Today we’d like to introduce you to Xaviera Bryant.
Hi Xaviera, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
My blogging journey actually began with Myspace. You may recall that they had a very small area on the platform for you to blog.
I was working in accounting and I used that area to share my random thoughts, to vent, and to share my adventures as a parent.
A coworker who enjoyed my posts encouraged me to start my own blog. I did my research and eventually launched Ice Cream Conversations in October 2010.
It didn’t take long before my hobby became my passion.
Once I was able to monetize the site, I realized my platform had real earning potential.
By year four, the revenue from my website was meeting and exceeding my salary, working 40 hours a week in accounting.
That’s when I turned in my resignation to become a full-time entrepreneur.
Today, Ice Cream Conversations has become a reliable and dependable source of accurate entertainment and celebrity news with an audience of millions around the world.
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?
I don’t think anyone would classify entrepreneurship as a smooth road.
My biggest challenges were learning the industry and the technical side of blogging.
It’s not as simple as setting up a site and sharing content.
I’ve spent countless hours learning html, hex codes, copyright, and fair use laws – especially after receiving cease and desist notices and copyright infringement claims over photos.
On a personal level, it was a huge adjustment financially.
While the earnings from the site were good, there were also ebbs and flows that I wasn’t prepared for and it became a financial nightmare.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
To most, I’m a blogger, but I would like to think of myself as an “information specialist.”
In addition to writing, I also conduct interviews with celebrities, cover red-carpet events, attend premieres, and visit the sets of my favorite TV shows.
I take pride in keeping my audience, readers, and online family in the know by providing the most accurate entertainment and celebrity news.
What sets me apart from others is my dedication to making sure Ice Cream Conversations is a safe space on the internet.
Our content isn’t mean, malicious, or hurtful to others. All of our posts are delivered with a fun, friendly, and comedic approach.
I also inject a lot of my personality into my writing and deliver the content in a conversational tone to make it more relatable.
I’m most proud of taking something that began as a hobby and turning it into a media outlet that has allowed me to provide for my family and given me opportunities to experience things that were only in my wildest dreams.
I still can’t believe I was featured by Google!
What sort of changes are you expecting over the next 5-10 years?
It’s been interesting to see the changes in my industry thus far.
Blogs have now become just as important in the media landscape as major news outlets like CNN.
Right now, I have both eyes on Washington, D.C. as lawmakers are proposing legislation that could cripple online publishers and their ability to make money online.
Sadly, a lot of publishers are unaware of the potential dangers their businesses are facing.
I recently went to Capitol Hill to advocate on behalf of small business owners and publishers to protect our ability to create and earn online.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://icecreamconvos.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/icecreamconvos_/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/IceCreamConvos
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ice-cream-convos
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/IceCreamConvos
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCe4Gt__hcparF_fX9m___iA
