Today we’d like to introduce you to Alana Nicole.
Hi Alana, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I started my blog under a different name in 2017. I was really just looking for an outlet for my thoughts as I figured out where I wanted to go after graduating college. I figured I wasn’t the only one having these thoughts and that someone else could benefit from what I was learning on the spot. Taking photos has always been a huge hobby of mine so photography organically became part of it as I started to turn my personal Instagram into a visual representation of my written blog. Working with brands became a happy accident in 2019. When I started, I didn’t even know that was a possibility. I was invited to my first event and then offered a reservation in exchange for an honest review and I was hooked. I started to research what this industry was and how I could become a part of it. Becoming a “foodie” was easy because I would have considered myself that anyway. My phone’s gallery has always been full of meals I’ve eaten or created, and my family has always known Alana’s phone eats first. It’s become a thing for my mom to ask if I’ve taken a picture before we sit for a family meal. Eat Shop Do ATL was born in 2021 when I realized my name didn’t match the content I wanted to create anymore. The name stems from always being told I’m never home. Consistently being out means I experience a lot of different things in and around the city of Atlanta and I love sharing my experiences with others.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Changing my name was not all my own choice. The Instagram I had been growing since 2017 was stolen in 2020 and even though I tried for months, I couldn’t get it back. I decided to take this as a sign. I had been playing around with the idea of changing the name of my blog for some time but didn’t want to lose anyone who knew me as the former. When something you’ve been working on for years is taken from you, changing a name doesn’t seem as daunting anymore. Eat Shop Do ATL came to me in a short brainstorming session because those are all the things I love to share. I felt like this name was more me than even the name I started with and now, a year later, I don’t completely hate how I got here.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
Creating is a full-time job for me. I’m never not thinking of how what I’m doing can be turned into content for myself or my clients. My camera is always out and I’m constantly recording. When I’m not behind the lens, I’m at my keyboard. I’m a freelance copywriter for brands that need print or audio ads written to promote their business. I use my personality to help bring out what a brand is trying to convey more clearly. I’m known for being creative on the spot. I can pull anything together in a matter of minutes and think really quickly on my feet. I dabbled for a few years in the legal and real estate space and even have my paralegal certificate but ultimately, I realized a quiet corporate desk job just wasn’t for me. I love what I do and how quickly things change within the lifestyle and food blogging space and wouldn’t have it any other way.
The crisis has affected us all in different ways. How has it affected you and any important lessons or epiphanies you can share with us?
Working during Covid-19 has definitely taught me that working for someone else is always risky and having multiple streams of income is non-negotiable. At the start, I had one main job paying the majority of my bills. When that business took a tank, so did my income. Having a savings account was a lifesaver while I decided to jump headfirst into creating full-time. I now have multiple streams of income all in the creative space because I never want to experience that feeling again.
Contact Info:
- Email: eatshopdoatl@gmail.com
- Website: https://eatshopdoatl.com/
- Instagram: instagram.com/eatshopdoatl
- Facebook: facebook.com/eatshopdoatl
- Twitter: twitter.com/eatshopdoatl
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/user_details?userid=-J8JCg4QHwiGkNkXrBIpCA
- Other: https://linktr.ee/wholesnackspodcast
