Picasso Meets Blogging Through Christina Nicholson
As I began this interview, I was compelled to reach out to my Webster dictionary to see how ol’ Webster defined the word “maven.” Simply put, a maven is a person who knows a lot about a particular subject.
“So what do they call a person who knows a lot about many subjects, like Christina Nicholson?” I thought to myself. Maven 2X? Mavene? Or a Renaissance woman perhaps? I’ll go with the latter.
Christina Nicholson is an enormously gifted, cutting edge media entrepreneur and blogger. She is self-directed and spirited with a sense of humor to boot. She knows how to push buttons and guarantee results.
Christina has taken her professional experience as a reporter and combined it with her personal experience as a woman, mom, and wife to create two exciting blogs and a successful full-service public relations firm. She’s doing it her way as most Renaissance men and women do and she’s not afraid to ruffle any feathers in the process. No matter, though. Any “ruffling” by Christina will always end up making sense and most will evoke a good laugh once the dust settles.
A mom of two who insists that she’s not a “mommy” blogger at all, rather a blogger who also happens to be a mom, Christina refuses to be defined by anyone else’s terms and that’s fine by me. Why should she? Why should any of us? Blogging is its own personal artform -- a highly creative and passionate process. To see it any other way or to allow ourselves to be generically categorized would be an insult. And Christina’s colorful array of blog posts reminds us of this truth.
She’s a Renaissance woman like no other and I encourage you to get to know her through the interview below and her mighty fine duo of blogs.
What is your full name?
Christina Nicholson
Where do you live?
Coral Springs, Florida
How many children do you have?
Two, a boy and a girl.
If you were asked to describe yourself in one word, what would that word be?
Busy
What is your personal mantra?
If you want something, you have to go and get it. No one is going to get it for you.
Tell us a little about you and your life, including your personal and professional history.
I grew up in Ohio and attended Ohio State University. There, I majored in “public affairs” journalism, with the goal of becoming a TV reporter. I was at the school when the ‘student run’ TV station, Buckeye TV, started. (Now, it’s called Lantern TV.)
I worked as a server and bartender throughout college and thereafter until I landed my first on-air reporting job. That was in Beaumont, Texas, where I met my husband! Fast forward a few years and jobs later to the place I am today -- a small business owner!
Media Maven is a full-service public relations firm. I do media relations, event planning, social media marketing, writing, blogging, video production, branding, and media training while working with a great team that assists me with SEO, website development, and graphic design. I never thought I would run my own business, but after having kids, I quickly learned TV news is not a ‘family friendly’ business. The only person that I could count on to give me the work/life balance I needed was myself.
What do you believe is your life’s purpose?
To just do what makes me happy. Whatever that is changes from time-to-time, but the things that really matter are always in focus.
How long have you been a non-mommy blogger?
I started blogging a year ago -- right after I left TV. It’s something I always wanted to do, but felt I never could because of the possible ramifications that sometimes arise from being on TV.
What is the name of your blog?
My lifestyle blog is Mascara Maven and More. My professional blog is Media Maven and More.
What is the primary focus of your blog?
Mascara Maven and More is just a fun lifestyle blog. It’s not really niched. I like to write about too many things to really narrow it down, so I have parenting stories, recipes, DIY, current events, and some professional, industry stuff in there too. The focus of Media Maven and more is fairly obvious.
What makes your blog unique?
There are so many blogs out there, I think it’s tough to truly be unique… but we are all unique and we all write different things in different ways, so my blog is unique because of me!
Tell us about your business – Media Maven.
Through Media Maven, I help businesses grow, including brand promotion, video production, blogging contributions, and more. I’ve transformed my desire to write and present great stories through reporting into a business I love.
Name some of the companies you, currently, work with.
Aventura Mall, Anthony’s Coal Fired Pizza, HEAT Running, The Inn at new Hyde Park, Cabo Flats, PhoneSoap, KidsConnect, pubWARE, Bed of Nails, The Diplomat Resort & Spa, The Chiera Family Foundation.
With so many social media platforms out there, which social media platforms comprise the “must-use” list for mom bloggers.
Generally speaking, Facebook is #1. That’s where most people are. But, if you are visual, like a food or fashion blogger, Instagram is great. If you are a business blogger, Twitter is a better spot for you.
Share three simple tips to help mom bloggers expand their readership.
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Post good content. In my opinion good = something that will help the reader.
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Have nice visuals to go with it. Great pictures help tell any story.
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Promote yourself. Don’t be afraid to say, “Look, I wrote this. Go read it.”
Share the three biggest fails that happen to mom bloggers time-and-time again.
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Selfishness. I’ve seen too many mom bloggers focus too much on helping themselves they ignore the influencers who could be an asset to them. There are lots of “mean girls” blogging today, unfortunately.
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Trying to make money too fast. Yes, lots of bloggers make a great living doing it, but you can’t start on Monday ad expect a paying gig on Friday. You need to work up to it. Be patient.
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Not promoting themselves. How is anyone going to see it if you don’t tell them it’s there?
What is one question mom bloggers don’t know to ask with regards to growing and profiting from their blogs?
I think mom bloggers are asking the right questions. Everyone is different with different goals. The challenge is finding the right mom blogger to approach. Many are not willing to help. They think someone else’s success means their failure. It doesn’t, but remember, we are dealing with a business full of women. Even though grown, many are still caddy and not willing to help or only pretend to help. You’ll learn who is who quick. Learn the lesson, then move on. You will find someone to help guide you.
What is the toughest part about doing what you do and how do you overcome this?
Time. It is very time consuming. Writing the blog is the easy part. It’s finding and making the artwork and making sure you are promoting the blog the best you can that becomes time consuming.
Finish this sentence, “In ten years, I will be _____________.”
Operating Media Maven bigger and badder than I am now ;)
Do you support – either formally or informally – a particular social cause? Explain.
I am pretty open minded, so I support any and every thing that makes people happy as long as it doesn’t have a negative impact on someone’s life. (I am also a wish granter with the Make A Wish Foundation.)
When all is said and done, what is the one thing you hope your loved ones and those who knew you remember about you?
Even though I have a mouth on me and I speak my mind, I’m still a good, nice person. That I was always honest, called it like I saw it, and worked hard for what I had.
As I said, Christina Nicholson is a woman with a vision and that vision is all “hers.” She is to blogging what Picasso was to art -- unpredictable and awesome! And she adds to her masterful collection of pieces weekly, so don’t miss out as you’ll be missing something both rare and memorable.
Links: Mascara Maven and More