Weaving a personal story or experience with every brand association is a part of Lakshmi's content creation process. In this interview she shares more about the interiors of her blog, Dress Your Home.
Her blog, Dress Your Home, has been acknowledged by magazines like GoodHomes and Better Homes to appreciating her content. A break from coding lead to blogging and now she foresees a future where decor enthusiasts look up to her for information and relevant content.
Looking back, where did it all begin?
Blogging started as a new pursuit in 2003, as a break from day job ~ coding. It was a personal blog, then came a parenting blog and eventually dress your home in the summer of 2010.
What's in the name?
I wanted a generic, easy to recall name; one that was not local to a region or style of decorating.
What is your USP in this cluttered space? How does your content give you an edge?
It’s not as cluttered a space yet like food, fashion or technology. Objective reviews of products. And I only feature homes that were love at first sight; at least one corner or one room of the home would have made me scroll back and forth or led to an urge to explore the rest of the house.
Please take us through your content creation process. How do you stay relevant and relatable?
Research and regular visits to stores. But what ticks me may not tick the audience and vice versa. Some spaces go viral that I’m often taken by surprise.
How do you take moolah with your efforts?
In all honesty, it doesn’t compare to a day job, at least as of yet. Most brands like to associate with you either for free or barter.
One can sustain only when the attitude changes that content creators have to pay their bills, too.
Having said that, there are others that it is a pleasure to do business with. I can’t take names, but they value your time and effort and you push your boundaries to give them the best, too.
How do you maintain editorial objectivity with the influx of brand briefs?
I try to weave a personal story or experience with every brand association and so far it has not been a challenge.
One instance/experience that made it all worthwhile
Nothing that stands out. But, it’s a sum of parts that makes this journey worthwhile. For instance, when magazines like GoodHomes or Better Homes and Gardens acknowledge your content or when new homeowners reach out to you seeking your opinion.
Weirdest brand brief/request ever
Thankfully none yet.
If not blogging, you would be?
I’ve pursued many career tracks over the past two decades from coding to financial writing. For now, it is blogging.
A typical working day starts at 8:30 a.m. and ends at 4:00 p.m. and sometimes much later into the nights. Unlike a corporate career, this is a pretty lonely job. But, the upside is I get to see new spaces every day, some that are mind-blowing. This keeps the freshness factor alive and every day to look forward to.
Message/tips for upcoming bloggers
Be consistent and persistent in generating new content. Keep yourself abreast of trends and tools.
Your Favorite Influencer
Holly Becker of decor8. I’ve been following her for over a decade now. It’s rare to see the honest, unmasked version of oneself in the online spaces. But, she bares it all on several issues unfazed by the judgments that may come her way.
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