ALL PHOTOS TAKEN FROM INSTAGRAM @adashofdee
Hello, and welcome to the first content strategy blog! This week, our first guest presenter was Hamilton blogger Dee Thomson. With over 11 years of experience as a blogger and content creator, Dee shared her journey into lifestyle blogging and content creation in the video.
She originally studied sociology and criminology at Western University, dreaming of working with the RCMP in the human trafficking department. But after graduating, she wasn’t sure what she wanted to do. She ended up working for a real estate agency, but didn’t enjoy it because it wasn’t the path she had planned, something many people can relate to. Then, she got an internship at Glow Magazine (formerly Shoppers Drug Mart’s beauty magazine), and since she always loved writing, this opportunity gave her the push she needed. I found this part of her presentation really inspiring because she didn’t follow the traditional journalism path and faced many career struggles, but never gave up on her passion for writing. It made me think about my own future—if I don’t find a job in my preferred field after graduation or am unsure of my next steps, that’s okay. The right opportunity might come along when I least expect it, even if it’s not what I originally planned.
When Dee started her first blog, Liner and Glitter and Gloss Oh My!, in 2011, blogging was just starting to become popular. Since she focused on beauty and makeup, it was tough to reach a bigger audience. But after re-branding to A Dash of Dee, she expanded her content to cover a wider range of lifestyle topics, like travel and food, which allowed her to explore more of her interests and share them with her followers. One thing Dee said that really stuck with me was that, even after over 10 years of blogging, she’s still learning, growing, and trying new things, which is an important life lesson, because we can always learn something new everyday, no matter how old we get or how knowledgeable and experienced we may think we are. The most important thing she said, in my opinion, was that even when your blog starts growing and you begin making money from it, you don’t have to accept every collaboration or offer that comes your way. If it doesn’t feel like the right fit for you, that’s okay. Take the time to make sure your blog is truly yours and fully reflects who you are, the message you want to share, and what matters most to you. Dee’s presentation was very inspiring and I loved hearing about her discuss her passion project, blogging and I’m looking forward to learning and listening to the other guest presenters this semester! Thanks for reading, until next week! 🙂
– Taahirah Baksh – 9/19/24 –