We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Raffaele DiLallo a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Raffaele , thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Let’s kick things off with your mission – what is it and what’s the story behind why it’s your mission?
My mission is to provide real, practical advice for growing plants. There is far too much vague information out there related to plant care, and even more myths and misconceptions. After hearing success stories of countless people becoming successful with plant care as a result of my social media platforms, YouTube, and blog, it makes me feel good that I’ve helped others.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
I’ve been growing houseplants for most of my life, and it has turned into my business. I actually quit my full-time job as a chemical engineer and make a full-time living now creating content about plant care. About 6 years ago, a friend called me and suggested that I start a blog because of all my knowledge. The next day, I started the blog, ohiotropics.com. Within a few short years, I was able to quit my job and now I write and create videos full-time. In 2022, I also came out with my book, Houseplant Warrior: 7 Keys to Unlocking the Mysteries of Houseplant Care.
I pride myself in providing very practical advice, explained in plain language for everyone to understand. When I hear back from my many readers that they now have success with their plants because of me, I know my mission has been fulfilled!
How did you build your audience on social media?
I have a large following on Instagram, and my best advice is to be consistent, create regular content (daily), and respond to your comments. It’s hard to juggle everything though, and I’ve placed social media on a back burner for a while, but I’ll be getting back to it soon.
I don’t make any money from Instagram, but it can be great in many ways. The networking can be invaluable and I’ve met many wonderful people in the plant community this way. It was also through networking on Instagram that I was able to get my book deal. So although I don’t many money from Instagram, it has helped in many other ways.
Social media burnout is real, so don’t lose focus on the primary aspects of your business, and for me, it is writing and creating content and videos. If it becomes too much, you can always hire it out if you can afford to.
What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?
I consider it a huge win as a result of being able to quit my corporate job and work for myself. The freedom is amazing and I am in full control of my schedule. I often have to pinch myself because I get to do what I love now. And it really keeps me going when people reach out to me and let me know how much I’ve helped them.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.ohiotropics.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ohiotropics/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OhioTropics/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/ohiotropics