Meet Trailblazer Christina Champlin

Today we’d like to introduce you to Christina Champlin.

So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I started my professional career in public relations and after a couple of years, it just wasn’t what I wanted to do anymore. About the same time, my then boyfriend (now husband) was considering a career shift as well. We Like L.A. started as a passion project for the two of us to document our local explorations on social media, but in the years that followed, it evolved into a legitimate business that has now completely taken over my life.

At the heart of our content is a service to help people find fun things to do and new experiences to try. We focus on events, culture, food, and travel for readers in the greater Los Angeles area and surrounding Southern California region. As a native Angeleno, I’ve always loved exploring my city, whether it was checking out free museums, spending hours at Tower Records, and reading a Jonathan Gold review and being inspired to go eat in a new neighborhood.

Growing We Like L.A. into a full-time business did not come easily, but after a year of early mornings and late nights, we turned a corner and I was able to quit my full-time job. From there, it’s been a slow and steady path figuring out different ways to monetize our content. Today, our blog and related network of distribution channels reach hundreds of thousands of locals and visitors every month. That network includes an email newsletter with nearly 70,000 subscribers and over a quarter million Facebook fans. I don’t state those numbers to brag, but rather to emphasize how awed and privileged I feel to have a voice in the city that inspires people to go try new things. It truly is a dream job.

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
My road has had its share of bumps, and I think self-confidence is a big part of that. Writing has never been my strongest skill. I’ve read a lot of books on how to be a better writer, and certainly practiced a lot of the years, but I am still extremely self-conscious about my writing. It doesn’t come easy for me. On top of personal development, I also worked a full-time job while blogging every single day for a year. The amount of pressure and work stressed me out to the point where my body broke out in hives. Once I hit that point, I had to reevaluate my life and take a different approach to tackle my work and my personal wellness.

One piece of advice especially to women starting their journey is to not allow your insecurities to deny you permission to go after big things. We all have a fear of failure. Lean into that fear and take it on. What’s the worst that can really happen? The more you repeat this process, the more confidence you build.

Secondly, I encourage people starting their own business to develop a strong support system. That really helped me overcome all the self-doubt and fears I had of not being good enough or perfect. Also, you have a group of people who will help celebrate the successes in your life too!

My last piece of advice is to be humble and maintain your integrity. Do work that you can be proud of. Don’t cut corners because that will come back and burn you in the end. The integrity of your work will be an indicator of your lasting business.

Please tell us more about your work, what you are currently focused on and most proud of.
I consider myself first and foremost a content creator, though I wear many hats in the company including writer, photographer, social media manager, and business developer. We Like L.A. specializes in highlighting events, culture, food, and travel for Angelenos and people planning to visit Los Angeles. We also partner with a number of cultural institutions and events with marketing initiatives, campaigns, and sponsorships.

I am most proud of knowing that our readers look to us for advice on things to do in Los Angeles. I enjoy all the positive feedback we get from our audience which helps encourage us to keep doing our thing. It’s neat to feel like we are, at least in a small way, woven into the fabric of the city.

We Like L.A. stands out because of our voice. We approach readers as if we are already friends. A trusted and inclusive resource for all types of Angelenos. Our readers actually talk to us through email and social media as if they’ve known us for years.

Do you recommend any apps, books or podcasts that have been helpful to you?
Apps I use the most are Instagram for work and personal; Lightroom and Photoshop for editing images; HUJI for a disposable film camera photo taken from my phone and Unfold to create stylized Instagram stories.

Books I recommend for personal development are GRIT by Angela Duckworth, The Willpower Instinct by Kelly McGonigal and Originals by Adam Grant.

Books that taught me a lot about photography are Understanding Exposure by Bryan Peterson and How To Create Stunning Digital Photography by Tony Northrup.

Books I read for inspiration are Gratitude A Way of Life by Louise L. Hay. and Counter Intelligence by Jonathan Gold.

As for other resources, I think KCRW and NPR have helped me stay up-to-date about what is happening in our city and the world. That’s very important since We Like L.A. is looked at as a news source. I get inspired by a number of wonderful local journalists who I am lucky enough to call my friends. They’re out here shining a spotlight on how diverse our city is and they’re doing a great job. I like to listen to Good Food on KCRW every Sunday and I’m a fan of writer Bill Esparza’s work.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.welikela.com
• Email: [email protected]
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/welikela/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WeLikeLA/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/welikela
• Other: www.youtube.com/welikela

Image Credit:
Echo Park Lake Photo by Diana Kuo, Cactus Mart Photo by Brian Champlin, Shakespeare Bridge Photo by Corey Marshall, Camp Navarro Photo by Celine Linarte, Wrightwood Mountains Photo by Brian Champlin, Rimrock Ranch Photo by Corey Marshall, Beyond the Streets Exterior Photo by Brian Champlin, Beyond the Streets Interior Photo by Brian Champlin

Getting in touch: VoyageLA is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.