I have for my Caribbean heritage.
It wasn't an easy decision but I had my husband (co-founder of JAYBLESSED.com) there to support, encourage and advise me on every move I made.
When I started my blog, there were many Caribbean websites which mainly consisted of forums and photo sites - outside of the news sources. Therefore, I decided to fill that void by bringing fresh, daily content; incorporating entertainment news, news, music, fashion, interviews and a healthy dose of celebrity gossip from all over the Caribbean and abroad into one place!
While the Caribbean has its own celebrities, a lot of celebrities that appear in mainstream and international blogs are also Caribbean or of Caribbean descent. Therefore, they also have a home on JAYBLESSED.com.
My writing style and delivery has definitely solidified my place in the blogosphere and helped me in building and maintaining a strong and loyal readership and fan base.
Are there specific types of bloggers you are interested in connecting with at the conference?
Specifically, I would love to connect with mainstream bloggers who have dominated in the category of entertainment news and technology.
What are your top blogging tips for other bloggers?
1. Stay informed on all things new to keep your content fresh and your readers coming back!
2. A blog is a beast that needs to be fed. Keep active, keep writing, keep posting! Keep your blog alive.
3. You can't be a successful blogger and not be involved in social media. Keep your audience engaged on multiple online platforms.
4. Use every opportunity to MARKET YOURSELF for you are your best source of advertisement.
5. A blog can be draining, therefore it is ok to take a break and even ask for help! It's sometimes necessary to walk away from your blog for a few hours to even a day to keep your mind, body and spirit renewed.
Where do you see you and your blog in 5 years?
WOW! In five years, JAYBLESSED.com would be the leader in Caribbean entertainment. We are presently grooming our platform into a successful international media brand encompassing Web, TV, Radio, Concerts, E-commerce and Lifestyle.
Do you have something to offer bloggers to help them take their blogging to the next level?
BWB is not only an African American conference, but one whose "brown" includes a number of Caribbean-bred bloggers like myself. I wear my Caribbean heritage as a badge of honor and my readers are just as loyal.
I can offer bloggers a different perspective on writing and understanding their specific audiences and targeting them through their online multimedia use.
Do you need something from your fellow bloggers to take your blogging to the next level?
I am in need of as much advice as I can possibly get! Though I have a handle on things, I am sure as I meet and converse with other bloggers, that they'll introduce me to new ways of writing, coding, promoting, organizing and even thinking!
As a blogger who started less than two years ago, there were many blogs before mine. However, none within the Caribbean niche market, specifically for the people interested in Caribbean entertainment news and Caribbean celebrity gossip.
This is Jay Blessed first time at BWB ! Welcome !
