Today we’d like to introduce you to Angela Jones.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Angela. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I originally started a blog to keep in touch with my family and friends when I moved away from my small town in Central Florida for the first time at 26 years old. Lovingly named “Sunshine State of Me” because of my sunny home state, my blog was meant to be about my journey as I left my small hometown. I had no intentions of turning it into a full-time business until I developed a love for connecting with like-minded people from all around the world. I started receiving messages from girls and women in response to my “sunny thoughts of the day,” who said they love my positivity and realness. I realized that if I can use my platform to make one person smile each day, that’s pretty awesome.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
To be honest, I’m still driving along this road, learning as I go! My biggest struggle has been finding my direction. There are so many bloggers and so many niches. I started out wanting to be a travel blogger because I travel so frequently. Then, I realized that I didn’t like documenting every single place I went and every single thing I ate because it took the fun out of it for me. Then, I thought I wanted to be a fashion blogger because I love clothes, but I realized I didn’t love them enough to talk about clothes 24/7. So, I turned to my audience for help. I recently asked my audience what they wanted to hear from me most and 90% of them said personal stories. I’ve been blogging for about a year and a half and it was just last week that I think I truly realized that people are following along with me for me. Because they can relate to me. They want the real, the raw, the honest me.
My advice for young women who are starting a blog would be… don’t underestimate the impact that you can make on this world by just being yourself. Don’t try to like something if you don’t. Just be you. People love that.
Please tell us more about your work, what you are currently focused on and most proud of.
I am a content creator and blogger at SunshineStateofMe.com where I focus on spreading sunshine to the everyday millennial woman through feel-good styles, relatable life experiences & positive thinking.
When asking my followers & friends to describe me and my blog in one word, the most frequent response I received was “sunshine.” I try to incorporate sunshine into every single piece of content I share, whether it be through images or positive messages. I want people to click on my blog or find my Instagram feed and smile because they can literally feel the warmth.
Finding a mentor and building a network are often cited in studies as a major factor impacting one’s success. Do you have any advice or lessons to share regarding finding a mentor or networking in general?
The blogging community is made up of a great group of people who love to help others! There are so many Facebook groups devoted to bloggers helping other bloggers. I’ve met some of my best friends and mentors at blogger events that I attended without knowing anyone. You just have to put yourself out there!
Contact Info:
- Website: http://sunshinestateofme.com
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/theangelajones
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/sunshinestateofme
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/theangelajones
- Other: https://pinterest.com/theangelajones
Image Credit:
Angela Jones
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.
